REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 FOR
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH (Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
Registered charity number: 1192378
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 |
| Statement of Financial Activity | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 |
| Independent Accountants' Report | 11 |
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
CHARITY INFORMATION
Legal and Administrative Details
The church was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 17 November 2020 under registered number 1192378.
Trustees
The following trustees served during the year and have continued to serve up to the date of this report:
Jeanette Michelle Clements – Chair Keith William Milne - Treasurer Justine Michelle Fitchett
Registered Office
38A Pigeon Lane Herne Bay Kent CT6 7ES
Independent Examiner
Hilary Adams Ltd Chartered Accountants 158 High Street Herne Bay Kent CT6 5NP
Page 1
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
The trustees present their annual report and the accounts of Whitstable Community Church (the church) for the year ended 31 August 2023. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out and comply with the church’s constitution and applicable law.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Whitstable Community Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
The church is led by a team of three elders, one of whom is a salaried full-time employee, and a wider leadership team comprising a further six unpaid volunteers.
The management of the CIO is the responsibility of the trustees, also unpaid. The method of appointment of the trustees, and their functions and duties, are set out in the church’s constitution. The trustees are the only members of the CIO.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives
The principal object of the CIO is the advancement of the Christian faith in Whitstable and the surrounding area, and also elsewhere in the United Kingdom and the world as appropriate.
Principal activity
Our principal activity is the provision of worship, prayer, community and Christian teaching, through our main Sunday meetings and other activities during the week.
Vision statement
Following Jesus. Growing together. Sharing our hope.
Statement on public benefit
In deciding what activities the church should undertake during the period the trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The trustees consider that the objectives for which the church was registered as a charity, and the manner in which they have exercised their duties and powers, are for the public benefit.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
In our second full year as an independent charity, Whitstable Community Church has continued to thrive. Regular attendance, at both Sunday services and Small Groups, has increased, and our financial position remains stable despite increased activities leading to increased expenditure, and a higher proportion of our income being given away in support of other ministries.
Our membership has remained fairly consistent at around 50 members, most of whom are involved with Small Groups. These groups, typically 8-12 in number, meet fortnightly for worship, prayer, Bible study and discussion. Some of the groups also share meals together regularly. Many members are also part of a discipleship group, meeting regularly with two or three others to build deeper relationships and encourage spiritual growth. We have also continued to meet on Sunday evenings, usually monthly, for worship and prayer.
We started the year with a special service to commission our first three elders. The extra stability provided by this team gave us the opportunity to launch a full year’s teaching series, ‘Life to the full’, with supportive resources for individual use and for leaders of Small Groups. We were also able to run a series of training events for the Small Groups, equipping members to share their faith with others.
Page 2
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (continued)
Having a team of elders in place, along with the wider leadership team and a number of other church members serving as a preaching team, enabled us to start planning for a sabbatical for our salaried elder, who has been serving us full-time since our launch, and previously in a similar capacity for The City Church Canterbury. This sabbatical took place from May to July, and we were able to keep most aspects of church life functioning normally during that period, with some support from leaders of other churches in the Relational Mission family.
Initiatives that we started last year have continued. Many members have opened their homes to others in the church and their wider families for our termly Hospitality Sundays, and in the summer this was expanded into a picnic for the whole church. For the second year running we ran an Easter Treasure Hunt around Whitstable, which proved very popular, and also encouraged church members to reach out to neighbours with gifts of Easter eggs and an Easter message.
After all the disruption of Covid we were delighted to have a ‘real’ Carol Service at Christmas, having had to make do with Zoom in the two previous years. On Christmas Day we joined with our friends at Beacon Church in Herne Bay for a combined service.
In the Autumn term we launched an After School Club, providing a safe, warm space for families to come and connect together after school. Then in January we started another new initiative, Journey Through The Bible, an evening event which aims to give an overview of how the whole Bible fits together. So far we have had just three sessions, but we are trying to settle into a more regular pattern. For both of these events we are indebted to The Harbour Church in Whitstable for the use of their premises.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial overview
The results for the period are set out in the accounts which follow this report. Income received in the period was £72,450 (2022: £72,692), and expenditure of £62,899 (2022: £62,185) was incurred, resulting in a net surplus of £9,551 (2022: £10,507).
