2025-02-27-accounts

Lighthouse Vineyard Church

Registered as Lighthouse Vineyard Church, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Annual Report and Financial Statements

For the year ended 28[th] February 2025

Charity Registration Number 1201725

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY

Lead Pastors

Adam Kishtainy Rebecca Kishtainy

Trustees & Directors

Ian Nelson (Chairperson) Adam Kishtainy Rebecca Kishtainy Ian Watt Katie Bruce

Leadership Team

Adam & Rebecca Kishtainy

Registered Office:

The Harbour Totterdown, 7 Bushy Park, Totterdown, Bristol, BS4 2EG

Status:

Lighthouse Vineyard is a registered charity, registered in Jan 2023 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

Accountants:

Melanie Mistry ACMA, 30 Highfield Grove, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 8QH

Solicitors:

Barcan Kirby, 60 Gloucester Road, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 8BH

Bankers:

The Co-operative Bank, 20 Delf House Southway, Skelmersdale, WN8 6NY

Premises:

The Harbour Totterdown, 7 Bushy Park, Totterdown, Bristol, BS4 2EG

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

The Trustees present their report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 28[th] February 2025.

Lighthouse Vineyard is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The Trust's accounts and Annual Report are required to comply with the requirements of Charities legislation and have therefore been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 1993 and the Revised Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting by Charities. (SORP FRS 102).

This Annual Report forms the Trustees' report for the purpose of Section 45 of the Charities Act 1993 and the Directors report for the purposes of Section 234 of the Companies Act 1985.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Leadership Structure

Adam & Rebecca Kishtainy are the Lead Pastors of Lighthouse Vineyard.

Trustee Board

In 2023 the Trustee Board met quarterly. Ian Nelson is Chairperson for the Trustees, and the trustee board also includes Adam & Rebecca Kishtainy as trustees, as well as Katie Bruce and Ian Watt.

Trustees are appointed based on expertise and need, to manage the financial, legal and administration of the company. Two of the board are not members of Lighthouse Vineyard – one being part of Field Vineyard and the other being a local to South Bristol, known to the Kishtainys and with significant experience in charity and church management. The group as a whole consult widely and often with experts about emerging issues affecting Lighthouse Vineyard.

The Lead Pastors and Board of Trustees are entitled by the trusts of the charity to appoint one or more new charity trustees as laid out in the Articles of Association of Lighthouse Vineyard.

Upon appointment new trustees are given an overview as to the status of the organisation by one of the existing trustees. They are given documents which include Roles and Responsibilities of Trustees, Articles of Association and Trustees Annual Report and Accounts. Ongoing training is made available as the need arises.

Staff Team

There is a small staff team consisting of Adam & Rebecca Kishtainy as Lead Pastors and Liz Nixon as Business Manager. Lighthouse Vineyard has been working closely with its sister church Severn Vineyard, which has been providing three members of staff within a Business Services Team model. These include Liz Nixon, providing business management support; Caleb Bourne, working with Lighthouse Vineyard’s youth and children; and Julie Cole, working to raise funds for Lighthouse Vineyard.

The role of the staff team is to facilitate involvement of members of Lighthouse Vineyard in the life of the church and service in the wider community.

Other

Lighthouse Vineyard is a member of the Association of Vineyard Churches in the UK & Ireland, and as a charitable company is accountable to the regional overseer for Vineyard Churches UKI in the Southwest and Wales.

The charity has undertaken a risk assessment to identify the risks to which the staff, board and the church are exposed. This is continually reviewed, and systems are in place to manage those risks. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are carried out on a 3-year rotation, including all staff and members of the church working with children or adults at risk. These are currently up to date and ongoing.

OBJECTIVES

Lighthouse Vineyard continues to fulfil its charitable objectives as summarised in this report and as listed below. We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aim and objectives and in planning our future activities.

SUMMARY OF OBJECTIVES

To advance the Christian religion for the public benefit in accordance with the Statement of Faith in the Schedule 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.

LIGHTHOUSE VINEYARD

Lighthouse had been gathering with a view to becoming a church plant since 2018 and in February 2023 Lighthouse Vineyard was officially launched. Field Vineyard & Severn Vineyard churches jointly planted Lighthouse, and commissioned Adam & Rebecca as lead pastors at a joyful joint celebration service at the former Totterdown Methodist Church.

During 2024 we have continued to welcome a few new people into our church family, many of whom were entirely new to church culture, as well as the ongoing discipleship of the existing members. Whilst we remain small, we have seen lives being transformed, people deepening in their faith and miraculous healings. In August 2024 we completed on the purchase of the former Totterdown Methodist church and renamed it as ‘The Harbour Totterdown’ - a thriving community space as well as a place of worship.

Sundays

We continue to meet each Sunday at The Harbour Totterdown for our community bring-and-share meal. We have approximately 10 adults and 10 children gathering on a weekly basis, where we have times of worship, communion, teaching and time for prayer. Themes for Sunday talks have included revisiting Sunday school teachings from Genesis and Exodus with fresh eyes, what it means to be a church, as well as journeys in Acts and Prayer. Our focus for Sundays remains to be building relationship and enabling everyone to serve/contribute in some way, no matter where they are in their faith journey.

Thursdays

We meet on a Thursday in someone’s home to be with one another, to read the Bible together, to support each other through life’s ups and downs, and to pray. We completed an Alpha course together, the prayer course and have been preparing new members for baptism.

Worship Nights

Adam Kishtainy leads a weekly worship night at The Harbour Totterdown, which includes improvised creative worship, prayer and prophecy and once a month we join with Severn Vineyard for their monthly worship night. Numbers at the weekly Lighthouse worship night are usually very small (typically 1-4 people), but we hope that this will grow in the future, and we recognise the importance of having prayer and worship at the heart of all we do.

Vineyard Kids

Vineyard Kids meets each term for 6 weeks and gives children from the church – and from the local schools and community – an opportunity to meet, have fun playing games and making craft, have food together, and experience the Bible, worship and prayer in a supportive, informal environment. We invite parents to join us, to help and eat with us if they wish. Kids’ church is still the area we see the greatest numerical growth. Our parttime kids’ worker leads on the planning and running of the sessions.

This year we took 9 of our kids and 3 adults to a kids/youth camp run by Southwest Youth Ministries called Spree. It’s become a highlight in the year for our children who gain so much from coming, by having fun, deepening friendships and it is often a key marker in their growing faith journey. It’s a particular pleasure to camp alongside other Bristol Churches and feel connected to wider friendships across the city as well as being part of something much bigger nationally. Many of the children know friends and the odd teacher from other churches and schools and love being able to reconnect in this space.

Our annual light party for children both within and without the church was another vibrant affair with a spectacular laser show & smoke machine alongside the usual glow & light-themed activities. This year we ran two light parties - one for the younger children and one for youth. The youth light party filled the sanctuary with lasers, smoke, two DJs and a silent disco!

Youth

After meeting and praying together with other local church leaders from the Totterdown Baptist, Knowle Methodist, St Martins Knowle and Woodies Southside we launched a joint Youth Alpha in Feb 2025. We had around 25 young people come most weeks ranging from Y6-Y11. Sessions included games, teaching via the new updated course material and facilitated discussion small groups. It felt like a great success measured by the young people from all churches wanting to continue to meet and gather in some way ongoing. Morning planned activities such as The Mix and new Youth group for Y5-8 and a girls Bible study group to come in the next report.

The Harbour Totterdown

Owning the building has been a delight and the building is proving to be financially viable with many community groups, new to the space, making use of the various rooms we have available for hire. It also enables us to fulfil our charitable objectives of providing facilities to enable the people of the church to serve the wider community in Totterdown, South Bristol and beyond.

We run two separate budgets for the Harbour and Lighthouse in order to distinguish the church (the people) from the building. Our vision is for the building to support the work of the church rather than the other way round (which is the model that most churches are tied into).

We have made some significant improvements to the space already, including removing the pews and installing infrared heaters in almost all of the areas of the building. Our fundraiser Julie Cole has been

instrumental in enabling this to happen. Because of the removal of the pews, we have been able to host a much more flexible selection of events such as an orchestra concert, the annual art trail and a now wellestablished, regular fitness class.

We welcomed a record 25 artists to the Sanctuary, hall & corridors over the art trail weekend in November, also serving lunch to the exhibitors (as is now a tradition) and offering a selection of workshops.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Income

Unrestricted income of £79,181 was received in the year to 28th February 2025. Lighthouse Vineyard’s main source of income is from donations from the members of the church. Monthly income comes from 3 main households within the church. Unrestricted expenditure has been carefully managed and totalled £57,355 for the year. There was significant restricted income received, totalling £284,463 of which £180,000 relates to an interest free loan made to Lighthouse to enable it to purchase a building.

