**Charity Registration No. 236171**
## **FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
4 Brackley Close Bournemouth International Airport Christchurch Dorset BH23 6SE
## **FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
## **Trustees**
Mrs A H Evans Mr B Roberts Mr C Fleming
**Charity number** 236171 **Principal address** 2A Church Road Lower Parkstone Poole Dorset BH14 0NN **Independent examiner** Harrisons Chartered Accountants Bournemouth International Airport Christchurch Dorset BH23 6SE
## **FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|1 - 2|
|Independent examiner's report|3|
|Statement of financial activities|4|
|Balance sheet|5|
|Notes to the financial statements|6 - 11|
## **FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**_
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".
## **Objectives and activities**
The object of the Church is to provide religious services in accordance with the Church Manual of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
## **Achievements and performance**
For much of 2020 and 2021 Church services were held on Zoom due to Government restrictions. In October 2021 equipment was installed in the Church building to enable the services to continue to be transmitted on Zoom. Since reopening the Church building hybrid services have been held with congregations both in the building and online, enabling more people to access Church services from the local community and further afield in the UK.
In 2021, members also agreed to the design of a new website to enhance our outreach and this was launched in April 2022. In 2022 we also increased our support for UK Christian Science activities including donations towards the UK Summit 2022 and a lecture at the Commonwealth Games.
From 2019 to 2022 the Reading Room was open to the public 3 and a half days a week (except when Government restrictions prevented it) and during 2023 it has been open 3 days a week. The displays and screen in the window can be viewed 24/7 and are regularly refreshed.
In August 2023 the flat above the Reading Room became vacant and members agreed to invest some £20,000 on refurbishment. This included renewing the kitchen, toilet and bathroom, renewing much of the carpeting, redecoration throughout, renewal of the fencing and some minor repairs. A water leak in the ground floor came to light during building works which was repaired but it is now clear that complete rebuilding of the floor of the Reading Room will be needed. Funding from our insurance company has been received towards the cost of renewing the damaged carpet in the Reading Room. Tenants moved into the flat in February 2024. In December 2024 a leak in the cold water pipe in the flat resulted in a considerable amount of water pouring into the Reading Room. The leak was quickly mended and a claim made to our insurance company for the damage caused to the Reading Room. An industrial dehumidifier was used to dry out the Reading Room. Following the water leak the tenants reported an unrelated problem with condensation and mould as well as a damp patch on the top floor bedroom ceiling which is being investigated. It is intended that necessary repairs to remedy the damp and condensation will be carried out. It is also intended that an application will be prepared for funding from the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy for refurbishing the Reading Room to bring it up to date and improve its utility and attractiveness to the public, including renewal of the flooring.
## **Financial review**
The trustees wish to draw attention to the decrease in donations received this year and the charity making an overall deficit of £4,579 (2023: £7,968) and are grateful in particular to the Dagny Raymond Trust for the generous donation of £24,906
The unrestricted funds are in surplus by £290,823 (2023: £295,402) of which £168,666 is made up of freehold property. The general fund is available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
The designated freehold property fund represents restricted funds utilised at the discretion of the trustees for the purpose of purchasing and improving the freehold property and other assets. Freehold property purchases and improvements, together with revaluation gains and losses on this property, are retained as part of this fund.
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FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE
TRUSTEES. REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Iru5tees have assessed the rnajor ii5k5 to whth the tharlty ts exposed. and are sattstsj Inal swns ar8 in
Flac¢ to tnrtuat8 exptssurè to Ihè mapr ii5k&
Struetur•y gov•rnaTKe and manag•mont
First Church of Christ. Soenb"sL Poole +s an unlnctrwla organt5ation found&J in 1916 as a branch ofTh8
First Church ofChrisL S¢ientisL in 805ton. Massathu8etts, ffhe Mother Ctwr¢hl. ar is regirytered wih the
Charity Commission as Charity No. 236171.
The trustees ser¥ed duriro th& and up to th8 datè fAggnattJm of fina¢81 stat8m?nts were..
MrsA M Evans
Mr B Roberts
Mr C Rerning
(Arwinted 24Awl 20231
w tnJst88s sg1gct8d by the merrth8rs in MggtiThJ aThJ a maion.ty vote ofthose pre8enl is $S8ry
makè Ihè ses0¢fj.
