Annua] report of the Trustees of Fatherless Barn Evangelical Church, Hedgefield Grove, Halesowen, West Midlands. B63 2HJ Year Ending 31 December 2023 The Church is governed by the Trust Deed and its Basis of Faith and Constitution. It is registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 518320. The Trustees who served during the year were: Mr Clllistopher M Adams (Appointed 23 March 2023) Mr Alan Cutler Mr Wesley R Erpen Mr Alan J Harborne (Chairnian) Mr Richard J Mansell Mr Paul D Vanden Branden Mr Robert J Warner (Treasurer and Secretary) Trustees are appointed after receiving unanimous approval by the other trustees. Bankers HSBC UK Bank plc 31 Church Street Kiddern]instei' Woi'cestershire DYI 0 2AY Independent Examiner Mrs G Morton I l Abbey Crescent Halesowen B63 2HP The aims of the Charity are to provide a meeting place for its members and others who are interested in the Christian faith. We seek to reach out to those in the community with the Gospel of ow. Lord Jesus Christ. A summary of the achievements in these activities is set out tElow. The Trustees are satisfied that these achievements clearly demonstrate that the Charity has thmughout the year fulfill its responsibility to meet the requirement of providing a Public Benefit and has thereby complied with its duty to have due iEgwd to the guidance published by the Chlty Commission. The Church is led by Elders and supported by Deacons who are elected by the Church membeiEhip in accordance with the constitution. The ChuTch does not employ anyone. all roles are done by volunteers. Theie have not been any related party transactions during the year. The policy of the Trustees is to try and keep at least £1,500 in cash for the General Fund, as reserves for contingencies. In planning for the future we will also need to increase funds foi. possible building alterations. During the year this has been maintained and funds retained for the possibility of making improvements to the Church building. The Church does not have any specific investment powers. The trnstees have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed. These are making sure that there are sufficient leaders to look after the Church when others are absent or if any should leave. The Eldei's and Deacons make any needs known at a Church members meeting and nominations are invited. There is also a need to make sure that the various activities are adequately staffed by appropriate volunteers, again iequests
are made to the Church as the need arises. The Trustees are satisfied that any risks have been mitigated. Review of Activities and Future Plans Once again, we can give thanks to God for bLinging us through another year and for all that He has done in us and thiough us on Fatherless Barn estste. Chureh Ministries We can thank God that the numbers of people attending our Sunday morning Service has continued to increase slightly throughout the year. It has also been encouraging to see that those who have recently joined are beginning to feel part of the FB family. We are grateful to our worship group who give so much of their time to practice for all our Services and make such a positive difference to our worship. It was great that in July Paul Vanden Branden was confirmed as an Elder. Most of the ministry has once again been deliveiEd by members of our Leadership Team. At the beginning of the year, we concluded our study of the book of Romans. It has also been helpful to have a number of visiting speakers, bringing variety to our Services. In January, our Encounter Service restarted on a Friday evening and at the first meeting thei'e wei'e over forty people who attended. This Service has continued throughout the year with similar numbers attending. It has been great to have such a wide selection of speakers at this even¢ from those within and without the church. In the autumn, our '60 Plus, restarted on a Monday. The team of volunteei's do a great job, and they have close on twenty folks attending, all enjoying their meal and time together. One of our ladies had the vision of starting 'Knit & Natter, group on a Friday morning and although the numbers have fluctuated between about six and ten, it has been appreciated by all. It has been good to have people attend who have had nothing to do with ow. church. Our children's and youth work has continued, and we are thankful that so many people volunteer eithei in teaching in Sunday School, helping with JAM Club, or running 18nite. Ignite is our teenager's group, and on one occasion they took sixteen young people to BCM'S Fulfil event in Binningham. They have also taken a group to Alton Tours as well as local visits to the tenpin bowling in Dudley and walks up Clent. At our JAM Club the numbers have been less than last year with around the fifteen mark. Everyone enjoys it including the leadei's who love the opportunity of teaching the children the Word of God. The 'Little Sunbeams,, ow. parent and toddler group, has continued to run on a Wednesday moining. Some Wednesdays there have been up to thirty children and lots of positive conversations take place with the PEnts. The c11stmaS Craft Day saw 'ound ten of these moms call in with their children. Some of the rnen of the church once again went to Snowdon for the weekend and as on other occasions had a great time. Some climbed Snowdon and others enjoyed the local amenities, but the highlight was just being together. It was great having some younger men attend. In the autumn, a men's breakfast took place and around twenty-five men attended. Our Candlelit Carol Service saw the church more-or-less full, and it was great to have such a clear challenge from the speaker. House Groups have continued on a Tuesday evening rneeting in homes in Halesowen and StO'bridge. We also meet monthly for our church prayer meeting in the chui'ch. During June we had an outreach event with Searchlight (hwna company. It was a woithwhile event with around sixty people attending. We plan to organise other similar Outreach events in the future. Ow. annual visit to Bromsgrove Baptist Church for the Saltmine Pantomime took place again, and around eighty people went from our church. Church Buildin In April we had the car park resurfaced with block paving it has made a massive improvement to the look of the church and perhaps more importantly, to the safety of people watking over the car park. The old slabs that we had had for decades were way past their sell by date. Towards the end of the year, we also had the old carpet replaced in the main ball and smaller hall, the stage taken down to give more flexibility. The main hall
