WOODCROFT CHRISTIAN CENTRE
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST ] DECEMBER 2023
Registered Charity Number 237401
WOODCROFT CHRISTIAN CENTRE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
----- Start of picture text -----
Contents
Page
Trustees’ annual report 1-5
Independent examiner’s report 6
Statement of accounts 7
----- End of picture text -----
Page 1
Annual Report for the year ending 31[st] December 2023
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
1. Reference and Administration Details
Woodcroft Christian Centre, Woodcroft Lane, Woodcroft, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 7PZ. Is registered with the Charity Commissions (reg.no.237401) and constituted by a deed of Trust dated 23[rd] August 1890.
The charity trustees are:
Chairman: Mr K. Bounds. Other Members: Mr L Weller Mr A H Samuel Mr M W Townsend Mr. P Bellingham
Nature and period of appointment: Appointment at the invitation of other trustees and no fixed period of time.
No remuneration or expenses have been paid to charity trustees during the year
The Management Committee is responsible for the management and organisation of the centre and reports to the trustees on an annual basis.
The members are: Chairman: Mr James Marshall Re-elected 26[th] March 2023 Treasurer: Mr M W Townsend Re-elected 28[th] March 2021
Other members: Keith Bounds Les Weller Lily Hall James Townsend Richard Nicholas Tom Allen Josh Bounds Roz Bounds Nikki Allen Jo Thrower
Secretary to the Committee: Mrs Roz Bounds Elected 3[rd] April 2022
Nature and Period of appointments: Invitation by committee must be raised and agreed at 2 consecutive meetings prior to invitation. No fixed term for members. Chairman serves for 1 year, Treasurer 2 years and Secretary 3 years. Any of the officers can stand for re-election. No remuneration or expenses have been paid to committee members during the year.
Page 2
TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)
Other main Agents:
Bankers: Barclays Bank UK P.L.C 121 Queen Street Cardiff CF10 2BJ National Westminster Bank P.L.C. 21 Eastgate Street Gloucester GL1 1NH Solicitors: Everett, Tomlin, Lloyd and Pratt 19-20 Gold Tops Newport NP20 4PH Honorary Auditor: Christopher Wathen 31 Birchwood Road Woolaston Gloucestershire GL15 6PE Manager of Centre: Mr. Gareth Birt Sunnydene Woodcroft, Chepstow, Mon NP16 7PZ
The charity employs a full-time manager together with a part-time assistant and part-time house keepers, with Student Workers providing part –time help, assisting with housekeeping and ground maintenance as and when required. A considerable amount of voluntary help is also utilised at the centre.
TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)
Page 3
2. Objectives and Review of Activities:
Woodcroft Christian Centre’s aim is to encourage the commitment of peoples lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and spiritual development in individuals of all ages, families, churches and groups, through the provision of Woodcroft Christian Centre, it’s leisure facilities and grounds. We aim to keep the cost of staying at Woodcroft Christian Centre as low as practically possible thus enabling those who may otherwise not afford the opportunity to experience a retreat and to be influenced by the Gospel.
The Trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit and also the guidance on “The Advancement of Religion for Public Benefit” published in December 2008, in assessing which activities it undertakes.
We intend to provide benefit by:
-
Provision of property for group retreats.
-
Providing good ethical and moral codes through following the teaching of Jesus.
-
Contributing to people’s good mental and physical health by offering retreats in a Christian atmosphere.
-
Providing opportunities for worship.
-
Contributing to spiritual well-being and development.
-
Contributing to the spiritual and moral education of young people.
People can come to Woodcroft Christian Centre where they will be welcomed to a Christian atmosphere and encouraged in their spiritual development. It is hoped that the wider public will also benefit through people returning to their communities keen to practice Jesus’ teaching to love their neighbour as themselves.
The objects of the charity are achieved as follows:
-
Christian groups are encouraged to use the site for fellowship and fun in a relaxed Christian atmosphere and to take time to seek spiritual development.
