2024-12-31-accounts

Scott Drive Church, Exmouth (CIO) - Registered Charity No. 1195047

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024

CHURCH INFORMATION

Address: Scott Drive, Exmouth, EX8 3LF

Trustees: Lee Emerson, Steve Owen, Ian Margeson, Gurjit Malli, Gary Currie, Iain Randall

Charity Number: 1195047

Bankers: TSB bank plc, PO Box 373, LS14 9CG

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

The trustees have pleasure in presenting their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024.

1 Objectives and Activities

The purposes of the church are:

1. The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarily but not exclusively within Exmouth and the surrounding neighbourhood; and

2. Such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the members of the charity trustees, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness; the advancement of education; and the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life;

Provided that the advancement of such purposes must be undertaken in a manner that is consistent with the Doctrinal Distinctives and Ethical Statements as may be adopted and amended by the church from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Church Handbook.

2 Public Benefit

The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance in the exercise of their powers and duties and consider that the activities undertaken in pursuance of the church’s objectives fulfil the requirements of the Charity Commission’s public benefit disclosure.

3 Structure, Governance and Management

The church is a registered charity. Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) number 1195047 registered on 8 July 2021 and governed by its Constitution dated 2 July 2021.

The trustees who served in the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 were: Lee Emerson – 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 inclusive (Pastor & elder) Jonathan Hughes – 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 inclusive (Assistant Pastor & elder) Steve Owen – 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 inclusive (elder) Ian Margeson – 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 inclusive (deacon) Gurjit Malli – 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 inclusive (deacon) Gary Currie – 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 inclusive (deacon) Iain Randall – 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 inclusive (elder)

Overall governance of the church is in the hands of the elders & deacons (the Trustees), who met at least quarterly in person. Pastoral oversight is exercised by the elders, who met weekly if possible. Major decisions are made by the members at Church Members’ Meetings held as required and normally not less than four times a year. The AGM was held on 25 April 2024.

4. Review of activities 4.1

Meetings for worship, prayer and the ministry of God’s word were held at the church’s premises in Scott Drive on every Sunday throughout 2024. For those who were unable to attend in person, services could be followed live on Zoom. Morning services were recorded and available on the church website.

In addition to services, the church met midweek, alternately either for corporate prayer in a single venue, or for Bible study & prayer in homes (there were five such groups meeting in both Exmouth & Budleigh Salterton). Other regular meetings included the Ladies’ & Men’s Breakfasts , the Ladies’ Bible Study group and Christianity Explored courses have been run for newcomers to the faith.

The church grounds have continued to operate as a community garden, open to all local residents. Outside groups who used the premises also often made use of the garden, especially in the summer months.

Two new members joined in the course of the year, bringing the total membership to 28. Besides these new members, a number of others joined the congregation, bringing the average total on Sunday mornings to over 50.

At the AGM the church membership took the step of creating a new paid position on the staff (a parttime female pastoral worker), and in June Deb Copperwheat was appointed to this role, which began on 1 September 2024.

Three outside groups use the church premises: the WI meet in the building monthly; Bosom Buddies (a breastfeeding support group) meet weekly; as do the Esteem Team , a group which supports parents & carers of children with SEN.

In August the church held its second Holiday Bible Club, which saw an increase in numbers from the previous year and was enjoyed by all who attended.

Members of the church also led meetings at a local care home (Resthaven) and the church also provided preachers for other churches in the area.

Regular weekly services on a Sunday evening at the Church on the Green in Budleigh Salterton continued through the year, with numbers attending holding steady (normally around 15-20). Prayer meetings and home groups have also used the building regularly. The building was also made available for the Budleigh Literary Festival and the Budleigh Music Festival . The long-term goal remains to establish a separate congregation at these premises and eventually to help this congregation to form a new independent church – provided this is justified by numbers attending.

Over the course of the year there have been two major improvements to the premises: one was the re-surfacing of the driveway, the other the sanding down & sealing of the church hall floor.

