Village Church Belfast Trustees, Report The Trustees present their report and the financial statements of the church for the year ended 30 Jun¢ 2023. The Trustees confirm that they comply with tbe requirements of the Charities Ath (Northern Ireland) 2008. The Charities (Annual Return) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, The Charities (Am]ual RetUTn) Regulations (Northern Ireland} 2015 and Ac¢ounting and Reporttng by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice which applies to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the FtnanGial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l Jarjuary 2015). The Truste The Trustees who served the church during the year were Is follows: Thomas Mcconaghie Nick Wright Jonathan Parf(s Structure, Governance & Mallag¢ment Village Church Belfast is governed by their Constitution. The Trustees are responsible for the ove&11 governance of the church. The nwnber of Truste¢s shall not be less than three, nor more than seven. Statement of ¢ompli#nee In setting our artivities and. planning our activiti¢s foT the year the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity's purposes and provide a benefit to the benefEciari¢s. Purposes The purpose of this chuToh sk]all be to glorify God" At will be a community of Christ followers who understand that the city and their spheres of intluenee ate their missÈon field. Th¢y will be trained and 4uipped to be faithful disciples of Jesus, and to live out tbe Gospel for the sake of God's glory. Activities Summary activities Weekly SLmday servioes, children's programm¢s, weekly home group gatherings, prayer & worship eY¢nir5£S, men's and wornen's events, community cleal) up days, monthly leadership development, building use for community events, mum & tots group, religious holiday events like carol services. easter events, cty partnership with Walkway Con]munity Cellt. Page 2
Village Church Belfast Trustees, Report Beneficiaries The charÉty'S beneficiaries ate: Memb¢ Membets families Those connected with the church The local community The general public Private benefit A privats benefit of the WOTIC is the finan¢ia3ly supported pastor whÈch is Éncidental and necessary to the continued work of th¢ church. Publie benefit The purposes of Village Church Belfast are.. The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the declaration of faith set out in a Schedule to the Arti¢l¢s. The dir¢cE b¢J¢fits flowing from this purpose include the facilitation of regular public worship, that provides for the &pÈritual wellbeing of society- the training and equipping of people in their Christian faith. These benefits be demonstrated throu¥) weekly meetini>t to present the teachings of tELe bkble and the provision of opportunittes for Christian response including but not limited to praver and worship. These benefits are demonstrated by the Membe of the public who ¢hoose to attend our weeldy worship gatherings, events and training day8 and the feedback they provide. To promote and fulfil such other charitsble purposes beneficial to the ¢ommunity in Belfast, Ireland the United Kingdon] and such other parts of the world as the directors may from time to time think fit. The direct benefits flowing from this purpose include working with the local people of Bloomfield and B2]lymacarret in dealing with issues of addiction, sexual exploitstion and sectsrianÈsm" through the teaching provided at services and events held at th¢ church building- and the finar)¢ial support of charities working to alleviate those in poverty. These benefits are demonstrated by the presence of members of the public Choosing to ¢1ve the teaching and through the feedba¢k of the local stakeholders we parther with both locally and abroad. To relieve aged persons and peTsons in nee(L haTdship, sickness, or distress arising therefrom whether in connection with housing or accommodation or shelter or any otheT purpose {whether by loan, gill the provision 0£ accommodation or shelter in any other way), in Belfast, Ireland and United Kingdom and su¢h other parts of the world as the drrectors may from time time think fit. The direct benefits flowing from this purpose include relief of the needs of people suffering from hunger, poor nutrition, lack of shelter. sickness, so¢ial exclusion or other hardships. These benefits aT¢ demonstrat¢d by the feedbaek of those members of society whose hardships have been alleviated. To advance educatFon whether of childret) (above or below compulsory school age) or 0£ &dults. The direct benefit that flows from this purpose is the educational value provided by the religious and Biblical teachings being offered by our charÉty. These benefits are demonstrated by members of the public chi)osing to receive the tea¢hirJg and the feedback they provide. There is no ham] lSing from any of tbe purposes.
