The Prayerhouse
Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity number: 1192424.
Report and Financial Statements 1[st] April 2023 - 31[st] March 2024
Table of Contents
Report of the trustees............................................................................................................................2 Independent Examiner’s Report........................................................................................................... 8 Receipts and Payments Account...........................................................................................................9 Analysis of Receipts and Payments....................................................................................................10 Statement of Assets and Liabilities.....................................................................................................12
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Report of the trustees
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the period of 1[st] April 2023 - 31st March 2024. The Prayerhouse CIO was registered with the Charity commission on 19th November 2020. The Charitable Incorporated Organisation, 1192424. formed under Constitution formally represents the incorporation of the charitable trust The Prayerhouse 1005120 (formerly New Covenant Church Weymouth) and has updated its charitable objects. The CIO is the successor body to the original Charity.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objects and activities for public benefit
The objects of the CIO are to apply its funds for such exclusively charitable purposes as the trustees may think fit in accordance with its constitution. The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
The objects of the CIO are:
(1) The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of
Doctrines appearing in the Schedule of the CIOs constitution
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(2) The relief of persons who are in conditions of need, hardship, or distress, or who are aged, or sick.
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(3) The advancement of education on the basis of Christian principles.
Significant activities relating to the objects of the CIO:
Every Sunday the church gathers for worship and bible teaching, during this time there are also groups for children and young people. There is also opportunity during the week to gather in small groups (Life groups) for prayer, bible study, support and friendship. As a church we seek to help those in need (either through monetary gifts or practical support) who we meet through soul food, church members and other connections. We are also able to support those overseas through our partners working in various projects.
Grant making
The Trustees grant making powers are governed by the constitution, which allows them to make provision for the payment of grants, scholarships or allowances, as they consider appropriate.
Investment policy
The Trustees investment powers are governed by the constitution which permits the Charity's funds to be invested in a wide range of assets.
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Summary of main activities.
Meetings
Following a decision from Holy Trinity Primary School to initiate their own weekend activities, our letting arrangement with the school was terminated. Our last service at the school was on 31 March, Easter Sunday. It has not been easy to find a suitable alternative. At the time of our last meeting at Holy Trinity School we had not yet found somewhere to meet the following Sunday.
Office
The office at Gordon Row, Chapelhay has been made into a pleasant workplace. It has become a useful focal point for the church family during the week and a place of work for Fortunatus Franklin and Paul White. We now conduct our Monday morning Dayshift meeting - three hours of prayer and worship – from there. Sometimes the space is very full with all available seating taken. We have a good relationship with other businesses in Gordon Row and we have become well known to the regular passers by who peer in the window with great interest to observe what is going on on any particular day!
Being a Dad
On 21 February we launched the first session of a group called Being a Dad at the Chapelhay office, to run on Wednesday evenings for eight weeks. This is an informal group of dads ranging from dads of newborns to dads of teenagers. We dive into all the key topics of fatherhood including brain development, loving on purpose, discipline, creating a culture, behaviour and navigating special educational needs.
Ministers Breakfast
For many years the local ministers have met once a month for breakfast, prayer and support. In March this year Prayerhouse were able to host this breakfast at our office. We had a big turnout, with about 15 guests present. We plan to continue to host the local ministers’ breakfast in this way on into the future.
Azerbaijan
In January Paul White made a trip to Azerbaijan to visit a pastor from Turkmenistan who now lives and works from Baku, with his wife and family. Ali Nuryev has been connected with the Prayerhouse since the early 2000s. Ali travels frequently to Turkmenistan where he preaches and ministers among the church which is very much a persecuted minority in the country.
Personnel
Pete Millner, who has served on the Prayerhouse staff since 2009, applied successfully for the job of Pastor of Weymouth Baptist Church. He left the Prayerhouse and began work at the Baptist Church on the same day, 1 September. Pete led the youth team and was an enthusiastic Bible teacher and preacher. Others have stepped in to the roles vacated by Pete, but he and his family are greatly missed.
