LLANELLI FREE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
(Registered charity no: 519123)
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2023
Page 2 Trustees’ Annual Report Page 7 Independent Examiner’s Report Page 8 Receipts and Payments Account Page 9 Statement of Assets and Liabilities Page 10 Declaration
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Trustee’s Annual Report 2022/2023
Reference and administrative details
Charity name: Llanelli Free Evangelical Church Registered charity Number: 519123
Charity’s Principal address:
The church building is situated in Queen Victoria Road, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA15 2TH.
All correspondence, however, should be addressed to: Matthew Howard 2 Llandafen Farm Pemberton Llanelli Carmarthenshire SA15 9BX
Trustees:
Those who are elected by the church members to the office of elder or deacon are the trustees of the church.
Elders:
Mr. Matthew Brian Lloyd Jones
Mr. David Lewis Deacons:
Mr. Matthew Charles St John Howard (Church Administrator) Mr. Malcolm MacDonald (until 30 June 2022)
Mr. Matthew George Thomas Mr. James Hughes Mr. Matthew Williams
The Pastor of the Church, Rev. Philip Swann, is in attendance at the Trustees’ meetings and acts as Chair in a non-voting capacity.
Website
www.lfec.org
Advisers
Bankers: Lloyds Banking Group 21 Stepney Street Llanelli Carmarthenshire SA15 3YD
Virgin Money Jubilee House Gosforth Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 4PL
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Structure, governance and management
Declaration of Trust dated 30 June 1987.
Organisational Structure
All Church work in its various aspects comes under the jurisdiction of the pastor and elders, who are mainly responsible for Church order. Regular meetings are held with the deacons, who are responsible for the administrative and practical affairs of the Church. The pastor and elders will decide the advisability or otherwise of proceeding with any proposed activity, submitting their findings to the Church Meeting, and recommending the best course of action. The Church Meeting consists of all current members of the church.
The elders and deacons meet approximately ten times a year. Church members meetings are held three times a year.
Appointment of Pastor
The Pastor is elected by the members of the church, requiring the votes of at least 80% of those who have voted.
Election of Elders
The qualifications for the office of elders as set out in the New Testament are read and expounded to the Church. The Pastor and Elders recommend nominees to the church, based on the needs of the church at that time. A ballot is subsequently held and those receiving the votes of at least 70% of those who have voted are considered duly elected. Those elected are approached by the Pastor and Elders and are invited to accept the office.
Election of Deacons
The Pastor and Elders recommend nominees to the church, based on the needs of the church at that time. A ballot is subsequently held and those receiving the votes of at least 70% of those who have voted are considered duly elected. Those elected are approached by the Pastor and Elders and are invited to accept the office.
Induction and Training of New Trustees
New trustees are provided with information on the roles and duties of trustees as published by the Charity Commission. A copy of the church’s Declaration of Trust is provided by the Church Administrator and guidance given on its contents.
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Risk Management
The church has a Safeguarding Policy and guidelines which were updated and approved in November 2013 and lodged with Thirty One Eight (formerly the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service). During the year this role was transferred to Christian Safeguarding Services.
Training and copies were given to those involved with children and vulnerable adults on 9th March 2014. All who work with children and vulnerable adults in the church are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. The rolling programme for updating/renewing these checks will be undertaken by the safeguarding co-ordinators.
Adaptations and improvements have been made to the church premises to ensure compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Insurance cover was set in the light of independent advice. The trustees comply with Charity Commission advice and directives in the running of the church. The church’s finances are subject to independent examination. The church continues to be well supported by members and non- members and is able to meet all commitments.
The church monitors its financial position to ensure that its reserves are sufficient to meet its financial obligations.
Objectives and activities
Objects of the trust
These are stated in the Declaration of Trust:
“To advance the Christian religion in the county of Dyfed and elsewhere in the United Kingdom and overseas.”
(Following local government reorganisation on 1 April 1996, the three counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire replaced the county of Dyfed.)
Organisation of the trust
“In order that the organisation of the Church and the Trust may fully harmonize, the elders and deacons of the Church shall be the trustees.”
Public Benefit
The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Policy Statements
The Church is reviewing policies on membership and discipline. The aim is to ensure that these policies are reflective of the church’s beliefs through changes within society
Purpose
Our prayer as a church is that the public benefit derived from the work and facilities of the church will not be confined to time but will have eternal benefit for all who receive it.
In the goodness of God, we have been provided with a place of worship. Sunday Services and other occasional services (e.g. funerals) are also livestreamed on You Tube and Facebook.
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Other activities are held over Zoom with the aim of providing a range of ways the community can access the activities of the Church whilst putting into practice the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Details of all weekday activities are set out below:
Monday Coffee Mornings
Tuesday
Parent and Toddler group (during school terms) Bible study /prayer meeting
Wednesday
Men’s bible study (bi-monthly - Zoom)
Thursday
Lunchtime prayer meeting (Zoom) Women’s Bible Study (bi-monthly)
Friday
Friday Club and Friday Youth
Our Pastor continues to serve as a Community Governor at Ysgol Pen Rhos and the church continues to support the school in this way. In addition, our Pastor leads the Church Leadership work at the Evangelical Movement of Wales and the Soul Care Network for the Wales Leadership Forum.
Achievements and performance
Review of the year ended 5[th] April 2023
The Church seeks, through its range of activities aimed at all age groups, to reach out to the local community it serves in proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ. At the start of the year restrictions due to Covid had been lifted, meaning activities could return to being in-person. However, the Church has continued to offer online activities which means the Church now regularly reaches people around the UK as well as overseas.
During the period Dec 2022 – March 2023 the Church ran Heating Hub sessions to assist members of the local community during the energy crisis. These were supported by financial assistance from Carmarthenshire County Council.
In December 2022 David Lewis stood down as Assistant Pastor in order to take up another position outside of the Church. He continues to serve in his capacity as Elder and Trustee
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Financial Review
As a consequence of the Covid restrictions different financial procedures were introduced which remain in place going forward, including procedures for offerings to be paid directly into the bank account or by forwarded cheques to the Church Treasurer. The success of this can be seen in the overall level of giving being maintained, which is very encouraging.
Overall the receipts were £62,677 and payments £73,166 leaving a deficit for the year of £10,489. This deficit will be covered in part, but not fully, through recoveries via the Gift Aid scheme. The trust has balances of £59,840 of which £31,415 is earmarked for assisting in obtaining alternative premises details of which are set out below.
Future
The Church is actively seeking to recruit another individual from outside the church to the role of Assistant Pastor in order to take up the role vacated by David Lewis.
The Church is currently engaged in the purchase of the former police station in Llanelli, a property which offers some 16000 sq. ft. of space. We do this with the intention of moving the church’s location to this new site and developing the work there. However, extensive renovations will be needed before the site will be suitable, so this will be a plan that will develop over the coming few years.
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| Llanelli Free Evangelical Church Receipts Year from 6 April to 5 April Income Offerings Gifts for Ukraine Tax Refunds Building Fund Legacy/gifts Interest Miscellaneous Payments Charitable-direct activity Pastor's salary N I Pension Prof Development & books Daylight Visiting speakers Sunday club Friday Club. Friday Youth &, Holiday Bible Club Toddlers Camp fees Outreach Warm Hub Additional gifts Missionary support Charitable -direct activity Charitable-other expenditure Maintenance Utilities Insurance Fellowship meals Broadband Advertising & photocopying Tables & Chairs Computer & sound equipment Miscellaneous Charitable-other expenditure Total Expenditure Deficit-/Surplus for year |
and Payments 2022/23 £ 60,459 1,721 0 110 300 87 0 62,677 33,750 0 7,740 1,020 13,320 802 434 449 44 823 523 285 394 2,023 61,607 588 2,963 1,402 845 660 388 2,097 1,607 1,009 11,559 73,166 -10,489 |
2021/22 £ 64,602 0 0 0 720 44 50 |
|---|---|---|
| 65,416 | ||
| 33,013 0 7,723 287 18,231 0 811 293 0 0 899 0 892 345 |
||
| 62,494 | ||
| 497 2,772 1,311 136 548 600 1,271 898 |
||
| 8,033 | ||
| 70,527 | ||
| -5,111 |
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| 5 April 2023 | 5 April 2023 | 5 April 2022 | 5 April 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monetary assets: | ||||||
| Lloyds TSB Bank Account | ||||||
| Ordinary activities | -4,595 | 6,091 | ||||
| Earmarked building fund | 31,415 | 31,305 | ||||
| Total | 26,820 | 37,396 | ||||
| Virgin Money Account | 33,020 | 32,933 | ||||
| Total | 59,840 | 70,329 | ||||
| Other assets at year end | |
|---|---|
| Land & building used by charity at Queen Victoria Road, Llanelli |
Cost £127,000 in October 1988 Valued for insurance purposes November 2020-£1,429,000 |
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Declaration
The trustees approved the Church annual report and accounts on 4 February 2024
Signed on behalf of the Charity's Trustees
| Signature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Ma+hew Howard | |
| Posi4on | Trustee | Trustee |
| Date | 4 Feb 2024 | 4 Feb 2024 |
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