Trustee Annual Report For the Year Ended 31 March 2024
Structure, Governance & Management
Governing Document
Reaching 4 Christ is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The Charity Commission granted Registered Charity status on 30 October 2020 under registration number 1192078 .
For the year ending 10 April 2024, the Church was governed by a Church Constitution dated 10 April 2023. A Church Covenant sets out the beliefs and practices of the members and deals with the day-to-day operation of the Church, including the appointment of Elders.
Organisational 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 activities of the Church. The decisions of the Trustees are subject to scrutiny by the members at business meetings held at least four times a year. Significant financial decisions are taken with consideration of members' advice as per the Church's governing documents. The Trustees are not remunerated for their work as Trustees.
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees
Trustees and Elders are proposed by the existing Trustees after assessing the need for additional leadership and ensuring the proposed individual meets the qualifications outlined in the Church Constitution. New Trustees are elected by the members and undergo a training and induction process overseen by the existing Trustees. Some elements of the induction may be delegated to staff members.
Risk Management
The Trustees have examined the major strategic and operational risks facing the Church and have established monitoring systems to address and mitigate those risks effectively.
Objectives
The primary objective of Reaching 4 Christ is the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, primarily but not exclusively within Birmingham and surrounding areas. The Church also undertakes other charitable purposes that further its mission.
Review of Activities and Public Benefit
The Church holds a series of weekend and midweek activities and provides financial support to individuals and organisations involved in Christian activities. In planning and reviewing these activities, the Church adheres to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, particularly the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.
Church activities include:
-
Sunday morning services and midweek prayer meetings
-
Community outreach initiatives, including support for refugees integrating into UK society
-
Small group Bible study and prayer sessions
-
Youth and children's ministries
-
Leadership development and training to equip Christians for ministry
Reaching 4 Christ is committed to Church planting in the Birmingham area and is actively involved with the Birmingham Collective for Church Planting, partnering with other churches to facilitate the launch of new congregations in the city.
Financial Review
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis, including a statement of assets and liabilities.
Summary of Financial Activity for the Year
-
Total Income: £81,077
-
Total Expenditure: £119,150
-
Deficit: £38,073
The Church primarily relies on grants and donations for funding. The deficit this year reflects the decision to utilise previously accumulated reserves for ministry expansion and operational costs.
The Church provides grants to various individuals and organisations engaged in Gospel ministry, subject to Trustee review and membership approval per the Church Constitution.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees aim to maintain reserves covering at least three months' operational costs, subject to funding availability. The level of reserves is reviewed regularly based on ongoing activities and circumstances.
-
General Fund Reserves (as of 30 March 2024): £7,480
-
Restricted Funds: Maintained separately and allocated only for approved projects.
Trustees' Responsibilities
Under charity law, the Trustees must prepare financial statements for each accounting year, maintaining accurate records that reflect the charity's financial position and ensuring compliance with the Charities Act 2011.
Trustees are responsible for safeguarding the Church's assets and taking reasonable steps to prevent fraud or financial mismanagement.
Approval
This report was approved by the Trustees on 7 Jan 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Antonino Berrondo Chair, Reaching 4 Christ
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe peflod 4111.?3 4110124 Section A Receipts and pa ments Unrnrtiict•d R•Btwl¢t•d lund• EndrJwrn•nt funds Tot1 luftd• • nmrmt t Af R•c•l t8 ¢1.077 81.P7f Sub total{Gross incom8 brAR) •f,07T A2 Asset and Inbwtm•nt Ml•. • tabl• . SI eotai 81.077 81,077 m•nts TrBvel Ex en¥•$ lJ7 612 011# Ex(n$8# Si* tof•l 119,110 A4 A•••t and InvMtm•nt purth••M, l•M ¢•bl•l S¥ total Tot•lp•ym•nts 1 f•.1$0 119,1JQ NgtolrneelMslp•ym•rtsJ A5 Transf•r• b•tw¢•n fund• Afj Ch funds last ye8r•nd Cash thts ye•renLI 38.073 38.073 4S.55J 45,553 7.480 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestsi¢ted Restricted funds funds Endowment funds Cat¢gorf•s CW R1 a¢a)unts ISSI
B1 CashfuTh Tofalc¥$h funds Unrnstrl¢t•d lund¥ to nMrwl£ Rmlrlctod fund• Endowm•n¢ Ivnd8 nMr•it É Detal Detall8 B3 Inv?•tm•nt ass•ts rA¥r•rt ¥•1 B4 Ajsets retalnod for th• CrIty,$ v*n u•• Detalls I11{ty r&•• 85 U•blllll•s Son8d by one or tsust•81 on beh•lt of 81 th• thJ8b8¥ Prh)t Nama Date ol approval Anlonino 08nDndo 4-Fèb-1S Lfxx R2 8l£t)unlS (SSI 2110125
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF REACHING 4 CHRIST FOR THE YEAR ENDED 10 APRIL 2024
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 10th april 2024
Resposibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its Directors for the purposes of company law ( you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act')
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charities Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent Examiner's Statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company a required by section 386 of the 2006 Act.
-
the accounts do not accord with those records: or
-
the accounts do not comply 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,
-
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 (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) ).
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.
Barron & Co
Abacus Court Bull Street Harborne Birmingham B17 0HH