2024-12-31-accounts - Colwell Baptist Church

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COLWELL BAPTIST CHURCH

Registered Address

Colwell Road Freshwater Isle of Wight PO40 9NB Registered Charity No 1202973

Trustees

Revd David Burton —Minister Pam Bird - Secretary Ann Eakins – Treasurer Michael Wright Stephen Smith Alison Phillips Nigel Steady

Property Trustees

The BapPst Union CorporaPon Limited BapPst House 129 Broadway Didcot Oxfordshire OX11 BRT

Bankers

Lloyds Bank PLC 22 St Thomas' Square Newport Isle of Wight PO30 1SQ

Independent Examiner

Mrs Elaine Cherry

Annual Report for 2024

The trustees present their Annual Report and financial statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024.

Charitable Object

The Charity is governed by an Approved Governing Document which states that the principal purpose of the Church is the advancement of the ChrisPan faith according to the principles of the BapPst denominaPon. The Church may also advance educaPon and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.

The Church occupies premises which are held by the BapPst Union CorporaPon Limited as holding trustees on Trusts which are enPrely compaPble with the above object.

OrganisaIonal Structure and Decision-Making Processes

Membership BapPsm by immersion upon personal profession of faith is the normal mode of entry into the membership of the church. Persons seeking membership who have not been bapPsed in the manner described may at the discrePon of the Church Members' MeePng be accepted for full membership based on their own public profession of faith.

Decision Making Process Members’ MeePngs are usually held six Pmes each year and have responsibility for the overall policy making of the church. In accordance with the Church’s ConsPtuPon, Members appoint Deacons for a three-year period of service, aber which they may be re-elected by Members for a further period of three years. Deacons are collecPvely known as the Diaconate (two of whom are elected by Members to act as Church Secretary and Treasurer) and together with the Minister they are responsible for the day to day running of the church's work, witness and the financial and legal aspects of the charity. All Members are encouraged to play an appropriate part in the spiritual and pracPcal tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objecPve. Relevant maeers may be submieed to the Church meePng by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by Members in Church meePng for further consideraPon by the Trustees and Membership. Although the ConsPtuPon permits decisions to be made at Church meePngs by appropriate majoriPes, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.

The church is in membership with or works in partnership with:

The BapPst Union of Great Britain
The Southern CounPes BapPst AssociaPon
Churches Together in West Wight

ObjecIves and AcIviIes

To achieve the principal objecPve, set out above, the Church provides a variety of acPviPes both to its Membership and to the community. The Church's focus is set out as, "In all we do, we try to join in with the mission of God, in reaching out to make disciples and to make a difference in God's world. We want to be a church in the community, for the community.” The Church holds public services of ChrisPan worship on Sunday mornings supported by a varied group of musicians with groups for pre-school and primary-aged children (Colwell Kids) and for secondary-aged young people (Youthscape).

The Church also hosts or supports a number of acPviPes, including Community Café, DemenPa-Friendly Lunch-Club, monthly men’s and ladies’ groups, Connect (home) Groups and the Alpha Course.

The Church has adopted a safeguarding policy based on the BapPst Union’s Model Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and publishes a policy statement on its website. All people working with children, young people and vulnerable adults are appropriately veeed regarding the Criminal Records Bureau. All Deacons and Trustees, together with the Designated Person for Safeguarding and their deputy have undertaken Level 3 Safeguarding training. All those working with children and young people have undertaken Level 2 training.

Michael Wright is the Deacon/Trustee with responsibility for overseeing and monitoring implementaPon of the policy and procedures on behalf of the Church's Trustees. The Church has appointed a Member, Heather Smith, as the Designated Person for Safeguarding to take the appropriate acPon when abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected and to advise the church on any maeers related to the safeguarding of children and young people.

the acPviPes outlined above clearly demonstrate the Charity is providing a benefit to the public.

Achievements and Performance

Colwell Community Café Once a week, on a Tuesday abernoon, members of the Church open the church hall for two hours and host what has become known locally as Colwell Community Cafe. Around a dozen people take the opportunity to drop into a weekly "warm welcome space" and once a month we host a free community meal at the end of the usual Cafe session.