Village Church Belfast Truste&s' Report Financial Review and Results for the Year See attached annual accounts for th¢ year ended JO June 202). Main A¢hievements for the Year Worship services held each week throughout the year both in person and online (bible teachin& prayer, worship, fellowship) Pray¢r 2nd small group support via Zix)m and in person meetings Benevolence for people in need Women's events Men's events West Belfast church plant Child protection training Youth club Tots group Hope Explored evangelism classes Regul le2dership developrnent meetings Partnership with Walkway Community Centre Village community clean up day Coordinating with COMu1ty Stakeholders such as NGOS and community bodies on community development tssues Weddings Marriage prep counsellitvg Continued development of s¢¢ond congregaÉion in a strategic part of the city Multiplication of small groups meeting throughout Belfast Page 4
Village Church Belfast Trustees, Report Future Plans 2022123 h2s been both fruitful and challenging. We're still recovering in may ways from the heitshts of the pandemic. We've left Zoom meetings behind Én many &sp¢ots, no longer neediog it for our maAn gatherings. only for the occasiona] meeting QT mid-week reflection and Pfdy times. Our West Belfast church plant endeavows h2ve sadly come to a pause with Nathan Browi no longer employed for Village. We still have a desire to plant a church in West Belfast and ¢onsider the work done over the past coupl¢ years not a waste at all. We've gained some important relationships which w¢ trust wtll be crucia] for any futur¢ plans tn the West. We have brought on a new ehildren and families worker who has done an excellent job engaging with not only the families who are part of our growing congregation , but with the wider Bloomfield ¢ommunity; our parents aTkd tots group being a parti¢ular highltght. We have also brought on a new Treasurer who has helped bring greater a¢¢ountability to our finan¢e team 2$ we have grown as a church. Our building purch&se project has been slow to complete. Our giving campaigtt has been a su¢¢ess but solicitors have been slow. This hasn't stopped us from continuing to make some needed improvements to the building. We look forward to completing the building Purchase in the near future. RÈsk Management REsk is an everyday part of the Charity's nonnal activity. The Trustees have wr]sÈdered and identified the major risks to which the charity is exposed having taken appropriate professional advice have been assured that adequate systems and procedures are in place in order to mitigate or manag¢ those risks. Reserves Policy Th¢ Charity does not have a reserdes policy. Pensions The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme {which rneets the requirements of The Pension Regulator as a qualifying workplace pension scheme) for the benefit of its permanent staff attd those who are eligible under Auto Enrolment. The assets are administered by insurance eornpanies in personal pension plans and are held independently from those of the charity. Contributions are charged to th¢ StaÉ¢m¢nt of Financial Activities in the period to whÉch they re12ts. Results The results for the year and the charity's financial position at the end of the year are shown in the attached financiaI stste]nents. Small companies provision statement This report has been prepared in accordance with the smail companies regime under tFte Companies Act 2006. The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 15 March 2024 and sÉgned on its b¢half by: athan Parks 'rugtee Pag¢ 5
Village Church Belfast Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities The tnjstees (who are aIso the directors of Village Chur¢h Belfast ft)r the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees, report the financÈai statements in accordance with applicable law and Unit¢d Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practic¢), including FRS 102 'Th¢ Financial Reporting Standard appltcable in the UK and R¢publi¢ of Ireland" The report and accounts have been prepared kn accordance with the provtsions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under Company law the trustees must nol approve the financial $tements uNless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incomino resour¢¢s and applÉc2tion of resources, including its income and expenditure. of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required lo: select suitable ae¢ounting policies ftnd apply ihem consistently. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable aod prndent; state whether applicable accounting standards. comprising FRS 102 have been followel subject to any materiaI departures dTrsGlos¢d and explained in the financial statements" and prepare the fRn&n¢ial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriat¢ to presume that th¢ charitable company will continue Én business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting re¢oFds that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charttable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statanents comply with tbe Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding tbe assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and deteclion of fraud and otber irregulaTities. The trustees are Tesponsible for the maintenance and integrity of tbe corp)rate and financial inforniation included on the ctable company's website. Legislation governing the prep2Yation and dissemination of financial statemeJ)ts may differ from legislatioD in other juEisdi¢tlODS. Approved by the trustees of the charity on 15 March 2024 and signed on its behalf by.. h2n Parks ste¢ Page 6