## Freeschool Court Church Trustees’ Report and Statement of Accounts Financial year ended 31 March 2024 ## Contents |Contents|| |---|---| ||Page| |Trustees’ annual report|2| |Independent examination certificate|6| |Financial statements|7| |Notes|9| 1 | P a g e ## Trustees' Report The Trustees present their report, along with the financial statements of the church, for the financial year ended 31 March 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 9 and in compliance with the church's constitution, rules and applicable law. ## Structure, governance and management The Church is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The registered charity number is 1191312. The managing trustees of the church are the church elders. In June 2024 the Church appointed two additional elders to meet the growing needs of the church. Elders are appointed in line with the process set out in the church handbook. Elders are elected by the church members. The trustees during the financial year ended 31 March 2024 and at the date of approval of accounts were: |accounts were:|||| |---|---|---|---| |**Trustee**|**Position**|**Appointed**|**Retired/Resigned**| |**Arfon Ieuan Davies**|Elder/Treasurer|16/09/2020|-| |**Iwan Rhys Jones**|Elder/Secretary|16/09/2020|-| |**Mark Pickett**|Elder|16/09/2020|-| |**James Sibley**|Pastor|01/11/2021|~~-~~| |**Mark Gilmore**|Elder|30/06/2024|-| |**Trevor White**|Elder|30/06/2024|-| The elders meet together on a regular basis during the year to discuss and administer the affairs of the church. Reports on church activities are made to the church at quarterly members’ meetings. The trustees are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance including deciding on how the funds of the Church are to be spent. This is subject to church member approval of expenditure over limits set in the church constitution. ## Charity objects The purposes of the church, as set out in paragraph 3 of the constitution are twofold: - 1) the advancement of the Christian faith, in accordance with the basis of faith, primarily, but not exclusively within Bridgend and the surrounding neighbourhood; - 2) such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the charity trustees, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including, but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness; the advancement of education; and the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity, or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances, with the object of improving their conditions of life. 2 | P a g e ## Trustees responsibilities Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the church’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the church will continue to operate. The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the church and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the church and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## Review of activities The Trustees are committed to enabling all to worship at the Church and to be a part of the community in Bridgend. The Trustees maintain an overview of church activities. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer, the reading of scripture and preaching the word of God. When planning activities throughout the year, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith through: - Worship and prayer; learning about the Gospel and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus - Provision of pastoral care - Missionary and outreach work To facilitate this work, we maintain the fabric of the church and hall on Freeschool Court in Bridgend. ## Worship and prayer The purposes of the church, as set out above, are fulfilled through the core activities in the life of the church, namely, weekly Sunday worship services and a mid-week prayer meeting. Additional meetings are held at specific times during the year e.g. as we celebrate Easter and Christmas. Periodically, we focus our Sunday morning service on families and welcome visitors to these services. 3 | P a g e ## Pastoral care In addition to pastoral care offered to individuals the church has continued to run various activities and ministries having a wider public benefit. The mother and toddler group runs two well attended sessions during the week. We continued to run an evening café for Ukrainians who had moved into the locality as well as their host families. This proved to be a welcome provision for the many Ukrainians who attended and who continue to do so. During the year we commenced operating a community café. At our Community Café in Freeschool Court, our friendly volunteers care about people and serve the community by building relationships. Following an approach from Bridgend County Borough Council, we offered the Monday morning café fixture for the Council’s Warm Spaces programme. ## Missionary and outreach work Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. We provide regular support for a number of mission agencies working in various parts of the world. Locally, we hold open air meetings on a regular basis and various events in the church hall where visitors are invited to join us for fellowship and to listen to the Christian message in an informal setting. ## Future developments The trustees keep the activities of the Church under review. At