2023-03-31-accounts

ENDERBY LIFE CHURCH Moores Lane, Enderby, Leicester, LE19 4AN TRUSTEES REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH 2023

The Charity Trustees present their report and independently examined accounts for year ending 31st March 2023.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Charity operates under its Constitution dated 21st July 2020. It is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission (registered charity No. 1190574) and recognised as such by the Inland Revenue for Tax purposes.

The Trustees of the Charity comprise:

• Andrew Briars (Chairman)

• David Banton

• Karen Smith

The Charity is actively seeking to appoint more Trustees (see Looking Ahead section).

In order to be appointed, Charity Trustees must

• Be conformable to scriptural qualification. (1 Timothy 3:8-13).

• Be in agreement with the doctrinal basis and objectives of Enderby Mission Free Church.

• Be nominated by the Church Eldership and submitted for spiritual witness and approval to the Church Leadership Team and to the Church congregation.

The Charity Trustees have legal and financial responsibility for the Charity, whilst the Church Elders have spiritual responsibility for the Church. Additionally, a Leadership Team provides advice and support in all areas of the Church’s life and ministry.

The Trustees have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and confirm that all activities are undertaken for the benefit of the public.

The Charity employs one full-time paid member of staff (the Church Pastor/Elder). Volunteers from the Church congregation, varying from time to time as needs arise, work alongside the Pastor to fulfil the Church’s objectives.

The Trustees give regular consideration to the major risks to which the Charity may be exposed, including financial, regulatory and legal, and are satisfied that such risks are adequately identified, monitored and controlled through policies, procedures and insurance arrangements.

The Church is an autonomous body following an historical independent tradition and does not belong to any denominational organisation. It is a local expression of the world-wide fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ. However, the church is a member of the Ground Level Network of churches and the Evangelical Alliance (the EA). Whereas Ground Level is a movement networked together through regional and relational connections (largely in the Midlands), the EA supports churches in a wider sense across the UK. Both exist to equip, support and care for churches and ministries.

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Objectives and Activities

The main objectives of the Charity are summarised as:

• The advancement of the Christian faith and the worship of God.

• The proclamation and furtherance of the gospel of Christ.

• The preaching and teaching of the Word of God.

• The provision of pastoral care, counselling and support.

• The education of children and adults on the basis of Christian principles.

These objectives are met in accordance with the Charity’s constitution and will be fulfilled in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or elsewhere as the Trustees, Elders and Leadership from time to time may think fit.

The main activities of the Church to further its charitable objectives are:

• A weekly programme of Sunday worship, communion and family services.

• Regular meetings during the week for prayer, Bible study and fellowship, both at the church and at homes of individual members of the congregation.

• Special programmes for families, children and young people.

• Funerals, weddings, adult baptisms and baby dedications.

• Social support and benevolent giving, both at home and abroad. The Church Elders and Leaders decide upon individuals and organisations that are to receive financial support out of the Charity’s assets in support of the Charity’s objectives. For the year April 2022 to March 2023 14.2% of Unrestricted income from General Offerings was allocated in this way.

Through these objectives and activities, the Charity’s aim is to effectively serve the community for the benefit of the public. By upholding Christian values and beliefs, it is the Trustees’ conviction that through these activities a positive impact into the community is being achieved for the good of all.

Achievements

Some particular achievements during the year April 2022 to March 2023 were:

• Numbers attending our Sunday services increased, as congregation members slowly returned after Covid-19; we continued to provide live streaming of our services for those unable to attend in person.

• We restarted ‘Monday Club’. This is a weekly, evening club for primary school children.

• We restarted ‘Stonebaked’. This is a monthly afterschool club for high school children.

• Launch of ‘Renew Life’. This is a well-being drop-in held weekly at the Enderby Civic Centre offering activities, friendship, refreshments, and prayers with people from our community who need and value these things.

• We developed our skills by having our pastor complete courses in Data Protection and in Mental Health First Aid.

• We ran a Freedom in Christ Discipleship course, aimed at helping Christians become fruitful disciples.

• We continued to work with Jakin, a Christian Counselling Service, which provides counselling and support for those going through crisis pregnancies, pregnancy loss and stillbirth.

• We continued to provide support and strengthen our connections with a country where Christian persecution is prevalent through a ministry who provide refuge for impoverished children from the slum area. Schooling, food, shelter, clothing, medical care and rehabilitation are provided for the children.

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• We provided regular financial and prayer support to missionaries working for;

• Hellenic Ministries in Athens, involved in evangelism, discipleship and church planting.

• Iris global in South Africa, providing residential, education and healthcare for orphaned children.

• We saw continued co-operation with the other churches in Enderby through united prayer times and various pulpit exchanges.