From 1st October 2023 We began paying Keira Franklin for one day per week as an administrative assistant to the church to help particularly with internal communication and organisation. She also coordinates the younger children’s group as part of the Sunday Service.
Prison Alpha
Sally and Peter Wallace organise a team from across a number of churches to deliver an Alpha Course in Portland Prison. They have been running the Alpha Course in the prison for a number of years. It is a very popular course among the prison population of the UK which takes attendees
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through the basics of the Christian Faith. In Portland Prison the team use a mix of the latest professionally produced Alpha videos, worship led by Fortunatus Franklin and live speakers including Paul White.
Zoomers
Over recent years a number of people have gone from Prayerhouse Weymouth to embark on mission work or church planting in different locations and nations. These have each expressed a wish to remain connected relationally to Prayerhouse. In December 2023 we launched a monthly online call to provide a regular point of connection with each other. Those involved are Raphael Öttinger (Norway), Josh White(Hampshire), Pete Millner (Weymouth Baptist Church), Claudio Barguena (Republic of Ireland), David White (Chickerell), Sam Sundar (New Zealand), Emma Tennant (Weymouth), Forchie Franklin (Weymouth) and Paul White (Weymouth). This has been an exciting development which it is hoped will be a means of offering real support to our wider family.
Ukraine
Paul White has continued to be involved in Ukraine and has made a number of visits in the past year. In May Paul met up again with Mark Wade in Ukraine and together they travelled across the country, heading east towards the Donbas region. They made stops at various points on the way in towns and cities where we now have strong connections: Ternopl, Rivne, Sloviansk, Toretsk and NewYork in Donbas, then back to Mukachevo, then Uzhorod and Berhove. At every point Mark and Paul’s visit means encouragement and a spiritual boost to the pastors and leaders who are facing great challenges on a daily basis.
Paul organised a conference for Ukrainian pastors and frontline project leaders for the beginning of October 2023. It was held in Hotel Sofia in Rivne, in the western part of Ukraine. It was offered free of charge as a gift to those whose lives are spent sacrificially serving traumatised people in the relentless crisis of war. Paul had found sponsors who generously donated £10,000 which covered the costs of the conference and left a surplus. This enabled funds to be distributed to projects led by some of the delegates. The conference, He Restores My Soul, was hosted by Paul White with Phil and Heather Read from the Lighthouse Church, Lytchett Matravers.
Brett Britton joined a team from Prayerhouse to Ukraine in February 2023. He has since made multiple trips to the country picking up ambulances in UK and delivering them to Ukraine to be used on the front line. Although these trips have not been a Prayerhouse initiative Brett’s volunteering and great contribution was sparked by his introduction to Ukraine by Prayerhouse.
Camp
It is great to be back in the rhythm of holding our Summer Children’s Camp once again at the end of the school summer term. This summer’s Camp was a huge success, with good weather, happy children and a great atmosphere the whole time. Children from a number of different churches in the South West attended.
We regularly hear stories from parents of how important Camp was for their children and we often hear stories from adults who attended one of our camps many years ago and of the profound impact Camp had on their lives.
Food Distribution
Wendy Selway continues to lead Soul Food, operating from Bethany Hall in Weymouth town. We serve hot meals to the homeless and vulnerably housed of our local community two evenings and two mornings a week. During a typical Soul Food evening we cater for between 20 and 30 guests. Anna White sorts through donated food from supermarkets, collected by Wendy Selway, every evening. Together with Brenda Harris, our chef, they come up with tasty, varied and nutritious food
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for our Soul Food guests. We have continued to be able to make good quality food freely available on Tuesday evenings to those in the community in need of some extra help using the Soul Food van. Collections are made from various supermarkets throughout the week, and twice each evening, sorted and loaded onto the van or stored in the freezer. Most of the food cooked and served by the Soul Food team is now carefully selected from donated food and we still have plenty to give away. Boxes are also prepared each week for families who are struggling to make ends meet. Deliveries of donated food are also made to one of the local schools twice a week.
