_Scottish Charity No._ SC049327
**Thurso Baptist Church SCIO** Trustees' Report and Financial Statements
_For the year ended 31 December 2024_
## **Thurso Baptist Church SCIO**
## **Contents of the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
||Page|
|---|---|
|Report of the Trustees|2 - 4|
|Report of the Independent Examiner|5|
|Receipts and Payments Account|6|
|Statement of Balances|7|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|8-10|
**Thurso Baptist Church SCIO Report of the Trustees For the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
The trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the church for the year ended 31 December 2024.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **Registered Charity Number**
Thurso Baptist Church SCIO is established by Constitution. The church is a Scottish Charity (No. SC049327) and is recognised by HM Revenue & Customs under reference CR45799.
## **Principal address**
Thurso Baptist Church Thurso Business Park Thurso Caithness KW14 7XW
## **Aims & affiliation**
The aims of the church are in line with its Constitution and include the worship of God and the advancement of the Christian faith, by ministry and service in the local community and worldwide. The church is affiliated to the Baptist Union of Scotland.
## **Trustees and Office Bearers**
The Church is congregational in its form of church government, and its day-to-day running is undertaken by the Office Bearers and deacons (the Trustees).
The Office Bearers who served during the year and to the date of this report were as follows:
Pastor (from 1 January 2024) Treasurer Secretary Deacon Deacon Deacon Deacon Pastor Emeritus (from 1 January 2024)
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Appointment of trustees**
New Trustees are nominated for appointment by members of the Church and are subject to re-election every three years. Prior to their appointment, new Trustees would have served the church for some time in various roles and would be familiar with the church's values, aims and objectives as well as its day-to-day operations. As part of their induction programme, new Trustees are required to understand their statutory responsibilities.
2
**Thurso Baptist Church SCIO Report of the Trustees (cont'd) For the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **Achievements and Performance**
Significant events and developments of note in the year include the following: In relation to **activities:**
1. Sunday Services throughout the year conducted mostly by
Sunday Services throughout the year conducted mostly by and occasionally by the Deacons. The church has now installed new audio-visual and broadcasting equipment which has enabled the livestreaming and recording of the weekly services via the church YouTube channel: this has enabled, primarily, the housebound members of the congregation to participate in Sunday worship. Junior Church now known as Kids Club was provided when a sufficient number of children have attended.
2. Weekly discipleship courses, known as ‘Christian College’, were run throughout the year.
3. Church Members Meetings were conducted on the Church premises in January, February, May and November and an AGM was held in September.
4. , main Pastor of Thurso Baptist Church, was vetted by the Baptist Union of Scotland Board of Ministry and has now begun working towards accreditation with the Baptist Union of Scotland. continues in the role of Pastor Emeritus and is a member of the church leadership team; he preaches occasionally, leads Junior Church and the Christian College and attends church leadership meetings.
5. Baptismal Services were conducted in September and November.
6. The church ran a Messy Church session in February as an outreach to families in the community.
7. Earlier in the year the church participated in regular inter-church prayer walks with the Highland Christian Church and Thurso Free Church.
8. In July the church set up an Oasis tent at the Caithness County Show to provide free refreshments and children’s activities to members of the public.
9. The church was engaged in a number of activities in the run up to and during the Christmas season including:
- The Blythswood Christmas Shoebox Appeal
- Special collections raised to help GNM and IVM provide Christmas gifts to their communities in India
- Carol Singing in the Thurso Precinct
- 10.The church building was also used by the church for:
- movie nights throughout the month of May
- ‘Keep-fit and Craft’ sessions for the congregation
- ‘Fit 2 Box. which has been attended by people from outside the church members/adherents.
- 11.Other than activities directly related to the life of the church, the church building was also utilised by local community and Christian groups including:
- the Scripture Union Connect group,
- a first aid course for the local community
- a safeguarding course for local churches
- the Pentland Brass Band
- the Caithness Big Band.
## In relation to **funding:**
1. Members participate in the Gift Aid Scheme.
2. Special offerings were made to Good News Ministries India and India Village Ministries
3. Several external Christian organisations were supported through donations from general offerings.
3
**Thurso Baptist Church SCIO Report of the Trustees (cont'd) For the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **Financial Review**
## 1. Principal sources of funding:
The church receives most of its funding from church members and attendees by way of weekly/monthly offerings and Gift Aid donations plus other gifts from visitors and local organisations.
## 2. Results of the year:
The financial statements for the year are set out in pages 6 to 10. The receipts and payments account on page 6 indicates an increase in regular income to the current account.
- Current account net surplus of £10,096 (2023 net surplus of £17,909)
- Building account net surplus of £12,589 (2023 net surplus of £1,426)
3. Reserves:
Total reserves, including the net book value of fixed assets (Manse/Church building) and balances on unrestricted funds amounted to £382,804 (2023 £359,840).
