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2020-12-31-accounts

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2020

BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

INTRODUCTION

The Directors of the Baptist Union Corporation Ltd (“The Corporation”) present their Annual Report together with the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 which comply with the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2015).

The Annual Report and Financial Statements are structured as follows:

Section Description Page Reference
1 Objectives and Activities What we set out to do Page 2
2 Structure, Governance and Management How we do things Page 3-5
3 Achievements and Performance What we have done so far Page 6
4 Plans for Future Periods What we plan to do next Page 7
5 Financial Review About our finances Page 8
6 Who We Are Who we are Page 9
Directors’ Responsibilities Page 10
Auditors’ Report Page 11 - 13
Financial Statements Our Finances in detail Page 14 - 23

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SECTION 1 – OUR OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Our Objectives

The principal object of the Corporation is the advancement of Christian Faith and its Practice, especially by the means of and in accordance with the principles of the Baptist Denomination. Its activity is directed towards helping Baptist churches in their work, not least through encouraging the effective management of their assets and resources.

The Corporation’s principal activities are to act as custodian/holding trustee of many Baptist Churches, administering the Baptist Union Loan Fund and operating the Baptist Union Gift Aid Scheme. It also helps churches with guidance on legal, property and charity matters as well as having responsibility for various funds and investments.

The charitable Corporation is part of the family of Baptist organisations serving the needs of many of the Baptist Churches in Great Britain and works especially closely with the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

Public Benefit

Having regard to the guidance published by the Charity Commission (PB2), the Charity Trustees continued to provide public benefit by seeking to advance the Christian Faith and Practice in accordance with the principles of the Baptist Denomination.

Throughout 2020 the Corporation continued to support the Baptist Union and its member churches, Regional Associations and Colleges in a wide range of activities including:

Our Strategies to achieve success

The Corporation operates in line with its agreed 5-year strategic plan for 2017 – 2022 which covers the core areas of its work setting objectives, measurable goals and assessing achievements year on year against these. Key features of the strategic plan are

The Directors review the strategic plan each year and are planning a refresh in 2021. The Corporation monitors the quality of services delivered through church satisfaction surveys to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the work undertaken.

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SECTION 2 – STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Document

The Corporation is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 14[th] November 1890, as amended by Special Resolutions dated 14[th] April 1950, 12[th] March 1963, 22[nd] November 2001, 15[th] March 2005, 20[th] March 2006, 3[rd] May 2013, 24[th] June 2014, and 30[th] June 2016.

Recruitment and Training of Directors

The Corporation is run by a Board of Directors who act as directors of the Corporation, and who met three times in 2020. The Board of Directors consists of:

Prospective Directors are asked to confirm they are not disqualified from serving as charity trustees. After appointment they are provided with information about governance and the Corporation’s principal activities and processes. Updates on current legal issues are regularly provided to the Directors.

For the purposes of good governance, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Corporation had previously been amended by a Special Resolution of the members to provide term limits for the Directors. Directors may be appointed for a maximum of three terms of three years.

The Directors also completed a Skills Survey to identify the specific contribution they could bring to the Board and to enable the Corporation to identify areas where the experience of the Board could be strengthened and recruit to the Board accordingly.

During 2018, the Directors established a governance subcommittee to review the governance of the Corporation against the recommendations of the Charity Governance Code. The subcommittee produced an initial report to Directors in December 2019. The resulting action plan was agreed by the board in 2020 and a number of improvements have been implemented in a number of areas including recruitment of directors, the induction process for new directors and the setting of the agenda for board meetings. Following the refresh of the Charity Governance Code in December 2020 the directors anticipate reviewing whether any further actions are required by the end of 2022.

Directors’ interests

No Director had any beneficial interest in the Corporation or in any contract or arrangement of a material nature with the Corporation during the year under review, although two churches (2019: two) of which a Director is a member, have loans from the Corporation in the ordinary course of their business. Expenses were paid to four Directors (2019: 13) amounting to £620 (2019: £2,080).

