Reaching4Christ
TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT for the year ended 31 March 2023
Structure, Governance & Management
Governing Document
The Church is a registered CIO.
The Charity Commission granted Registered Charity status on 30 October 2020 under registration number 1192078.
For the year ending 31 March 2023, the Church was governed by a Church Constitution dated 10 April 2022. There is also a Church Covenant that sets out the beliefs and practices of the members and addresses the day-to-day operation of the Church, including the appointment of Elders.
Organizational Structure
The Church is governed by a leadership team (Trustees) comprising the Elders. They meet regularly throughout the year to set policy and review the Church's activities.
The decisions of the Trustees of the Church are subject to the scrutiny of the members of the
Church at business meetings, which occur at least four times a year.
Significant financial decisions are made after considering the advice of the members of the Church, as required by the Church's governing documents.
The Trustees are not remunerated by the Church for their work as Trustees.
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees
Trustees and Elders of the Church are proposed by the existing Trustees when they have determined the need for additional Trustees and confirmed that the proposed individual meets the qualifications outlined in the Church Constitution.
Following election by the members, the training and induction of new Trustees are overseen by the existing Trustees, who may delegate certain elements of the induction process to staff members.
Risk Management
The Trustees have examined the major strategic and operational risks that the Church faces and confirm that systems have been established to monitor those risks so that necessary steps can be taken to mitigate them.
Objectives
The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith is the main objective, primarily but not exclusively within Birmingham and the surrounding neighbourhood. The Church also aims to fulfil other charitable purposes that the Trustees believe will further the work of the Church.
Review of Activities and Impact for Public Benefit
The Church holds a series of weekend and midweek activities and provides financial support to individuals and organisations involved in Christian activities.
When planning and reviewing activities, the Church has given due consideration to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. Specifically, we aim to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our Church in the local community.
The Church's activities are overseen by its leadership and carried out by both the Church staff and a broad base of volunteers drawn from Church members and other regular attendees. This involvement spans all areas of Church life, including the leading of midweek groups, youth and children's activities, and community initiatives.
The Church welcomes members and attendees from all backgrounds with the aim of ensuring that they do not miss the opportunity to benefit from its activities. The Church is committed to growing in diversity to better reflect the community it serves.
As well as Sunday morning services, the Church also runs midweek meetings, ranging from prayer meetings to smaller community meetings. These meetings provide the opportunity for individuals to study the Bible and pray together in smaller groups. These smaller community groups also aim to serve the local community where opportunities arise, for example, supporting refugees in their integration into life in the UK. Meetings were a mixture of in-person and online due to ongoing restrictions.
The Church is committed to reaching, teaching, discipling, and training Christians to carry out Gospel ministry in our community and further afield. As part of this activity, the Church is committed to planting Churches in the Birmingham area. The Church is therefore involved with the Birmingham Collective for Church Planting, as part of a coalition of Birmingham Churches working in partnership to facilitate the launch of new churches.
Financial Review
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and include a statement of assets and liabilities and this Trustee Report.
The total incoming resources for the year were £50,647. Resources expended in the year were £29,659. This resulted in an overall surplus of £20,987.
The Church's funding principally comes from Grants. The surplus is a result of recognising previously that the levels of reserves held were more than necessary, so some of these reserves have been utilised this year.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees are committed to establishing a level of reserves for General Funds that will cover three months' costs, subject to sufficient funding being available to achieve this, while not hampering the ongoing development of the activities of the Church. The precise level of reserves to be attained will be subject to regular review, taking into account levels of activity and prevailing circumstances.
The level of General Funds at 31 March 2022 is more than three months of costs, but it is anticipated this will decrease during the next financial year based on the upcoming budget, agreed by Trustees and voted on by the Church membership.
In regard to restricted funds: they are accounted for separately; only accepted for projects or activities sanctioned by the Trustees and in accordance with the objectives of the Church, and expenditure is not committed beyond the level of funds received. The Trustees do not, therefore, have a specific reserves policy for restricted funds.
Trustees' Responsibilities
Charity law requires us as Charity Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the Trustees on 4 October 2022 and signed on their behalf by:
Antonino Berrondo Chair Reaching 4 Christ
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INDEPENtENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF REACHING 4 CHRIST111920781 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 11)th Aprll 2022 I report to the charity trustees on my examlnation of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 10th April 2022 Resposlbllltie5 and basls of report s the charity's trusiees of the Company land also its Directors for the purposes of company law l you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wtth the requirements of the Companies Act 2CM)61'the 2(Y)6 Act'l Having satisfied myself that the 3¢counts of the Cofflpany are not required to be audited under part 16 of the 2LK)6 Act and are eligible for independent examination, l report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out unde¥ section 145 of the Charitie5 Act 20111.the 2011 Aa'l. In Carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charities Commission under section 145151 Ibl of the 2011 Act. Independent Examlnerfs Statement I have cornpleted my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection wrf(h the examination giving me cause to believe: l. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company a required by section 386 of the 2006 Act. 2. the accounts do not accord wrth those records.. or 3. the accounts do not Comp with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of the independent examination= or, 4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the'statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities lapplicable to charilies preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reportin8 Standard applicable in UK and Republi¢ of Ireland IFRS10211. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connectlon with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper undeanding of the accounts to be reached. Barron & Co Abacus Court Bull stet Harbome Birmingham B17 OHH