present, there are no future developments planned. ## Financial summary The Church's core income is from gifts and donations given by the Church's members and adherents and gift aid rebates claimed from HM Revenue and Customs. In the 2023-24 financial year, these totalled £146,997 (2022-23 £127,310). In addition, the church received donations of £1,495 to its restricted Welfare fund. Direct charitable expenditure for the financial year was £117,166 (2022-23 £104,850) including earmarked gifts and payments from the welfare fund. ## Reserves policy The Church's policy is to maintain sufficient unrestricted funds (the free reserves of the church) for the effective day to day management of the church’s finances, such as to cover administration and support costs, as well as being able to respond to emergency needs which may arise from time to time. The Church aims to maintain general reserves at between 25% to 50% of annual income. At 31 March 2024, the Church held £74,445 (2022-23 £41,217) in general reserves. 4 | P a g e ## Risk management The trustees have put in place a number of policies and procedures relating to areas of risk in connection with various aspects of the church’s activities. These are periodically reviewed. The Safeguarding and Catering policies were reviewed during 2022-23. ## Administrative information The church’s correspondence address is: Freeschool Court Church 5 Freeschool Court Bridgend CF31 3AG ## Trustees approval of accounts The 2023-24 accounts and report were approved by the Trustees on 19 December 2024 and signed on their behalf by Dr AI Davies. 5 | P a g e ## Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Freeschool Court Church I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Freeschool Court Church (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2024 as set out on pages . ## Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## Independent examiner’s statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: David Rees CPFA 16 Plas y Llan, Cardiff CF14 2AF Date: 6 | P a g e ## Statement of receipts and payments |Note
**Receipts**
Gifts and donations
Gift Aid rebate
Rental income
Misc
Total receipts
**Payments**
**Direct charitable payments**
Ministry
3
Mission
4
Events and outreach
5
Maintenance and running costs
6
Welfare
Total
**Other expenditure**
16 Brackla Street
Assets
Management and admin
7
Total
Total payments
Net receipts for the year|General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
110,148
1,495
111,643
127,067
36,849
0
36,849
243
7,950
0
7,950
7,950
1,193
0
1,193
2,798| |---|---| ||156,140
1,495
157,635
138,058| ||42,648
0
42,648
34,563
47,983
0
47,983
49,665
7,722
0
7,722
6,629
13,551
0
13,551
8,143
0
5,262
5,262
5,850| ||111,904
5,262
117,166
104,850| ||2,053
0
2,053
493
2,176
0
2,176
88,019
3,012
0
3,012
6,380| ||7,241
0
7,241
94,892| ||| ||119,145
5,262
124,407
199,742| ||| ||36,995
(3,767)
33,228
(61,684)| ## Statement of balances |Note
Balance brought forward
Total receipts
Total payments
Transfers between funds
Balance carried forward|General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
41,217
0
41,217
102,901
156,140
1,495
157,635
138,058
(119,145)
(5,262)
(124,407)
(199,742)
(3,767)
3,767
0
0| |---|---| ||74,445
0
74,445
41,217| 7 | P a g e ## Statement of assets and liabilities ## Cash funds |Cash funds|| |---|---| |Note
Current account
Deposit accounts
Cash in hand
Total
Other monetary assets
Gift Aid Rebate due|General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
4,413
0
4,413
40,938
70,001
0
70,001
1
31
0
31
278| ||74,445
0
74,445
41,217| ||General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
14,218
163
14,381
23,309| ## Other monetary assets ## Liabilities The Church held no further significant liabilities as at 31 March 2024. ## Investment assets The Church owns a property at 16 Brackla Street, Bridgend. The property is let on a commercial basis for an annual rental of £7,950. ## Assets retained for the church’s own use The church holds the following assets for use in its various activities: |Description|Valuation basis|Valuation(£’000)| |---|---|---| |Church and hall|Historic|£1,135| |2 – 5 Freeschool Court, Bridgend|cost/valuation|| Assets recognised but not valued in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities include: - Moveable church furnishings and media/IT equipment. The attached notes on pages 9 to 10 form part of these financial statements. Approved by the trustees on 19 December 2024 and signed on their behalf by Dr AI Davies (Treasurer). 8 | P a g e ## Notes to the accounts ## 1. Basis of accounts The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis under the historical cost convention and are in accordance with the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2005 and guidance issued by the Charity Commission. ## 2. Fund accounting Under the Church’s governing document, the trustees of the Church are free to apply the unrestricted general funds for any of the Church’s charitable purposes set out in the governing document. Except for donations specifically for the restricted funds set out below, all funds held by the Church are unrestricted. The Church operates a restricted welfare fund. The Welfare Fund is used to provide support for individuals in need as identified by the trustees. ## 3. Ministry The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: |he church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities:|| |---|---| |Pastor salary and oncosts
