WOODCROFT CHRISTIAN CENTRE
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST ] DECEMBER 2024
Registered Charity Number 237401
WOODCROFT CHRISTIAN CENTRE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Contents Page Trustees’ annual report 1-5 Independent examiner’s report 6 Statement of accounts 7
Page 1
Annual Report for the year ending 31[st] December 2024
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 24[th] March 2024
Treasurer: Mr M W Townsend Re-elected 24[th] March 2024 Secretary: Dr Roz Bounds Re-elected 24[th] March 2024
Other members: Keith Bounds Les Weller Lily Hall James Townsend Richard Nicholas Tom Allen Josh Bounds Nikki Allen Jo Thrower Resigned 19[th] May 2024
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:
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Provision of property for group retreats.
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Providing good ethical and moral codes through following the teaching of Jesus.
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Contributing to people’s good mental and physical health by offering retreats in a Christian atmosphere.
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Providing opportunities for worship.
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Contributing to spiritual well-being and development.
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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:
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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.
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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:
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Luncheon Club for over 50’s run in partnership with the local Parish Church Catering for between 40 -50 each month.
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Our annual Bonfire Night and Firework event for the local community was held on 5[th] November 2024, a great evening was held with approx. 700 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 46 groups, made up of 1530 people and accounting for 125 nights usage. The duration of stay included 1 day stay, 6 weeks,7 midweek, 31 weekends and 1 one night.
This year we welcomed a couple of old groups back from pre covid, a few new groups, the new groups from 2023 returning and of course the regular bookings who come year on year, some of whom have been coming for 40 plus years.
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 2024 can be found on page 7 of this report and shows a slight Deficit of £83.38.
The income from group lettings has increased on 2023 as we continue to rebuilding bookings following the impact of Covid 19.
A couple of large expenses this year have included the replacement of the ride on lawn mower and new Bi fold Patio doors in both the dining room and leaders chalets, as with the rest of the country the increase cost of living had also had an impact with increased cost across the board.
Improvement to site continues to be made striving as always to keep the cost down where ever possible.
Deposits for future bookings continue to be allocated as ‘Restricted Funds’ as subject to our flexible Covid-19 Guarantee and refundable.
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:
Following on from feedback and discussions with Groups using the Centre the Management team are currently looking into the feasibility of building a shower block to increase the number of washrooms available for groups, which has been highlighted as one of the areas that could benefit from some improvement.
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 7[th] September 2025
…………………………………… Mr K.Bounds Chairman
Page 6 To The Trustses of Woodcroft Christian Centre. Dear Sirs, 18m r¢w1ing (th th¢ a¢¢ouDts of W¢)odmftChriyian Centre Ir¢gistered ¢haTity nwnber.. 2374011 forth¢ y¢ar ended31 De¢•nb¢r2024. which are set out orl the follow and sbow a deficit forthe yrOf £83.38 (Eighty Three Pounds and Thty Eight PeDcel. Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and ExaTniner. The charity's trustees are responsible forthe preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111-Ihe A¢VI. The charlty's trustees conslder that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act and that an IndepÈndent examination is needed. It is my responsibilityto.. examine the accounts undersection 145 of the Charitie5 ACL to followthe applicable DIrtIOnS gwen by the Charfty Commission (under sertlon 14515llbl of the Act, ond to State whether particular matters have come to my attent)n Basis of Independent Examiner's Statement My examination was carried out in ac¢ordante with gefteral Difettions given bythe Charity Commission. An examination Incltjdes 3 review of the accountin8 records kept by the charity and comparison of the accounts presented with those recofds. It also includes consideration of any unusual r£ems OrdistlosuS In the accounts, and seeking explanations from the twstees COnrnIng any such matter5. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and ctsnsequently no opinion is given as to whethe accounts psent a 'true and fairf view and the report Is Ilmhed to those matters set out ITr the ststement below. Independent Examiner's Statement In connection wtth myexaminatlon, no malerlal matters have come to my attentlon whlch glves me cause to belve that In, any matertal respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with seclion 130 of the Charities Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have corne acr055 no other matters in connection with the exarnination to which attention Should be drawn in orderto enable a prope understsnding of thE aCCOUnt5 to be reached. Na¢.. cbri5topherwath ACIB. DATE.. ]@ April 2025 Addr..3] B(M)d Road. W1115t0, Glouce8t5bireGL15 6PE
Page 7 WOODCROFT CHRISTIAN CENTRE ststement of Accounts 2024 Income 2024 20fd 2022 Groups, Lettings Gifts Bonfire Night Gift Aid Grarrt5 Inteiest & Divithnds Charue In investment Caprtal Other 83890.36 5.00 2528.30 199465 200 00 846 96 -133 41 731.99 10373 48 1940.05 1750.32 500.00 762.55 392.24 0.00 68783.65 13051 98 2(K)7.68 3845 71 2778 00 428 96 -1359 53 385.00 Total Income 99291.86 88862.63 89921.45 Expenditure Management salaries Tax & Nest Cleaning l Mainternan lalour Fumiture & Equipment maintenare Woodcroft Sunnydene Administration materials & tX)stage Telephone TV Intetnet mileage 40270 58 9332.73 4678 £ 5331.86 18128 48 90.61 37268.06 8396.13 5062.27 955.05 10431.49 352.28 3418432 7581.10 3336 25 2200.80 12874 06 63.00 148 39 1458 27 333.£ 3919.26 2412.87 11336.68 75.40 1242.08 247 00 163 00 134 22 1285.58 1 60 3802.74 2383.97 14411.11 249.73 117279 235.00 152.00 107 64 1401 21 415.80 3297.04 2536.56 13774.37 69.70 1138.60 235 00 145 00 528 00 474.00 Insurance CouKIl Tax Heating Lighting & Water Catering supplies Bonfire Night cci CCLI First Training Fire Safety Training Food Hygene Training VAT Advi-0RG 4Front Theatre Miscellaneous 405.00 .00 949 40 675.30 206.09 235.25 Total Expenditure 99375 20 87364.27 86887 15 Balance txought forward Surplusldeficit for the Year Balance Carried Forward 74713 06 73214.70 70180 40 -83 38 1498.36 -2(5 70 74629 68 74713.06 73214 70 Refundable Dewsrt monies received orking Balance Carried Forward 8209 48 6900 5100 00 66420.20 67813.06 68114.70 Represented by Current AIC General furKI Nat West 28542 35 Barclays 17597 56 2959 49 7321.01 15550 85 2658.42 25851.08 204gg 94 2884.33 7588.34 15289.67 2599.7 23209 15 22283 67 2953 74 7348.83 15041 75 2377.56 M&G CharifurKI Chariton Kingdom Bank DetK)srt Account COIF Investment Totsl 74629.68 74713.06 73214.70