All regular income is derived from church members’ donations and no outside fund raising is undertaken. All funds donated to the church are used either for the day-to-day operation and meetings of the church or to further Christian work in the UK or overseas in accordance with the objectives of the CIO.
Regular monthly giving has been sustained at a high level, which has been more than sufficient to cover the church’s day-to-day operations and to add to its general cash reserves.
A prime objective of the church is to give away an average of 10% of unrestricted income each year to support the advancement of the Christian faith in the UK and overseas. During the period covered by these accounts the amount given away or set aside for church planting or humanitarian projects has met this target.
Reserves policy
The policy of the trustees is to maintain sufficient liquid reserves to finance ongoing commitments such as rent and salaries, and to build sufficient reserves to enable the future development and expansion of the ministries of the church.
Page 3
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the church and of its incoming resources and application of resources for that year. In preparing those accounts, the trustees are required to:-
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. select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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. observe the methods and principles of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities”;
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. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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. follow applicable accounting standards, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and
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. prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the church will continue in existence.
The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the church, and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charites Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the church’s constitution. The trustees 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.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the church and financial information included on the church’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of accounts.
Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
……………………………………………………………………………………
Date: ……………………………………………
Jeanette Clements - Chair
Page 4
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (including Income and Expenditure Account) for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
| Funds 2023 Notes £ Incoming resources: Voluntary income: Donations & legacies 71,329 Investment income 859 Dividends received - Activities for generating funds: Fundraising income - Incoming resources from charitable activities: Subscriptions - Total incoming resources 72,188 Resources expended Costs of generating funds: Raising funds - Charitable activities 62,471 Total resources expended 4 62,471 STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES Net incoming resources before other recognised gains (net income for the year) 9,717 Other recognised gains Gain/(loss) on revaluation of investments - Net movement in funds 9,717 Total funds brought forward 59,232 Total funds carried forward 8 68,949 Unrestricted |
Restricted Funds 2023 £ 262 - - - - 262 - 428 428 (166) - (166) 757 591 |
Total Funds 2023 £ 71,591 859 - - - 72,450 - 62,899 62,899 9,551 - 9,551 59,989 69,540 |
Total Funds 2022 £ 72,600 92 - - - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72,692 | |||
| - 62,185 |
|||
| 62,185 | |||
| 10,507 - |
|||
| 10,507 49,482 |
|||
| 59,989 |
Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 8 to the financial statements.
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 31 August 2023
| Notes CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 7 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES FUNDS Restricted funds Unrestricted funds 8 |
31.3.23 £ 71,542 71,542 2,002 |
£ 69,540 69,540 591 68,949 69,540 |
31.3.22 £ 62,293 62,293 2,304 |
£ 59,989 59,989 757 59,232 59,989 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The charity is entitled to exemption from audit for the year ended 31 August 2023.
The trustees have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:
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(a) ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records which comply with the Charities Act and
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(b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charity.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” and the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................................ Jeanette Clements (Chair) - Trustee
Page 6
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
1. STATUTORY INFORMATION
Whitstable Community Church is a registered charity. The charity's registered number and principal address can be found on the Charity Information page.
2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Accounting convention
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention
Financial Reporting Standard Number 1
Exemption has been taken from preparing a cash flow statement on the grounds that the charity qualifies as a small charity.
Fund accounting
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Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectivities of the charity.
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Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
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Gifts and donation are recognised when received;
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Investment income is included when receivable.
Resources expended
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes VAT and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates:
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Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with both the costs of attracting the income and those of providing the facilities to generate the income.
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Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
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Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the audit fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.
Pension Contributions
The charity makes regular contributions towards the personal plans of employees in compliance with the workplace pension regulations. Contributions are charges to staff costs as incurred.
