| REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
| REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
| Report of the Trustees and |
| Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| for |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited |
| REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: |
| REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: |
| Report of the Trustees and |
| Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| for |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited |
| Contents of the Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| Page |
| Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 4 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Balance Sheet | 7 | to | 8 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 | to | 14 |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited (Registered number: 06457041) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 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 31 December 2024. 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). |
| The Charity is called "Hope Church Guildford" and is based at St Clares Church, 242 Cabell Road, Guildford, GU2 8JW. |
| The Charity registration number is 1122549 and the Company registration number is 06457041. |
| OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES |
| Objectives and activity |
| The Charity's objects are:- |
| a) to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the doctrines of the church. |
| b) to relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health. |
| c) to advance education in accordance with Christian principles. |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited (Registered number: 06457041) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE |
| Activities & Public Benefit |
| The Trustees are cognisant with the Charity Commission guidance on the importance of tangible public benefits from the work of the charity. During the period under review the church carried out a range of activities, in line with the objects:- |
| - The advancement of the Christian faith has been achieved through the provision of weekly meetings on Sunday mornings. |
| - The church meets in a school located in the middle of the town, with easy access, free parking, and, thus, open to all sections of the community. There is a multigenerational mix of people who attend these meetings on a regular basis and this continued to be the case in 2024. |
| - These meetings are to encourage and facilitate the practise of the Christian faith by its followers and to encourage investigation of the Christian faith by those of other faiths and those of no faith. |
| - These meetings facilitate the worship of and prayer to God; include the teaching of religious doctrine based on preaching from the Bible; the conducting of religious ceremonies e.g. the baptism of believers and the regular holding of Communion. |
| - Through the year, a range of events have taken place to promote the Christian faith in a contemporary and culturally relevant way e.g. we ran an Alpha course, groups for Students, young adults and children. With all our groups there has been a distinct emphasis on personal choice and a deliberate absence of coercion in any form. |
| - The church runs a number of small groups which continue to be open to everyone and help to grow in relationship with each other and God. |
| - Our Toddler group on Monday mornings for the community continues to provide a much needed space for toddlers and their grown-ups to connect and support one another.We also ran a number of parenting workshops to support parents in and connected to the church. |
| - In 2024 we put on a free Fun Day for our community which attracted around 1000 people and gave families in our community a wonderful day out to enjoy regardless of their economic status. |
| - The relief of sickness and financial hardship has been achieved through the provision of prayer and practical support (both at the meetings and through home/hospital visits) for those in ill health. In 2024 our pastoral care team continued to provide excellent pastoral care and counsel to church members. |
| - The church financially supports a number of charities in Guildford which help to support vulnerable members of the community; Guildford Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a cross-church scheme providing practical and financial advice to help people seeking to get out, and stay out, of debt. North Guildford Foodbank provide food to over 1,200 people across the town and the church support this financially and through volunteers, as well as providing food for their store. |
| - The church also supported disadvantaged peoples from other nations through Compassion UK and Commission relief funds. The financial support provided much needed food and health care to those worst affected around the world. |
| - Over the year, the church has advanced education through programmes of teaching and training for church members, preachers, future leaders, small group leaders and through Sunday teaching activities for children & youth. |
| - The membership base of Hope Church grew significantly in 2024, including a 32% increase in Sunday morning attendance. |
| - The church's total income also grew in 2024 compared with 2023. |
| As stated above, these activities and achievements would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of many church members whose hard work is motivated and prompted by their faith. |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited (Registered number: 06457041) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE |
| Church membership |
| During the year, several courses were run for people new to the church and/or interested in becoming members. New initiatives were also started to help people in the community know more about Hope Church. |
| The formal membership of the church increased to 112 Adult members in 2024. |
| Strategic plans |