Related Parties

The members of the Corporation are the members of the Trustee Board of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. The Home Mission Fund is the principal working fund of that Union. The Home Mission Fund provides staff, offices and ancillary support to the Corporation, as well as substantial capital. Details of these costs and interest paid are set out in note 20 of these financial statements.

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SECTION 2 – STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Key management personnel remuneration

Key management personnel are considered to be:

All staff of the Corporation are employed by the Baptist Union of Great Britain and the arrangements for setting the pay and remuneration is the responsibility of the Trustee Board of the Baptist Union. There is a management fee in place whereby the Corporation reimburses staff costs to BUGB in proportion to the work done on behalf of the Corporation and the Union.

Risk Management

The Corporation maintains a Risk Management Matrix which is reviewed annually by the Directors and key management personnel as a means of identifying the risks, financial and non-financial that might affect the work and reputation of the Corporation. The aim is to establish and operate appropriate and adequate controls. A full review of the Matrix is presented to the Directors annually, and highlights are also given every meeting.

The key risks identified in the most recent review were:

Risk Approach to monitoring and management of the risk
A requirement to comply with a new set of Advice has been taken from Leading Counsel on the
banking laws or regulations that is of such high regulatory environment faced by the Corporation for its
cost as to be a threat to the BUC business financial services. The Corporation’s solicitors actively
model. monitor developments in banking regulation and report to
the board annually.
Breach of statutory regulations leading to The Corporation’s solicitors actively monitor relevant legal
reputational
damage
and/or
external		 developments and report to the board annually.
enforcement action
Failure of governance and control of the The Corporation’s solicitors provide regular input to the
Corporation. board to ensure good governance is followed. A
Governance review was completed in 2020 to ensure
compliance with the Charity Governance Code.

Funds and Property Held as Custodian Trustee on Behalf of Others

The charity holds financial assets as Custodian Trustee for 9 Baptist organisations which have objects that are compatible with the charitable objects of the Corporation. The Corporation acts solely as an Agent and carries no decision-making capacity.

Type of Assets Held
£’000		 Organisations
Cash Deposits
14
Income Units
187
National Savings Income Bonds
13
UK Equities
1,389		 1
3
1
4
Total
1,603		 9

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SECTION 2 – STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The Charity also acts as property trustee for 1,040 churches and charity organisations. Arrangements are made for the safe custody of deeds and documents, with each set stored in a labelled packet, and included in an index system. For all financial accounts a separate account is kept for each beneficial owner and a spreadsheet is maintained of the beneficial owner of each account. A project to scan trust deeds to reduce the risk of loss was competed during 2020.

The names of the churches and other charities for whom the Corporation acts as a Custodian Trustee are available at www.baptist.org.uk/custodianlist2021. The organisations are all Baptist organisations and therefore have objects that are compatible with the charitable objects of the Corporation.

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SECTION 3 – ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The Corporation continued to offer legal and practical information on trusteeship, property and other issues, provide churches with access to funding and offer deposit facilities.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the staff team developed and regularly updated specific guidance for churches around legal issues including advice on how to operate Baptist church governance within the constraints of the government restrictions and on property matters, such as tenancies and informal hiring of premises. This was primarily in the form of a new guidance leaflet, L18 published on our website, but the team also supported numerous churches with individual queries.

The Corporation made available £5,907k (2019: £4,227k) in loans to 8 churches (2019: 14 churches), of which £5,665k (2019: £3,578k) was to support church acquisition and development of church property, £242k (2019: £593k) was in connection with manses and none (2019: £56k) for paying off pension deficits. All qualifying applications were met as required. The total loans outstanding increased from £38.47m (2019) to £41.98m.

The Corporation also offered support to churches through the Baptist Together Coronavirus Financial Support Scheme. This included offering loan repayment holidays, reduced payments and interest free periods. 26 borrowers took advantage of loan repayment holidays in the period April to June 2020 which reduced through the course of the year with only 4 borrowers having reduced payments going into 2021. The total repayments foregone were £286k. Interest free periods were offered to borrowers during the period April to June 2020, with £52k in interest foregone.

