**Registered Charity No 803355**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT**
**for the year ended 31[st] December 2023**
1
## **83a High Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 3DP Email: admin@hccuk.org www.hccuk.org**
## **Huntingdonshire Community Church**
**Annual Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2023**
## **Contents**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
||Page|
|Legal and administrative information|3|
|Report of the trustees|4 - 10|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|11|
|Receipts and Payments Statement|12|
|Notes to the Accounts|13 - 16|
|Statement of Assets and Liabilities|17 - 18|
2
## **Huntingdonshire Community Church**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
|Charity number|803355|
|---|---|
|Trustees|Stephen Cawley|
||Jonathan Gray|
||Vicky Rodrigues (joined 9thNovember)|
||Rebekah Bennett (joined 9thNovember)|
||Timothy Anderson|
|Core Leadership team|Timothy Anderson|
||Rebekah Bennett (left 31stAugust)|
||Richard Schwier|
||Helen Cobby|
||Jean Casling|
||Mark Knight|
|Principal address|83a High Street|
|and registered office|Huntingdon|
||Cambridgeshire|
||PE29 3DP|
|Independent Examiner|Carole Cowgill ACA|
||4 Penny Meadow|
||Ipswich|
||Suffolk|
||IP9 2UU|
|Bankers|Barclays Bank|
||Market Hill|
||Huntingdon|
||Cambs|
||PE29 3AE|
||HSBC|
||St Andrews Street|
||Cambridge|
||CB2 3BZ|
3
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **Introduction**
The trustees present their report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2023. The accounts have been prepared using the Receipts and Payments method, which summarises bank and cash transactions during the year.
## **Trustees’ Responsibilities**
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the situation of the charity and of its financial activities for that year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently.
- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
- state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.
## **Organisation and Status**
Huntingdon Community Church (HCC) operates under a Deed of Trust and was registered as a charity on 1[st] June 1990 with the charity registration number 803355. Its main purpose is the advancement of the Christian faith.
During the year, the Trustees were: Jonathan Gray, Stephen Cawley and Timothy Anderson, with Vicky Rodrigues and Rebecca Bennett joining the Board of Trustees in November.
Additional trustees are recommended by the church eldership to be approved by the current trustees.
The responsibility for managing the Trust on a day-to-day basis is delegated by the Trustees to the Core Leadership Team, one of whom, the church’s Senior Leader, is also a Trustee.
During the year, the Core Leadership Team consisted of Timothy Anderson, Rebekah Bennett (until 31[st] August), Richard Schwier, Helen Cobby, Jean Casling and Mark Knight.
4
## **Public benefit**
The charity trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit in section 4 of the 2011 Charities Act, and the supplementary guidance on the advancement of religion for the public benefit, published by the Charity Commission, in exercising their powers and duties.
## **REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS**
In 2023, HCC’s leadership worked to fulfil its charitable aims and objectives as laid out in the Charity’s trust deed. These are:
- to advance the Christian faith
- to provide relief for those facing hardship, distress or sickness
- to advance education on the basis of Christian principles
The Core Leadership Team annually reviews HCC’s objectives. In 2023, priorities were to continue to regather and rebuild the church following the pandemic lockdowns.
The Board of Trustees met formally 3 times over the year with further business being conducted via informal means of communication.
HCC delivers its charitable objectives through:
- Sunday gatherings, mid-week small groups and pastoral care open to all
- Supporting and equipping its members and others who connect with us in reaching their full potential in life based on Christian values, through one-to-one support, teaching, training and courses
- Outreach events and activities that advance the faith and enrich the wider community and family life in Huntingdonshire
- Use of ‘83a’ – the Church Centre
- Working together with other organisations
Our Vision as a church is: ‘to enable people and communities in Huntingdonshire to thrive, through putting the power of God's love into action’.
The report that follows summarises the activities of the Trust over the past year.
Many of our members either work or serve as volunteers in public office, voluntary organisations, education, or medical professions.
5
## **1. Sunday Gatherings, Small Groups and Pastoral Care Open to All**
**Sunday Services** The church continued to provide the opportunity for members of all ages to meet together corporately on a weekly basis for worship, teaching, inspiration and fellowship. Most of these meetings took place at Cromwell Academy, in the Hinchingbrooke estate of Huntingdon. During August and over Christmas we met at our town centre premises, ‘83a’ - 83a High Street, Huntingdon. On 2 Sundays at the start and end of the summer break, we held church BBQs after the service, giving members a chance to meet and relax together informally.
**Forest Church** Some Sundays took a different form, with young families meeting in Hinchingbrooke Park for an event called ‘Forest Church’. This built on the successes from 2022, providing an interactive session where those new to the church could engage with simple Bible themes. We continued to see one or two families join us who had earlier attended the Rainbow Toddler Group sessions.
**Worship Evenings** On Sundays where Forest Church was held, we held an evening of worship at 83a. This gave opportunities for church members and visitors to worship God in an unhurried setting and to take communion together. Many found these services very meaningful.