Ongoing Ministry
The ministry of Prayerhouse continues in spite of the difficulties we face in finding somewhere suitable to meet. We continue to reach out to serve the local community, the surrounding area of the South West, and also to other nations. We not only run our own projects but people from Prayerhouse also serve as volunteers in other local projects run by Christians, serving the poor and vulnerable of our community. Such projects include Fresh Start, the Nest, Global Cafe and others. We actively support Refresh, a charity representing the Church in Weymouth and Portland - Paul White is a trustee of Refresh. We give financially to the work of Refresh which also includes the Weymouth and Portland branch of Christians Against Poverty.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The CIO received an income of £150797.91
Expenditure amounted to £139764.11
Resulting in an excess of receipts over payments of £11033.80
The reserves of the CIO remain at a a healthy level: £17,604.18 in general unreserved funds. £45,018.48 in designated funds and £69716.11 in reserved funds.
Reserves policy
The intention is to maintain sufficient free reserves in order to maintain the current level of activity and careful maintenance of assets.
Future plans:
The trustees will continue to look for a property to buy or rent in the Weymouth area that is big enough for the congregation of the Prayerhouse family (with space to grow) to meet on a Sunday and to carry out existing and new weekly activities.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document
The Prayerhouse is governed by a constitution dated 19th November 2020, and is a Charitable incorporated organisation.
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Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
In accordance with the Charity's governing document, the Trustees have the power to appoint new Trustees as required to enable the objectives of the Charity to be met.
Organisational structure
All decisions relating to the organisation and operation of the charity are made by the trustees, taking professional advice from advisers and third parties where it is deemed appropriate.
Induction and training of new trustees
On appointment, new trustees sign a model trustee declaration statement committing them to giving their time and expertise. The new trustee goes through an induction process, which includes meetings with the Chair and the trustees. Training is also provided to the trustee as required.
Related party transactions during the year
Paul White is a Trustee of the charity and therefore a related party. During the year Paul White received fees of £37712 for his role as Pastor of the church. Paul White does not receive payment for his role as a trustee.. The other Trustees have not been reimbursed for their service.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity number
1192424
Principal address:
8, Gordon Row, Chapelhay, Weymouth DT4 8LL.
Trustees
Paul White Clive Jackson Jonathan Matthews Anna Jackson
Elders & Pastors
Paul & Anna White (Pastors and Elders) Fortunatus Franklin (Assistant Pastor and Elder ) Peter Millner (Pastoral Assistant, resigned in August 2023)
Members of the Administrative Team
Caroline White, Finance Manager Keira Franklin, Admin Assistant (From October 2023)
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Independent Examiner
Neil Hardisty
Bankers
Lloyds banking plc
Insurance Brokers
Sarum Insurance Ltd, 7 Shaftesbury Street, Fordingbridge, Hants, SP6 1JF
Unity insurance services. Suite 8, The Quadrant, 60 Marlborough Road, Lancing Business Park, Lancing, West Sussex BN15 8UW
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements 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, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 20th Jan 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
P L White - Trustee