## **Brief statement of the charity's policy on reserves**
Surpluses continue to be maintained to facilitate the ongoing upkeep of our current buildings and the ministry of Thurso Baptist Church.
## **Donated facilities and services**
The trustees donate their time to attend monthly deacons' meetings and carry out administrative duties for the church and do not make a charge for these services.
## **Grant Making Policy**
The church makes grants from its tithed gift income to individuals and organisations that are generally known to the Trustees and the church. The beneficiaries are involved in activities or ministries compatible with the church's objectives.
## **Statement on risk**
The Trustees assess the major risks to which the charity is exposed on an on-going basis and have established procedures to mitigate those that are identified from these reviews.
## **Statement of Trustee's Responsibilities**
The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements which give sufficient detail to enable an appreciation of the transactions of the church during the financial year. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which, on request, must reflect the financial position of the church at the time. This must be done to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the church and must take reasonable steps for the prevention and/or detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## **ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES**
– Treasurer
Date:
4
## **Thurso Baptist Church SCIO Report of the Independent Examiners to the Trustees For the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
I report on the accounts of the church for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 6 to 10.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's statement**
My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
## **Independent Examiners' Statement**
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations (as amended), and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations.
have not been met, or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Innes & Partners Limited Chartered Certified Accountants
9 Ardross Street Inverness IV3 5NN
Date:
5
## **THURSO BAPTIST CHURCH SCIO**
|**Receipts**
**note**
Open Offerings
Gift aid Offerings
Non-Gift Aid Offerings
Tax Reclaimed
Donations Special Appeals
1
Donations
Miscellaneous
Juinor Church Donations
**Total receipts**
**Payments**
Gross Salary - Pastor
7
Gross Salary - Associate Pastor
7
Gross Salary - Pastor Emeritus
7
Car benefit in kind
8
Pension Fund
9
Donations special appeals
1
Donations
2
Church maintenance
3
Manse maintenance
4
Council Tax
Junior Church
Messy church
Miscellaneous
5
Meetings, courses & expenses
Scottish Baptist Fund
Church car costs
Ministry resources
Sunday School Noor Ministries
BUS Accreditation
**Total payments**
**Surplus/(Deficit) for year**
**Reserves**
At 1 January
Transfer
At 31 December
**Statement of Receipts & Payments**
**For the year ended 31 December 2024**|**Current**
**account**
**General (£)**
11,576
30,653
11,505
9,416
-
-
1,710
125
64,985
15,000
-
6,773
372
2,014
-
7,200
9,286
2,873
1,496
296
192
3,230
867
1,764
1,357
-
240
2,429
55,389
9,596
72,129
81,725|**Current**
**account**
**Restricted (£)**
-
-
-
-
2,674
500
-
-
3,174
-
-
-
-
-
2,674
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,674
500
-
500|**Building**
**account**
**Restricted (£)**
-
1,340
360
-
-
-
11,811
-
13,511
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
922
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
922
12,589
17,986
-
30,575|**2024**
**Total**
**funds (£)**
11,576
31,993
11,865
9,416
2,674
500
13,521
125
81,670
15,000
-
6,773
372
2,014
2,674
7,200
10,208
2,873
1,496
296
192
3,230
867
1,764
1,357
-
240
2,429
58,985
22,685
90,115
-
112,800|**2023**
**Total**
**funds (£)**
10,649
27,254
17,920
8,193
7,047
1,341
1,072
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||73,476
15,902
7,769
-
319
1,451
4,097
6,150
5,915
3,141
1,560
162
629
3,565
322
1,569
1,123
347
120
-|
||||||54,141|
||||||19,335|
||||||70,780
-|
||||||90,115|
6
## **THURSO BAPTIST CHURCH SCIO**
|**Statement of Balances**
**As at 31 December 2024**
Bank accounts
Royal Bank of Scotland - current account
Royal Bank of Scotland - Building account
**Reserves**
Surplus/(Deficit) for year
**Current account - as at 31 December**
Building Fund account - as at 1 January
Surplus/(Deficit) for year
**Building Fund account - as at 31 December**
Closing bank balances
**Other Assets**
Church & Manse Buildings
HMRC - Gift Aid debtor
**Liabilities**
Independent Examiner's fee
Current Account - as at 1 January|**2024**
£
82,225
30,575
112,800
72,129
10,096
82,225
17,986
12,589
30,575
112,800
265,000
5,664
660|**2023**
£
72,129
17,986|
|---|---|---|
|||90,115|
|||54,220
17,909|
|||72,129|
|||16,560
1,426|
|||17,986|
||||
|||90,115|
|||265,000
5,325|
|||600|
On behalf of the trustees
Trustee ……………………… Date ……...........…..... 2025
7
## **THURSO BAPTIST CHURCH SCIO**
## **Notes to the accounts**
## **For the year ended 31 December 2024**
## **Accounting policies**
## **Basis of Accounting**
The accounts have been prepared on the Receipts & Payments basis in accordance with the Charities & Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended).
