GRACE CHURCH STOKE ON TRENT ## Report and Accounts Year ended - 31st May 2024 ## **GRACE CHURCH STOKE ON TRENT** ## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024** ## **Address for Correspondence** Grace Church Stoke on Trent Unit B, Metro Business Park Clough Street, Hanley. Stoke on Trent ST1 4AF ## **Governing Document** CIO Constitution Dated - 23rd August 2021 ## **Charity Registration Number** ## 1195662 ## **Trustees** Laura Pickering Chairperson Rachel Ainscough Treasurer Victoria Terry Nathan Ainscough Robert Mundy David Keeping Nick Bradley-Carter Rebekah Chalmers Chairperson Resigned Dec 2023 Resigned July 2023 Appointed Dec 2023 Appointed Jan 2024 ## **Independent Examiner** Archie McDowall BA,CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB ## **INDEX** Page 1 Charity Information Pages 2-4 Trustees' Annual Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7-8 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 9-10 Notes to the Accounts Page 1 ## **GRACE CHURCH STOKE ON TRENT** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024** The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 May 2024 ## **Objects of the charity** The charity has been a Charitable Incorporated Organisation since 23rd August 2021 (Charity Number 1195662) and is registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales. The objects of the charity, as set out in the governing document are: a) the advancement of the Christian religion in accordance with our statement of faith appearing in the schedule hereto in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire or other parts of the United Kingdom and/or the world as the trustees of the charity may from time to time see fit. b) the relief of those in need by reason of hardship, distress and/or sickness, in particular (but not limited to) the provision of loans, gifts, accommodation or shelter. The trustees note that Grace Church is not a building, but a diverse group of people joined together by Jesus Christ. We are one of many churches hoping to see "THE CHURCH" impact our city in a way that is so integral to its welfare, we can truly say we are building Church the city can’t do without. Grace Church cares for one another and tries to be of public benefit to our non-members, especially those in poverty. We offer practical support and teach about Jesus so others can know Him for themselves Our vision is that 'By the end of 2025, Grace Church Stoke on Trent will be thriving as a place of welcome, safety and growth' Grace Church Stoke on Trent is one of many ChristCentral Churches (Registered Charity No. 1151447) working together under the apostolic leadership of Jeremy Simpkins and his team. ChristCentral is part of the worldwide Newfrontiers family of churches (Registered Charity No. 1060001), providing opportunities for us to impact not just our UK region but also into other nations. ## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements** To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements are as follows: ● Holding regular church services and groups open to all for sung worship, bible teaching, prayer (as well as other fun activities like quiz/games nights and day trips) ● Utilising our venue to care and support local people, especially those in poverty (see below for more detail) ● Utilising our venue to care and support church members (e.g. children and youth events, training events, meals for students and 20s) ● Supporting other churches and charities in the UK and abroad (e.g. through ChristCentral Churches) Page 2 ## **The church recognises the need to impact our local community and wider city. These are some of the activities undertaken to achieve this:** ► **Kidzplay @ Grace Church** - Free stay and play group for parents and carers and children under 5. We open once a week during term time and offer free play, story time, singing, crafts and sensory activities with free refreshments for adults and children. Due to lots of our regular children starting school this September we have a smaller number of 10-15 children and 8-10 adults attending the group regularly. Kidzplay is run by a dedicated team of volunteers but we are currently looking for new volunteers to join the team, ► **Foodbank Distribution Centre** - Working in partnership with Trussell Trust Stoke on Trent Foodbank (Registered charity No. 1132208) Since summer 2022 we open every Thursday morning as a foodbank distribution centre. Teams of volunteers provide emergency food parcels to individuals and families in crisis on receipt of a Foodbank referral. As a church we also collect food donations as one of the Foodbank's collection points. Foodbank is led by a dedicated small team of volunteers. ► **Open House** - On a Wednesday evening, we run what we call 'Open House.' This is a warm space where anyone is welcome to come along whether it be for a simple meal, company, activities or simply just to stay warm for a couple of hours. Guests who are experiencing homelessness, low income and/or loneliness can attend. We provide soup, bread, biscuits, hot and cold drinks, and essential items, such as sleeping bags, hats, gloves, socks, rucksacks, roll mats and toiletries are available if required. Small groups might watch a programme/film, do a jigsaw, play a game or sit and chat. ► **CMA Grace Money** - A free to client debt advice service affiliated with Community Money Advice (CMA - Charity No. 1111436) is run from the church premises by trained volunteers for those in the city struggling with debt or needing money advice. Providing accredited advice, insolvency options, support, budgeting and undertaking negotiations with creditors. Community Money Advice (CMA) have provided expert training and support for our team and a level of governance for good practice. ► **Craft & Chat** - Craft and Chat was launched in May 2022. The group offers therapeutic craft & community for anyone experiencing low level