With the purchase of the building, income has increased considerably due to the rental income from the many community groups which use the building. Costs have also increased due to the liabilities of the building, including insurance, utilities, supplies, salaries and loan repayment.

Total income for the year was £363,644, with total payments of £420,257. It was an exceptional year for expenditure because of purchasing the Methodist building.

Grants

In total, Lighthouse Vineyard made grants totalling £4513. The Lighthouse Vineyard Leadership Team is committed to giving away 15% of its unrestricted income – 5% to VCUK&I, 5% to charities, partners and organisations which are not part of the church family and 5% to meet the needs of those people who consider Lighthouse Vineyard their church and family.

The 5% grant to Vineyard Churches UK furthers church planting both in the United Kingdom and internationally. Lighthouse Vineyard, as part of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland, will continue to contribute financially to Vineyard Churches UK&I over the coming years to pursue its charitable objectives.

Reserves Policy

The Board has determined to maintain a level of reserves equal to at least 2-3 months’ expenditure to meet In the current uncertain investment effectively the requirements for long-term running of the organisation. climate, the reserves policy is to keep these reserves on deposit at the highest rate of interest that can be earned ethically and safely. The level of free reserves is £29,404, which equates to approximately 5 months running costs.

Responsibilities of the Trustees

Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare a trustees’ report and financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the situation of the charity and of its incoming resources and resources expended for the period.

In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

-select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

-make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

-comply with applicable accounting standards and the Charities SORP (FRS 102), subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

-prepare financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In the case of each of the persons who are Trustees at the time when the report is approved, the following applies:

-so far as the trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information (information needed by the independent examiner in connection with preparing their report) of which the independent examiner is unaware, and

-each trustee has taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a trustee to make themselves aware of any audit information and to establish that the independent examiner is aware of that information.

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

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

Lighthouse Vineyard Charity No:1201725 28thFeb 2025 Pages 9-10 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended29th Feb 2025 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 examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have 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:	M. MistryCGMA
	Melanie Mistry
	CIMA chartered accountant
	30 Highfield Grove, Horfield, Bristol BS7 8QH

2024/2025 Lighthouse Vineyard
CharityNo.1201725
Receipts & Payments Accounts for year ending 28th Feb 2025
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Designated	Total	Prior Yr
	£	£	£	£	£
Receipts
Donations	36,282	102,699	-	138,981	89,159
Loan		180,000		180,000
Gift Aid	8,271	443	-	8,714	13,318
Hire of Premises	34,097	-	-	34,097	15,640
Other	531	1,321	-	1,852	1,197
Total Receipts	79,181	284,463	-	363,644	119,313
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Designated	Total	Prior Yr
Payments	£	£	£	£	£
Purchase of Building& Renovations		360,660		360,660
Premises costs	32,431			32,431	12,151
StaffingExpenditure	14,040			14,040	4,565
Overheads	3,798		600	4,398	1,195
Event & Department	4,466			4,466	4,025
Partner Organisations - VCUKI	2,320			2,320	1,496
Computer	300			300
Grants/Gifts	-	2,193		2,193
Total Payments	57,355	362,853	600	420,808	23,432
Net Receipts/Payments	21,826	78,390 -	600 -	57,163 -
Fund Transfer	16,186 -	12,531	3,655	-
Net Receipts/Payments/Fund Transfers	5,641	65,859 -	3,055	57,163 -
Cash Funds lastyear	23,763	70,922	1,196	95,881
Cash Funds thisyear	29,404	5,063 4,251 38,718
	£38,718	bank balance at 28th Feb 2025

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2024/2025 Lighthouse Vineyard
Charity No.1201725
Statement of Assets & Liabilities as at 28th Feb 2025
Unrestricted Restricted Designated Total Prior Yr
£ £ £ £ £
Assets
Cash Funds 29,404 5,063 4,251 38,718 95,881
Other Monetary Assets 696 - - 696 326
Investment Assets - - - -
Assets Retained for Charities own use 300 334,441 - 334,741
TOTAL Assets 30,399 339,504 4,251 374,155 96,207
Liabilities
Loan -180,000 -180,000 0
Utility Bills -1,596
Salary Costs -92
Repairs -1,375 -1,375 -92
TOTAL Liabilities -180,000 -1,375 0 -181,375 -1,780
In Aug24 a loan £180k was taken out to enable Lighthouse to purchase a property costing £334k
This loan is interest free and secured on the property and will be paid off over the next 14 years with the final payment in 2038
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
Signature Print Name
Date of Approval
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