EMPLOYEES
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Pension |
31.8.23 £ 40,824 - 3,266 44,090 |
31.8.22 £ 38,880 116 3,110 |
|---|---|---|
| 42,106 |
The average monthly number of employees during the year was 1 (2022: 1)
Page 7
continued…
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
| 4. TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED Direct expenditure Staff costs Mercy Ministries Outreach events Meetings Training and development Tithe gifts for others Support costs Administrative and operational costs Governance costs Independent examinations of accounts Total resources expended |
Unrestricted Funds £ 44,320 3,070 292 432 9,409 924 1,620 60,067 1,684 720 62,471 |
Restricted Funds £ - 428 - - - - - 428 - - 428 |
2023 Total £ 44,320 3,498 292 432 9,409 924 1,620 60,495 1,684 720 62,899 |
2022 Total £ 42,386 1,078 166 637 8,482 380 6,633 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59,762 | ||||
| 1,703 720 |
||||
| 62,185 |
Page 8
continued...
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
5. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 August 2023 nor for the year ended 31 August 2022.
6. TAXATION
As a charity Whitstable Community Church is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 Of the Taxes Act 1988 or s256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the Charity.
7. CREDITORS: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
| Trade creditors Other creditors Taxation and social security |
31.8.23 £ 911 720 371 |
31.8.22 £ 889 - 1,415 |
|---|---|---|
| 2,002 | 2,304 |
8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Christmas hampers Gifts for others Mercy funds – external/stationery packs Mercy funds – Pat Cuckow |
At 1.9.22 Net movement in funds At 31.8.23 £ £ 59,232 9,717 68,949 454 (166) 288 - - - 57 - 57 246 - 246 |
|---|---|
| 59,989 9,551 69,540 |
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continued…
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued for the Year Ended 31 August 2023
8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS – continued
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Christmas hampers Gifts for others Mercy funds – external/stationery packs Mercy funds – Pat Cuckow |
Income resouces Resources expended Transfer in funds Movement in funds £ £ 72,188 (62,471) - 9,717 - (166) - (166) 262 (262) - - - - - - - - - - |
|---|---|
| 72,450 (62,899) - 9,551 |
Christmas hampers : money given specifically for Christmas food gifts to contacts of the church in particular financial need.
Mercy funds – external/stationery packs: money given for random acts of kindness to individuals with no other contact with the church.
Mercy funds – Pat Cuckow: money given to provide practical support for a particular church member in need.
Page 10
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TOTHE TRUSTEES ON THE UNAUDThED F114A14CIAL STATEMENTS OF WHITABLE COMMUNITY CHURCH We report on the èccDunts of the charity for the year 31 August 2023. which are set out on pages 5 to io. Respectlve responslbllltles of trnstees and examlner The charity's trustees are responsible lor the pparati of the accounts. The chanty's trustees consider that an audrt 15 not required for th15 year ufider section 144 of the CharitE5 Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an Ind@ndnt Èxamination is nÈÈded. examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Att,. to follow the procedures laid down In the general Oirectlons glven by the Charlty Cornrnission under section 145lsllbl of the 2011 Act,. and to stste v4hether wirticukr matters have come to our attention. Basls of Independent ex•mlner'* report Our examination was carried out In accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Cornmission. An examination includes a revievl of the accounting records kept by the charity and comparison of the accounts presented with those record5. It also includes consiLleration of any unusual Items or disclosures In the accounts, and seeking exptsnatdS from you as trustees eoncerning any such rnatter5. The procedures undetsken do not provide all the evidence that ould be reouired In an audlt and consequently no opinion 1$ 9lven as to whether the accounts present a 'true and lalr vlew. and the report Is Ilmfted to ihose matters set out In the ststement below. Ind•p•nd•nt •xamln•rf• st•t•m•nt In conneclon wlth our examin8tk)n, no matter has come to our attention.. ILI which 9ives us reasonable cause to believe that in any materlal respett the requlrements.. to keep accountin9 COrdS In accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and to prepare accounts which accorLJ with the èccountlng records and cornply wlth the ccountlng requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met., or 121 to whlch. in our opinion. attentlon Shj be drawn In order to enable a proper understsndlng of the accounts to be reached. Hilary Adams Ltd Chartered Accountants 158 High Street Herne Bay Kent CT6 5NP Date.. This page doe5 llDt form of the statutory finanaal 5tatetnent Page 11