4.4 Charitable giving

4.4.1 The church supports a number of missionaries, Christian workers, Christian organisations and charities both financially and in prayer.

In the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, these included the following, who were financially supported from church funds:

Crosslinks (Bernie & Rachael Muluuta) FIEC (The fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches) GNfE (Good News for Everyone – formerly The Gideons) CI (the Christian Institute) Barnabas Fund Open Doors PfL (Passion for Life) SGA (Slavic Gospel Association) UCCF (Universities’ & Colleges’ Christian Fellowship) MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) PGP (The Peninsula Gospel Partnership) OM (Operation Mobilisation)

5 Financial Review

Total receipts on unrestricted funds amounted to £56,336.15, which is an increase of nearly £7k on the previous year. The great majority of this came from the personal giving of members of the congregation. We are deeply grateful to God for this commitment and generosity at a time of financial hardship in the country as a whole.

Overall, there was a deficit of £30,646.71. This is accounted for by the expenditure on resurfacing the driveway and re-sanding the floor of the church hall. Another significant increase in expenditure was on staffing costs, which included one full-time salary for the whole year and a part-time salary for the last 4 months of the year. As anticipated in last year’s report, the increase in staff costs has been met wholly from income from donations. We are also very grateful to HMRC for the funds received via the Gift Aid scheme.

The church operates a policy whereby 10% of donations are transferred to a Mission Fund for distribution to mission agencies. This amounted to a total of £4,424 during this period.

Receipts & payments accounts

1. Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand.

2. Grants & donations (including Gift Aid tax rebate): Sundry £54,648.15.

3. Trustees' remuneration: one Trustee received remuneration of £27,150 during the year to 31 December 2024, however this was not in respect of their duties as a Trustee.

4. Tangible Fixed Assets: in March 2024 the cost of re-building was estimated at £528,747. Contents were estimated at £36,383 (at Scott Drive) and £12,544 at the Church on the Green (total = £528,747 + £36,383 + £12,544 = £577,674).

5. Guarantees & debts. The charity has not provided any guarantees, nor does it have any debts subject to a charge on its assets, during the period to 31 December 2024.

Total receipts on unrestricted funds amounted to £56,336.15, which is an increase of nearly £7k on the previous year. The great majority of this came from the personal giving of members of the congregation. We are deeply grateful to God for this commitment and generosity at a time of financial hardship in the country as a whole. Overall, there was a surplus of £1,300.51 over expenditure.

Overall, there was a deficit of £30,646.71. This is accounted for by the expenditure on resurfacing the driveway and re-sanding the floor of the church hall. Another significant increase in expenditure was on staffing costs, which included one full-time salary for the whole year, and a part-time salary for the last 4 months of the year. As anticipated in last year’s report, the increase in staff costs has been met wholly from income from donations. We are also very grateful to HMRC for the funds received via the Gift Aid scheme.

The church operates a policy whereby 10% of donations are transferred to a Mission Fund for distribution to mission agencies. Thus a total of £4424.00 was made available during this period for mission work, both in the UK and abroad.

pj 4n1 IÈIA Él

SCOTh DRPrfE CHURCH CIO 8TATEIIEpif OF A88Efs & LIA8IUT At 31 D•umb•r 2024 31112n024 31M2ra023 £5TT.674 £515.7T9 £34,454 £65,048 £S76 £522 T<*al CurvBntAs8•t8 £33,878 £64,524 £611.552 £580.303 &gn8d QLrOb￿ loi5

T47 747

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees Charity Name Scott Drive Church CIO On accounts for the year 31 December 2024 Charity no 1195047 ended (if any) Set out on pages 3 to 5 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 December 2024. Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or

• the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or

• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

• Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Date: 08/10/2025

Signed: Name: David Simms Relevant professional FCCA qualification(s) or body (if any):

Oct 2018

1 IER

Address:

58 Moormead

Budleigh Salterton Devon, EX9 6PU

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

Oct 2018

2 IER