Lighthouse Church Sidmouth
(Registered charity, number 1201103)
Financial statements
For the year ended 31[st] December 2024
Page Contents
2 Trustees’ annual report 5 Independent examiner’s report 6 Receipts & payments account 7 Statement of assets & liabilities 8 Notes to the accounts
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Lighthouse Church Sidmouth
Trustees’ annual report for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
Full name Lighthouse Church Sidmouth Organisation type Charitable incorporated organisation
Registered charity number 1201103
Principal address
1, West Park Road, Sidmouth, Devon. EX10 9DH
Trustees
Stephen Monk, Howard Maidman, Heike Wolfe (all elected 17[th] November 2022) Simon Bates (elected 11[th] November 2023)
Independent examiner
Dean Barrow
Governance and management
The charity is operated under the rules of its constitution adopted 17th November 2022. New trustees are recruited and appointed by a majority of existing trustees for a term of three years.
Objectives and activities
The advancement of the Christian faith primarily but not exclusively within the county of Devon in accordance with the Statement of Faith for the public benefit mainly but not exclusively through the holding of prayer meetings, religious education, conducting religious ceremonies and to provide outreach and pastoral care for the local community.
Public benefit statement
Lighthouse Church Sidmouth meet for Sunday morning services and monthly prayer meetings as well as mid-week meetings in small groups for fellowship, prayer and support.
Lighthouse Church partner with a small number of other charities both locally and further afield to provide financial and prayer support to their own work.
Staffing
Lighthouse Church Sidmouth does not currently (and during the accounting period) have any paid staff and operates entirely with volunteers. We are however planning toward employing a Church Worker in 2026.
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Lighthouse Church Sidmouth
Summary of main activities undertaken for the public benefit
Lighthouse Church Sidmouth meet for Sunday morning services in a local school at the heart of our community. We welcome visitors and make specific provision for children.
We hold monthly prayer meetings focused on intercession for individual personal needs, local community issues, national and global concerns.
Regular attendees meet mid-week in small groups for fellowship, prayer and support.
Lighthouse Church partner with a small number of other charities both locally and further afield to provide financial and prayer support to their own work.
All of our funds to cover administration costs and giving outside the church are met by discretionary donations from regular attendees, many of whom also give their time volunteering for other local charities working in the community.
Summary of the main achievements during the period
In line with our mission to promote the Christian faith, the church has continued to meet for services each Sunday where, typically, we have 30-40 adults and children in attendance on Sundays at our morning service.
There have been special services through the year including at Easter and Christmas with particular focus on activities for families with children not already part of the church.
During the year we have further consolidated our financial position with a view to engaging our first employee to support and complement volunteer efforts.
Community, Ministry & Mission
The trustees believe the benefit to the community charities are in line with the stated objectives and our chosen charities align with the objectives.
During 2024 Lighthouse Church Sidmouth was supporting 3 primary causes and organisations: Gateway Sidmouth; Offering advice, support and practical help for people facing homelessness or indeed those that are already homeless. The Lighthouse Community (Poland); a fellowship of friends and pioneers, committed to preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and making disciples of Jesus across Central and Eastern Europe. Transforming Lives for Good; is a national Christian children's charity that helps churches to bring hope and a future to struggling children.
Financial Review
During the year ended 31[st] December 2024 the church made an accounting surplus of £31,306
The charity’s policy on reserves
Currently and during the account period, Lighthouse Church Sidmouth do not operate a reserve policy, however the trustees have recognised there may be a future need and this will be reviewed during the next accounting period. Currently we believe the risks are low with respect to this as the charity is run entirely by volunteers with no employees at present.