mental ill-health, isolation and loneliness. Craft & Chat receives referrals from social prescribers & people are able to self refer. There are a team of experienced volunteers who run the group, led by a volunteer with previous professional & counselling experience. It runs weekly during term time. Over the past year the group has grown & a community who want to help each other & the wider community has developed. This includes making toys for a charity called Knit for Nowt which supplies puppets & worry monsters to therapists. The group is also making links with other voluntary organisations including Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Bunting was made for one of their projects. All who come to the group say how much it helps them. ► **Families grown by Adoption** - Since May 2022 we have ran a support group that provides whole family activities and support for local families who are growing, or who have grown their family through adoption. This group runs 6 times a year, with activities and refreshments for families to enjoy together, whilst also offering a space and welcoming place for families to meet others with similar situations and experiences, giving them the opportunity to draw on peer support and advice and make local connections and relationships with others in the local area. This group is led by a volunteer and supported by other volunteers. A significant number of Church members volunteer their time to lead, sustain and develop the ministries and activities of the church. Their contribution is vital to the success of the charity and cannot be quantified. Our total membership at the end of May 2024 was 80 adults. In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. Page 3 ## **Financial review** During the year unrestricted income increased substantially, to £119,982 (£86,777 - May 2023), and due to the increased income which was higher than our budget our unrestricted expenditure increased from last year, to £94,504 (£83,249 - May 2023). As a result the unrestricted cash held by the charity increased by £25,478, to £43,656 (£18,178 - May 2023), which can be used for any charitable purpose. For the coming year the Trustees and Eldership team have set a balanced budget. If income is received above the predicted level then we will expand our expenditure to areas which we identify there to be a need. Within this financial year we employed; David Keeping, Church Leader (22.5 hours per week) and from November 2023 we also employed Erik Buren as a GraceKids & Youth Leader (7.5 hours per week). Staffing needs are kept under review by the Elders and Trustees who are continually assessing the needs of the church. Throughout this financial year we were looking into the possibility of hiring a church administrator to add to our staffing team to start 2024.Our new church administrator started their role in June 2024. The Staff, Trustees and Elders are all committed members of the Church. ## **Reserves policy** It is the aim of the Trustees to maintain unrestricted funds, not committed or invested in fixed assets, at a level which covers between 2 and 3 months of committed expenditure. This policy is in place to ensure that the charity could continue to operate should income and/or expenditure vary adversely. At year end the church's reserves totalled £43,656 which is above 2 months of committed expenditure and the charity is complying with its reserves policy. ## **Governance** Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rests with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. Responsibility for the spiritual governance and leadership of the Church Fellowship has been delegated to the Eldership team. These teams work alongside each other closely with the Church Leader also being a Trustee. The annual budget is set by the joint working and agreement of both parties. New trustees are recruited and appointed from the church membership by the existing trustees, by a majority vote. ## **Risk statement** The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. The trustees review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks. ## **Responsibilities of trustees** Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year. We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities. ## **Approval** This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: R.Ainscough R.Ainscough (Dec 2, 2024 16:33 GMT) ___________________________ RACHEL AINSCOUGH Date: Dec 2, 2024 Page 4 ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT** ## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF** ## **GRACE CHURCH STOKE ON TRENT** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Grace Church Stoke on Trent ('the charity') for the year ended 31 May 2024 **on pages 6 to 10 following.** ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 Act. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ## Archie McDowall Archie McDowall (Dec 3, 2024 12:28 GMT) Archie McDowall BA,CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB Date: Dec 3, 2024 Page 5 ## **GRACE CHURCH STOKE ON TRENT** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024** |Notes
**INCOME:**
Donations
HMRC Gift Aid
Grants
Charitable activities
Hire of venue
Other income
**_Total receipts_**
**_Payments_**
1
2
**_Total payments_**
Transfers between funds
4
**Net movement in funds**
Cash funds as at last year end
**Cash funds at this year end**
A
Net of receipts / (payments) before
Payments in relation to charitable
activities undertaken directly
Grants paid in relation to charitable
activities undertaken by others|General
Fund
£
99,147
19,479
500
300
305
252|Restricted
Funds
£
10,124
1,881
320
-
-
590|2024
£
109,271
21,360
820
300
305
842|2023
£| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||70,051
15,260
3,375
150
645
1,245| ||119,982|12,915|132,898|90,726| ||89,354
5,150
94,504
94,504
25,478
-
25,478
18,178
43,656|6,545
1,033
7,578
7,578
5,338
-
5,338