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Independent Examiner's Report CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGMD AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts section A Indeppndeni Exoffllner'$ Rvpori eportto the truslees rKoL45e . On•ctounts lorlh• year •nded sk S I IM&rch Xoxitr Chaty no 1118nyl 1192¥1 S•1 outors p• 4mnber 1oirfudelhEp4ge nwnber>olddlQrtal I r8POfl to the Iru5tee5 my trxarninalknn of the account¥ of the thanty (lhaTr1.I ftsrlhtr y6arendEd Responslbllltie5 and b•sls of report As Ihoehatiilslrustees, you reSpONbfQrle preparalKJn dthe attount8 In a¢[danC&With th2 requlremants of the CharitSAct 2011 heAct). I report in respe¢t ol my examinabon of IheTrusl'$ auounts car out under$ethon 145 olthe 2011 Act and in carrng outrnyexarninatian. I have followed all th2 aWICab Dirnctsons given by1 chatityc0rnmK dersecbon 14515llbl Df tA¢t. Independent trhe thariil5 gr055 income exceetsd £250.{ and l am qualffied lo examinerfs statèment underfake the examination by t¢ing a qualif m2mb2rof linsertnama of appliG4bÈ listed bodyll. D18 I I rf11{¢èbl0. I have Compted my ex8rnlnalk. I confinn Ihatno Materi matters have cometo rry attention In cfjnnectn the examinabon Ictherthanthat dlsd05ed b21LVI'I thiGh gNes me caus#t¢ belth that in, any matarfal respect.. the a¢¢ounting records We not kept nawordance 5e¢ttory 130 of the Charilies Act.. Qr the 9nts did notaccord vrilhtheaccounbng records", or the a¢¢tyJnt$ dKS not Comptyth ihe appl6 requ¢ments conc&mingthe fomi and Content of attwnLg setthrt in the Charibe5 (A¢unL83no Reptyt51 Regulations 2DD8 otherlhan anyr£uirnm8nt thallhe accounts gNe a Irue and la VW1th is not amatter Consered 35 partof an indep8ndenttrxarnination. I ha¥e rKJ concerns and have come acros$n¢ othw matters in neon with Ihe exarninalth lowhith attenlion should be dra1 in this reportin orderlo enable a woperunder8landing of tha accouThls lo be reathed. ' W6858 de19È9 Ih8 worfs tn lh8 brn¢k8ls rflb&ydonol&pply. Slgn•d'. Dat•.. Name.. Rol•vantprol88$lono1 quallflcatlonlil or body É.st, PL.2*. (H.ILs) T IER Oct 201B Iir•nyl: AddTrss: 174 7)er page 8
Receipts and Payments Account
For the period of 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024
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Analysis of Receipts and Payments
For the period of 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024
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Total neral Ebsignaled Peslricled Tris 5e3r st 5E3r £1,18 £1MI.18 £1.N874 1s.[ts £4M £19 £571.£ 161 1.67 1514. E1,312 £103 si £16391 £61778 £1, £19lSa £1. 1.75 f2..[ £614 19 4rD £15.&9$91 1.40 £125t.t £¢M6. £132 I.traTitU £5Tr £5.1.91 ,191 1N1.¢7YP £4,W.45 £1,517f £1, £4..45 £1S17.E8 £1..38 £4.W.8 1551.xul fcKQw(zEts £1.W 41S5 17 E%pÈnditurÈ on charitable tIVitIeS Tolals £111..39 ,5W.72 g21,7N.01 £136,1.17 £162.&14.23 (Aher expenditure 1s12-klsaots [3e r21( £1.1. £8.[1 £2.8r245 (Mher expenditure Totals £3,6W.00 £21.(D £3,621 £11.8Y45 paYnlS (>and Tolas £111,938 38 £6,1 72 £21,725 01 £139.764 11 £174,478 68 page 11
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As at 31[st] March 2024
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Balance Previous b31ance £123. £2.258 £5,036.92 5. Qmp petty cash 1001 .01 £21001 .01 2(.. 32 day notice savings COUnt £40,Cmm IldiruFu £70.455.04 (rrent kset £130.8.77 £119,SM.97 l>and Tot 82.8 Tl £115,1 97 page 13
There are no particulars of any guarantee given by the CIO, where any potential liability under the guarantee is outstanding at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities; and no particulars of any debt outstanding at the date the statement of assets and liabilities which is owed by the CIO and which is secured by an express charge on any of the assets of the CIO.
Approved by the Prayerhouse Weymouth on 20[th] January 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
P L White - Trustee
J M Matthews - Trustee
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