Mission Foodbank

• During the financial year of 2022/23 the demand for support from Mission foodbank continued to grow. It has supplied approximately 2000 food parcels in total to households in Enderby and the surrounding area. These parcels were delivered using the delivery van, and also collected by residents. Each food parcel contains ambient products and also fresh items, with a total value of around £40.

• We supported some households for a fixed period of time to help them through a difficult period of their lives, along with emergency one-off support parcels to residents in unforeseen circumstances or those being relocated into emergency accommodation.

• Working alongside the District Council, we have also provided food support to residents being housed in temporary accommodation, until the council resolves their financial situation.

• The foodbank has continued to support local authorities and charities, who are rehoming residents due to homelessness.

• We have continued to provide additional support to residents during the school holidays. At Christmas approximately 85 residents received a Christmas parcel containing treats to enjoy over the festive period.

• During the year, the engine in the delivery van broke down and it was not financially viable to repair. We were successful in receiving grant funding to enable us to buy an improved replacement at a cost of £12,050. The replacement van is newer and larger which allows us to collect more donations and deliver more parcels in one journey.

• In total, we have supported around 400 different households living in Enderby and surrounding areas during the financial year.

Other Notable Items

• Our pastor remains the only elder and we continue to actively seek an additional elder.

Financial Review

There are no material uncertainties about the ability of Enderby Life Church to continue as a going concern.

We benefit from full ownership of our property and land in Moores Lane, Enderby, which continues to be used for the charity's main purposes. The Charity's funds have all been applied in accordance with its charitable objectives.

• Income for the year was £123,868 (compared to £87,789 during 2021/22).

• Expenditure in the year was £103,384 (£98,484).

• This resulted in a surplus for the year of £20,484 (-£10,695).

• As at 31st March 2023, the church had total funds of £256,253 (£235,769) which included £228,604 (£209,491) of Restricted Funds (see breakdown below between Vision Fund & Foodbank)

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The principal source of funds is regular giving and one-off donations from members of the Church congregation. We are registered for Gift Aid, and where appropriate this is encouraged to maximise this source of income. As indicated below Grants for the Foodbank increased during 2022/23 and at the present level of funding is adequate to support the continuation of the charity’s current activities for the foreseeable future.

As detailed on pages 7 to 8 the Charity received funds for use in our Foodbank in the form of Grants and Donations from Companies, Organisations and Individuals outside of the Church. Grants from Leicestershire County Council and Blaby District Council totalled £22,400 (£14,038 in 2021/22). A Grant of £10,000 was also received from TNL Community Fund resulting in a total of £32,400 from 4 Grants (£15,678 from 4 Grants in 2021/22).

Money set aside in our Vision Fund for the church expansion project and held as Restricted Funds as at 31st March 2023 stands at £215,825 (£202,267).

Money set aside in our Foodbank and held as Restricted Funds as at 31st March 2023 stands at £12,780 (£7,225).

The Church only invests its cash reserves in deposits with UK banks. There are currently no outstanding debts.

The Church’s policy on holding cash reserves as Unrestricted Funds is to maintain an equivalent of three months average expenditure so as to enable it to continue operating during a short term down turn in its income, or to allow a period of restructuring should a longer term down turn occur. Two separate bank deposit accounts are maintained for this purpose. Actual cash reserves held as Unrestricted Funds as at 31st March 2023 were £15,562 (£15,460).

A remuneration committee made up of Trustees and Leadership Team members (including the Treasurer) meet annually to consider the skills, experiences and competencies needed from our paid staff, so as to offer fair remuneration within our ability to pay, bearing in mind the charity’s performance and staffs’ performance against expectations, in both the short and long term.

Looking Ahead

During the year April 2023 to March 2024, the Elder, Leadership and Trustees will continue to address the challenges of a growing church and to extend our influence into the wider community.

Through our building project “Serving our Community – Enderby Life Church Enlargement Project”, we continue to explore the possibilities to relocate the church into a bigger building, ideally closer to the heart of the community that we serve in Enderby. This will enable us to provide a more effective and broader range of Christian-based activities for people of all ages and backgrounds, as well as accommodate a growing church. We continue to work with building contractors to review the options available to us, either in a new site, or redeveloping our current land.

Under the current financial climate we understand the hardship that some are suffering in our community. Our foodbank continues to be in demand and it is anticipated that this will increase in the year ahead. We will continue to assess the financial and logistical requirements and will work to see how we can assist in our community practically through ‘Mission Foodbank’ and mental health support through ‘Renew Wellbeing’. The Trustees will monitor income and expenditure. Grant applications for funding for the foodbank will continue as needed / available.

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A potential new Trustee has been identified from within the congregation and has been approached to join the Trustees. That person has accepted the invitation and been presented to the Church; after a suitable period to receive feedback, we hope that they will become a Trustee early in 2024.

Responsibilities and Declaration of the Trustees

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees' report above.