| In order to increase the reach of the church into the community, the capability of the church to grow and the support of the members in the church and those that we engage with in the community, the elders plan to do the following during 2025 and beyond. |
| - Promote the church to the community through social events like quizzes, a Light Party, special services and more. |
| - Make good use of the Sunday meeting venue to enable better access to all individuals and to better achieve the aims of a community organisation. |
| - Develop the leadership within the church by running leadership training courses for existing and new leaders, especially across our middle leadership. |
| - Grow our serving teams and increase the capacity of our services. |
| - Increase the staff team to support the continued growth and activities of the church. |
| - Continue our toddler group that can support people in our community. |
| - Look to have a regular rhythm of events that are attractive to the community and that help them engage with the church. |
| BUDGET FOR 2025 |
| The Trustees have budgeted for a deficit of £3,000 for 2025. This planned deficit will be covered by the allocation of reserves. |
| 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. |
| Charity constitution |
| Hope Church Guildford is an incorporated company limited by guarantee with no share capital under the Memorandum & Articles dated 19th December 2007, which began to operate independently on 1st July 2008 and changed its name to "Hope Church Guildford" and its Memorandum & Articles on 20th January 2020. |
| Trustee appointment |
| The Trustees, who are also the Directors, are recruited and appointed as set out in the Articles of Association. Trustee appointments are made on the recommendation of the Members and based on their experience, skills and abilities to contribute to the effective and efficient operation of the charity and company. The Trustees may also appoint an additional Trustee during the year, in accordance with the Articles. However, this appointment will only stand until the next annual general meeting when the Members may or may not reappoint this person. |
| Charity structure |
| Hope Church Guildford is an orthodox, evangelical, Protestant Christian church and is organised as follows: |
| The church is governed by a spiritual leadership team comprising a team of Elders, led by a Lead Elder. There are currently four Elders, one of whom works full-time for the church and another part time. The church also employs a part-time Operations Co-ordinator. The activities and operation of the church are led, sustained and developed by a significant number of volunteer members of the church, whose contributions and commitment are vital to the success of the charity. |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited (Registered number: 06457041) |
| Report of the Trustees |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT |
| Trustee meetings |
| The Trustees meet on, at least, a quarterly basis although additional meetings can be convened, as required. Items included in the agendas of the year under review were:- |
| - Regular Financial Reports & Monitoring |
| - Review of Risk Register and Department Risk Assessments |
| - Staffing Structure & Staff Training |
| - Trustee/Elder working relationships |
| - Trustee Training Needs |
| - Review of policies as required by the Policies and Procedures Register. |
| - Compliance with the GDPR Policy, including an audit of holdings and processes. |
| Meetings are fully documented in approved minutes. |
| Trustee training |
| The Trustees considered (and will do so on an annual basis) their training needs to ensure the effective governance of the charity/company. |
| REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS |
| Registered Company number |
| Registered Charity number |
| Registered office |
| Trustees |
| Christopher Kimbangi (Company Secretary) |
| Mike Reid (Resigned as Chairman on Monday 24th June 2024) |
| Matt Puusarri (Appointed Chairman on Monday 24th June 2024) |
| David Kimber (Resigned as Trustee on Monday 24th June 2024) |
| Ed Poulton (Treasurer) |
| Julia Wensley |
| Stuart Parker |
| Andy Terry (Appointed as Trustee on Monday 24th June 2024) |
| Company Secretary |
| Approved by order of the board of trustees on |
| Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited |
| Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Hope Church Guildford Limited ('the Company') |
| I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2024. |
| 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. |
| A M Skilton |
| 14 July 2025 |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited |
| Statement of Financial Activities |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total | Total |
| funds | fund | fund | funds | funds |
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS | FROM |
| Donations and legacies |
| Investment income | 2 |
| Total |
| EXPENDITURE ON |
| Charitable activities | 3 |
| Other |
| Total |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
| Total funds brought forward |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
80,995 |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited (Registered number: 06457041) |
| Balance Sheet |
| 31 December 2024 |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total | Total |
| funds | fund | fund | funds | funds |
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| FIXED ASSETS |
| Tangible assets | 8 |
| CURRENT ASSETS |
| Debtors | 9 |
| Cash at bank and in hand |
| CREDITORS |
| Amounts falling due within one year |
10 |
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) |
( |
) |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
| NET ASSETS |
| FUNDS | 11 |
| Unrestricted funds: |
| General fund | 95,076 | 78,555 |
| Restricted funds: |
| Restricted fund | 2,008 | 2,440 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 80,995 |
| The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2024. |