581
5,919|95,899
6,183
102,082
102,082
30,816
-
30,816
18,759
49,575|87,398
913| |||||88,311| |||||| |||||88,311| |||||2,414
-| |||||2,414
16,345| |||||18,759| The notes on pages 9-10 form part of these accounts. Page 6 ## **GRACE CHURCH STOKE ON TRENT** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024** |General
Restricted
funds
funds
Notes
£
£
**A**
**Cash funds**
Cash at bank with immediate access
43,657
5,919
**43,657**
**5,919**
**B**
**Other monetary assets**
Gift aid due to charity
2,986
-
Employment overpayment owed back
-
283
**2,986**
**283**
**C**
**Liabilities**
**Falling due within one year**
Fee for Independent Examination
840
-
**840**
**-**
**Total**
840
-
Unrestricted Funds|2024
£
49,576
**49,576**
2,986
283
**3,269**
840
**840**
840|2023
£| |---|---|---| |||18,760| |||**18,760**| |||1,305
-| |||**1,305**| |||840| |||**840**| |||840| ## **D Assets retained for charity's own use** |Music & PA Equipment
Computers & IT
Furniture
Other|Fund to
which asset
belongs
General
General
General
General|Cost
£| |---|---|---| |||10,210
2,698
12,829
10,349
-| |||36,086| Trustees have used the original cost of these assets to assess the value; this is also the current insured value. Page 7 ## **E Guarantees and secured debts** The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities. The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: R.Ainscough R.Ainscough (Dec 2, 2024 16:33 GMT) ___________________________________ RACHEL AINSCOUGH Date: Dec 2, 2024 ## **The notes on pages 9-10 form part of these accounts.** Page 8 ## **GRACE CHURCH STOKE ON TRENT** ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024** ## **1 Accounting policies** The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs. General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects. |**1**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertake**
Employment costs inc Travel Expenses (See note 3)
Rent
Light, heat & water
Insurance
Support Services (ministry, training, hospitality)
Outreach / Community action activities
Maintenance of buildings & equipment
Work among the young
**Costs incurred on support & administration**
Independent examiner's fee
Administration & Communication
**2**
**Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertak**
Grants for:
ChristCentral Churches - Christian Mission in the
UK & Overseas
ChristCentral Church in Cambodia
Other UK Charity|Unrestricted Fun
General
funds
£
**n directly**
30,844
28,393
11,716
2,174
5,568
3,023
3,768
874
-
-
840
2,154
89,354
**en by others**
4,350
600
200
5,150|ds
Restricted
funds
£
3,958
-
-
-
839
747
-
1,001
-
-
-
-
6,545
1,033
1,033|Total
2024
£
34,803
28,393
11,716
2,174
6,407
3,770
3,768
1,875
840
2,154
95,899
5,383
600
200
6,183|Total
2023
£| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||38,234
27,250
7,675
2,053
2,700
2,680
3,438
937
840
1,591| |||||87,398| |||||413
500| |||||913| ## **3 Transactions with related parties** David Keeping, a Trustee, who is the son-in-law of Robert Mundy (Trustee) served as church leader and was paid gross £28,530 [2023: £26,299] and pension contributions of £2,568 [2023: £2,366] for serving in that capacity and not as a Trustee. These payments are permitted by the charity's governing document The ChristCentral Church in Cambodia who we made a donation of £600 to is led by Abi & Sam Little. Abi is the sister of Rebekah Chalmers who as of January 2024 is the Chair of Trustees for Grace Church. The financial and spiritual support of this church had began prior to Rebekah becoming a Trustee. Page 9 ## **4 Movement of funds** |**Movement of funds**|||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |General Funds
Restricted Funds
SocialAction
ChristCentral
Grace Money
Craft & Chat
GraceKids
Refreshments
Total funds|Opening
balance
£
18,178
168
-
-
414
—
582
18,760|Receipts
£
119,982
120
1,033
380
-
10,544
839
12,915
132,898|Payments
£
94,504
-
288
-
1,033
-
320
-
139
-
4,959
-
839
-
7,578
-
102,082
-|Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Closing
balance
£
43,656
-
-
60
275
5,584
-| ||||||5,919| ||||||49,575| * Social Action fund - Grant received through Stoke on Trent Council from DEFRA to support struggling local residents with essential supplies e.g. sleeping bags, mats, rucksacks, toiletries. This was received in Dec 2020. Further to this in Feb 23 £574 was received through the Coop who partnered with Crowdfunding and match funded donations received through crowdfunding and gave a little extra too to support 'Open House' as a warm space. *ChristCentral - This fund was used to collect donations given towards an offering ChristCentral held in June/July 2023. This was paid out in August 2023 *Grace Money - £320 of this was received from CMA (Community Money Advice) in September 2023 after a successful application to their trust fund to help us with training costs for our advisors to complete essential training. The remainder was a gift from a church member for the same purpose. The money was spent throughout the year and the remaining £60 was spent in August 2024 when the relevant training was available. * Craft & Chat - This fund is restricted for the work of the Craft & Chat project. A grant was received in December 2021 from Stoke on Trent City Council from the local councillors ward budget specifically for this project. A second grant for £500 was given by Vast's Totally Stoked Small Group Support Grant in July 2022. * GraceKids - This fund was set up in Oct 2023 just prior to us employing a Youth & Childrens worker. The money was raised from a special offering to be used to fund the employment costs and any other costs of GraceKids and GraceYouth * Refreshments - This fund was set up in Jan 23 as Craft & Chat wanted to make a donation from their restricted fund to cover some of the costs of the refreshments they use whilst in the venue. It has been used since if donations have been given specifically for hospitality purposes. Page 10