The Trustees recognise their responsibility for the preparation of accounts for each financial year to give a true and fair view of the Charity's incoming resources and application of resources during the year and of its state of affairs at the end of the year, and for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity. The trustees have opted to prepare receipts and payments accounts as the church is a non-company charity with income less than £250,000.

The Trustees also recognise their responsibility in safeguarding the assets of the Charity and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

To that end, the Trustees certify that the books, vouchers and information produced to enable the independent examination of the accounts to be conducted contain a full and correct record of the financial transactions and activities to the best of their knowledge and belief.

Signed on behalf of the Charity's Trustees:

Signed : Date : 26[th] January 2024

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Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Enderby Life Church

Report on the Accounts of the Charity for the year ending 31st March 2023, which are set out on pages 7 and 8.

Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

• examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,

• to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act), and

• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair” view and the report is limited to those matters in the statement below.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

• which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect, the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act, and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act, have not been met; or

• to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:

Date: 26[th] January 2024 Name: Andrew Hopkins

Address; Birmingham Voluntary Service Council, Latham House, 33-34 Paradise Stret, Birmingham, B1 2AJ

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RECEIPTS General Offerings Gift Aid Offerings GASDS Vision Income (Includes some GASDS) Stewardship Income Gift Aid Tax (Stewardship) Gift Aid Tax (HMRC) Investment income Foodbank Income (Foodbank Restricted) Childrens Ministry Total Receipts PAYMENTS Charitable activities Salaries & NHI costs (allowing for £4,000 scheme) Pensions (Total of Employee & Employer contributions) Visiting speakers - pulpit gifts Pastor & General Ministry Expenses Photocopier contract / Fire extinguisher service Church utilities (Water Rates) Church utilities (Electricity) Church utilities (Gas) Church utilities (Telephone) Church insurance International gifts (Philippines, etc.) Ministry Support (Hope Centre & Iris Global) Donations to Groups (Tearfund, Compassion, Jaikin) Love Gifts Miscellaneous expenditure Foodbank Expenditure (Foodbank Restricted) Governance costs (Audit, Accountancy) Utilities Claire Court Pastor mileage Sub Totals Capital expenditure - New Foodbank Van Total Payments Net movement of funds for the year Net movement of funds for the year Balance brought forward from the previous year Fund balances carried forward to next year	Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds £6,403 £392 £6,795 £38,665 £3,000 £41,665 £2,560 £2,560 £15,602 £15,602 £4,061 £4,061 £247 £247 £10,937 £10,937 £102 £817 £919 £40,441 £40,441 £640 £640
	£63,616 £60,252 £123,868
	£34,118 £34,118 £2,074 £2,074 £550 £550 £707 £707 £1,273 £1,273 £263 £263 £1,117 £1,117 £1,569 £1,569 £702 £702 £1,159 £1,159 £4,622 £4,622 £2,480 £2,480 £1,016 £1,016 £900 £900 £5,583 £5,583 £29,088 £29,088 £1,340 £1,340 £1,357 £1,357 £1,417 £1,417
	£62,246 £29,088 £91,334
	£12,050
	£62,246 £41,138 £103,384
	£1,370 £19,113 £20,484
	Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds £1,370 £19,113 £20,484 £26,278 £209,491 £235,770
	£27,649 £228,604 £256,253

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CASH FUNDS (End Balances 31/03/2023) Barclays Current Account Barclays Current Account (Foodbank) Mission Foodbank - Petty Cash (for Foodbank) Main / Pastors - Petty Cash Barclays Savings Account (for Vision Fund) Market Harborough Building Society (for Vision Fund) Kingdom Bank Postal 60 Account (for Vision Fund) Kingdom bank 32 day Account (for Reserves Fund) Coop Bank (for Foodbank) Total cash funds

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds £12,087 £12,087 £0 £180 £180 £0 £0 £9,005 £9,005 £117,649 £117,649 £89,171 £89,171 £15,562 £15,562 £12,600 £12,600

£27,649 £228,604 £256,253

Figures rounded to the nearest Pound

NB - There are no other monetary or investment assets held by the charity.

Debtors & Creditors falling due after 31st March 2023

+£4,090.52 : Gift Aid Claim for 2021/22 Q4 & GASDS -£108.00 : Pastor March mileage expenses -£213.83 : Renew Life March expenses

ASSETS RETAINED FOR THE CHARITY’S OWN USE

Church premises, Moores Lane, Enderby Other tangible fixed assets (allowing for depreciation etc.) Total assets retained for the charity's own use	Current Value £435,000 £19,400
	£454,400

NB - These values are shown at the Trustees’ best estimate of market value.

LIABILITIES

There are no liabilities to record.

Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees:

Signed :

Name : Andrew Briars Position : Trustee / Treasurer

Date : 26[th] January 2024

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