| The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 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. |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited (Registered number: 06457041) |
| Balance Sheet - continued |
| 31 December 2024 |
| 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 |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited |
| Notes to the Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 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. |
| The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015. |
| The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair view'. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn. |
| Hope Church Guildford meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. |
| Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy. |
| The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Church's ability to continue as a going concern. |
| Income |
| Donations under gift aid, together with the associated income tax recovery, are recognised as income when the donation is received. |
| 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. |
| Tangible fixed assets |
| Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. |
| Fixtures and fittings | - |
| 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. |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 1. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued |
| Fund accounting |
| Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. |
| Debtors |
| Basic financial assets, including trade and other debtors, are initially recognised at transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financial transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Such assets are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment. |
| 2. | INVESTMENT INCOME |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Deposit account interest |
| 3. | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS |
| Direct |
| Costs |
| £ |
| General | 134,547 |
| 4. | NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) |
| Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Depreciation - owned assets |
| 5. | TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS |
| Trustees' remuneration in the year amounted to £49,460. |
| Trustees' expenses |
| There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2024 nor for the year ended 31 December 2023. |
| 6. | STAFF COSTS |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Wages and salaries |
| 95,556 | 91,192 |
| The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| Staff |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 7. | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total |
| funds | fund | fund | funds |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM |
| Donations and legacies |
| Investment income |
| Total |
| EXPENDITURE ON |
| Charitable activities |
| Other |
| Total |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS |
| Total funds brought forward | 82,476 | 2,440 | 2,500 |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 78,555 | 2,440 | - | 80,995 |
| 8. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
| Fixtures |
| and |
| fittings |
| £ |
| COST |
| At 1 January 2024 |
| Additions |
| At 31 December 2024 |
| DEPRECIATION |
| At 1 January 2024 |
| Charge for year |
| At 31 December 2024 |
| NET BOOK VALUE |
| At 31 December 2024 |
| At 31 December 2023 |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 9. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Other debtors |
| Prepayments and accrued income |
| 10. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Social security and other taxes |
| Other creditors |
| Accruals and deferred income |
| 11. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
| Net |
| movement | At |
| At 1.1.24 | in funds | 31.12.24 |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 78,555 | 16,521 | 95,076 |
| Restricted funds |
| Restricted fund | 2,440 | (432 | ) | 2,008 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 16,089 | 97,084 |
| Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 214,076 | (197,555 | ) | 16,521 |
| Restricted funds |
| Restricted fund | 166 | (598 | ) | (432 | ) |
| TOTAL FUNDS | ( |
) | 16,089 |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 11. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
| Comparatives for movement in funds |
| Net |
| movement | At |
| At 1.1.23 | in funds | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 82,476 | (3,921 | ) | 78,555 |
| Restricted funds |
| Restricted fund | 2,440 | - | 2,440 |
| Endowment funds |
| Designated Fund | 2,500 | (2,500 | ) | - |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 87,416 | (6,421 | ) | 80,995 |
| Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 171,404 | (175,325 | ) | (3,921 | ) |
| Restricted funds |
| Restricted fund | 2,270 | (2,270 | ) | - |
| Endowment funds |
| Designated Fund | - | (2,500 | ) | (2,500 | ) |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 173,674 | (180,095 | ) | (6,421 | ) |
| A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows: |
| Net |
| movement | At |
| At 1.1.23 | in funds | 31.12.24 |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 82,476 | 12,600 | 95,076 |
| Restricted funds |
| Restricted fund | 2,440 | (432 | ) | 2,008 |
| Endowment funds |
| Designated Fund | 2,500 | (2,500 | ) | - |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 87,416 | 9,668 | 97,084 |
| Hope Church Guildford Limited |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 11. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued |
| A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund | 385,480 | (372,880 | ) | 12,600 |
| Restricted funds |
| Restricted fund | 2,436 | (2,868 | ) | (432 | ) |
| Endowment funds |
| Designated Fund | - | (2,500 | ) | (2,500 | ) |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 387,916 | (378,248 | ) | 9,668 |
| 12. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES |