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REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 07372351 (England and Wales)
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1142412














Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2023

for

The Black Country Net

The Black Country Net






Contents of the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 5 April 2023




Page

Reference and Administrative Details 1

Report of the Trustees 2 to 3

Independent Examiner's Report 4

Statement of Financial Activities 5

Balance Sheet 6 to 7

Notes to the Financial Statements 8 to 12

The Black Country Net

Reference and Administrative Details
for the Year Ended 5 April 2023



TRUSTEES Revd P G Chamberlain
J Cook (resigned 6.12.22)
T Fellows
Mrs L J Wildsmith Communications manager


COMPANY SECRETARY K R Davis


REGISTERED OFFICE Alpha House
9 Tipton Street
Sedgley
West Midlands
DY3 1HE


REGISTERED COMPANY
NUMBER
07372351 (England and Wales)


REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1142412


INDEPENDENT EXAMINER S A R Accountants
Tower View
Broadway Road
Childswickham
Broadway
Worcestershire
WR12 7HD

The Black Country Net (Registered number: 07372351)

Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 5 April 2023


The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The principle objectives of the company are :-

- to promote the advancement of education of the general public in Christian principles;
- to advance Christian education of school children and young people;
- to promote such other purposes currently recognised as charitable and any new charitable purpose.

Working primarily in the Black Country boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton, promoting church partnerships and helping communities by encouraging business enterprise , food banks and the like.
The main activities have been facilitating the regular gatherings of leaders from both Church, business, public and charitable sectors ,including representatives of youth and children's works, on a monthly basis, either in the local boroughs or on a wider basis across the Black Country. These , we are pleased to report, have spawned many initiatives at every level.

Public benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the information contained in the Charity Commissioner's General Guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Trust's objectives and activities. The Trustees consider that considerable public benefit will be achieved and many members of the public will benefit.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
As in other years, we as a board have been delighted with the many and varied opportunities where we have clearly seen churches and organisations come TOGETHER. From leaders meetings across the four boroughs to youth gatherings culminating in a second TOGETHER day at Himley Hall, Dudley in July.

This saw well over 3000 attendees and close to 100 churches and groups joining together for a day of fun, engagement and networking. Although many volunteered hours and hours of time to make this happen specific, thanks, have to go to Linsey Wildsmith for coordinating the event, alongside several members of the core team.

We remain focused on keeping the movement as active as it has grown to be in the last few years with specific moments being arranged for the future.

FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
The total net expenditure over income for the year amounts to £33,099 (2022 net income over expenditure £19,106). Total funds carried forward amount to £79,409 (2022 £112,508).
The vast majority of the finances required to fund the activities are raised through regular giving and one-off donations from individuals , local churches and businesses, supplemented by the refund of income tax from HM Revenue and Customs through the gift aid scheme. Additionally grants are sourced and received on an ad- hoc basis.


The Black Country Net (Registered number: 07372351)

Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 5 April 2023


FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves policy
The policy agreed by the directors is to aim to hold in unrestricted reserves not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets ( the " free " reserves) sufficient to cover the general overhead expenses and salary costs not specifically funded by external agencies or able to be covered by other committed income such as rents for a period of six months. As of 5th April 2023, we feel that the free reserves available of £79,409 would meet this objective.

Risk policy and review

The directors review risk periodically and are satisfied that major risks to which the charity is exposed, are adequately mitigated through insurance, strategic planning, policies and procedures.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
New directors are appointed by the existing directors. A selection and recruitment process takes place when potential board members are selected, after making careful enquiry as to their suitability and their support of the objectives of the trust. The board aims to have a broad range of skills represented, in particular expertise in Christian doctrine, finance and charity law.
The board of directors currently comprises of 6 members who meet quarterly. Director, Linsey Wildsmith, whilst being on staff, brings an additional level of expertise to the board.
A core team, consisting of the board of directors plus at least 4 others, and a borough representatives team, provide input and advice into the management of the trust.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 24 October 2023 and signed on its behalf by:





Revd P G Chamberlain - Trustee

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of
The Black Country Net

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Black Country Net ('the Company')
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 5 April 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.








Sally-Ann Reeves FCCA
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

S A R Accountants
Tower View
Broadway Road
Childswickham
Broadway
Worcestershire
WR12 7HD

24 October 2023

The Black Country Net

Statement of Financial Activities
for the Year Ended 5 April 2023

5.4.23 5.4.22
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds funds funds
Notes £    £    £    £   
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies 94,932 - 94,932 73,845

Charitable activities
Networking 2,220 - 2,220 7,945
Total 97,152 - 97,152 81,790

EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Pastoral and Ministry - - - 13,754
Networking 59,468 - 59,468 48,930
Together Festival 70,783 - 70,783 -
Total 130,251 - 130,251 62,684

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (33,099 ) - (33,099 ) 19,106


RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 112,508 - 112,508 93,402

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 79,409 - 79,409 112,508

The Black Country Net (Registered number: 07372351)

Balance Sheet
5 April 2023

5.4.23 5.4.22
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds funds funds
Notes £    £    £    £   
CURRENT ASSETS
Prepayments and accrued income 16,230 - 16,230 14,060
Cash at bank 87,565 - 87,565 98,948
103,795 - 103,795 113,008

CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year 5 (24,386 ) - (24,386 ) (500 )

NET CURRENT ASSETS 79,409 - 79,409 112,508

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES

79,409

-

79,409

112,508

NET ASSETS 79,409 - 79,409 112,508
FUNDS 6
Unrestricted funds 79,409 112,508
TOTAL FUNDS 79,409 112,508

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 5 April 2023.


