Report and Accounts Period 17 July 2023 to 31 December 2024
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
ALVERSTOKE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Mr D Cunliffe 1 South Close Gosport PO12 2PS WEBSITE www.aechurch.org.uk GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO Constitution registered July 2023 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1204002 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR David Cunliffe MANAGING THE CHARITY Jonathan Royle Iain Whitehead
BANKERS
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
TSB Bank plc Kingdom Bank Ltd Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Pages 2-5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9
Legal and Administrative Details Trustees' Report Independent Examiner's Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of Assets & Liabilities Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
ALVERSTOKE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Charity's Governing Document
The charity is governed by the ‘Church Constitution’ dated April 2023 and the Church Handbook dated October 2024. The latest amendment to the Church Handbook was agreed at the Church Business Meeting held on 26 September 2024.
Aims of Charity
The purposes of the Church are:
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the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith primarily but not exclusively within Alverstoke, Gosport and the surrounding neighbourhood; and
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such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the charity trustees, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, hardship and sickness; the advancement of education; and the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life;
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provided that the advancement of such purposes must be undertaken in a manner that is consistent with the Doctrinal Distinctives and Ethical Statements as may be adopted and amended by the Church from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Church Handbook.
Associations
Member of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches (FIEC).
Review of Activities
Regular Church Activities
We hold weekly services of worship every Sunday morning and evening which are open to the General Public.
Typically, morning service is attended by about 50 to 60 adults and children. Youth activities are run in three, age-appropriate groups: Adventurers for pre-school, J Squad for years R to 4 and Tribe for years 5 to 9. The evening service is attended by 20 to 25 people, which once a month has a focus of prayer. Lifts are arranged for those who struggle to get to the place we meet, giving them the opportunity to be involved in a wider community, receiving care and help as a result. Services are also ‘Live-Streamed’ for those unable to get out.
There are several groups that meet during the week in various homes and other places as suits the needs of the church. Lifegroups meet for Bible study, prayer and mutual support. Other groups include the ladies’ morning Bible study (Growing Together), coffee morning, ladies’ prayer meeting, and a retired men’s group. Growing Together attracts about 20 ladies; some attend via video link.
Discipleship Classes
In January, the series of classes which commenced in 2023 continued to meet to explore membership with three ladies. Following on from this we held two baptismal services for two of the ladies, one at Solent Evangelical Church in May and the second was conducted in the sea in Stokes Bay in July.
Another course was run for two ladies in June to help them explore what the gospel was about.
A baptismal class was held in the Autumn for one of our teenagers and the baptismal service is planned for the New Year.
2
Holiday Bible Club 2024
The Holiday Bible Club in August was a vibrant and spectacular event this year, with 24 children in attendance from across the Gosport community. Themed "Big Top Heroes," the program explored the lives of biblical figures such as Daniel, Moses, Jonah, and Paul, highlighting how their stories pointed toward Jesus as the ultimate Saviour.
The daily sessions featured an upfront drama led by the Ringmaster and his hilarious sidekick, Toto the Clown. Through their performances, they guided the children in considering profound questions such as: How can I trust God in the face of danger? How do I forgive and love people who I don’t like? How do we know Jesus is God? and How should I use my life to serve God?
In addition to biblical teaching, the children participated in a range of exciting activities that tied in with the circus theme. These included learning circus skills such as juggling, balloon modelling, and face painting, as well as enjoying arts and crafts, escape puzzles, and lively sessions of singing and dancing.
A number of children from outside the church returned again this year and had another opportunity to hear God’s word.
At the end of November, the church organised for a company from Saltmine Theatre Company to come and give a performance of Jack and the Beanstalk. This was attended by members, friends, and others from the wider community.
Wonderlab – Christmas Activity Day
In December we hosted our first-ever Christmas Activity Day, which was a joyful and festive celebration of the season. With 29 children attending, the event brought the theme of "Wonderlab" to life, capturing the excitement of science and discovery while exploring the Christmas story. Through the lens of Creation, the Fall, and Salvation, the children were guided to see the deeper meaning of Christmas and why it’s still as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago.
The day featured hands-on science activities that included making bath bombs and constructing stables out of marshmallows and cocktail sticks, Upfront demonstrations, such as the fizzy "Elephant's Toothpaste" experiment, added a sense of awe and wonder to the event.
The day concluded with festive refreshments, which were shared with the children’s families, creating a warm and welcoming opportunity for fellowship and celebration. The families in attendance were positive about returning to other similar events in the future.
Other Activities
A Quiz Evening was held on Saturday Evening 3 February as a social event for members and invited friends.
In June there was a weekend away held at the Greenhouse Christian Centre in Poole for about 26 ladies connected with the church. This was a time for reflection, teaching on the theme of perseverance, and time for relaxation. This is a popular annual event which is well supported.
Membership
There were 51 people in membership of the CIO at the start of the year. One member resigned during the year, three people were welcomed back into membership and one new member was welcomed into membership. Membership was 54 on 31 December 2024. One family is overseas on a work placement but have been kept on the membership roll pending their return.
Other Work in the Community
The Church has a Care Team that helps members and others with practical help. A small team visit those unable to get out to give support and encouragement.
During the year one of our members has arranged for donations of food to be passed on to Acts of Kindness, a local charity providing essential items to those in need.
3
Work outside of Gosport
Christian mission work is supported in London, and overseas in Malawi, Eastern and Western Europe, Central America and Indonesia. The work in Malawi is to train local people to teach church leaders how to study the Bible text so that they can give their people a clear understanding of the Christian message. The church also supports a couple reaching out through local churches which encompasses a holistic worldview encouraging people in their relationship with God, with one another, with self and with creation. This includes practical training to care for the soil in a way that increases yields, without erosion or costly fertilisers and to grow nutritious crops that are more suited to the climatic conditions. Work in Europe and Central America provides support to the local churches in discipleship and outreach.
The work in Indonesia trains young people from rural backgrounds to teach to a high standard and be able to take that back to their own communities.
Public Benefit
The church offers the opportunity for people to explore their spiritual needs in a welcoming environment and take part in acts of Christian worship.
We believe that changed lives as a result of people becoming Christians, learning from the Bible how to live, and through the help of God's Holy Spirit, is very much for the public benefit. But we seek to help people holistically by giving practical aid and support as shown in aspects of the activities above.
Research shows the benefits of encouraging people in their spiritual wellbeing. The public services of worship and other open meetings are therefore part of the public benefit provided by the church.
In planning the activities, the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Review of Financial Activities
This is the first year of operation for the CIO, however, the church previously operated as a Charitable Unincorporated Association (CUA), see note 5 to the accounts, and comparing the finances with the last 9 months of operation of the CUA, income has increased by £19,838 to £82,460 and expenditure has increased by £53,141 to £100,928.
This year the CIO has employed an Interim Pastor whereas the CUA had no employees in the last year of operation which explains the increase in expenditure. Reduction in income reflects to some extent the reduction in membership. On the positive side, this year, we benefitted from bank interest of £2,802. Overall, our available funds dropped by £18,468 to £142,808.
The financial performance of the church is monitored on a regular basis, and major items of expenditure are approved by the deacons and elders.
Reserves Policy
The trustees have determined that the c harity should aim to hold a minimum of £8,000 (which is approximately one month ’ s expenditure) as unrestricted cash, 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 £142,808. We have regular committed giving through Standing Orders which is unlikely to vary significantly unless there was a crisis of confidence in the church leadership. We do not have our own premises which could have unexpectedly large expenses. The main expenses that we would need to cover are salaries for our paid staff.
We currently hold funds significantly more than that required by the reserves policy. This, in part, arises from a significant gift received in July 2020 of £74,000 and from not having employees during the second half of 2022 and the whole of 2023. Since then, the church has been dealing with COVID, the resignation of its pastors in 2022 and a decrease in membership. The reserves will allow us to call a new pastor, provide the opportunity to employ others to support the work of the church and the opportunity to look at purchasing property to support the work of the church.
4
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. 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:
DCG Cunliffe
Signed: ______ DCG Cunliffe (Mar 17, 2025 15:27 GMT)
DCG Cunliffe
Mar 17, 2025 Date: _______
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
ALVERSTOKE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Alverstoke Evangelical Church ('the charity') for the period ended 31 December 2024 on pages 7 to 9 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:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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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.
J. Young J. Young (Mar 17, 2025 16:19 GMT)
Jaimée Young
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Mar 17, 2025
Page 6
ALVERSTOKE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Unrestricted | Funds | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Restricted | 17Jul2023 to | 9 months to | |||||||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 31Dec2024 | 31Dec2023 | |||||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| Income receipts | |||||||||||
| Donations | 59,562 | - | - | 59,562 | 48,411 | ||||||
| Gift aid receipts | 11,921 | - | - | 11,921 | 9,508 | ||||||
| Other grants | 2,160 | - | - | 2,160 | 1,620 | ||||||
| Events (including | retreat weekend) | 5,696 | - | - | 5,696 | - | |||||
| Other | 2,822 | - | - | 2,822 | 3,083 | ||||||
| 82,160 | - | - | 82,160 | 62,622 | |||||||
| Capital and similar receipts | |||||||||||
| Sale of fixed assets | 300 | - | - | 300 | - | ||||||
| 300 | - | - | 300 | - | |||||||
| Total receipts | 82,460 | - | - | 82,460 | 62,622 | ||||||
| Payments | |||||||||||
| Payments in relation to activities undertaken directly |
charitable | 2 | 80,237 | - | - | 80,237 | 31,657 | ||||
| Grants paid in relation to activities undertaken by others |
charitable | 3 | 20,691 | - | - | 20,691 | 16,130 | ||||
| Total payments | 100,928 | - | - | 100,928 | 47,787 | ||||||
| Net of receipts / (payments) transfers |
before | (18,468) | - | - | (18,468) | 14,835 | |||||
| Transfers between funds | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Net movement in funds | (18,468) | - | - | (18,468) | 14,835 | ||||||
| Cash funds as at | last year | end | 161,277 | - | - | 161,277 | 146,442 | ||||
| Cash funds at this year end | A | 142,808 | - | - | 142,808 | 161,277 |
The notes on page 9 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
ALVERSTOKE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Notice deposits [120 day] B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Other debtors C Liabilities Falling due within one year: NEST due Fee for Independent Examination Accrued expenses D Assets retained for charity's own use Contents and equipment |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 29,164 - 113,644 - 142,808 - 3,286 - 400 - 3,686 - 199 - 1,020 - 344 - 1,563 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs General |
31Dec2024 £ 29,164 113,644 142,808 3,286 400 3,686 199 1,020 344 1,563 Value 31Dec2024 £ 7,579 7,579 |
31Dec2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 161,277 - |
||||
| 161,277 | ||||
| 2,083 - |
||||
| 2,083 | ||||
| - - - |
||||
| - | ||||
The trustees have used insurance values as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.
E Guarantees and secured debts
The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf
by DCG Cunliffe (Mar 17, 2025 15:27 GMT)DCG Cunliffe date Mar 17, 2025 _____ _____ DCG Cunliffe
The notes on page 9 form part of these accounts.
Page 8
ALVERSTOKE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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 Equipment Rent Ministries, outreach, admin and support Retreat Other costs 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Organisations: UFM Worldwide Veritas College Arab World Ministries [AWM] France Mission FIEC Care & Share Foundation Organisations < £1,000 Individuals |
Unrestrict | Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ed Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
17Jul2023 to 31Dec2024 £ 42,117 1,535 16,454 12,079 5,264 2,788 80,237 4,050 4,100 3,600 3,000 1,100 1,300 3,481 60 20,691 |
9 months to 31Dec2023 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 42,117 1,535 16,454 12,079 5,264 2,788 80,237 4,050 4,100 3,600 3,000 1,100 1,300 3,481 60 20,691 |
||||||
| - 1,997 12,395 10,865 - 6,400 |
||||||
| 31,657 | ||||||
| - - - - - - - - |
||||||
| 16,130 |
Transactions with related parties
No payments were made to trustees or persons related to them, except for reimbursement of expenses paid out on behalf of the charity.
5 Change of legal form
The CIO was registered on 17th July 2023 and remained dormant until 31st December 2023 when, on this date, Alverstoke Evangelical Church registered charity number 275967 transferred its cash funds and its activities to the CIO. The Charities SORP recommends that merger accounting is used when this type of charity reconstruction takes place and when the conditions set out in the SORP are satisfied. The charity has used the principals of merger accounting when preparing these accounts, in particular:
· the results for the current period combine the results of this charity for the whole period ending on 31 December 2024
- the results of the trust for the 9 month period ending on 31 December 2023 are included as a comparative.
Page 9
Alverstoke Evangelical Church 2024_accounts_FINAL
Final Audit Report
2025-03-17
Created: 2025-03-12 By: J. Young (jaimee.young@stewardship.org.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAADkIZaTJvGsvqa9_IGtKkO03GjpudL3Rj
"Alverstoke Evangelical Church 2024_accounts_FINAL" History
Document created by Jaimée Young (jaimee.young@stewardship.org.uk)
2025-03-12 - 1:36:45 PM GMT
Document emailed to dcgcunliffe@gmail.com for signature
2025-03-12 - 1:38:02 PM GMT
Email viewed by dcgcunliffe@gmail.com
2025-03-17 - 3:25:39 PM GMT
Signer dcgcunliffe@gmail.com entered name at signing as DCG Cunliffe
2025-03-17 - 3:27:08 PM GMT
Document e-signed by DCG Cunliffe (dcgcunliffe@gmail.com)
Signature Date: 2025-03-17 - 3:27:10 PM GMT - Time Source: server
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Document emailed to Jaimée Young (jaimee.young@stewardship.org.uk) for signature 2025-03-17 - 3:27:12 PM GMT
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Email viewed by Jaimée Young (jaimee.young@stewardship.org.uk) 2025-03-17 - 4:18:58 PM GMT
Signer Jaimée Young (jaimee.young@stewardship.org.uk) entered name at signing as J. Young 2025-03-17 - 4:19:21 PM GMT
Document e-signed by J. Young (jaimee.young@stewardship.org.uk)
Signature Date: 2025-03-17 - 4:19:23 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Agreement completed.
2025-03-17 - 4:19:23 PM GMT