Abergavenny Baptist Church
Accounts
31 December 2023
Abergavenny Baptist Church
Independent Examiners Report to The Trustees and Members of Abergavenny Baptist Church
We report on the accounts of the church for the year ended 31st December 2023 which which are set out on pages 2 to 7
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiners
The church's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the church accounts. the church's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is our responsibility to:
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 act;
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to our attention.
Basis of independent examiners' report
Our examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiners' statement
In connection with our examination no matter has come to our attention:
(1) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or (2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
I Morris
C Lines
1
Abergavenny Baptist Church Trustees Report For The Year Ended 31 December 2023
The Trustees present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023
Reference and Administrative Details
| Charity Number | 1194889 | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | Frogmore Street | |
| Abergavenny | ||
| Monmouthshire | ||
| NP7 7AL | ||
| Trustees | ||
| Rev M Orsmond | Minister | |
| B Watkins | Children's Worker | |
| A O'Gorman | Youth and Family Worker | |
| J H C Morgan | Resigned 22/03/23 | |
| M Anderson | Treasurer | |
| L W Anderson | ||
| P Martin | Resigned 22/03/23 | |
| M Morgan | ||
| A I Wilde | Secretary | |
| I Gilbertson |
Trustees for a Charity Baptist Union Corporation
Structure, Governance and Management
Abergavenny Baptist Church is an unincorporated charitable association. It is governed by constitution. Charity Trustees are appointed by church members. Any person qualified to be a member of the church is eligible for election as a Charity Trustee (unless disqualified by statute), provided that they have been a member for at least 6 months and provided that, at all times at least 66% of the elected Charity Trustees shall be persons who have been baptised in accordance with the beliefs of the Baptist Union.
Objectives and Activities
The principal purpose of the church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination. The church may also advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.
The Activities may include but are not restricted to:
-
regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching;
-
baptism, as defined in the Union’s Declaration of Principle;
-
the Communion of the Lord’s Supper which shall normally be observed at least once a month;
-
evangelism and mission, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally;
-
the teaching, encouragement, welcome and inclusion of young people;
-
nurture and growth of Christian disciples;
-
education and training for Christian and community service;
-
giving and encouraging pastoral care;
-
supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the United Kingdom and abroad;
-
encouraging relationships with and supporting Baptists and other Christians.
2
Our weekly Sunday morning service has been well attended with many people of all age groups. Most people attend in-person but some attend via Zoom. The church also continues to hold a weekly women's fellowship meeting, a monthly prayer meeting, and many of the church's Life Groups meet fortnightly, either in-person, or a hybrid of both online and in-person. During the year, we had one Mayor’s Civic Service, one wedding service, one dedication service, and three funerals. There were no baptisms.
During the year the youth group has successfully maintained contact with an average of 10 young people attending in person, and two via zoom. This year we explored the Alpha series, studied Loved by Johnny Gumble and looked at the Scripture Union series on David. The youth assisted the foodbank on 3 occasions, sorting, weighing, and dating stock. In May, a group from the church attended The big Church festival, five people were from the youth group. It was a huge success so this is something we will encourage every year. We held our annual youth camp weekend in mid July and included a Kayaking activity for the first time which was a huge success. We continue to promote the Urban Saints House Camp, Bethany House Party and supported 5 young people from the church to attend this week away. We held a fundraising event in September to help assist families financially to attend camp. At Christmas the youth helped to decorate the church, lead the worship in the nativity service and joined in the choir at the Carol service.
ABC Toddlers continues to run as a Faith based Toddler group and has grown continually throughout the year. We now average 25 people weekly, with 30 attending most weeks. We have seen numbers around 34 on 6 occasions towards the end of 2023. Relationships are growing within the group we have been able to pray into situations or with mums many times.
Abergavenny Baptist children's' ministries have had another busy year during 2023. Our Sunday morning groups (ABC Kids) have regular attendance of up to 25 children ranging in age from 3-11 with new helpers/leaders joining during the year. It has been lovely to welcome some new families into the church and their children regularly attending on a Sunday morning. The Christmas period was our best ever with an average of 30 children taking part in each service. During the week our after school club of Dodgeball and Donuts is still proving popular with primary aged children. Numbers usually into the twenties. Our seasonal events continue to be well attended. We held an Easter Eggstravaganza Hunt in a local park for the first time, along with our annual Summer Holiday Club, Super Heroes Light Party and No rehearsal Nativity. More than 30 children took part in each of these events and we are looking forward with excitement to see what God has got planned for us in 2024.
2023 was another busy year at the Foodbank in Abergavenny where we witnessed an 18% increase in the number of referrals. 1114 parcels were given out to our clients, helping to feed 1674 adults and 922 children.
Given the current cost of living, the level of need has risen, and the increase in people needing help often outstrips donations, and we are now having to purchase a great deal more than normal at a higher price. In 2022, we purchased 20% of our total stock, whereas in 2023 that percentage increased to 50%. Thankfully we can cope with this increase at the present time because of a healthy bank balance and the financial support of the local community, but we are mindful of the need to monitor the situation carefully, given a highly challenging and rapidly changing environment where inflation rates remain higher than anticipated and social security payments fall short of the cost of the essentials we all rely on.
3
In January 2023, Abergavenny Foodbank was awarded a one year grant of Financial Inclusion funding from Trussell Trust with potential for further funding for another two years. As a result of this funding, we now have on site an excellent Citizens Advice Adviser who advises clients on a whole range of issues such as benefits, charitable support, debt, employment, housing, tax and utilities. This vital service is helping clients access the support they need by unlocking grants and money they may be eligible for, thus enabling them to resolve the crisis that brought them to the foodbank in the first place.
As a result of the generosity of the local community, we continue to offer our clients a range of fresh food, including fruit and vegetables, cheese and eggs, and we were able to give out Christmas hampers as well as food gift vouchers all through December.
Difficult times may lie ahead, but with the support of the local community, we will do our best to support individuals and families who turn to us for help.
Policy on reserves
The Church endeavours to keep reserves sufficient to meeting 12 months running costs and also complete any repairs recommended in the quinquennial architects report.
The Foodbank endeavours to keep a minimum of 6m running costs plus a contingency for other potential costs that may arise.
M Orsmond
4
Abergavenny Baptist Church Income and Expenditure account for the year ended 31 December 2023
| Offering:Gift Aid General Envelopes Cash Stewardship Other income Gift Aid tax refund Interest: bank accounts trust funds Rent Easyfundraising Donations for Hm/BMS Donations Foodbank donations Hire of Church hall Grants Donation Spurgeons etc Womens fellowship Expenses Gross Stipend Children and Youth workers wages Employer's NI Pension Pension shortfall Pension childrens worker Ministers expenses Childrens ministry Manse costs including ins Visiting ministers & speakers Insurance Light, heat and telephone Cleaning Major repairs (project costs) Minor repairs IT equipment Donations to HM/BMS Donations spurgeons etc Donations miscellaneous General administrative expenses Courses Other expenses Womens Fellowship Expenses Foodbank Costs Excess of receipts over payments Trust fund income Transfers between funds Excess of receipts over payments Balance brought forward Balance carried forward |
2023 2023 General fund Restricted Funds Total £ £ £ 57,003 57,003 5,159 5,159 4,400 4,400 3,430 3,430 69,992 - 69,992 15,351 2,018 17,369 5,910 5,910 1,043 1,043 50 50 16 16 1,560 1,560 495 495 54,746 54,746 175 175 25,318 25,318 - 1,016 1,016 392 392 93,424 84,658 178,082 26,500 26,500 24,747 24,747 27 27 3,363 3,363 12 12 2,475 2,475 413 413 1,410 1,048 2,458 5,341 5,341 400 400 3,411 3,411 3,364 3,364 1,545 1,545 9,560 9,560 1,416 1,416 1,146 125 1,271 2,040 1,635 3,675 540 326 866 2,320 10 2,330 2,599 2,599 325 325 1,930 70 2,000 668 668 78,530 78,530 95,552 81,744 177,296 (2,128) 2,914 786 3,811 3,811 3,600 (3,600) - 5,283 (686) 4,597 178,321 159,224 337,545 183,604 158,538 342,142 |
2022 £ 54,542 8,095 4,115 2,357 |
|---|---|---|
| 69,109 | ||
| 16,876 344 741 50 - 1,100 169 69,362 85 18,223 889 544 |
||
| 177,492 | ||
| 25,988 24,269 25 3,247 1,755 2,426 460 1,580 5,393 200 3,317 3,933 1,324 106,993 3,904 911 3,820 199 2,723 2,346 - 599 468 26,544 |
||
| 222,424 | ||
| (44,932) 80,134 - |
||
| 35,202 | ||
| 302,343 | ||
| 337,545 |
5
Abergavenny Baptist Church Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2023
| Notes Current assets Baptist Union 1yr Fixed 130,197 Baptist Union 7 day notice 30,693 Current a/c 4,130 Deposit a/c 20,044 Foodbank Current account and cash 154,107 Foodbank Vouchers 2,625 Womens Fellowship bank & cash 80 Childrens and youth petty cash 74 Cash in hand 192 342,142 Net current assets Net assets Representing Balances on the following: General Fund Balance at start of period Net deficit Transfers Restricted Funds: Youth Fund Spurgeons/LMRT Foodbank HM/BMS Total Funds Other Monetary Assets HELD BY Baptist Union Hereford Rd Manse Trust Fund Bethany Chapel Trust Fund Non Monetary Assets Held for Own Use Church at Insurance value 3,771,990 Pipe Organ at Insurance value 233,847 Manse at Insurance Value Potential Liability Pension Fund Shortfall |
130,197 30,693 4,130 20,044 154,107 2,625 80 74 192 |
2023 £ 342,142 342,142 178,321 (2,128) 7,411 183,604 1,131 141 157,014 252 158,538 342,142 30,107.33 30,107.33 4,005,837 412,352 - |
125,189 - 4,364 50,089 154,642 2,770 357 2 132 |
2022 £ 337,545 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 342,142 | 337,545 | |||
| 337,545 | ||||
| 190,885 (96,298) 83,734 |
||||
| 178,321 | ||||
| 1,315 164 157,695 50 |
||||
| 159,224 | ||||
| 337,545 | ||||
| 3,811.30 30,179.42 |
||||
| 33,990.72 | ||||
| 3,655,318 233,847 393,841 - |
||||
6
Abergavenny Baptist Church Abergavenny Foodbank Profit And Loss Account For the year ended 31 December 2023 Included in Restricted Funds
| Income Donations 49,295 Donations Gift aided 5,441 Gift Aid Tax Refunds 1,396 Grants 25,318 Reimbursed expenses - Cost of sales Purchases 36,835 Vouchers 9,060 Gross surplus Expenses Bank charges 113 Financial Inclusion Officer 11,008 Grant repaid 7,688 Legal and professional 35 Pensions 650 Postage - Contribution to church overheads 3,600 Staff training & welfare 77 Stationery and printing - Sundry expenses Telephone and fax 144 Travel and subsistence Wages and salaries 12,921 Net (deficit) / surplus Balance b/fwd Balance c/fwd |
2023 2022 £ £ 65,417 3,805 1,145 7,688 97 81,450 78,152 8,036 4,090 45,895 12,126 35,555 66,026 99 0 35 2,111 46 3,600 5 55 144 115 11,903 36,236 18,113 (681) 47,913 157,695 109,782 157,014 157,695 |
2023 2022 £ £ 65,417 3,805 1,145 7,688 97 81,450 78,152 8,036 4,090 45,895 12,126 35,555 66,026 99 0 35 2,111 46 3,600 5 55 144 115 11,903 36,236 18,113 (681) 47,913 157,695 109,782 157,014 157,695 |
|---|---|---|
| 18,113 | ||
| 47,913 109,782 |
||
| 157,695 |
7
Signature Certificate
Reference number: ATJAR-TUPV5-XFB7R-BI6P3
Signer Timestamp
Signature
Clare Lines
Email: cplines@aol.com
Sent: 12 Mar 2024 14:23:55 UTC Viewed: 12 Mar 2024 18:04:32 UTC Signed: 12 Mar 2024 18:04:58 UTC
Recipient Verification:
✔ Email verified 12 Mar 2024 18:04:32 UTC
IP address: 95.148.76.63 Location: Abergavenny, United Kingdom
Ian Morris
Email: ian.morris@live.com
Sent: 12 Mar 2024 14:23:55 UTC Viewed: 13 Mar 2024 17:47:43 UTC Signed: 13 Mar 2024 17:48:01 UTC
Recipient Verification:
✔ Email verified 13 Mar 2024 17:47:43 UTC
IP address: 109.150.43.143 Location: Port Talbot, United Kingdom
Document completed by all parties on: 13 Mar 2024 17:48:01 UTC
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