## Ridley Community Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2023
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 94 Upton Lane Forest Gate London E7 9LW GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO Constitution dated 5 November 2021 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1196428 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Nigel Parrington MANAGING THE CHARITY Alexander Craig Alastair Steven Martin Oriakhi Kenneth Brownell BANKERS Metro Bank INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
## **INDEX**
Page 1 Pages 2-4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8
Legal & Administrative Details Trustees' Report Independent Examiner's Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of Assets & Liabilities Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the period ended 31 December 2023.
## **Objects of the charity**
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a constitution and is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation. The charity's principal object, as set out in its governing document, is, for the public benefit, to advance the Christian faith in such ways as the Trustees may from time to time decide.
## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements**
To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
As we reflect on the past year in the life of Ridley Community Church, we seem drawn to characterise our days by as being extremely busy, fleeting and crowded with many competing demands. Yet in the midst of all our activities, we are conscious that our principal aim as individual members and as a Church is to “know Christ, live Christ and make Christ known”. Without our reliance on God and the saving knowledge of Jesus we would not be able to meet our obligations as a Church and a Charity. In the midst of competing demands and pressures we can still say, “I can do all things though Christ who strengthens me”.
We operate in a community that desperately needs Jesus as well as practical support. We are accurately aware of the community needs of the locality in which we are based - the high levels of deprivation; the highest concentration of Muslims in London; the concentration on people on low incomes and the concentration of child poverty. Yet in the midst of this community, we can say “the boundary lines have fallen well for me”. We are placed in this area for a purpose and we seek to honour God for placing us here and giving us brothers and sisters in Christ to ensure we “encourage one another”
We have a regular Sunday morning service; a mid-week bible study, a Friday drop in (where we provide help, support and advice to local community – including sign posting to statutory services) as well as outreach work including a book stall on Wednesday evenings at Forest Gate station; door to door evangelism, lunch gatherings and occasionally breakfast as well as one off event such as our street carol services.
Due to the size of RCC we rely significantly upon our Pastor Martin Oriakhi. Pastor Martin is our only employee and is responsible for all the activities that take place at RCC and he is ably supported by the members of the Church who themselves volunteer for certain duties including such diverse areas as maintaining the building; leading services; preaching; providing pastoral support and helping with the book stall.
Our trustees and members have been crucial in ensuring we maintain our charitable obligations and are financially viable. Our finances have proved to be delicately balanced as we do not have the income levels of some Churches however through the giving of members, Trustees and especially other Churches who have supported our work, we have managed to maintain our finances to ensure our obligations are met. As we do not receive a significant income this remains one area where we continue to pray for God’s blessing.
Page 2
At the same time, we are seeking to raise capital funds to enable us to purchase the building where we are based. We are grateful for the support we have received from the London City Mission who have provided us with use of the building over the past 3 years. We are also particularly grateful to East London Tabernacle in terms of providing financial support, visiting preachers and supporting our Pastor Martin Oriakhi. We are blessed to be working with such organisations such as LCM and ELT without which we could not function as a Church.
We are also grateful for the support and help from Stewardship who have provided assistance especially in terms of the construction and organisation of our accounts.
This year the trustees had four formal meeting. The focus of our meetings has always been upon ministry and outreach although this year we have been particularly concerned about financial matters – especially fundraising. Our regular membership meetings also ensure input from members on what the Church is doing and seeking to do within Forest Gate.
Our prayer for the forthcoming year is that as we are under pressure financially, we continue to seek God for his guidance. Whilst our desire is to be financially stable, to purchase the building we use and to expand our work in the community we will “Trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding and in all our ways acknowledge Him for he shall direct our paths”
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
## **Financial review**
During the year income was £30,028 (2022: £70,298) and expenditure was £32373 (2022: £52,683) As a result the cash held by the charity at the end of the period was £15,252 (2022:£17,597), all of which is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
## **Reserves policy**
The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £7,500 (which equates to about 3 months' of unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £15,252 (2022: £17,597) and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.
Page 3
## **Governance**
Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. New trustees are recruited and appointed 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:
## N G Parrington
> N G Parrington (Oct 23, 2024 07:58 GMT+1) ___________________________ NIGEL PARRINGTON (CHAIR OF TRUSTEES) Date:_______________________ Oct 23, 2024
Page 4
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Ridley Community Church ('the charity') for the period ended 31 December 2023 on pages 6 to 8 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 connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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 (Oct 28, 2024 12:30 GMT)
Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Oct 28, 2024
Page 5
## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Donations
Gift aid receipts
Legacies
Government grants
Other grants
Income from courses and events
Income from letting of facilities
[List any other significant income]
Other
**_Total receipts_**
**_Payments_**
2
**_Total payments_**
**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|Unrestricted Funds
General
Funds
2023
£
£
17,028
17,028
-
-
-
-
-
-
13,000
13,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
30,028
30,028
30,028
30,028
32,373
32,373
32,373
32,373
2,345
-
2,345
-
2,345
-
2,345
-
17,597
17,597
15,252
15,252|2022
£|
|---|---|---|
|||32,158
-
-
-
38,140
-
-
-|
|||70,298
|
||||
|||70,298|
|||52,701|
|||52,701
|
|||17,597|
|||17,597
-|
|||17,597|
The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31**|**DECEMBER 2023**||
|---|---|---|
|Notes
**A**
**Cash funds**
Cash at bank with immediate access
**B**
**Liabilities**
**Falling due within one year**
Accrued expenses
**Total**|Unrestricted Funds
General
funds
2023
£
£
15,252
15,252
**15,252**
**15,252**
67
67
**67**
**67**
|2022
£|
|||17,597|
|||**17,597**|
|||197|
|||**197**|
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
N G Parrington N G Parrington (Oct 23, 2024 07:58 GMT+1)
___________________________________ NIGEL PARRINGTON Oct 23, 2024 Date:_______________________
Page 7
## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **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. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. 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.
|**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
Employment costs (see note 4)
Ministry expenses
Gifts and Hospitality
Outreach activities
Small equipment
Training and Conferences
IT costs
Utilities
Governance costs
Bank charges
Insurance
Office costs
Other costs|Unrestricted Funds
General
Total
funds
2023
£
£
29,922
29,922
-
329
329
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,046
1,046
109
109
-
-
360
360
377
377
32
32
198
198
32,373
32,373|Total
2022
£|
|---|---|---|
|||47,961
240
604
293
50
455
888
106
258
605
-
131
1,094
|
|||52,683|
## **3 Transactions with related parties**
Martin Oriakhi served as a church leader and received total employment benefits of £29,922 (2022: £42,676 for 15 months) in the year for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustees; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
(2022: Alastair Steven and Kenneth Brownell, who are trustees of the charity, were trustees of East London Tabernacle Baptish Church (charity number 1128266) at the time that the decision was made to support the charity with a grant of £8,000 per year.)
## **4 Non-monetary resources**
The church uses property for its services and other ministries owned by London City Mission (charity number 247186), for which no rent or other reimbursement of expenses is required.
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