was repaintsd and new curtains fitted. The porch on the Church House, which was in poor Conditio was replaced. Finance Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2023 have been independently examined. The accounts show a very healthy position. We give thanks again to God for His provision and for all who give to the work of the Church. Principal Funding Sources Donations and gifts are our main source of income and we are most appreciative of the continued suppoit of church members and otheis who give in various ways. We do not make appeals for funding to people outside of Church membership other than through collections made at ow Sunday moilling family Se]ce. We do not use professional fimdraisers or commercial participators. Future Plans In May we had a visit from a representative of the FIEC (Fellowship of Independent Evangelical chtheS) who spoke about what joining the FIEC would look like. He was very clear and helpful as we consider the way ahead. The leadership of the church are prayerfully considering whether the church should join. The Church meTnbers will also be asked how they would feel about linking up with the FIEC. We are still exploring the possibility of appointing a part-time Pastor or Community Outreach Worker. Togethei. with our solicitors, we are looking at the possibility of becorning a Charitable Inco4)oiated Organisation. A number of times during the year we have reminded ourselves of the need to keep praying that the Lord will guide us regarding whether we employ a part-tirne worker or a full-time Pastor. We are exploring the possibility of improving our audio-visual system, as we have had some problems with it. Quotes are been obtained. We are also considering ways of how to make the rear of the chui'ch look better and be mole useful. Dudley Council have used the buildin8 for one of their local Councillor meetings and on the back of that requested that they could use our building for the voting as there is a desire to stop disrupting children's education by using schools. We have agreed that they can use the building in the future. Signed on behalf of the charity's Trnstees th On 9 Octobei. 2024 Alan J Harborne Chairn
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Fatherless Bam Evangelical Church On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) 31 December 2023 518320 Set out on pages One to three I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trusf) for the year ended 3111212023 Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordan with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {he Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commlssion under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no rnaterial matters have come to my attention in connection wtth the examination which glves me cause to believe that in. any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Act or 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. Independent exarniner's statement Signed: Date: 14 October 2024 Name: Gillian Morton Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (If any): Address: 11 Abbey Crescent Halesowen West Midlands B63 2HP Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the exarniner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidan for examiners)- IER October 2018
Give here brief details of any items that the examinerwishes to disclose. IER October 2018
FATHERLESS BARN EVANGELICAL CHURCH Hedgefield Grove. Halewen STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTWITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 INCOME Unrestrlcted Funds Restrlcted Funds Total Funds 2023 Total 2022 Donations and Legacies 24.463 4,113 28,576 26,434 Charitable Activlties Other Income 4.660 Investments 650 650 95 TOTAL INCOME 25.113 4.113 29,226 31.189 EXPENDITURE Cost of Raising Funds Charltable Activilles 59,283 3.413 62.696 24,850 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 59,283 3,413 62.696 24,850 NET INCOMEIEXPENDITURE -34.170 7(Kl -33.470 6.339 Fund Balances at Beglnnlng of Year 60.680 796 61,476 55,137 FUND BALANCES AT END OF YEAR 26,510 1.496 28.006 61.476 Registered Charity No 51&7
FATHERLESS BARN EVANGELICAL CHURCH Hedgefield Grove. Halesowen INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 1 JANUARY - 31 DECEMBER 2023 2022 6,743.22 12.235.00 5.77 3.349.54 INCOME Offerings & Oonalions Gift Atd Donations Offertory Box HMRC Tax Refund Gifts for Maintenance Fund Gifts for Misslonary Fund Gifts for PA Fund Gifts for Ciechenow City Mission Interest Received Quinta 2022 Quinta 2024 Tolal Income Opening Balance 2023 8,369.19 12,648.00 4.93 3,441.25 2,915.03 297.61 580.00 3000.00 94.60 5,761.50 649.68 320.00 29,22S.69 61,475.91 90,701.60 31.189.63 55,136.76 86,326.39 EXPENDITURE 1,001.59 393.20 174.99 1,050.00 500.00 3,100.00 3.000.00 2.760.00 1,391.34 6,476.50 43.75 129.00 255.60 251.39 743.17 Gas Eleclricty Water Rates- Church Insurance- Church Speakers Expense5 and Gffts Gifts to Missionaries Gift for Ciechenow City Mission Gifts to Birmingham City Misslon Building Repairs. Mainlenance and Improvements Church Weekend Qulnta Youth Expenses Thity one elght (Fomierfy CCPAS) Tralnlng Outreach Expenses CCLI - Copyright Llcen¢e Quinta 2024 Other Mlscellaneous Expenditure Bank Charges Insurance - Church House Water Rates- Church House Church House Repairs and Maintsnanc8 Church House Council Tax Totsl Exponditure Balance Carded Forward 2,963.58 1,456.24 186.76 1.12S.00 620.00 3,400.00 2,780.00 44,024.31 540.73 145.00 252.00 1,063.41 820.70 200.00 611.71 71.20 427.78 369.11 97.60 399.10 584.40 730.68 1,399.06 24,850.48 61,475.91 86.326.39 396.19 1,631.07 62,695.68 28,005.92 90.701.60 Represenled By. Current Account Savings Account Cash in Hand 1,375.91 59.409.72 690.28 61,475.91 1,507.55 25,725.47 772.90 28,005.92 In addttion to the cash balances held above the charity owns the freehold Church buildings and Ihe Church house in the unrestrÉcted fund. L5abilitles There were no liabilities outstanding at the year end. Regstered ChafityNo 518320
FATHERLESS BARN EVANGELICAL CHURCH Hedgefield Grove, Halesowen Restrl¢ted Funds Misslona Fund Malntenance Fund Quinta 2024 60+ Grou 796 PA Fund Total 796 4,113 -3.413 1.496 Balances as at 31 C)ecember 2022 Income for the year Expendilure for the year Balances as at 31 December 2023 298 -298 2915 -2915 580 320 -200 120 580 796 Unrestdcled Funds Balance as at 31 December 2022 Net movement in year Balance as at 31 December 2023 60,680 -34.170 26.510 Total Funds Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds 1,496 26,510 28,006 Reglslered Charity No 518320