The Gift Aid Scheme continued to act on behalf of the churches and £83k (2019: £104k) in tax was reclaimed for churches.

The Corporation assisted many churches to buy, sell, let or alter their property. In 2020 property transactions totalling over £5.79m (2019: £8.25m) were completed.

The directors were able to make from the Corporation’s surplus a donation of £197k (2019: £257k) to the Baptist Home Mission Fund and £550k (2019: £550k) to the Baptist Union Pension Reserve.

The Corporation continues to publish leaflets and other information for churches, all of which are available from the Baptist Union of Great Britain website at www.baptist.org.uk. An expanded programme of webinars was delivered to support churches with practical and technical matters.

2 members of staff of the Baptist Union hold Practising Certificates from the Solicitors Regulation Authority to undertake reserved activity legal work on behalf of the Corporation.

During the year the Corporation undertook trust work on an agency basis on behalf of the East Midland Baptist Trust Company, and on behalf of the Yorkshire Baptist Association until the end of the first quarter of the year.

The Directors continued to oversee the Baptist Union Listed Building Advisory Committee which deals with consent for alterations to Baptist listed buildings under the ecclesiastical exemption scheme.

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SECTION 4 – PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

The Corporation intends to continue to respond to the needs of Baptist churches and to offer guidance to them on legislative and other statutory developments affecting churches. The Corporation will continue to maintain and develop its suite of guidance leaflets available to churches and will offer training, including webinars, to support churches on various topics of interest. A particular focus during 2021 will be supporting churches in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Corporation continues to develop its offering of loans and deposits for churches and plans to grow both its portfolio loans and deposits in the coming year.

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SECTION 5 – FINANCIAL REVIEW

2020 was a challenging year for the Corporation due to the Coronavirus pandemic impacting upon borrowers and some projects supported by loans from the Corporation facing financial difficulties. The Directors were pleased that in spite of this it was able to significantly contribute funds to the Baptist family through a gift of £197k (2019: £257k) to the Home Mission fund, £550k (2019: £550k) to the Baptist Union Pension Reserve and £355k (2019: £523k) in interest paid to depositors. The Corporation was also pleased to be able to participate in a package of financial support measures for churches during the Coronavirus pandemic by offering interest free periods and repayment deferrals. £52k of interest and £286k in repayments was foregone.

Review of Financial Results

Overall deposits grew during the year from £54.8m to £56.0m, an increase of £1.2m (2%), demonstrating the continued value of the deposit offering to Baptist organisations. However, total interest paid to Baptist depositors decreased from £523k to £355k, a decrease of 32% due to reduced interest rates, in line with movements in the Bank of England base rate.

Excluding the loans to RBMHO, loans grew from £16.4m to £20.0m, an increase of £3.5m (21%). The balance on the RBMHO loans remained unchanged at £22.0m (2019: £22.0m). Following a review the Directors felt It prudent to make a provision of £877k relating to two loans to churches that may not be recoverable.

Support Costs decreased slightly from £409k to £385k, down 5.7%.

Overall, the operating result (income less expenditure other that gifts to the Baptist Union of Great Britain as disclosed in note 7) was a deficit of £0.13m compared to a surplus of £0.81m in 2019, a decrease of £0.94 m. This was primarily due to the loan provision made, reduced income from interest on loans and deposits with financial institutions due to reduced interest rates which was not fully offset by reduced interest paid to depositors.

Policy on Reserves

One of the principal ways of meeting its charitable objective is for the Corporation to operate the Baptist Union Loan Fund. The Corporation needs to ensure it has sufficient capital available in the form of reserves in order to be in a position to absorb bad debts on loans without damaging its ability to repay depositors.

At the end of the year, the total Reserves amounted to £3.39m (2019: £4.27m). This compares to an estimate of minimum required reserves of £3.31m (see analysis below). The current level of reserves is considered adequate by the directors but they would like to increase the reserves in future to enhance the level of prudence and provide capacity to support growth in loans in future.

