## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 01/04/2023 To 31/03/2024 Charity name: The Potteries Vineyard Church**
**Charity registration number: 1200283**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The objects of the CIO are:
To advance the Christian religion for the
public benefit in accordance with the
Statement of Faith in the Schedule hereto
attached in such parts of the United
Kingdom and the world through:
●
The organisation and provision of
Christian worship;
●
The provision of such facilities and
services as are appropriate for the
Church, to enable it to fulfil its
mission to the members of the
Church, visitors to the Church and
the local community and the wider
community;
●
The provision of facilities for
Christian training and service;
●
The support and provision of
Christian evangelism and outreach;
●
The provision of assistance to the
wider Christian church in its
ministries.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The start-up phase of the church continued
on from the work done in 2022 and early
2023. Weekly life groups, and monthly
Sunday services continued to be hosted in
Jonny & Libby’s home until May 2023. At this
point an additional weekly life group was
hosted in the home of volunteers from the
church, and led by other volunteers. The
numbers attending Sunday services became
too big for a home setting so services moved
to rented venues, first in the bar and hall of
Powerleague Stoke from June-August 2023,
then in the theatre space of Ormiston Sir
Stanley Matthews Academy from September
2023 onward. When moving to the Academy
Sunday services began to take place twice a|
|||month. From January 2023 this also included
the provision of separate activities for
children and their carers for part of the
gathering. The church’s first monthly
outreach, a Lego Club (Brick Club) continued
to meet in a local cafe, and an additional
outreach, an Arts and Craft club (True
Colours) began meeting in November 2023
inarentedmeetingroom.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|In planning the activities the Trustees have
applied the guidance on public benefit issued
by the Charity Commission.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|All activities have been organised and
delivered by volunteers. For most this has
involved a regular commitment of volunteer
time once or more per month and volunteers
have used a wide range of skills including
hospitality, music, catering, artistic, public
speaking,welcome andmore.|
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|This year the church has successfully
gathered a growing number of people, with
15-18 people regularly attending gatherings
for worship, discipleship and Christian
community in March 2023, increasing to an
average of 25-30 people by March 2024.
Brick Club and True Colours have created
opportunities for evangelism and outreach,
with a number of those attending being from
outside the church community. The church
has also provided opportunities to serve the
wider community by collecting donated items
and gathering to fill ‘Bags of Kindness’ at
Christmas 2023. These were donated to
women who had experienced domestic
abuse, via another local charity, ‘Whispers of
Hope’. The church was also given a donation
of 396 advent calendars which were then
given out to local children through schools,
other charities, and community groups. In
March 2023 the church hosted a stall at the
local carnival known as the ‘Pig Walk’
offering free activities including the chance to
build something with Lego, a free-to-play
tombola, and art activities. In December
2023 and in March 2024 the church
organised outreach events hosted at a local
pub which included times of singing, food|
and drink, and the opportunity to think about faith at Christmas and Easter. These were very well received by those attending and the team at the pub. All outreach activities have been offered free of charge to the local community and offered opportunities to have fun, build social connections, and explore spirituality and faith. The church also began running a series of teaching and preaching workshops in September 2023 offering people the opportunity to develop their public speaking gifts and knowledge and understanding of the Bible, and a team known as ‘The Engine Room’ was formed in January 2024 offering volunteers the chance to lead others and organise teams and events within the church community.