**Easter and Christmas Cafes** On Sundays before Easter and Christmas, we held all-age family café events where families were invited to come, take part in activities and have refreshments celebrating the theme of the season. These were well supported and provided a focal point for church members to join with the community in marking these festivals.
**Mid-week Small Groups** Through the year a number of small groups met fortnightly at different locations around the town and surrounding areas and online. This provided a focus for real friendships to develop, for church members to develop further in their relationship with God, to take on one another’s burdens and to celebrate each other’s successes. Some of these groups remained online as this helped particularly young families to engage.
**Pastoral Care** was provided by a small number of people in the church. Individual support was provided to number of people going through difficulty.
## **2. Supporting and Equipping Members and Non-Members**
As well as pastoral care when needed, support and equipping for adults was provided by the Sunday teaching and small group relationships. Newcomers to the church who had been attending on Sundays for a month or so were invited to **Welcome Lunches** , which provided a chance to get to know leaders better and hear about the ethos of the church. Those contemplating making HCC their home were the invited to a **‘Next Steps’** course, where our doctrinal beliefs, our mission and values, our structure and major ongoing activities were explained. Once a month, **Wetherspoons lunches** were hosted at the local venue, providing a cost-effective venue for newcomers to meet church members immediately after Sunday the meeting.
**Childrens’ Work** continued on a Sunday, the children leaving the main meeting part-way through the worship for their own dedicated sessions. We continued to explore the Bible through reflections, story, craft and activities and prayer.
6
**Sunday Youth Work** took place at the same time as the children’s work, seeking to build up young people in the church congregation with activities suitable for their stage in life.
**‘Friday Night Youth’** took place at 83a on alternate Friday evenings in term time. Youth from the church and their friends can come to a social space with a monthly evening that includes a spiritual focus.
**‘Dreaming The Impossible’** A group of youth and staff members attended the ‘Dreaming The Impossible’ event on the Peterborough showground in the summer. This was a great time of gathering the youth together and many made steps forward in their faith and their own development.
## **3. Outreach Events that Demonstrate the Faith and Enrich the Wider Community and Family Life in Huntingdonshire and Beyond**
Throughout 2023 we continued to seek to engage and serve the community within Huntingdonshire. We undertook this in the following ways:
**Toddler Group** The Rainbow Toddler group has continued to be busy and lively! During Autumn 2023 we moved back from our Covid structure of two short sessions to one longer one but kept our booking-in structure. Throughout the year we saw over 60 separate family groups attend Toddlers, with over 100 individual children accessing the group.
**Schools Work** Our youth and childrens’ workers continued to serve the local schools by taking assemblies and running groups in several local schools. This is done under the banner of ‘Thrive’, a Christian youth organisation supported by a number of churches in the area, but using HCC paid hours.
**Thrive Youthwork** In addition to the above, the senior leader and others in the church contributed significantly towards building up Thrive as an organisation, helping it to become viable long term as a ministry to youth in the town.
**Creative English** Creative English continued throughout the year, serving those in the area with limited English language ability, giving them confidence in day-to-day situations through role-play exercises.
**Picnic in the Park** Over the summer holiday period, a number of picnic brunches were held in the town’s country park. Together with other churches and local council staff, brunches were served to a number of families in need who had been referred to the authorities in the local area. Play space and activities were provide for the children, and parents/carers were given a wholesome meal and over the 3 weeks more than 200 pack lunches were made and handed out.
## **4. The Church Centre – ‘83a’**
Our church building, ‘83a’, occupies an easily-accessible high street location. Using space that is not required for church activities, it enables us to provide, at affordable prices, rooms for other organisations which operate locally in serving townspeople.
7
The following organisations were hosted on a regular basis in our building throughout 2023, significantly furthering the public benefit derived from the building:
Huntingdon Area Money Advice (given free office space within the building) Huntingdon Psychological Wellbeing Service Choices Counselling Cambridge Deaf Organisation Road Victims Trust Adrian Jackson Counselling Sefanit Inquai Counselling Sue McRitchie Counselling Toni Hasler Counselling Narcotics Anonymous Centre 33 Seetec Relate Bedazzle Inspired Martial Arts Road Victims Trust
Rooms were also used for a number of family parties and business conferences/training sessions. Sadly, we continue to see a decrease in organisations wanting to use our spaces, partly due to more counselling taking place online.
## **LEADERSHIP AND STAFF**
The Core Leadership Team, who have responsibility for the day-to-day running of the church, meet monthly to plan the spiritual direction and activity of the church.
## **Paid Staff**
**Tim Anderson** led the Core Leadership Team, working 2½ days a week for HCC.
**Rebekah Bennett** served as Operations Manager until 31[st] August, working 32 hours a week. She headed up the operational aspects of Church life, line managing staff teams and managing our centre, 83a.
**Richard Schwier** worked 32.5 hrs a week, leading HCC youth work and being seconded to the Thrive youth ministry for 10 hours of this time per week.
**Helen Cobby** was employed as Family and Children’s Worker for 20 hrs a week. She continued to encourage and galvanise the families in the church, provide material and lead children’s and families sessions on Sundays and at Forest Church.