## **Nature and purpose of funds**
Unrestricted funds are those that may be used at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Restricted funds may only be used for specific purposes. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for specific purposes.
## **Note**
|1
**Special Appeals**
Receipts
Payments
BMS Harvest Appeal
-
-
Open Doors - Christmas card
-
-
Personal gifts to members
-
-
Good News Ministries India Appeal
1,211
1,211
India Village Ministries
1,463
1,463
2,674
2,674
In 2023, £3,000 was paid via salary for the pastors retirement.
2
**Donations**
**2024**
£
Noor Ministries
1,000
Fishermen's Mission
-
Scottish Baptist College
350
Open Doors
250
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
250
Ellon Baptist Church Building Fund
-
India Village Ministries
750
UCCF
-
Stepping Stones
250
Thurso Community Café
-
Good News Ministries India
1,500
Refuel
250
Caithness Foodbank
250
Scottish Bible Society
100
Forres Baptist Church Building Fund
2,000
SBMF (Scottish Baptist Ministers Fellowship)
250
7,200
**2024**
£|Receipts
Payments
460
460
767
767
3,000
-
2,820
2,870
-
-
**2023**
£|Receipts
Payments
460
460
767
767
3,000
-
2,820
2,870
-
-
**2023**
£|
|---|---|---|
||7,047|4,097|
|||**2023**
£
500
400
350
500
250
1,000
500
250
200
200
1,250
300
250
200
-
-|
|||6,150|
8
## **THURSO BAPTIST CHURCH SCIO**
## **Notes to the accounts**
## **For the year ended 31 December 2024**
|3
**Church building**
Insurance
Electricity & oil
Maintenance & supplies
Broadband
Ground Rent
Live Streaming upgrade
ProTraining defibrilator
4
**Manse**
Insurance
Heat and lighting
Repairs & maintenance
Phone and Broadband
5
**Miscellaneous**
Independent Examiner's fee
Music/video licence
Payroll fees
Website & Computer costs
Ministry equipment & supplies
Safeguarding & GDPR
Special events costs
Weights for Keep Fit class
Maintenance & supplies|Current
Account
1,435
2,505
1,197
180
530
2,834
605
9,286
527
1,644
371
331
2,873
600
840
582
288
320
185
337
78
-
3,230|Building
Account
-
-
922
-
-
-
-
922
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**2024**
**Total**
£
1,435
2,505
2,119
180
530
2,834
605
10,208
527
1,644
371
331
2,873
600
840
582
288
320
185
337
78
-
3,230|**2023**
**Total**
£
1,304
2,451
928
153
1,079
-
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||5,915|
|||||501
1,501
769
370|
|||||3,141|
|||||540
800
638
288
760
180
165
-
194|
|||||3,565|
## 6 **Explanation of funds**
The G _eneral Fund_ encompasses all income and expenditure relating to the primary focus activities of the charity, other than those for which funding is restricted.
The _Special Appeals Fund_ encompasses all income and expenditure relating to special offerings for Christian relief agencies.
The _Welfare Fund_ encompasses all income and expenditure relating to the support of those in the church who are facing times of financial hardship.
9
Thurso B*ptist Church SCIO
Notes to the Ateounts
For the ?eA T ended 31 Deeember 2024
Trustee rèmullerxtio
itll receii'ed a 055 Salary of £6,773 for his role a5
as Pastor) and receiked expenses of £llil (2023.. £nil} foI his role as a trnstee.
(2023.. £15.775 for his role
re¢eiNed a 0$$ salary of £15,000 for his role as a part-tim¢ Pastor (2023.. £6,750 for his role
as Associate Pastor) and receiNed expenses of £nil (2023.. £nil) for his role as a trnstee.
Ail allse cosls. includillg heatllig and lightllig tre coi-ered by the Chwch. He was also proTrided with
car (owned by the Church) for which 118 Costs were also coi-ered.
In 2023, he was paid relocation expenses of £1.559 oll bis aLal from Canada.
No expenses were paid to other tnlstees dllTins the year for their role as trustees.
Benefit ill Killd
The ¢liur¢li paid a benefit in kind on the proNision of a car for the Pastor. Thi's totalled £372 (2023.. £319).
Peusioll Obligatiolls
Pension colltributions are paid to a defjned eolltriblltion pension. The total pensioll cost. incliidin8
expenses. for the employer Thas £2.014 (2023.. £1.451) and no colltributions were outstalldillg al the
10