Guest speakers|2023-24
Last year
£
£
38,411
33,131
4,237
1,432| ||42,648
34,563| ## 4. Mission The church incurred the following costs in supporting mission including overseas mission: |SIM
Other|2023-24
Last year
£
£
24,680
24,072
23,303
25,593| |---|---| ||47,983
49,665| ## 5. Events and outreach The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: |he church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities:|| |---|---| |Children and Young People
General outreach|2023-24
Last year
£
£
4,773
2,226
2,949
4,403| ||7,722
6,629| ## 6. Running costs and maintenance The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: 9 | P a g e |Utilities
Cleaning and supplies
Repairs and maintenance|2023-24
Last year
£
£
8,796
3,937
3,739
3,244
1,016
962| |---|---| ||13,551
8,143| ## 7. Management and administration The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: |he church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities:|| |---|---| |Legal and accounting
Licences
Miscellaneous|2023-24
Last year
£
£
170
727
1,435
1,180
1,407
4,473| ||3,012
6,380| ## 8. Employee remuneration The church employed Rev. James Sibley as its pastor: |he church employed Rev. James Sibley as its pastor:|| |---|---| |Pastor salary
Employer’s National insurance and pension contributions|2023-24
Last year
£
£
36,994
28,277
4,920
4,616| ||41,914
32,893| ## 9. Related party transactions Except as stated in Note 9 Employee remuneration, no trustees were employed by the church. As is custom and practice within churches, contributions towards costs are paid to guest speakers to cover any absence of the church’s pastor. This includes contributions to trustees. Gifts may also be made from the church’s welfare fund where there is an identified welfare need. Related trustees are not involved in decisions made regarding such gifts. Mr M Pickett received welfare donations of £450, earmarked gifts of £875 and £1,425 for Christian ministry work including services preaching at the church to cover the pastor’s absence and attendance at a conference. No other trustees received any payments. 10 | P a g e ## Freeschool Court Church Trustees’ Report and Statement of Accounts Financial year ended 31 March 2024 ## Contents |Contents|| |---|---| ||Page| |Trustees’ annual report|2| |Independent examination certificate|6| |Financial statements|7| |Notes|9| 1 | P a g e ## Trustees' Report The Trustees present their report, along with the financial statements of the church, for the financial year ended 31 March 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 9 and in compliance with the church's constitution, rules and applicable law. ## Structure, governance and management The Church is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The registered charity number is 1191312. The managing trustees of the church are the church elders. In June 2024 the Church appointed two additional elders to meet the growing needs of the church. Elders are appointed in line with the process set out in the church handbook. Elders are elected by the church members. The trustees during the financial year ended 31 March 2024 and at the date of approval of accounts were: |accounts were:|||| |---|---|---|---| |**Trustee**|**Position**|**Appointed**|**Retired/Resigned**| |**Arfon Ieuan Davies**|Elder/Treasurer|16/09/2020|-| |**Iwan Rhys Jones**|Elder/Secretary|16/09/2020|-| |**Mark Pickett**|Elder|16/09/2020|-| |**James Sibley**|Pastor|01/11/2021|~~-~~| |**Mark Gilmore**|Elder|30/06/2024|-| |**Trevor White**|Elder|30/06/2024|-| The elders meet together on a regular basis during the year to discuss and administer the affairs of the church. Reports on church activities are made to the church at quarterly members’ meetings. The trustees are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance including deciding on how the funds of the Church are to be spent. This is subject to church member approval of expenditure over limits set in the church constitution. ## Charity objects The purposes of the church, as set out in paragraph 3 of the constitution are twofold: - 1) the advancement of the Christian faith, in accordance with the basis of faith, primarily, but not exclusively within Bridgend and the surrounding neighbourhood; - 2) such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the charity trustees, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including, but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness; the advancement of education; and the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity, or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances, with the object of improving their conditions of life. 2 | P a g e ## Trustees responsibilities Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the church’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the church will continue to operate. The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the church and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the church and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## Review of activities The Trustees are committed to enabling all to worship at the Church and to be a part of the community in Bridgend. The Trustees maintain an overview of church activities. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer, the reading of scripture and preaching the word of God. When planning activities throughout the year, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith through: - Worship and prayer; learning about the Gospel and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus - Provision of pastoral care - Missionary and outreach work To facilitate this work, we maintain the fabric of the church and hall on Freeschool Court in Bridgend. ## Worship and prayer The purposes of the church, as set out above, are fulfilled through the core activities in the life of the church, namely, weekly Sunday worship services and a mid-week prayer meeting. Additional meetings are held at specific times during the year e.g. as we celebrate Easter and Christmas. Periodically, we focus our Sunday morning service on families and welcome visitors to these services. 3 | P a g e ## Pastoral care In addition to pastoral care offered to individuals the church has continued to run various activities and ministries having a wider public benefit. The mother and toddler group runs two well attended sessions during the week. We continued to run an evening café for Ukrainians who had moved into the locality as well as their host families. This proved to be a welcome provision for the many Ukrainians who attended and who continue to do so. During the year we commenced operating a community café. At our Community Café in Freeschool Court, our friendly volunteers care about people and serve the community by building relationships. Following an approach from Bridgend County Borough Council, we offered the Monday morning café fixture for the Council’s Warm Spaces programme. ## Missionary and outreach work Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. We provide regular support for a number of mission agencies working in various parts of the world. Locally, we hold open air meetings on a regular basis and various events in the church hall where visitors are invited to join us for fellowship and to listen to the Christian message in an informal setting. ## Future developments The trustees keep the activities of the Church under review. At present, there are no future developments planned. ## Financial summary The Church's core income is from gifts and donations given by the Church's members and adherents and gift aid rebates claimed from HM Revenue and Customs. In the 2023-24 financial year, these totalled £146,997 (2022-23 £127,310). In addition, the church received donations of £1,495 to its restricted Welfare fund. Direct charitable expenditure for the financial year was £117,166 (2022-23 £104,850) including earmarked gifts and payments from the welfare fund. ## Reserves policy The Church's policy is to maintain sufficient unrestricted funds (the free reserves of the church) for the effective day to day management of the church’s finances, such as to cover administration and support costs, as well as being able to respond to emergency needs which may arise from time to time. The Church aims to maintain general reserves at between 25% to 50% of annual income. At 31 March 2024, the Church held £74,445 (2022-23 £41,217) in general reserves. 4 | P a g e ## Risk management The trustees have put in place a number of policies and procedures relating to areas of risk in connection with various aspects of the church’s activities. These are periodically reviewed. The Safeguarding and Catering policies were reviewed during 2022-23. ## Administrative information The church’s correspondence address is: Freeschool Court Church 5 Freeschool Court Bridgend CF31 3AG ## Trustees approval of accounts The 2023-24 accounts and report were approved by the Trustees on 19 December 2024 and signed on their behalf by Dr AI Davies. 5 | P a g e ## Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Freeschool Court Church I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Freeschool Court Church (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2024 as set out on pages . ## Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## Independent examiner’s statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: David Rees CPFA 16 Plas y Llan, Cardiff CF14 2AF Date: 6 | P a g e ## Statement of receipts and payments |Note
**Receipts**
Gifts and donations
Gift Aid rebate
Rental income
Misc
Total receipts
**Payments**
**Direct charitable payments**
Ministry
3
Mission
4
Events and outreach
5
Maintenance and running costs
6
Welfare
Total
**Other expenditure**
16 Brackla Street
Assets
Management and admin
7
Total
Total payments
Net receipts for the year|General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
110,148
1,495
111,643
127,067
36,849
0
36,849
243
7,950
0
7,950
7,950
1,193
0
1,193
2,798| |---|---| ||156,140
1,495
157,635
138,058| ||42,648
0
42,648
34,563
47,983
0
47,983
49,665
7,722
0
7,722
6,629
13,551
0
13,551
8,143
0
5,262
5,262
5,850| ||111,904
5,262
117,166
104,850| ||2,053
0
2,053
493
2,176
0
2,176
88,019
3,012
0
3,012
6,380| ||7,241
0
7,241
94,892| ||| ||119,145
5,262
124,407
199,742| ||| ||36,995
(3,767)
33,228
(61,684)| ## Statement of balances |Note
Balance brought forward
Total receipts
Total payments
Transfers between funds