**Naomi Jeffery** joined on 1[st] May to work 8 hrs per week in the office as an administrator.
**Trevor Payne** rejoined the staff team on 1[st] November as Finance Manager, working 8 hrs per week.
8
**Justyna Kaczmarek** worked 3 hrs a week as a Toddler Group Assistant and 5 hrs a week as a cleaner.
**Dan Flint** worked 5 hrs a week as an assistant in Rainbow Toddlers but finished his contract with us in the summer term of 2023.
## **Volunteers**
Jean Casling continued in the role of Associate Pastor with pastoral and other responsibilities across the church.
Mark Knight continued meeting with the Leadership team in the role of ‘advisor’.
Many other members of the church served in a voluntary capacity at events and activities throughout the year.
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
Unrestricted income for the year was £142,962 and unrestricted expenditure was £152,562. The Trustees have reviewed the reports and concerns and consider the charity is a going concern.
We retain significant funds in reserve (the Support Reserves fund) to cover salaries and other committed contract costs for a period of three months. Giving by church members was broadly stable across the year.
The funds of the charity include restricted and designated funds for the following purposes:
**Designated funds:** Building Renovation, Support Reserves, Donations, Fixed Asset Funds
**Restricted funds:** Toddler Group, Special Needs, Community Needs, Building, Audrey Royston Funds
## **RELATED PARTIES**
During the year one trustee, Timothy Anderson, was engaged in remunerated activity and received £22,945 as ministry salary during the year.
Huntingdonshire Community Church is a member of the Evangelical Alliance (Registered Charity Number 212325) and seeks, when and where it can, to support the EA’s aims by prayer, financial giving and attendance at events.
The Church is also a member of the network of churches comprising Plumbline Ministries International (Registered Charity No 327271). We support Plumbline both financially and by participating in Plumbline events and working towards Plumbline’s objectives of planting and developing new churches across the country.
9
This report and the financial statements were approved by the trustees on
on their behalf by..
Stephen Cawley
Chairman
Timothy Anderson
Trustee
io
Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Huntingdonshire Community
Church for the year ended 31" December 2023
I report to the trustees on my examination of the account5 of the above Charity for the year
ended 31st December 2023.
Responslbllltles and basls of report
As the charlty's trustees, you are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts In accordance
with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"l.
I report In respect of my examlnatlon of the Charlvs accounts carrled out under sectlon 145 of
the 2011 Act, and , in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions
given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examlnerfs statement
I have completed my examlnation. I confirm that no materlal matters have come to my attentlon
In connertlon with the examination whlch glve me cause to believe that, In any materlal respect,
the accountin8 records were not kept in accordance wlth sectlon 130 of the Charitles Act, or the
accounts do not accord with the accountln8 records.
I have no concerns, and have come across no other matters In connectlon wlth the examlnatlon to
whlch attentlon should be drawn In order to enable a proper understandin8 of the accounts to be
reached.
31,1
2(J2W
Mrs Carole Cowglll ACA
4 Penny Meadow, Capel St Mary, Ipswlch, Suffolk, IP9 2UU
ICAEW
CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANT
11
**HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**Total Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Receipts**
Donations and legacies
1
91,528
548
0
**92,076**
Income from Charitable Activities
2
41,460
**41,460**
Investment Income
823
**823**
Other income and Grants Received
3
9,151
45
**9,196**
**Total Receipts**
142,962
593
0
**143,555**
**Payments**
Worship and service - Staff costs
4
101,142
**101,142**
Worship and service - Other costs
5
30,724
744
**31,468**
Mission services
6
12,215
0
2,225
**14,440**
Outreach
876
600
**1,476**
Building maintenance and improvements
7
3,375
0
**3,375**
Governance costs
8
4,230
**4,230**
**Total Payments**
152,562
1,344
2,225
**156,131**
**Net of Receipts/ (Payments)**
**(9,600)**
**(751)**
**(2,225)**
**(12,576)**
**Cash Funds b/f 1st January 2023**
118,890
2,866
46,803
**168,559**
**Transfers between funds**
(12,001)
9,985
2,016
**0**
**Cash Funds c/f 31st December 2023**
9
**97,289**
**12,100**
**46,594**
**155,983**|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
144,240
48,503
84
12,960|
|---|---|
||205,787|
||109,995
19,068
26,678
53,447
4,331
2,045|
||215,564|
||(9,777)
178,336
0|
||168,559|
12
## **HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**1. Donations and legacies received**
Fund receipts - Toddlers
Offerings
Gifts supporting outreach
Gift aid
less tfrs to Donations fund
to Special needs fund
**2. Income from charitable activities**
Centre lettings
Reimbursements
**3. Other income and Grants received**
Insurance loss of income claim
Miscellaneous receipts
Cross charge for youth worker
(from Parish of Huntingdon)
**4. Worship and service - staff costs**
Wages
Pensions
Staff socials
Conferences
Personal development/training|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**Total Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
548
548
74,753
74,753
0
16,775
16,775
**91,528**
**548**
**0**
**92,076**
41,460
41,460
0
**41,460**
**0**
**0**
**41,460**
0
955
45
1,000
8,196
8,196
**9,151**
**45**
**0**
**9,196**
94,872
94,872
4,389
4,389
614
614
1,267
1,267
0
**101,142**
**0**
**0**
**101,142**|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
401