DemenIa-Friendly Lunch-Club Once a month the Church uses its church hall to provide a low-cost lunch for those on the demenPa journey together with their carers. Around eight couples regularly aeend this DemenPa-friendly Lunch-Club, with invited guests coming to provide informaPon and acPviPes and members of the Church providing the catering.

Building Maintenance Maintenance of the church building and hall were put on the backburner while the Church was involved in unsuccessful discussions to develop the church building which was followed by the Covid lock-downs. In 2022, the Church undertook a major refurbishment of the interior of the church building, removing pews, renewing carpets, electrics and heaPng, making the church a more usable space for different groups. In 2023, work was carried out to the exterior, with replacement of a large window, extension of roofing slates and re-rendering of one end of the building. This work conPnued in 2024 with repainPng of much of the exterior of the building and refurbishment of the church noPce board. The intenPon for 2025 is to complete repainPng of the exterior of the building and interior and exterior of the church hall. Schedules have been produced to ensure that areas of maintenance are considered at regular points each year.

Work began in 2024 on improving the graveyard and planted areas of the church grounds, making a more welcoming communal area together with a community garden for growing fruit and vegetables. SeaPng has been placed in the graveyard to create a space where people can enjoy a Pme of peace.

During the year, we also recarpeted the lounge and stairs of the manse together with flooring in the kitchen and replaced the electric oven.

Loan repayments During 2021/22, the Church took out a Development Loan to finance an extension to the manse to accommodate the growing needs of our Minister’s family. At its highest, the loan reached £32,696 to be repaid by monthly instalments, maturing in 2036 with interest rates increasing from 3.10% in 2021 to 7.75% at the end of 2023. In view of the

increasing rates of interest and with a desire to be debt free, the Church has sought to make early repayments of the loan with a further £5,000 being paid in 2023 leaving a debt of £8,657 as at 31[st] December 2023, with this balance being seeled in full in January 2024, twelve years before the planned date of the loan’s maturity.

Graveyard During 2023, the Membership discussed how we might make the graveyard an open space for the community by planPng and perhaps adding seaPng. As part of this process, the graveyard was formally closed in 2023.

ASendance Since the start of 2024, the church has regularly been full, with liele or no capacity for more people and at Pmes has been forced to ask young people to join their groups at the start of the service to free up seaPng. This is far from ideal as we want our young people to feel part of our congregaPon and want visitors to feel welcome, however, it is a posiPve problem in that more people wish to be part of the congregaPon. To accommodate more people in the short-term, we began to hold two services each Sunday morning, with the congregaPon meePng between services for tea and coffee. The two services are idenPcal other than children and young people’s groups being held during the second service.

2024 Year-End Accounts

The year-end accounts show an overall surplus of £13,687, made up of £14,835 for the General Fund and £(1,148) from the other five funds combined (Building Maintenance £(689), Benevolent £(95), Garden £(160) and DemenPa Club £(204)).

General Fund The surplus of £13,687 was greatly aided by two generous donaPons amounPng to £15,000 plus Gib Aid, together with the BU Grant of £4,290. Expenditure included seelement of the development loan for the manse (£8,713, including interest) and contribuPons to BU Home (£4,250) and world (£4,640) mission.

Building Maintenance Fund Expenditure for the year amounted to £688 and it is envisaged that it may be necessary to spend several thousands of pounds during 2025 towards maintenance of buildings (see Achievements and Performance, above). The Building Maintenance Fund stood at £8,121 as at 31[st] December 2024 – with planned maintenance for 2025, this balance is considered sufficient for our current needs.

Reserves Policy

A typical reserves policy as outlined by the BapPst Union CorporaPon is three months of expenditure which would amount to around £16,000 based upon the 2025 Budget/Forecast – the General Reserve as at 31[st] December 2024 stood at £62,042, well exceeding this recommendaPon.

2024 Budget/Forecast

actual income and expenditure to date plus a review of budgeted income and expenditure for the remainder of the year to produce a projecPon for the full year. At the Pme of this report, the projected surplus of the General Fund for 2025 was around £2,000

The Trustees’ Report was approved by the Trustees on 26[th] March 2025.

Chairman Secretary and Trustee

Revd David Burton Pam Bird

Net Receipts/(payments) for the year	Total Payments	Audit	Administration 7	Upkeep of church premises 6	Mission 5	Ministry 4	Total Receipts	Other Grants	BUGB Grant	Rents and contributions for use of premises	Investment Income 3	Income tax recoverable on Gift Aid	Donations and other income 2	Weekly offerings	Note
14,835.91	71,652.34	100.00	2,493.62	7,221.99	11,613.36	50,223.37	86,488.25	-	4,290.00	600.00	2,071.10	14,019.13	987.50	64,520.52	General
(688.44) (95.25)	688.44 95.25	- -	- 95.25	688.44 -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	Maintenance Benevolent	Building	Fund
(160.32)	240.17	-	240.17	-	-	-	79.85	-	-	-	-	-	79.85	-	Garden
(204.25)	786.56	-	786.56	-	-	-	582.31	-	-	-	-	-	582.31	-	Club	Dementia
13,687.65	73,462.76	100.00	3,615.60	7,910.43	11,613.36	50,223.37	87,150.41	-	4,290.00	600.00	2,071.10	14,019.13	1,649.66	64,520.52	2024
(12,779.94)	71,615.60	100.00	3,803.13	16,039.98	8,179.68	43,492.81	58,835.66	800.00	3,975.00	550.00	2,276.73	8,662.20	3,427.13	39,144.60	2023

Net Assets	Liabilities	Total Assets	Gift Aid claimed but not received	Petty cash	BU 3 month	BU 7 day notice	Lloyds Current Account	Closing Balances	Transfers	Payments	Receipts	Opening Balances
								62,042.25	-	(71,652.34)	86,488.25	47,206.34	General
								8,120.62 1,133.63	- -	(688.44) (95.25)	- -	8,809.06 1,228.88	Maintenance Benevolent	Building
								394.29	-	(240.17)	79.85	554.61	Garden
								452.15	-	(786.56)	582.31	656.40	Club	Dementia
72,142.94	-	72,142.94	14,019.12	7.12	52,480.87	3,263.42	2,372.41	72,142.94	-	(73,462.76)	87,150.41	58,455.29	2024
58,455.29	-	58,455.29	8,661.82	7.12	37,496.08	5,177.11	7,113.16	58,455.29	-	(71,615.60)	58,835.66	71,235.23	2023

services as Minister, including the provision of manse accommodation owned by the church.	The Minister acts as one of the church's trustees and receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of his	Total Ministry 50,223.37 - - - -	Other Ministry 221.38 - - - -	Visiting Preachers 139.36 - - - -	Repayment of Loan to develop Manse 8,713.34 - - - -	Manse Costs 6,378.87 - - - -	Minister's Expenses 2,549.22 - - - -	National Insurance - - - - -	Pension Contribution 3,621.24 - - - -	Minister's Stipend 28,599.96 - - - -	4 Ministry	Total Investment Income 2,071.10 - - - -	Bank Interest 2,071.10 - - - -	3 Investment Income	Total Donations and Other Income 987.50 - - 79.85 582.31	Other Income 322.50 - - 79.85 582.31	One-off donations not attracting Gift Aid - - - - -	One-off donations attracting Gift Aid - - - - -	Donations to Home Missions 365.00 - - - -	Donations to World Missions 300.00 - - - -	2 Donations and Other Income	General Maintenance Benevolent Garden Club	Building Dementia	Fund	Act 2011.	1 These accounts have been prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis and in accordance with Section 133 Charities	Notes	Colwell Baptist Church
		50,223.37	221.38	139.36	8,713.34	6,378.87	2,549.22	-	3,621.24	28,599.96		2,071.10	2,071.10		1,649.66	984.66	-	-	365.00	300.00		2024
		43,492.81	219.03	120.00	7,930.04	3,720.85	1,639.57	-	3,363.36	26,499.96		2,276.73	2,276.73		3,427.13	1,542.00	130.00	750.00	305.00	700.13		2023