Estimate of Minimum Required Reserves Level

Area £’000 Basis for reserves
6 months’ operating expenses 188 Based on budgeted operating expenditure (excluding gifts
to BUGB)
Winding up costs 100 Redundancy costs plus other
Deposit risk 612 11% of risk-weighted deposits with financial institutions
LendingRisk 2,407 11% of risk-weighted loans
Estimated Reserves Requirement 3,307
Actual Reserves Available 3,387

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SECTION 6 – WHO WE ARE

The Baptist Union Corporation Ltd

Company Number 00032743 Charity Registration No 249635 Registered and Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, OX11 8RT Principal Office Directors Moderator and Director Ms K Martindale Ex-officio Mr J Levick Treasurer Mr R Wilson Team Leader Support Services Appointed by Associations Mr P Walls (from 17.6.2020) Central Baptist Association Mr R English West of England Baptist Association Mr J Ponsford Southern Counties Baptist Association Mr S Powney Eastern Baptist Association Mr P Lancaster (to 1. 10.2020) Yorkshire Baptist Association The Revd A Chesworth (from 6. 11.2020) Yorkshire Baptist Association Vacancy South West Baptist Association Rev J Lennox Northern Baptist Association Rev C Lewis South Wales Baptist Association Rev D Maclean (to 6.2.2020) Heart of England Baptist Association Mr O Obidipe London Baptist Association Dr C Hanning East Midlands Baptist Association Mr M Southcombe South Eastern Baptist Association Mr A Hawksworth North West Baptist Association Co-opted Mr S Welch Mr G Ward Key Management Personnel Secretary Mr R Wilson Manager Mrs C Sanderson Finance Officer Lord I D Wakeham Auditor Moore Kingston Smith LLP, Devonshire House, 60 Goswell Road, London, EC1M 7AD Bankers HSBC, 186 Broadway, Didcot, OX11 8RP Solicitors Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP, 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham, B2 2EF Surveyors Rapleys, 33 Jermyn Street London SW1Y 6DN

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Directors of the Baptist Union Corporation Limited are responsible for preparing the Directors’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales/Northern Ireland requires the Directors as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Directors as Trustees are required to:

The Directors as Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the Directors as Trustees are aware:

On behalf of the board

Ms Karen Martindale

Moderator

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Baptist Union Corporation Limited (‘the Corporation’) for the year ended 31 December 2020 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs(UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the audit of financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Corporation in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 10, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under section 154 of that Act.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

The objectives of our audit in respect of fraud, are; to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to those assessed risks; and to respond appropriately to instances of fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both management and those charged with governance of the company.

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

Our approach was as follows:

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK) we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company’s directors, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s directors those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s directors as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Moore Kingston Smith LLP Devonshire House, 60 Goswell Road, London, EC1M 7AD

Moore Kingston Smith LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of Section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Notes 2020 2019
£ £
Income
Donations and legacies 2 - 100
Charitable activities 3 1,342,916 1,563,880
Investment income 4 149,051 174,950
Other income 5 - -
Total Income 1,491,967 1,738,930
Expenditure
Raising funds 6 4,077 -
Charitable activities 7 2,365,202 1,738,930
Other expenditure 9 - -
Total Expenditure 2,369,279 1,738,930
Net movement in funds (877,312) -
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 4,263,990 4,263,990
Total funds Carried forward 3,386,678 4,263,990

The notes on pages 17 to 23 form an integral part of these financial statements

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2020

Notes 2020 2019
£ £
Current assets
Debtors 12 41,405,147 38,752,747
Cash and Bank 13 18,094,198 20,415,012
59,499,345 59,167,759
Current liabilities
Creditors:
Amounts falling due within one year 14 56,112,668 54,903,769
Net assets 3,386,677 4,263,990
FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Unrestricted income funds 3,386,677 4,263,990
Total funds 3,386,677 4,263,990

The financial statements were approved by the Directors on 30[th] March 2021 and signed on their behalf by

Karen Martindale Moderator

The notes on pages 17 to 23 form an integral part of these financial statements

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Notes 2020 2019
£ £
Net income for the reporting period (877,312) -
Adjustments for:
Dividends and interest from investments 4 (149,051) (174,950)
(Increase)/decrease in debtors (2,652,400) (436,124)
Increase in creditors and provisions 1,208,899 3,683,368
Net cash provided by operating activities (2,469,865) 3,072,294
Cash flows from investing activities
Dividends and interest from investments 4 149,051 174,950
Net cash used in investing activities 149,051 174,950
Changes in cash and cash equivalents in
the year		 (2,320,814) 3,247,244
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward 20,415,012 17,167,768
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward 18,094,198 20,415,012

The notes on pages 17 to 23 form an integral part of these financial statements.

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

(a) Basis of Accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), Financial Reporting Standard 102 and the Charities Act 2011, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Baptist Union Corporation Limited is a registered charity, no. 249635, and meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

(b) Preparation of the financial statements on a going concern basis

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis which assumes that the Corporation will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. As detailed more fully in the Report of Directors, in response to the pandemic the Corporation has provided a range of support to churches including loan repayment holidays, reduced payments and interest free periods. Whilst this, together with lower interest rates and the need to provide against some loans led to a deficit being reported for the period, this did not significantly impact the Corporation due to its strong reserves position. The trustees have concluded that there is no material uncertainty as to the Corporation’s ability to meet its liabilities as they fall due. Accordingly the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis in the preparation of the financial statements.

(c) Funds Accounting

Unrestricted Funds: General unrestricted funds represent funds which are expendable at the discretion of the Corporation in the furtherance of the objects of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

(d) Income

Income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the Corporation has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

(e) Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

(f) Fixed asset investments

Quoted investments are held for their income generation and investment potential and are valued at market value at the reporting date. Any surplus or deficit arising is included in the Statement of Financial Activities.

(h) Debtors

Accrued income is recognised in the period to which it relates.

Loans are considered concessionary loans made as they are made by the Corporation to further its purposes. Loans are initially measured at the amount paid, with the carrying amount adjusted subsequently to reflect repayments and any interest receivable. Where any loan made is considered to be irrecoverable an impairment loss is recognised. Prepayments and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Debtors are measured at their recoverable amount.

(i) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes notice deposits and short-term deposits.

(j) Creditors

Creditors are recognised where the Corporation has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.

Accruals and other creditors are recognised at their settlement amount due.

Trust accounts and loan fund deposits are recognised where held at the amount received and the carrying amount is adjusted to reflect any interest payable.

Loans are considered concessionary loans received as they are made to the Corporation to further its purposes and any interest charged is below the prevailing market rates.

(k) Financial instruments

The Corporation only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

(l) Assets held as custodian trustee

These financial statements do not include any assets held by the Charity as Custodian Trustee with the exception of assets held on Miscellaneous Trust Accounts and Covenant Trust Accounts shown below.

2020 2019
£ £
Miscellaneous Trust Account Assets 1,603,994 3,086,954
Covenant Trust Account Assets 544 611
Miscellaneous Trust Account Creditors (1,603,994) (3,086,954)
Covenant Trust Account Creditors (544) (611)
Total - -

(m) Taxation

The Corporation is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore meet the definition of a Corporation for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part II Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

(n) Legal status of the Corporation

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding-up is limited to £0.25p

(o) Judgement and Key Sources of Estimations Uncertainty

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

They key estimates in the process of applying the accounting policies are

There are no key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.

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BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
Total Total
2020 2019
£ £
Donations - 100
Legacies - -
- 100
3. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Total Total
2020 2019
£ £
Interest receivable from loans 1,267,390 1,473,899
Expenses receivable on trusts 64,482 74,224
Fee for operating gift aid scheme 3,193 3,864
Accommodation fees 6,000 6,000
Other Income 1,851 5,593
1,342,916 1,563,880
4. INVESTMENT INCOME
Total Total
2020 2019
£ £
Interest on Cash 149,051 174,950
149,051 174,950

5. OTHER INCOME

There was no other income in 2020 or 2019

6. RAISING FUNDS

ISING FUNDS
Total Total
2020 2019
£ £
Event Costs 4,077 -
4,077 -

20

BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

7. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

7. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Total Total
2020 2019
£ £
Interest Paid on Deposits 355,336 523,187
Increase in provision for doubtful debts 877,313 -
Gift to Baptist Union Home Mission Fund 197,481 257,180
Gift to Baptist Union Pension Reserve 550,000 550,000
Support Costs (note 8) 385,072 408,563
Total 2,365,202 1,738,930
8. SUPPORT COSTS
Total Total
2020 2019
£ £
Costs
Management charges 223,182 219,695
Office facilities 49,500 49,814
Computer expenses 17,304 18,240
Other support costs 20,641 59,577
Total 310,627 347,326
Governance Costs
Auditors Remuneration (note 10) 23,416 21,120
Legal & Professional 44,729 28,935
Trustee Insurance 6,300 10,548
Total Governance 74,445 60,237
Total Support Costs 385,072 408,563
9. OTHER EXPENDITURE
There was no other expenditure in 2020 or 2018
10. NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR
2020 2018
£ £
This is stated after
Auditors’ remuneration:
Audit work 23,416 21,120

11. EMPLOYEES AND, DIRECTORS

No director received any emoluments from the Corporation during the year (2019: £nil).

There are no direct employees of the Corporation.

21

BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

12. DEBTORS

Loans:
Manses
Churches
Pensions
RBMHO
Other
Total Loans
Provision for doubtful debts
Prepayments and other debtors
Interest due but unpaid
Amounts due from closed churches
Total Debtors		 2020
£
4,049,456
13,423,962
511,665
21,990,350
2,003,229
41,978,662
(877,313)
10,017
42,912
250,869
41,405,147
 2019
£
4,536,944
10,175,641
592,203
22,000,618
1,166,563
38,471,970
-
2,771
69,320
208,686
38,752,747

In respect of the outstanding loans of £41,978,662 (2019: £38,471,970), £4,104,445 (2019: £2,376,139) is due to be repaid within 12 months, £1,872,512 (2019: £1,957,564) is due to be paid between 12 & 24 months, £5,056,373 (2019: £3,844,514) is due to be repaid between three and five years, and £30,945,332 (2019: £30,293,752) is due to be repaid in more than five years.

Loans totalling £3,311,574 (2019: £5,279,282) have been approved but not taken up as at 31 December 2020.

13. CASH AND BANK BALANCES

SH AND BANK BALANCES
2020 2019
£ £
Notice Deposits 18,094,198 9,839,622
Short-term deposits - 10,575,390
Total 18,094,198 20,415,012

Notice deposits are available in less than three months; short-term deposits are available in more than three months but less than 12 months.

14. CREDITORS

Loan fund deposits
General Deposits
Deposits from Trust Accounts
Baptist Union of Great Britain
Total Deposits
Amounts falling due within one year:
Accruals and other creditors
Covenant Trust Account assets
Total Creditors		 2020
£
41,617,297
13,272,652
1,103,251
55,993,200
118,924
544
56,112,668
 2019
£
42,957,491
11,855,197
13,575
54,826,263
76,895
611
54,903,769

22

BAPTIST UNION CORPORATION LTD

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

15. ANALYSIS OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

1 Jan 2020 Cash Flow 31 Dec 2020
£ £ £
Notice deposits 9,839,622 8,254,576 18,094,198
Short-term deposits 10,575,390 (10,575,390) -
20,415,012 (2,320,814) 18,094,198

16. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The members of the Corporation are the Trustees of Baptist Union of Great Britain; therefore the Baptist Union of Great Britain is a related party to the Corporation and its Ultimate Controlling Party.

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