73,825
56,597
13,417|
|---|---|---|
|||**144,240**|
|||48,319
184|
|||**48,503**|
|||4,786
410
7,764|
|||**12,960**|
|||103,286
5,793
481
235
200|
|||**109,995**|
13
## **HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**5. Worship and service - other costs**
Bank charges
Books/media
Children and Youth expenses
Craft materials
First aid training
Internet/communication
Insurance
IT software/consumables
Miscellaneous gifts/expenses
Stationery
PA items
Printing and postage
Publicity
Refreshments
Subs/licences
Toddler group materials
Travel
Utilities
Venue hire
Gifts to visiting preachers
**6. Mission services**
Donations
less Tfrs to Donations fund
to Special needs fund
to Community needs fund
to Toddler group fund
Tithe to Plumbline
**7 Building maintenance and improvements**
Building maintenance
Building improvements
- forecourt refurbishment
- flat roof repair
Furniture replacement|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**Total Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
0
65
65
1,953
1,953
0
362
362
1,465
1,465
1,018
1,018
3,736
3,736
522
430
952
211
211
0
1,379
1,379
2,270
2,270
768
768
2,699
2,699
314
314
382
382
7,517
7,517
5,952
5,952
425
425
**30,724**
**744**
**0**
**31,468**
2225
2,225
0
0
0
0
12,215
12,215
**12,215**
**0**
**2,225**
**14,440**
3,375
3,375
0
0
0
**3,375**
**0**
**0**
**3,375**|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
79
307
1,092
0
0
1,372
968
177
2,599
202
75
631
0
546
2,310
614
672
2,369
4,805
250|
|---|---|---|
|||**19,068**|
|||5,310
0
0
0
0
21,368|
|||**26,678**|
|||2,556
0
0
1,775|
|||**4,331**|
14
## **HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**8. Governance costs**
Accountancy fees
Independent exam fees
Consultancy expenses|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**Total Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
3486
3,486
600
600
144
144
**4,230**
**0**
**0**
**4,230**|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
1,470
575
0|
|---|---|---|
|||**2,045**|
15
## **HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**9.**
**Funds Movements**
**Unrestricted Income Funds**
**General Fund**
**Designated Funds**
Building renovation fund
Donations fund
Support reserves
**Total Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted Income Funds**
Audrey Royston fund
Special needs fund
Community needs fund
Toddler group fund
Building fund
**Total Bank and Cash Funds**|**Cash**
**Funds at**
**Fund**
**01/01/2023**
**movements**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**118,890**
**(21,601)**
**23,907**
**896**
(209)
**22,000**
**46,803**
**(209)**
**165,693**
**(21,810)**
8,869
**202**
(60)
**1,571**
25
**124**
400
**969**
**2,866**
**9,234**
**168,559**
**(12,576)**|**Cash**
**Funds at**
**31/12/2023**
**£**
**97,289**|
|---|---|---|
|||**23,907**
**687**
**22,000**|
|||**46,594**|
|||**143,883**|
|||**8,869**
**142**
**1,596**
**524**
**969**|
|||**12,100**|
|||**155,983**|
16
## **HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**Unrestricted Restricted**
**Designated Total Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Cash funds**
HSBC current account
**71,355**
Barclays savings account
**84,493**
Office petty cash
**135**
**Total Monetary Assets**
**155,983**
**Other Monetary Assets**
Due from users of property
5,927
**5,927**
Gift aid recoverable
2,324
**2,324**
8,251
0
0
**8,251**
**Fund to which**
**Net Book**
**asset belongs**
**Cost**
**Value 2023**
**£**
**£**
**Assets retained for the charity's own use**
Sofas
Unrestricted
1,168
0
Photocopier/Printer
Unrestricted
3,720
0
Freehold Land
Fixed asset
60,000
60,000
**Depreciation**
Freehold Building and Improvements
2% of cost
Fixed asset
176,851
162,703
Replacement of Upper Flat Roof
5% of cost
Fixed asset
16,400
9,840
Forecourt refurbishment
(2020) 5% of cost
Fixed asset
15,120
12,348
Lower flat roof replacement
(2020) 5% of cost
Fixed asset
2,100
1,706
210,471
186,597
**Total fixed assets**
**275,359**
**246,597**|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
**81,803**
**86,461**
**295**|
|---|---|
||**168,559**|
||**5,203**
**2,897**|
||**8,100**|
|||
17
**Registered Charity No 803355**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT**
**for the year ended 31[st] December 2023**
1
## **83a High Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 3DP Email: admin@hccuk.org www.hccuk.org**
## **Huntingdonshire Community Church**
**Annual Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2023**
## **Contents**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
||Page|
|Legal and administrative information|3|
|Report of the trustees|4 - 10|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|11|
|Receipts and Payments Statement|12|
|Notes to the Accounts|13 - 16|
|Statement of Assets and Liabilities|17 - 18|
2
## **Huntingdonshire Community Church**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
|Charity number|803355|
|---|---|
|Trustees|Stephen Cawley|
||Jonathan Gray|
||Vicky Rodrigues (joined 9thNovember)|
||Rebekah Bennett (joined 9thNovember)|
||Timothy Anderson|
|Core Leadership team|Timothy Anderson|
||Rebekah Bennett (left 31stAugust)|
||Richard Schwier|
||Helen Cobby|
||Jean Casling|
||Mark Knight|
|Principal address|83a High Street|
|and registered office|Huntingdon|
||Cambridgeshire|
||PE29 3DP|
|Independent Examiner|Carole Cowgill ACA|
||4 Penny Meadow|
||Ipswich|
||Suffolk|
||IP9 2UU|
|Bankers|Barclays Bank|
||Market Hill|
||Huntingdon|
||Cambs|
||PE29 3AE|
||HSBC|
||St Andrews Street|
||Cambridge|
||CB2 3BZ|
3
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **Introduction**
The trustees present their report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2023. The accounts have been prepared using the Receipts and Payments method, which summarises bank and cash transactions during the year.