11,613.36 - - - - 11,613.36 8,179.68	General Building Maintenance Benevolent Garden Dementia Club 2024 2023 4,250.00 - - - - 4,250.00 2,585.00 4,640.00 - - - - 4,640.00 2,990.13 1,440.00 - - - - 1,440.00 1,750.00 75.00 - - - - 75.00 - 100.00 - - - - 100.00 100.00 142.50 - - - - 142.50 - - - - - - - - 285.40 - - - - 285.40 - 402.86 - - - - 402.86 - 277.60 - - - - 277.60 754.55 Fund

* The church also owns fixtures, furniture and equipment which is covered by insurance for the church and vestry and church hall, as noted above.	* Church manse at 7 Golden Ridge, Freshwater, PO40 9LE valued in the accounts at £367,360 (contents £4,112) based on insured value.	And Liabilities	* A burial ground at Colwell Road, Freshwater, PO40 9NB. No meaningful value is available so it has not been included In the Statement of Assets	* Church hall at Colwell Road, Freshwater, PO40 9NB valued in the accounts at £262,511 (contents £26,602) based on insured value.	* Church and vestry at Colwell Road, Freshwater, PO40 9NB valued in the accounts at £437,524 (contents £31,668) based on insured value.	trustee the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd:	The church is the beneficial owner (subject to the relevant trusts) of the following assets, the legal title to which is held by the church’s custodian	8 Assets Held for Church's own use	2,493.62 - 95.25 240.17 786.56 3,615.60 3,803.13	Other 38.18 - 95.25 240.17 786.56 1,160.16 887.72	Church123:web site annual charge 243.00 - - - - 243.00 243.00	Tech and Audio 183.77 - - - - 183.77 1,028.19	Laptop Computer - - - - - - -	Flowers 280.00 - - - - 280.00 110.00	Wight Fire Services 263.74 - - - - 263.74 277.26	SCBA Safeguarding 10.00 - - - - 10.00 10.00	Kitchen/Hall 731.56 - - - - 731.56 586.68	CCLI Music Licences 743.37 - - - - 743.37 660.28	7 Administration	General Maintenance Benevolent Garden Club 2024 2023	Building Dementia	Fund	Notes	Colwell Baptist Church

1ftdewrt Examlnevs rewt Report of the Independent Exam5ner to the Trustees of Colwell Baptlst Churth on the accounts for the vear ended 31 December 2024. Respectlve reSPtyIb1l1tleS ITntstees and Examlner The Church's Trustees are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts. The Church's Trustees con51der that an audlt is not requlred for thls year under section 144 of the Charfties Act 2011 Ithe Charlties Artl and that an Independent examination Is needed. It is my re5ponslbility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Art, to follow the procedures laid down in the 8eneral Dirertlons glven by the Charlty Commlssion (under section 14515llb} of the Charities Act, and • to state whether partlcular matters have come to my attentlon. Basls (rf INlepernlent examlnerfs statemert My examination was carried out in accordance with general Dlrections given by the Charity Commlsslon. AD examlnatlon Includes a re)lew of the accountin8 record5 kept by the church and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures In the accounts, and seekin8 explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be requlred In an audlt, and consequently no oplnlon Is glven as to whether the accounts present a 'true and falf 14lew and the report Is Ilmlted to those matters set out In the ststement below. lrnlepeThlent exarnlnerfs statement In connectlon wlth my examination. no material matters have come to my attention which glves me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accountln8 records were not kept In accordance wlth sectlon 130 of the Charitles Act or the accounts do not accord wlth the accountln8 records I have come across no other matters In connectlon wlth the examlnatlon to whlch attention should be drawn In order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. SK l oi[zozS Date Si8ned by the Examln