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Lighthouse Church Sidmouth
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Signed ______ Date _____ Stephen Monk
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Lighthouse Church Sidmouth Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Llghthouse Church Sidmouth for the year ended 31 December 2024 I report to the trUeeS on my examlnatlon of the accounts of Ughihouse Church Sidrnouth Ithe charftyl for the yearended 31° December 2024. Responsibllltl•$ and basis of report As trustees of the charlty, you I responsible for the prÈparatlon of the accoLFnts in accordance with the requirements ot the Charitie5 Act 20111.the ACVI. Independ•nt •xarnlfi•rf5 Statsmert I report In resFeCt of my e¥amlnatbn of the charltls accounts carrled out under 5ectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examinatlon giving me cause to believe that in any material respect= l. Accountlng records were rK>t kept In respect of the charlty as requId by sertlon 130 of the Act; or 2. The accounts do not accord wlth those records. I have no concerns and have Come acr055 no other matter5 in connection with the examination to which attentlon should be drawn In thls report In order to enable a proper undersianding of the accounts to be reached. Signed Date I..fl. 101£ Dean Barrow
Lighthouse Church Sidmouth
Receipts & payments account
for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
| 2023 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Total | ||
| Funds | Funds | ||
| £ | Note | £ | |
| Receipts | |||
| 70218.14 | Donations & Gift Aid | 1 | 48021.81 |
| Bank Interest | 112.40 | ||
| 70218.14 | Total receipts | 48134.21 | |
| Payments | |||
| 3710.00 | Rent & Room hire | 6743.00 | |
| 440.00 | Social media and website | 1430.24 | |
| 551.14 | Safeguarding (DBS/ThirtyOneEight) | 235.08 | |
| 631.07 | Subscriptions | 383.88 | |
| 267.01 | Hospitality consumables | 252.67 | |
| 21.00 | Events (Easter, Summer, Christmas) | 452.47 | |
| Speaker fees | 375.00 | ||
| 45.00 | Bank fees | 93.00 | |
| 931.40 | Kids work including printing costs | 493.24 | |
| 12017.00 | Donations paid (charitable giving) | 2 | 5112.00 |
| Licenses (CCL etc) | 322.00 | ||
| Leaders conference | 150.00 | ||
| 240.00 | Accounts auditing | 240.00 | |
| 528.52 | Audio IT & Worship | 257.98 | |
| 264.42 | Insurance | 264.42 | |
| 990.15 | Other, Sundry payments | 23.10 | |
| 20636.71 | Total Payments | 16828.08 | |
| 49581.43 | Net receipts/payments | 31306.13 | |
| 0 | Cash funds at start of this period | 49581.43 | |
| 49581.43 | Cash funds at end of this period | 80887.56 |
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Lighthouse Church Sidmouth
Statement of assets and liabilities
at 31[st] December 2024
| Total | 2023 £ Note Cash assets 860 Stewardship Account 42710.18 CAF Bank account 43570.18 Other monetary assets 6251.25 Debtors & prepayments 3 6251.25 Assets retained for charities own use IT equipment £528.52 Liabilities -240 Creditors 4 -240 49581.43 |
2024 £ 106 66612.81 66718.81 14408.75 |
|---|---|---|
| 14408.75 | ||
| -240 | ||
| -240 | ||
| 80887.56 |
These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by:
Signed ___ Date 24-09-2025
Vincent Wolfe Treasurer, Lighthouse Church Sidmouth
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Lighthouse Church Sidmouth
Notes to the accounts
For the year ended 31[st] December 2024
1. Donations Received
The income has been entirely voluntary gifts from the congregation (and visitors to Sunday morning services). There has been no explicit external fund raising for the church.
2. Grants and donations paid
Lighthouse Church Sidmouth is supporting 3 primary causes and organisations:
-
Gateway Sidmouth; Offering advice, support and practical help for people facing homelessness or indeed those that are already homeless.
-
The Lighthouse Community (Poland); a fellowship of friends and pioneers, committed to preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and making disciples of Jesus across Central and Eastern Europe.
-
Transforming Lives for Good; is a national Christian children's charity that helps churches to bring hope and a future to struggling children.
There were further gifts to Trueway Kids, Wycliffe bible translators, Grace Church Exeter and to Commission Apostolic Trust.
| Gateway Sidmouth | £1470 |
|---|---|
| Lighthouse Community Poland | £1321 |
| Transforming Lives for Good | £695 |
| Trueway Kids | £300 |
| Commission Apostolic Trust | £500 |
| Wycliffe Bible translators | £326 |
| Grace Church Exeter | £500 |
| Total | £5112 |
Note: Both The Lighthouse Community Poland and Commission Apostolic Trust are paid via a thirdparty Stewardship Giving Account.
Additionally, two card payments totalling £580 were transferred to the Lighthouse Church Sidmouth Stewardship account (£200) and TLG org (£380) during December 2024 (due to new year and bank holiday, the transaction did not show until 2[nd] January 2025.
3. Debtors & prepayments
Gift Aid for period ending 31[st] December 2024 totals £8157.50 (to be claimed in 2025)
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Lighthouse Church Sidmouth
4. Creditors
Financial statement Audit £200 + VAT
Other Notes:
Unrestricted funds
The church did not receive any donations which were restricted in the year.
Investment Policy
Lighthouse Church Sidmouth has no specific investment policy.
Glossary of terms
Creditors: These are amounts owed by the charity but not paid during the accounting period.
Debtors: These are the amounts owed to the charity, but not received in the accounting period.
Prepayments: These are services that the charity has paid for in advance but not used during the accounting period.
Restricted funds: these are the funds given to the charity, subject to the specific restrictions set by the donor but still within the general objects of the charity.
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