## **Trustees’ Responsibilities**
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the situation of the charity and of its financial activities for that year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently.
- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
- state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud or other irregularities.
## **Organisation and Status**
Huntingdon Community Church (HCC) operates under a Deed of Trust and was registered as a charity on 1[st] June 1990 with the charity registration number 803355. Its main purpose is the advancement of the Christian faith.
During the year, the Trustees were: Jonathan Gray, Stephen Cawley and Timothy Anderson, with Vicky Rodrigues and Rebecca Bennett joining the Board of Trustees in November.
Additional trustees are recommended by the church eldership to be approved by the current trustees.
The responsibility for managing the Trust on a day-to-day basis is delegated by the Trustees to the Core Leadership Team, one of whom, the church’s Senior Leader, is also a Trustee.
During the year, the Core Leadership Team consisted of Timothy Anderson, Rebekah Bennett (until 31[st] August), Richard Schwier, Helen Cobby, Jean Casling and Mark Knight.
4
## **Public benefit**
The charity trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit in section 4 of the 2011 Charities Act, and the supplementary guidance on the advancement of religion for the public benefit, published by the Charity Commission, in exercising their powers and duties.
## **REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS**
In 2023, HCC’s leadership worked to fulfil its charitable aims and objectives as laid out in the Charity’s trust deed. These are:
- to advance the Christian faith
- to provide relief for those facing hardship, distress or sickness
- to advance education on the basis of Christian principles
The Core Leadership Team annually reviews HCC’s objectives. In 2023, priorities were to continue to regather and rebuild the church following the pandemic lockdowns.
The Board of Trustees met formally 3 times over the year with further business being conducted via informal means of communication.
HCC delivers its charitable objectives through:
- Sunday gatherings, mid-week small groups and pastoral care open to all
- Supporting and equipping its members and others who connect with us in reaching their full potential in life based on Christian values, through one-to-one support, teaching, training and courses
- Outreach events and activities that advance the faith and enrich the wider community and family life in Huntingdonshire
- Use of ‘83a’ – the Church Centre
- Working together with other organisations
Our Vision as a church is: ‘to enable people and communities in Huntingdonshire to thrive, through putting the power of God's love into action’.
The report that follows summarises the activities of the Trust over the past year.
Many of our members either work or serve as volunteers in public office, voluntary organisations, education, or medical professions.
5
## **1. Sunday Gatherings, Small Groups and Pastoral Care Open to All**
**Sunday Services** The church continued to provide the opportunity for members of all ages to meet together corporately on a weekly basis for worship, teaching, inspiration and fellowship. Most of these meetings took place at Cromwell Academy, in the Hinchingbrooke estate of Huntingdon. During August and over Christmas we met at our town centre premises, ‘83a’ - 83a High Street, Huntingdon. On 2 Sundays at the start and end of the summer break, we held church BBQs after the service, giving members a chance to meet and relax together informally.
**Forest Church** Some Sundays took a different form, with young families meeting in Hinchingbrooke Park for an event called ‘Forest Church’. This built on the successes from 2022, providing an interactive session where those new to the church could engage with simple Bible themes. We continued to see one or two families join us who had earlier attended the Rainbow Toddler Group sessions.
**Worship Evenings** On Sundays where Forest Church was held, we held an evening of worship at 83a. This gave opportunities for church members and visitors to worship God in an unhurried setting and to take communion together. Many found these services very meaningful.
**Easter and Christmas Cafes** On Sundays before Easter and Christmas, we held all-age family café events where families were invited to come, take part in activities and have refreshments celebrating the theme of the season. These were well supported and provided a focal point for church members to join with the community in marking these festivals.
**Mid-week Small Groups** Through the year a number of small groups met fortnightly at different locations around the town and surrounding areas and online. This provided a focus for real friendships to develop, for church members to develop further in their relationship with God, to take on one another’s burdens and to celebrate each other’s successes. Some of these groups remained online as this helped particularly young families to engage.
**Pastoral Care** was provided by a small number of people in the church. Individual support was provided to number of people going through difficulty.
## **2. Supporting and Equipping Members and Non-Members**
As well as pastoral care when needed, support and equipping for adults was provided by the Sunday teaching and small group relationships. Newcomers to the church who had been attending on Sundays for a month or so were invited to **Welcome Lunches** , which provided a chance to get to know leaders better and hear about the ethos of the church. Those contemplating making HCC their home were the invited to a **‘Next Steps’** course, where our doctrinal beliefs, our mission and values, our structure and major ongoing activities were explained. Once a month, **Wetherspoons lunches** were hosted at the local venue, providing a cost-effective venue for newcomers to meet church members immediately after Sunday the meeting.
**Childrens’ Work** continued on a Sunday, the children leaving the main meeting part-way through the worship for their own dedicated sessions. We continued to explore the Bible through reflections, story, craft and activities and prayer.
6
**Sunday Youth Work** took place at the same time as the children’s work, seeking to build up young people in the church congregation with activities suitable for their stage in life.
**‘Friday Night Youth’** took place at 83a on alternate Friday evenings in term time. Youth from the church and their friends can come to a social space with a monthly evening that includes a spiritual focus.
**‘Dreaming The Impossible’** A group of youth and staff members attended the ‘Dreaming The Impossible’ event on the Peterborough showground in the summer. This was a great time of gathering the youth together and many made steps forward in their faith and their own development.
## **3. Outreach Events that Demonstrate the Faith and Enrich the Wider Community and Family Life in Huntingdonshire and Beyond**
Throughout 2023 we continued to seek to engage and serve the community within Huntingdonshire. We undertook this in the following ways:
**Toddler Group** The Rainbow Toddler group has continued to be busy and lively! During Autumn 2023 we moved back from our Covid structure of two short sessions to one longer one but kept our booking-in structure. Throughout the year we saw over 60 separate family groups attend Toddlers, with over 100 individual children accessing the group.
**Schools Work** Our youth and childrens’ workers continued to serve the local schools by taking assemblies and running groups in several local schools. This is done under the banner of ‘Thrive’, a Christian youth organisation supported by a number of churches in the area, but using HCC paid hours.
**Thrive Youthwork** In addition to the above, the senior leader and others in the church contributed significantly towards building up Thrive as an organisation, helping it to become viable long term as a ministry to youth in the town.
**Creative English** Creative English continued throughout the year, serving those in the area with limited English language ability, giving them confidence in day-to-day situations through role-play exercises.
**Picnic in the Park** Over the summer holiday period, a number of picnic brunches were held in the town’s country park. Together with other churches and local council staff, brunches were served to a number of families in need who had been referred to the authorities in the local area. Play space and activities were provide for the children, and parents/carers were given a wholesome meal and over the 3 weeks more than 200 pack lunches were made and handed out.
## **4. The Church Centre – ‘83a’**
Our church building, ‘83a’, occupies an easily-accessible high street location. Using space that is not required for church activities, it enables us to provide, at affordable prices, rooms for other organisations which operate locally in serving townspeople.
7
The following organisations were hosted on a regular basis in our building throughout 2023, significantly furthering the public benefit derived from the building:
Huntingdon Area Money Advice (given free office space within the building) Huntingdon Psychological Wellbeing Service Choices Counselling Cambridge Deaf Organisation Road Victims Trust Adrian Jackson Counselling Sefanit Inquai Counselling Sue McRitchie Counselling Toni Hasler Counselling Narcotics Anonymous Centre 33 Seetec Relate Bedazzle Inspired Martial Arts Road Victims Trust
Rooms were also used for a number of family parties and business conferences/training sessions. Sadly, we continue to see a decrease in organisations wanting to use our spaces, partly due to more counselling taking place online.
## **LEADERSHIP AND STAFF**
The Core Leadership Team, who have responsibility for the day-to-day running of the church, meet monthly to plan the spiritual direction and activity of the church.
## **Paid Staff**
**Tim Anderson** led the Core Leadership Team, working 2½ days a week for HCC.
**Rebekah Bennett** served as Operations Manager until 31[st] August, working 32 hours a week. She headed up the operational aspects of Church life, line managing staff teams and managing our centre, 83a.
**Richard Schwier** worked 32.5 hrs a week, leading HCC youth work and being seconded to the Thrive youth ministry for 10 hours of this time per week.
**Helen Cobby** was employed as Family and Children’s Worker for 20 hrs a week. She continued to encourage and galvanise the families in the church, provide material and lead children’s and families sessions on Sundays and at Forest Church.
**Naomi Jeffery** joined on 1[st] May to work 8 hrs per week in the office as an administrator.
**Trevor Payne** rejoined the staff team on 1[st] November as Finance Manager, working 8 hrs per week.
8
**Justyna Kaczmarek** worked 3 hrs a week as a Toddler Group Assistant and 5 hrs a week as a cleaner.
**Dan Flint** worked 5 hrs a week as an assistant in Rainbow Toddlers but finished his contract with us in the summer term of 2023.
## **Volunteers**
Jean Casling continued in the role of Associate Pastor with pastoral and other responsibilities across the church.
Mark Knight continued meeting with the Leadership team in the role of ‘advisor’.
Many other members of the church served in a voluntary capacity at events and activities throughout the year.
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
Unrestricted income for the year was £142,962 and unrestricted expenditure was £152,562. The Trustees have reviewed the reports and concerns and consider the charity is a going concern.
We retain significant funds in reserve (the Support Reserves fund) to cover salaries and other committed contract costs for a period of three months. Giving by church members was broadly stable across the year.
The funds of the charity include restricted and designated funds for the following purposes:
**Designated funds:** Building Renovation, Support Reserves, Donations, Fixed Asset Funds
**Restricted funds:** Toddler Group, Special Needs, Community Needs, Building, Audrey Royston Funds
## **RELATED PARTIES**
During the year one trustee, Timothy Anderson, was engaged in remunerated activity and received £22,945 as ministry salary during the year.
Huntingdonshire Community Church is a member of the Evangelical Alliance (Registered Charity Number 212325) and seeks, when and where it can, to support the EA’s aims by prayer, financial giving and attendance at events.
The Church is also a member of the network of churches comprising Plumbline Ministries International (Registered Charity No 327271). We support Plumbline both financially and by participating in Plumbline events and working towards Plumbline’s objectives of planting and developing new churches across the country.
9
This report and the financial statements were approved by the trustees on
on their behalf by..
Stephen Cawley
Chairman
Timothy Anderson
Trustee
io
Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Huntingdonshire Community
Church for the year ended 31" December 2023
I report to the trustees on my examination of the account5 of the above Charity for the year
ended 31st December 2023.
Responslbllltles and basls of report
As the charlty's trustees, you are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts In accordance
with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"l.
I report In respect of my examlnatlon of the Charlvs accounts carrled out under sectlon 145 of
the 2011 Act, and , in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions
given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examlnerfs statement
I have completed my examlnation. I confirm that no materlal matters have come to my attentlon
In connertlon with the examination whlch glve me cause to believe that, In any materlal respect,
the accountin8 records were not kept in accordance wlth sectlon 130 of the Charitles Act, or the
accounts do not accord with the accountln8 records.
I have no concerns, and have come across no other matters In connectlon wlth the examlnatlon to
whlch attentlon should be drawn In order to enable a proper understandin8 of the accounts to be
reached.
31,1
2(J2W
Mrs Carole Cowglll ACA
4 Penny Meadow, Capel St Mary, Ipswlch, Suffolk, IP9 2UU
ICAEW
CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANT
11
**HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**Total Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Receipts**
Donations and legacies
1
91,528
548
0
**92,076**
Income from Charitable Activities
2
41,460
**41,460**
Investment Income
823
**823**
Other income and Grants Received
3
9,151
45
**9,196**
**Total Receipts**
142,962
593
0
**143,555**
**Payments**
Worship and service - Staff costs
4
101,142
**101,142**
Worship and service - Other costs
5
30,724
744
**31,468**
Mission services
6
12,215
0
2,225
**14,440**
Outreach
876
600
**1,476**
Building maintenance and improvements
7
3,375
0
**3,375**
Governance costs
8
4,230
**4,230**
**Total Payments**
152,562
1,344
2,225
**156,131**
**Net of Receipts/ (Payments)**
**(9,600)**
**(751)**
**(2,225)**
**(12,576)**
**Cash Funds b/f 1st January 2023**
118,890
2,866
46,803
**168,559**
**Transfers between funds**
(12,001)
9,985
2,016
**0**
**Cash Funds c/f 31st December 2023**
9
**97,289**
**12,100**
**46,594**
**155,983**|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
144,240
48,503
84
12,960|
|---|---|
||205,787|
||109,995
19,068
26,678
53,447
4,331
2,045|
||215,564|
||(9,777)
178,336
0|
||168,559|
12
## **HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**1. Donations and legacies received**
Fund receipts - Toddlers
Offerings
Gifts supporting outreach
Gift aid
less tfrs to Donations fund
to Special needs fund
**2. Income from charitable activities**
Centre lettings
Reimbursements
