## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 1 January 2023 Period start date to 31 December 2023 Period end date** ## **Charity name: Linton Road Free Church** ## **Charity registration number: 1194688** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**The object of the charity is for the public**
**benefit, the advancement of the**
**Christian faith in Kent and such other**
**parts of the United Kingdom and the**
**world as the Charity Trustees may from**
**time to time decide.**| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|**The charity (church) provides the**
**following services and activities: -**
**Regular worship services to which all**
**are welcome.**
**Regular group meetings with prayer and**
**Bible studies**
**Carrying outreach work both in the UK**
**and abroad to include but not limited to-**
**Providing gifts to “Friends of Helper” for**
**children in Tanzania, providing**
**education for local children and family**
**support;**
**Supporting the work of Starfish Malawi**
**in caring and educating street children**
**and those in poverty in Malawi;**
**Supporting Viva, in Uganda, an**
**international Christian children’s charity**
**passionate about releasing children**
**from poverty and abuse.**
**Coffee Stop – Once a month for**
**fellowship, everyone welcome.**| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**The Trustees of the charity have had**
**regards to the Charity Commission**
**guidance on public benefit in regard to**
**the activities of the Charity.**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|**Not Applicable**| |---|---|---| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|**Not Applicable**| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|**The primary contribution has been made**
**by Sandra Parsons the Treasurer and**
**Trustee, and Andrew and Ann Parfitt,**
**church leader and Deacon respectively.**
**In June 2023, Andrew Parfitt was called**
**home, and Garry Shoebrook seamlessly**
**took the position of Interim Ministry**
**Leader. He has led the church faithfully,**
**adhering to Andrew’s hopes and plans**
**for the church, and ministers to the**
**fellowship once a month at the present**
**time. We have several visiting**
**speakers, which contribute highly to the**
**worship services which we provide each**
**week. The numbers attending is**
**increasing and our finances reflect this.**
**In addition, volunteers assist in the**
**running of the charity and in the regular**
**church services, prayer meetings and**
**Bible studies. We also have times of**
**gathering for meals and fellowship.**
**We also have a Fire Officer, Malcolm**
**Thwaites, and with others help to**
**maintain and upkeep the property.**| |Other||**Communion is led by various members**
**of the fellowship besides the minister.**| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|**The numbers attending have increased**
**since Andrew Parfitt became Pastor and**
**Garry Shoebrook joined the ministry**
**team. Since Andrew’s passing, no-one**
**has left the fellowship which is a great**
**comfort to our Interim ministry leader.**
**The church has benefitted from their**
**commitment, and other visiting**
**speakers in the teaching ministry of the**
**church.**
**Our services are also supported by the**
**presence of worship leaders, which**
**adds an area of interest in the methods**
**of worship, and which most of the**| **fellowship are used to. This has led to an improvement in the wellbeing of members and attendees at the church with good times of fellowship, worship friendship and pastoral care. Contact with those away from the church through illness is mainly through Nicky Shoebrook, and those prevented from attending church are visited weekly by Sandy and Nicky. We keep in touch with each other, and assist where possible with all manner of issues. Sandy provides cd’s of the services for those unable to attend. We are very much a small family, and our church focus is Prayer, Care and the Word.** ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Achievements against
objectives set|
Para 1.41|| |---|---|---| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**The charity falls under the £500,000**
**turnover for detailed financial**
**accounting being a requirement. The**
**financial position has improved so that**
**the balance in hand as at 31 December**
**2023 was £14,901.29.**| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**Reserves are held to enable unforeseen**
**payments and bills to be paid and to pay**
**for maintenance of the church building.**| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**£6,552.04.**| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**Not applicable**| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**None**| |---|---|---| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**None, as with our new leader the church**
**is now stable again, and we are always**
**using opportunities to advertise our**
**presence, and encourage members of**
**the public living locally around us to**
**attend, by posting fliers and notices**
**through letterboxes. We are making**
**plans for our Bi-Centennial Celebration**
**in April 2025. Garry is very committed**
**to the church, and the need for the Word**
**of God to be preached. He also has the**
**support of Elders from other churches,**
**who advise and encourage him in his**
**mission to keep this church going**
**forward for many years to come. He is a**
**blessing to this church, and his vision**
**for our future standing in the wider**
**community.**| |**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:||| |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|**The principal source of funds is through**
**members and attendees giving through**
**bank accounts on a regular basis and**
**freewill offerings at church services. Of**
**course, as a charity, we now claim Gift**
**Aid where possible from HMRC, which**
**adds to our fiscal situation.**| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**Not applicable**| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**The number of members over the age of**
**70 shows that this church is serving a**
**need within the community, for worship**
**within a quieter setting than most family**
**churches. With the addition of the**
**younger Ministry Partner and his wife,**
**the church is aiming to expand and**
**develop.**| |Other||| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**The Constitution of the Charitable**
**Incorporated Organisation.**| |How is the charity
constituted?|Para 1.25|**Charitable Incorporated Organisation.**| |(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)||| |---|---|---| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|**The existing Trustees elect volunteers**
**who must subscribe and adhere to, in**
**belief and lifestyle, the Statement of**
**Faith. We now have 4 Trustees of which**
**2 have been re-elected for a further**
**three-year term. The other two to re-new**
**their position in 2025 and 2026.**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|
Para 1.51|
**The Trustees are encouraged to have**
**regard to the guidance for Trustees**
**published by the Charity Commission**
**and courses available for their ongoing**
**training. Sandy Parsons and Nicky**
**Shoebrook are going to follow the**
**Charity Commission webinars, as they**
**become available, in particular for**
**Trustees, Financial government, and**
**managing Media risks.**| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|**The church is an independent Free**
**Church and is a member of the**
**Evangelical Alliance.**| |Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|**It has an established relationship with**
**the Staplehurst Free Church for mutual**
**support and 2 of our Trustees are**
**members of the Staplehurst Free**
**Church.**
**We partner Holy Trinity Church,**
**Coxheath in the Annual World Day of**
**Prayer service, and host the programme**
**alternate years.**| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Linton Road Free Church| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|| |Registered charity number|1194688| |Charity’s principal address|157 Linton Road, Loose, Maidstone, Kent ME15 0AL| ||| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Sandra Rose
Parsons|Treasurer/Administrator||Trustees of Linton Road Free
Church| ||Terence Robert
Hawgood|Chairman||Ditto| ||Clive Jones|||Ditto| ||Nicky Shoebrook|Safeguarding and
Policies officer|From 30/03/23|Ditto| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| ## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity **Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this fall within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of Name Address adviser** **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** Linton Road Free Church - HSBC Bank Annual Accounts 2023 SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS General Fund 2023 P/Cash 2022 Bank balance at 01/0112023 Income 2023 Total Assets for 2023 £11,175.96 £1.12 £4,677.03 £44,982.84 £29,648.29 Expenditure 2023 £30,081.55 £18,472.33 Bank Balance at 31/12/2023 £14.901.29 £1.12 £11,175.96 Business Money Manager A/C 2023 2022 Bank balance at 01/0112023 Income 2023 Total assets for 2023 £1,501.62 £500.00 £6,652.04 £1,501.62 Expenditure 2023 Balance at 31/12/2023 £100. £6,552.04 £1.501.62 ANALYSIS INCOME In dark red - Gasds General Donations from Coffee Stop Donatlons from cards Donations for meal Gasds offerings (Bag) Gift Aid (Electronic and hand) Other Income HMRC Donation from P Ledger Donation from M Gladwin Donation from GNFE (Gideons) Donation for new door Donations General EDF Refund Gas EDF Refund Elec Test Bmm a/c Total General 2023 2022 £285.03 £219.80 £22.00 £6,155,70 £16,512.00 £6,687.65 £250.00 £50.00 £245.00 £1,512.00 £133.87 £4,148.93 £11,816.00 £7,920.16 £780.00 £1,390.05 357.65 0.00 £33,786.88 £24,798.96 Mlssions MCWS Total Missions £20.00 £20.00 £172 £172.30 Outreach £0.00 £0.00 Total Income Gain/Loss £33,806.88 £8,835.62 £24,971.26 £19,160.95 EXPENDITURE General Advert - Flnd a Church Account Charges Catering/Commodities CCLI Fee5 & Licences DBS checks/Membership EE Broadband EA Membership Garage Rent Insurances Ministry Gifts Sponsorship Stationery Tfr to Bmmm Account utilities/Elec/gas/water Wix Website costs 2023 £22.00 £132.63 £1,185.89 £377.30 £181.75 £217.28 £90.00 £705.78 £1,006.06 £1,575.00 £80.00 £147.05 £5,100.00 £5,588.16 £172. £16,581.58 2022 £22.00 £96.07 £367.66 £351.89 £218.25 £192.64 £571.11 £928.27 £585.00 £58.21 £1,000.00 £4,174.50 72.6 £8.738.28 Fellowship Various love gifts to fellowship £734.09 690.58 Miscellaneous Rock Salt Wilko (Bunting) 8.99 £1 £28.26 Mlsslons Total Missions (See page 3) £4,910.00 £2,720.00 Outreach Christmas fliers/Invite/Cards £66.01 £6.84 Property Assets Various small purchases New front door £603.69 £1 12. £2.115.69 £429.00 .27 £1,675.27 Maintenance Big Mow (Garden) County Fire Check Domestic Services Gas Alliance (Ga5 service) Mike Oliver (Hydroboil) £720.00 £76.20 £920.00 £185.00 £720.00 £64.10 £840.00 £170.00 £72. £1,866.10 £1.981.20 Repairs James Bashford (Elec) A Hopper (Refurbishment) Avalo (Pc) Big Mow (Fence panel) Front elevation Refurblshment Front door repair £165.00 £60.00 £ioo.00 £3,510.00 £3,692.98 £2,747.00 Petty Cash Payments NIL NIL Total Expendlture GaSn/Loss £30.081.55 £11,609.22 £18,472.33 MISSION FUNDS INCOME MCWS £20.00 £172.30 EXPENDrruRE British Red Cross Christians Against Poverty Crisis at Christmas Church Army Family Trust Friends of Helper Good News for Everyone MADM Maidstone CWS Maidstone Street Pastors Miriam Friday (Africa) Premier Radio Salvation Army Starfish Malawi Tearfund Turkey Tearfund Ukraine Total Missions £ioo.00 £250.00 £300.00 £250.00 £120.00 £500.00 £250.00 £250.00 £750.00 £60.00 £250.00 £550.00 £250.00 £250.00 £250.00 £650.00 £750.00 £500.00 £ioo.00 £500.00 £7 £2,720.00 £4.910.00 Cornpiled by Sandy Parsons Treasurer 3010312024 Linton Road Free Church HSBC ACCOUNTS SUMMARY 2023 GENERAL FUND Petty Cash Balance at 01/0112023 Bank Balance at 01/0112023 £1.12 Totsl Balance at 01/0112023 £11.177.08 Income from 2023 £33 Total Assets for 2023 £44,983.96 Expenditure for 2023- ex bank £30,081.55 ex Cash £30,081.55 Balance as at 31/1212023 Bank Balance as at 3111212023 £13574.34 Petty Cash as at 3111212023 Total Balance as at 3111212023 £13575.46 December Income Bank in January 2024 Balance as at 3111212023 Business Money Manager Account Balance as at 01/0112023 £1,501.62 Income for 2023 £6.652.04 Expenditure for 2023 Balance as at 31/1212023