The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)".
The charity aims to present the Christian message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as written in the Holy Scriptures, to men, women and children, in particular, but not limited to, those who live in Kirkby. These aims are met by reaching out to those in need, whatever those needs might be.
Our aim has been to minister to those who are in need spiritually and physically, through the preaching of God’s Word and supply of food when possible.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charities Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Volunteers
The charity makes use of volunteers during the course of the year in many of its activities. These duties may include, and this list is not exhaustive – assisting in the preparation of food, serving members of the public, helping with youth work, delivering tinned food etc. Most volunteers come from local churches in the Merseyside area, but some come from further afield.
2023 has once again been a very busy year for the charity.
The various ministries of the charity continue apace and are well accessed and supported by the local community. There is a wide range of volunteer support from all ages and genders.
The Crusader youth groups which run on a Tuesday evening continue to blossom. Primary age running from 6:15 pm to 7:15pm continues to build, with around 25-30 children coming each week. Games, Craft, Singing, and Bible stories are eagerly enjoyed by all. The High School age meet from 7:30pm - 9pm and this group although small in number, around 5-8, continues to enjoy time together in a safe environment, Bible teaching followed by various games, Air Hockey, Table Tennis, and others, is always well received by those who come. During the summer school term, the High School children are taken out each Tuesday evening to various places in the local area. This provides an opportunity to socialise with those who attend and get to know them better while also spending time learning from the Bible.
The LAMB's ministry which was set up for Ladies in the community, who may or may not have young children. This provides a safe place for ladies to chat together, to share experiences, and also to share from the Bible. During the year there are special event days where the members can enjoy crafting, baking, and other activities. Some external speakers are invited to come and speak to the ladies from time to time. These meetings on a Wednesday are always well attended.
The Foodbank continues to be well used by the community and is well supported by volunteers. This is run from under the auspices of "Kirkby Foodbank" and has been well supported both practically and financially, by local residents who have themselves needed the foodbank in the past, by local schools, private gifts from other individuals, and by the local authority. The "Passion for Kirkby" event held in the Kirkby town centre, was well attended again this year by the local community. This was a free event put on by the charity and included, Bouncy Castles, Face Painting, Free Burgers, Coffee and cold drinks. There was also a stage where various speakers came to share their own experiences of knowing God in their lives.
It continues to be a privilege to support our local community in various ways and to see groups coming together, and we are very grateful for the support that we have received this year from many individuals, churches, schools, and the local authority. And especially for those who keep us in their prayers.
The results for the year and the charity’s financial position at the end of the year are shown in the attached financial statements.
The charity received incoming resources of £68,256 (2022: £34,363) and expended £52,790 (2022: £43,504), resulting in a surplus of £15,466 (2022: deficit of £9,141) in the period covered by the accounts. The balance sheet of the charity remains good with a net asset value of £27,822 (2022: £12,356).
Reserves policy
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six months’ expenditure. The Trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
Risk policy
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
New trustees will always be appointed following nominations and voting by existing trustees. They must possess a good balance of skills, and be of good character.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
New trustees undergo a full induction process and receive copies of key and relevant documents from both the Charity Commission and Companies House, outlining the roles and responsibilities of the charity trustee.
The position of Church Pastor (Remunerated) is occupied by Mr G A Peel. This is a salaried position and was approved by the Charity Commission when the charity was established.
There were three trustees at the end of the financial year. The trustees are responsible for the finances of the charity and employment of all staff. The Church Pastor is responsible for overseeing the pastoral and spiritual life of the Charity.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Northwood Chapel for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Northwood Chapel (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2023.
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees , as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for my work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity 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 the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
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 that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements 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
the financial statements 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 financial statements to be reached.
Investments
Northwood Chapel is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Northwood Chapel, Bigdale Drive, Northwood, Kirkby, Merseyside, L33 6XG.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Income and expenses are included in the financial statements as they become receivable or due.
Expenses include VAT where applicable as the company cannot reclaim it.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through income and expenditure, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected.
If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the charity transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Passion for Kirby
Affiliation
Utilities
Missionary giving
Insurance
Speaker expenses
Books and CD's
Outreach/Evangelism
Consumables
Building and equipment costs
Foodbank
Independent examination fees
Governance costs includes payments to the independent examiner of £1,333 (2022: £1,243) for examination fees.
Other than as noted below, none of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration,expenses or benefits from the charity during the year.
The position of Church Pastor (Remunerated) is occupied by Mr G A Peel, a Trustee of the charity. This is a salaried position and was approved by the Charity Commission when the charity was established. Salary and pension contributions of £17,924 (2022: £15,508) were paid in the year.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Donations - this represents gifts given towards the Pastor's salary, foodbank, books and CDs, and Easter gifts.
Evangelism - this represents gifts given towards Passion for Kirby and The Vine project.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
There were no other related party transactions in the year.