**3. Other income and Grants received**
Insurance loss of income claim
Miscellaneous receipts
Cross charge for youth worker
(from Parish of Huntingdon)
**4. Worship and service - staff costs**
Wages
Pensions
Staff socials
Conferences
Personal development/training|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**Total Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
548
548
74,753
74,753
0
16,775
16,775
**91,528**
**548**
**0**
**92,076**
41,460
41,460
0
**41,460**
**0**
**0**
**41,460**
0
955
45
1,000
8,196
8,196
**9,151**
**45**
**0**
**9,196**
94,872
94,872
4,389
4,389
614
614
1,267
1,267
0
**101,142**
**0**
**0**
**101,142**|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
401
73,825
56,597
13,417|
|---|---|---|
|||**144,240**|
|||48,319
184|
|||**48,503**|
|||4,786
410
7,764|
|||**12,960**|
|||103,286
5,793
481
235
200|
|||**109,995**|
13
## **HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**5. Worship and service - other costs**
Bank charges
Books/media
Children and Youth expenses
Craft materials
First aid training
Internet/communication
Insurance
IT software/consumables
Miscellaneous gifts/expenses
Stationery
PA items
Printing and postage
Publicity
Refreshments
Subs/licences
Toddler group materials
Travel
Utilities
Venue hire
Gifts to visiting preachers
**6. Mission services**
Donations
less Tfrs to Donations fund
to Special needs fund
to Community needs fund
to Toddler group fund
Tithe to Plumbline
**7 Building maintenance and improvements**
Building maintenance
Building improvements
- forecourt refurbishment
- flat roof repair
Furniture replacement|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**Total Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
0
65
65
1,953
1,953
0
362
362
1,465
1,465
1,018
1,018
3,736
3,736
522
430
952
211
211
0
1,379
1,379
2,270
2,270
768
768
2,699
2,699
314
314
382
382
7,517
7,517
5,952
5,952
425
425
**30,724**
**744**
**0**
**31,468**
2225
2,225
0
0
0
0
12,215
12,215
**12,215**
**0**
**2,225**
**14,440**
3,375
3,375
0
0
0
**3,375**
**0**
**0**
**3,375**|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
79
307
1,092
0
0
1,372
968
177
2,599
202
75
631
0
546
2,310
614
672
2,369
4,805
250|
|---|---|---|
|||**19,068**|
|||5,310
0
0
0
0
21,368|
|||**26,678**|
|||2,556
0
0
1,775|
|||**4,331**|
14
## **HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**8. Governance costs**
Accountancy fees
Independent exam fees
Consultancy expenses|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**Total Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
3486
3,486
600
600
144
144
**4,230**
**0**
**0**
**4,230**|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
1,470
575
0|
|---|---|---|
|||**2,045**|
15
## **HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued)**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**9.**
**Funds Movements**
**Unrestricted Income Funds**
**General Fund**
**Designated Funds**
Building renovation fund
Donations fund
Support reserves
**Total Unrestricted Funds**
**Restricted Income Funds**
Audrey Royston fund
Special needs fund
Community needs fund
Toddler group fund
Building fund
**Total Bank and Cash Funds**|**Cash**
**Funds at**
**Fund**
**01/01/2023**
**movements**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**118,890**
**(21,601)**
**23,907**
**896**
(209)
**22,000**
**46,803**
**(209)**
**165,693**
**(21,810)**
8,869
**202**
(60)
**1,571**
25
**124**
400
**969**
**2,866**
**9,234**
**168,559**
**(12,576)**|**Cash**
**Funds at**
**31/12/2023**
**£**
**97,289**|
|---|---|---|
|||**23,907**
**687**
**22,000**|
|||**46,594**|
|||**143,883**|
|||**8,869**
**142**
**1,596**
**524**
**969**|
|||**12,100**|
|||**155,983**|
16
## **HUNTINGDONSHIRE COMMUNITY CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2023**
|**Unrestricted Restricted**
**Designated Total Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Cash funds**
HSBC current account
**71,355**
Barclays savings account
**84,493**
Office petty cash
**135**
**Total Monetary Assets**
**155,983**
**Other Monetary Assets**
Due from users of property
5,927
**5,927**
Gift aid recoverable
2,324
**2,324**
8,251
0
0
**8,251**
**Fund to which**
**Net Book**
**asset belongs**
**Cost**
**Value 2023**
**£**
**£**
**Assets retained for the charity's own use**
Sofas
Unrestricted
1,168
0
Photocopier/Printer
Unrestricted
3,720
0
Freehold Land
Fixed asset
60,000
60,000
**Depreciation**
Freehold Building and Improvements
2% of cost
Fixed asset
176,851
162,703
Replacement of Upper Flat Roof
5% of cost
Fixed asset
16,400
9,840
Forecourt refurbishment
(2020) 5% of cost
Fixed asset
15,120
12,348
Lower flat roof replacement
(2020) 5% of cost
Fixed asset
2,100
1,706
210,471
186,597
**Total fixed assets**
**275,359**
**246,597**|**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
**81,803**
**86,461**
**295**|
|---|---|
||**168,559**|
||**5,203**
**2,897**|
||**8,100**|
|||
17
Amount due When due
Liabilities
2023 invoices paid in 2024
Tithe due to Plumbline
Indeperldent examinerfs fee
Staff PAYE, Nl and Pension
Venue hire
Unreslricled
Unrestricted
Unreslricte
Unreslricled
Unreslricled
2,528
1.316
600
1,282
1,050
Jan-24
Jan-24
Jan-24
Jan-24
Jan-24
Signed:..
Signed..
Date..
18