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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