Thert is an Executwe Board conwstiThJ of Ihr9e to fve elected amu* by tha Ch4wth membwship.
Officors in addltion lo ccfftlst rA:.
al PirÈt and sen Readws
bl President
¢1 Llbrarian
dl Sun(Jay Schoc4 SLwenfttenl
el Clerk
t) Twsurer
Th• truste8S' vrés appToved by the Board of Trustees.
MrsAHEva
Trustse
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST. SCIENTIST, POOLE
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST. SCIENTIST. POOLE
I report to the Injslees on my e¥8minalion ol Ihe financaal st*ements of Frst Church of Christ. Scientist. Poole
Ilhe d)arityl fof the year ended 31 December 2024.
R•8ponslbilitie8 anql basi¥ of report
As the trustees of the Charity you are respmsible for thg FwaralK)n ol the finanoaal statemenls in aCCrdanCe
th th8 rèquirements olthe Charities Act 2011.
I report in respect of my examHi3lion of the c*ali$ finarwial st*ments wied urhjer section 145 of thg
Chartties Act 2011. In carrying out my eXaminab. I ha* follmd the Directs given by the Charrty
Commission under section 145151{b) of ChanbesAd 2011.
Ind•pendont examinerfs statefflent
I have completed my exalnination. I confirn that no matters have come to ffly attention in nnecti1)n with the
examination giving ffle cause to believe that in any material respect..
accounting re(JJrds were not kept in [esFt of the (tsity as re(wred by section 130 of the Charits"es Act
2011.
the financial statements do not accorf 7Mth tlb)se reo)rds'. or
the financAal statements do not compty with the applicabk requirements rn1ftY the form and content
of fInarla1 statements set out in the Charittes (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2t#J8 other than any
r8quiremenl that the financ4al statements gNe a true aThJ fair view, is not a matter conside as
part of an independent examinth'on.
I have no concems and have come auoss no other mattèrs in tx)nneclion with the examination to whi
altenlion Should be drawn in this report in order lo enable a propw understanding of the finanual st8lemenls to
be reached.
Harrisons Ch
4 Brackley Close
8ournemouth Iritemational Airport
Christthurch
Dor5el
8H23 6SE
## **FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**_
|||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**funds**|**funds**|
|||**2024**|**2023**|
||**Notes**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income from:**||||
|Donations and legacies|**3**|36,860|49,077|
|Charitable activities|**4**|3,117|3,256|
|Investments|**5**|21,026|13,583|
|**Total income**||61,003|65,916|
|**Expenditure on:**||||
|Charitable activities|**6**|65,582|73,884|
|**Total expenditure**||65,582|73,884|
|**Net expenditure and movement in funds**||(4,579)|(7,968)|
|**Reconciliation of funds:**||||
|Fund balances at 1 January 2024||295,402|303,370|
|**Fund balances at 31 December 2024**||290,823|295,402|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE
BALANCE SHEE[
ASAT31 DEGEMBER 2024
2024
2023
Notes
Fixod as8•t•
TangitAè assets
11
172,450
179,647
Current ou•ts
Stocks
Debiors
Investn*nts
Cash at bank and in hand
12
13
14
2.022
6.854
70.577
41.9g9
110.156
124.078
121.360
Crwditors.. amounts famlng due wfthln
one year
15
15.705)
15.8051
NBt Gurrgnl assets
118,3n
115,155
Total assets current 1sabfilst•s
.823
295.402
Funds Oltr ¢harity
Unrestricted funds
290,823
295.402
29).823
295,402
financial ststements were aFgfov8d by the Twstees on ........
Mr5 A H Evans
TrtyJte•
## **FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is 2A Church Road, Lower Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, BH14 0NN.
## **1.1 Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
## **1.2 Going concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## **1.3 Charitable funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## **1.4 Income**
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
- 6 -
## **FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **(Continued)**
## **1.5 Expenditure**
- Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:
- expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
- other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.
All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Freehold buildings 2% straight line Fixtures and fittings 10% straight line Equipment 5% straight line
Freehold land is not depreciated.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
## **1.7 Impairment of fixed assets**
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
## **1.8 Stocks**
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell.
## **1.9 Financial instruments**
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.
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## **FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**_
## **2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
## **3 Donations and legacies**
||**Unrestricted**|Unrestricted|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|funds|
||**2024**|2023|
||**£**|£|
|Donations and collections|28,635|40,616|
|Covenants and gift aid|8,225|8,461|
||36,860|49,077|
## **4 Income from charitable activities**
||**Reading**|**Reading**|
|---|---|---|
||**room**|**room**|
||**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Sales within charitable activities|3,117|3,256|
**5 Income from investments**
||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|
||**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Other income|17,730|10,150|
|Interest receivable|3,296|3,433|
||21,026|13,583|
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## **FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**_
## **6 Charitable activities**
|**Church**
**activities**
**Reading**
**room**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
Charitable activities
7,622
3,787
Share of support costs (see
note 7)
43,932
8,371
Share of governance costs
(see note 7)
1,870
-
53,424
12,158
**Support costs**
**Support**
**costs**
**Governance**
**costs**
**£**
**£**
Church Activities
52,303
-
Legal and professional
-
1,870
52,303
1,870
Analysed between
Charitable activities
52,303
1,870|**Total**
**2024**
**Church**
**activities**
**Reading**
**room**
**2023**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
11,409
4,888
7,309
52,303
53,705
6,072
1,870
1,910
-
65,582
60,503
13,381
**2024**Support costs
Governance
costs
**£**
£
£
52,303
59,777
-
1,870
-
1,910
54,173
59,777
1,910
54,173
59,777
1,910|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
12,197
59,777
1,910|
|---|---|---|
|||73,884|
|||2023
£
59,777
1,910|
|||61,687|
|||61,687|
## **7 Support costs**
Governance costs includes independent examiners fees of £1,870 (2023- £1,710).
|**8**|**Net movement in funds**|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|**£**|
||The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):|||
||Fees payable for the independent examination of the charity's financial|||
||statements|1,870|1,710|
||Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets|7,730|7,711|
## **9 Trustees**
None of the trustees received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
## **10 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
- 9 -
## **FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**_
|**11**
**Tangible fixed assets**
**Freehold land**
**and buildings**
**Fixtures and**
**fittings**
**Equipment**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Cost**
At 1 January 2024
355,676
22,212
9,348
Additions
-
533
-
At 31 December 2024
355,676
22,745
9,348
**Depreciation and impairment**
At 1 January 2024
180,076
18,165
9,348
Depreciation charged in the year
6,934
796
-
At 31 December 2024
187,010
18,961
9,348
**Carrying amount**
At 31 December 2024
168,666
3,784
-
At 31 December 2023
175,600
4,047
-
**12**
**Stocks**
**2024**
**£**
Total stock
2,022
**13**
**Debtors**
**2024**
Other debtors
6,656
Prepayments and accrued income
2,442
9,098
**14**
**Current asset investments**
**2024**
**£**
Short term deposits
110,156
**15**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**2024**
**£**
Accruals and deferred income
5,705|**Total**
**£**
387,236
533|
|---|---|
||387,769|
||207,589
7,730|
||215,319|
||172,450|
||179,647|
||**2023**
**£**
1,930|
||**2023**
4,420
2,434|
||6,854|
||**2023**
**£**
70,577|
||**2023**
**£**
5,605|
- 10 -
## **FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, POOLE**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**_
## **16 Unrestricted funds**
The income funds of the charity include the following unrestricted funds:
|||**Movement in funds**|**Movement in funds**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Balance at**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Balance at**|
||**1 January 2024**|**resources**|**expended**|**31 December**|
|||||**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Freehold property fund|175,600|-|(6,934)|168,666|
|General fund|119,802|61,003|(58,648)|122,157|
||295,402|61,003|(65,582)|290,823|
|||**Movement in funds**|||
||**Balance at**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Balance at**|
||**1 January 2023**|**resources**|**expended**|**31 December**|
|||||**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Freehold property fund|182,534|-|(6,934)|175,600|
|General fund|120,836|65,916|(66,950)|119,802|
||303,370|65,916|(73,884)|295,402|
The designated freehold property fund represents unrestricted funds utilised at the discretion of the trustees for the purpose of purchasing and improving the freehold property.
## **17 Related party transactions**
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - £nil).
- 11 -