-
Members of the surrounding community are invited to use the facilities as part of a number of local ministries and events which are run for their benefit, along with having access to areas of the grounds for contemplation and reflection.
TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)
Page 4
The Charity carries out a number of activities with a view of achieving these objectives.
These include:
-
Luncheon Club for over 50’s run in partnership with the local Parish Church (monthly) Numbers have returned to that of pre Covid and have had to implement a waiting list as it is at capacity.
-
In May 2023 we hosted a Philippa Hanna Concert with folk attending from across the Forest of Dean Churches.
-
Our annual Bonfire Night and Firework event for the local community was held on 4[th] November 2023, a great evening was held with approx. 500 joining us from across the community again.
Residentially Bookings continue to grow/return to that of previous years and groups rebuild and confidence in going away is resumed. Over the course of the year, we welcomed a total of 43 groups, made up of 1447 people and accounting for 123 nights usage. The duration of stay included 7 days stay, 6 weeks,7 midweek, 31 weekends and 1 one night.
We have sadly lost a number of groups whom numbers have diminished following Covid but have also welcomed quite a few new groups who have grown or discovered Woodcroft Christian Centre for the first time.
We continued to offer our flexible Covid-19 Guarantee to all groups giving groups the confidence to book should another lockdown occur.
The Charity is committed to fulfilling its charitable purpose to further the Christian faith. It is expected that a Christian group will subscribe to the basis of faith published by the Evangelical Alliance. The Charity does not accept bookings for use of its facilities from groups seeking to promote or actively support a faith which is non-Christian, or an ideology, morality or life-style incompatible with its Christian purpose.
TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)
Page 5
3. Financial Review
The financial statement for the year end 31[st] December 2023 can be found on page 7 of this report and shows a Surplus of £1498.36.
The income from group lettings has increased slightly on 2022 mainly due to a price increase, group sizes and numbers staying still not quite back to the levels of 2019. Giving has dropped as those who signed up to support during Covid have reached the end of their support period.
Wherever possible improvements have been made to the site, with the continued rise in cost of materials we have ‘cut our cloth’ accordingly making savings when ever we can without compromising on quality or cutting corners.
Deposits for future bookings continue to be allocated as ‘Restricted Funds’ as subject to our flexible Covid-19 Guarantee and refundable.
As with everyone we still face cost of living challenges with increasing costs across the board, however God is faithful, and needs are always met.
Reserves are still held in Unrestricted funds which equates to at least three months unrestricted payments, this is to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time.
4. Plans for the future:
Currently no plans for any major development, Improvements are being made as they arise and in line with funds being available. Feedback is being sought from groups and suggestions discussed with management team with plans developed as and when needed. We will continue to work tirelessly to make Woodcroft Christian Centre the special place it is and will be for so many people.
Approved by the Trustees on Sunday 11[th] August 2024
…………………………………… Mr K.Bounds Chairman
Page 6 To The Tn of Wo(wJcroft Christian C¢ntre. Dear Sirs, I ttrANtin8¢ theruouDtsof WthNkroft CThri4iaD CeDtr IrEgiwed nwnter. 2374011 foTthe year 31 DeeT21)I3, knich attset the followinBp•8tS4Dd show a Swplus forthc ye4r of £1498J6 ((kn Flyjr Hur¥hJ Ei8ht Th¥ty SixPenc<l. Respertive RpOnsibIlitieS of TneS and Ex8mineT. The charwstrystees are responslble for ihe preparation of the accounts In acCOrdar with the requlrements of the Charlt5 Act 20111-the Acri. The chariV5 tru5teesmns•Jer that an audit 15 rnt required forthi5ye•rwth sectknn 144 of ano thai an lndepeteMifiaikn Is eded. It Is my reSnsIbIlItyto= exarnlne the accounts urthr sectlon 145 of the char1t5 Act, to follow the applKable Dlrectkmstyen by the CharltyComm155knn lurKlersectlon 14515llbl of the Act. and to #att whether partkul•i matters h•¥ecome to myattentknn B8sis of Independent Examiner's SL2tement My exomlnaibn woscarrled out In accon general Dlrettknnsfvn by the Charlty Comrni55ion. An examitk)n include5 a reviewof the ac¢ount1 records kept tythe charty and comparlson of the accounts presenied wlth those remrd5. Ita150 inclsbJe5 consKleration of •ry nusual ftem5 or dlsc105ures In the Kmunts. aThJ seekin8 explanatv)ns from the trustees concernln8 any such matters. The proodures undertaken th rK¢t provHle all the evidence t1 be requlred In an audr¢, an(1 consequentty rKJ opin&)n Is gNen as to whether the accounts present a 'true and lolrf vin¥ and the repDrt is Ilmlted to tlthe mat set0 in the llatement below. Independent Examiner's Ststement In connettknn wlth myexamlnatbjn. no materfal matt5 have (ome to my •tteniion whh 8l¥es me cause to belYe that In. any materlal respect.. oc¢ounl1 wrdsve not kept In acWanw1th sectb)n 130 ofthe chatIeS Act or the acrountsth) not at£ord With the aruthtirrf record5 I have no conceffts and ha acrnsSother matters Inc0nrcTr ¥rith the e¥•min4tion to which atten(ft shoukl be dra in orderto efiab a proper uThlerstandir¥ of theaccLiunts to be reached. DAIE" 14. M•y 2024
Page 7 WOODCROFf CHRISTIAN CETrE ststement of Accounts 2023 Income 2023 2022 2021 Groups, Lety"ngs Gifts Bonfire Nighl Gift Aid Job relenlK)n S¢hem6 Grants Intere51 & Dividends ¢h8ng8 in inveslm8nl Capial Olh8r 73143.99 10373.48 1940.05 1750.32 68783.65 13051 98 2007.68 3845.71 22135.01 30465.00 17028.77 29854.41 387.67 412.15 215.00 2778.C#) 428.96 -1359.53 385.00 762.55 392.24 Total In¢om• 88862.63 89921.45 100498.01 Ejtpendfture Mantyem8nl 8alwi8s Tax & N88t Cleaning l Maintenwca latojr Furniture & EquikNnoni Mainl8nanc8 Wooycroft &Jnnydono 37268.06 8396.13 2.27 955.05 10431.49 352.28 34184.32 7581.10 3336.25 2200.80 12874.06 63.00 31427.03 5746.13 1956.96 17192.56 13046.13 3117.93 Adrninistrats" m810ri8Ls & post89• Telephone TV IThtt 134.22 1285.58 431.60 3802.74 2383.97 14411 11 249.73 1172.79 235.(h) 152.(rfJ 107.64 1401.21 415.80 3297 04 2536.56 13774 37 69.70 1138.60 235.00 145.00 528.00 474.(MJ 148.33 1261.92 Insurance Councl Tax Healing Lighlr%J & Watsr ¢al8ring SUFWvas Bonf re Night cci CCLI Flrsl TrainiNJ Fire Safety TrainifyJ Foc Hwne TrainiThJ VAT Advre-ORG 4Front Theatre Miscellaneous 3379,87 2231.96 4312.03 235 405.rK) 949 40 875.30 23S.2S 19.49 Total Expendlture 87364.27 88887.15 84075.34 Balance brought forward sUUsIderrt fc¢ lh8 Year Balance Carried Forwar 73214.70 70180.40 53757.73 1498.36 -2C65.70 11922.67 74713.C 73214.70 70180.40 Refundable Dewsit recwved 5100.00 4500.00 Workirg Balance Carried Forward 67813.06 68114.70 65680.40 Represented by Curr8nl AIC General lund Nat West Barda 25851.08 20499 94 2884.33 7588.34 15289.67 2599.7 23209.15 22283.67 2953.74 7348.83 15(M1.75 2377.56 36550.89 16602.49 3127.96 8221.38 2987.36 2690.32 M&G CharifuThJ Chariithd "ngdcn Bank DeKM)Sit A¢txwnt COIF Invesbnent 74713.( 73214.70 70180.40