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set||
The charity opened a bank account with
Lloyds bank in September 2023 and began
accepting financial donations. Members of
the church began donating regularly and the
church also received a one-off donation from
another Vineyard church wishing to support
church-planting. The church has been very
successful in raising funds through donation
and income has exceeded expenditure,
allowing for the purchase of equipment and
renting of venues needed for activities and
services.|
|---|---|---|---|
||Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|The charity opened a bank account with
Lloyds bank in September 2023 and began
accepting financial donations. Members of
the church began donating regularly and the
church also received a one-off donation from
another Vineyard church wishing to support
church-planting. The church has been very
successful in raising funds through donation
and income has exceeded expenditure,
allowing for the purchase of equipment and
renting of venues needed for activities and
services.|
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The charity’s income exceeded it’s
expenditure, with a total surplus of
£14366.26
After making appropriate enquiries, the
trustees have a reasonable expectation that
the charity will have adequate resources to
continue in operational existence for the
foreseeable future and they expect to adopt
the going concern basis in the next financial
period.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The charity intends to hold an amount equal
to the average expenditure for 3 calendar
months in reserve, so that any planned
payments can still be made in event of a
reduction in income.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|The charity has not formally held reserves
over this financial year but has had a
significant financial surplus throughout the
financial year with income being almost
double expenditure. With this reserve
informally built up, the charity intends to hold
reserves equivalent to 3 months expenditure
for the coming financial year.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|The charity’s principal source of funds is
donation from private persons who consider
themselves members of the church, and
some outside supporters.|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|The charity’s governing document is a trust
deed, prepared with support from Trust
Advice.|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|The Potteries Vineyard Church is a CIO.|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|A new trustee may be appointed by a
resolution of the Trustees passed at a
meeting of Trustees at which there is a
majority of the Trustees present and such
resolution shall be recorded in the minutes
and signed by the new Trustee and by the
chairman of the meeting and such records
shall be conclusive evidence of his / her
appointment.|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|
Para 1.51|
The day-to-day management of the church
and activities are delegated to our Senior
Pastors, Jonny & Libby James, who are also
trustees.
The Potteries Vineyard Church is a member
of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland, (Charity
No. 1099748) which functions as a resource
for similar churches. In particular, they
provide significant resources, training and
pastoral oversight. Membership also allows
Jonny & Libby to be licensed accredited
pastors who have a right to use the
trademarked “Vineyard” name. The
association provides pastoral care for the
Senior Pastors and family, and an external
reference concerning church affairs and
doctrine. The Potteries Vineyard Church will
grant 5% of its annual unrestricted income to
Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland each year.|
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|The Potteries Vineyard Church|
|---|---|
|
Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1200283|
|
Charity’s principal address|8 Spratslade Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 4DZ|
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|
|---|---|---|
|**Elizabeth James**|**Chair**||
|**Jonathan James**|||
|**Ruth Jeffery**|||
|**Claire Bankole**|||
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature** E A James
**Full Name** Elizabeth Amy James
**Position** Chair
**Date** 30/01/2024
## The Potteries Vineyard Church
## Profit and Loss
## April 2023 - March 2024
||TOTAL|
|---|---|
|Income||
|One off gift|3,130.00|
|Regular Giving|26,135.00|
|**Total Income**|**£29,265.00**|
|Expenses||
|Bank Service Charges|1.99|
|Equipment and Storage|2,262.83|
|Events|3,310.00|
|Licences and Insurance|764.21|
|Ministries|286.42|
|Office and Admin|1,918.04|
|Outreach|44.80|
|Staff Costs|0.00|
|Training|244.00|
|**Total Staff Costs**|**244.00**|
|Sundays|5,284.47|
|Worship Expenses|781.98|
|**Total Expenses**|**£14,898.74**|
|NET OPERATING INCOME|**£14,366.26**|
|NET INCOME|**£14,366.26**|
**1/1**
**Accrual Basis Wednesday 15 January 2025 03:21 pm GMT+00:00**
**Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
**Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
|**Report to the trustees**
**On accounts for the year**
**ended**
**Set out on pages**
**Responsibilities and**
**basis of report**|Charity Name
The Potteries Vineyard Church|Charity Name
The Potteries Vineyard Church|Charity Name
The Potteries Vineyard Church|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
||31stMarch 2024|**Charity no**
**(if any)**|1200283|
|||||
||1&2. QB Profit and Loss (Period: 1stApril - 31stMarch 2024) and QB
Balance Sheet (As at 31stMarch 2024)|||
||I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended**31 / 03 / 2024**.
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
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.
|**Signed:**
**Name:**
**Relevant professional**
**qualification(s) or body**
**(if any):**
**Address:**||**Date:**|15 / 01 / 2025|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
||Stephen Mitchell|||
|||||
||CIMA cert BA|||
|||||
||8 Harcourt Drive, Earley, Reading, RG6 5TJ|||
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