The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.


The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
(a)ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
(b)preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.


The Black Country Net (Registered number: 07372351)

Balance Sheet - continued
5 April 2023

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.


The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 24 October 2023 and were signed on its behalf by:





P G Chamberlain - Trustee

The Black Country Net

Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 5 April 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
5.4.23 5.4.22
£    £   
Trustees' salaries 22,053 21,345
Trustees' pensions paid 474 449
22,527 21,794

Trustees' expenses
5.4.23 5.4.22
£    £   
Trustees' expenses 40 169

The Black Country Net

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 5 April 2023

3. STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

5.4.23 5.4.22
Administration 1 1

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

4. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
£    £    £   
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies 73,845 - 73,845

Charitable activities
Networking 7,945 - 7,945
Total 81,790 - 81,790

EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Pastoral and Ministry 13,754 - 13,754
Networking 48,930 - 48,930
Total 62,684 - 62,684

NET INCOME 19,106 - 19,106


RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 93,402 - 93,402

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 112,508 - 112,508


The Black Country Net

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 5 April 2023

5. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
5.4.23 5.4.22
£    £   
Accruals and deferred income 24,386 500

6. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Net Transfers
movement between At
At 6.4.22 in funds funds 5.4.23
£    £    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 25,102 (9,336 ) (1,869 ) 13,897
Next Generation 19,905 1,305 - 21,210
Together Festival 24,288 (30,556 ) 3,704 (2,564 )
Love Wolverhampton 40 (60 ) 100 80
Love Dudley 4,362 673 65 5,100
Love Sandwell 14,915 1,148 (1,000 ) 15,063
Love Walsall 18,878 2,977 (1,000 ) 20,855
Chapel premises 4,027 - - 4,027
Gender Conference 991 - - 991
Mental Health - 750 - 750
112,508 (33,099 ) - 79,409
TOTAL FUNDS 112,508 (33,099 ) - 79,409

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 44,840 (54,176 ) (9,336 )
Next Generation 1,405 (100 ) 1,305
Together Festival 40,227 (70,783 ) (30,556 )
Love Wolverhampton - (60 ) (60 )
Love Dudley 1,490 (817 ) 673
Love Sandwell 1,440 (292 ) 1,148
Love Walsall 7,000 (4,023 ) 2,977
Mental Health 750 - 750
97,152 (130,251 ) (33,099 )
TOTAL FUNDS 97,152 (130,251 ) (33,099 )


The Black Country Net

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 5 April 2023

6. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net Transfers
movement between At
At 6.4.21 in funds funds 5.4.22
£    £    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 4,818 9,622 10,662 25,102
Next Generation 43,862 (3,957 ) (20,000 ) 19,905
Together Festival 7,941 16,347 - 24,288
Love Wolverhampton 60 (20 ) - 40
Love Dudley 5,793 (1,878 ) 447 4,362
Love Sandwell 11,718 622 2,575 14,915
Love Walsall 18,953 (2,575 ) 2,500 18,878
Theology Network 257 199 (456 ) -
Chapel premises - (245 ) 4,272 4,027
Gender Conference - 991 - 991
93,402 19,106 - 112,508
TOTAL FUNDS 93,402 19,106 - 112,508

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£    £    £   
Unrestricted funds
General fund 49,162 (39,540 ) 9,622
Next Generation 1,758 (5,715 ) (3,957 )
Together Festival 19,367 (3,020 ) 16,347
Love Wolverhampton - (20 ) (20 )
Love Dudley 1,260 (3,138 ) (1,878 )
Love Sandwell 1,515 (893 ) 622
Love Walsall 5,000 (7,575 ) (2,575 )
Theology Network 209 (10 ) 199
Chapel premises - (245 ) (245 )
Gender Conference 3,519 (2,528 ) 991
81,790 (62,684 ) 19,106
TOTAL FUNDS 81,790 (62,684 ) 19,106


The Black Country Net

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 5 April 2023

7. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

During the year, John Cook, who was a trustee until 6.12.22, was paid £12,000 up to the date of resignation (2022 £nil) relating to consultancy fees.

D Chamberlain, daughter in law of trustee Revd P G Chamberlain, was paid £nil (2022 £5,415) for consultancy fees as the Next Generation coordinator.