Balance carried forward|General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
41,217
0
41,217
102,901
156,140
1,495
157,635
138,058
(119,145)
(5,262)
(124,407)
(199,742)
(3,767)
3,767
0
0| |---|---| ||74,445
0
74,445
41,217| 7 | P a g e ## Statement of assets and liabilities ## Cash funds |Cash funds|| |---|---| |Note
Current account
Deposit accounts
Cash in hand
Total
Other monetary assets
Gift Aid Rebate due|General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
4,413
0
4,413
40,938
70,001
0
70,001
1
31
0
31
278| ||74,445
0
74,445
41,217| ||General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
14,218
163
14,381
23,309| ## Other monetary assets ## Liabilities The Church held no further significant liabilities as at 31 March 2024. ## Investment assets The Church owns a property at 16 Brackla Street, Bridgend. The property is let on a commercial basis for an annual rental of £7,950. ## Assets retained for the church’s own use The church holds the following assets for use in its various activities: |Description|Valuation basis|Valuation(£’000)| |---|---|---| |Church and hall|Historic|£1,135| |2 – 5 Freeschool Court, Bridgend|cost/valuation|| Assets recognised but not valued in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities include: - Moveable church furnishings and media/IT equipment. The attached notes on pages 9 to 10 form part of these financial statements. Approved by the trustees on 19 December 2024 and signed on their behalf by Dr AI Davies (Treasurer). 8 | P a g e ## Notes to the accounts ## 1. Basis of accounts The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis under the historical cost convention and are in accordance with the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2005 and guidance issued by the Charity Commission. ## 2. Fund accounting Under the Church’s governing document, the trustees of the Church are free to apply the unrestricted general funds for any of the Church’s charitable purposes set out in the governing document. Except for donations specifically for the restricted funds set out below, all funds held by the Church are unrestricted. The Church operates a restricted welfare fund. The Welfare Fund is used to provide support for individuals in need as identified by the trustees. ## 3. Ministry The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: |he church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities:|| |---|---| |Pastor salary and oncosts
Guest speakers|2023-24
Last year
£
£
38,411
33,131
4,237
1,432| ||42,648
34,563| ## 4. Mission The church incurred the following costs in supporting mission including overseas mission: |SIM
Other|2023-24
Last year
£
£
24,680
24,072
23,303
25,593| |---|---| ||47,983
49,665| ## 5. Events and outreach The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: |he church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities:|| |---|---| |Children and Young People
General outreach|2023-24
Last year
£
£
4,773
2,226
2,949
4,403| ||7,722
6,629| ## 6. Running costs and maintenance The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: 9 | P a g e |Utilities
Cleaning and supplies
Repairs and maintenance|2023-24
Last year
£
£
8,796
3,937
3,739
3,244
1,016
962| |---|---| ||13,551
8,143| ## 7. Management and administration The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: |he church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities:|| |---|---| |Legal and accounting
Licences
Miscellaneous|2023-24
Last year
£
£
170
727
1,435
1,180
1,407
4,473| ||3,012
6,380| ## 8. Employee remuneration The church employed Rev. James Sibley as its pastor: |he church employed Rev. James Sibley as its pastor:|| |---|---| |Pastor salary
Employer’s National insurance and pension contributions|2023-24
Last year
£
£
36,994
28,277
4,920
4,616| ||41,914
32,893| ## 9. Related party transactions Except as stated in Note 9 Employee remuneration, no trustees were employed by the church. As is custom and practice within churches, contributions towards costs are paid to guest speakers to cover any absence of the church’s pastor. This includes contributions to trustees. Gifts may also be made from the church’s welfare fund where there is an identified welfare need. Related trustees are not involved in decisions made regarding such gifts. Mr M Pickett received welfare donations of £450, earmarked gifts of £875 and £1,425 for Christian ministry work including services preaching at the church to cover the pastor’s absence and attendance at a conference. No other trustees received any payments. 10 | P a g e Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Freeschool Court Church I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Freeschool Court Church (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2024 as set out on pages 7 to 10. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charty trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the p￿ParatIon of the accounts in acwrdance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Tnjst's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wilh the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect.. 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act,. or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed.. David Rees CPFA 16 Plas y Llan, Cardiff CF14 2AF Date. 16101 {2oZS 61Page