The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
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 trust's Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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 trust's objects are to: advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Beliefs, to provide and maintain facilities for the benefit of the community of Sidcup and the surrounding neighbourhood, to further Christian education, and to relieve persons who are in condition of need or hardship or who are aged or sick.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the trust should undertake.
Every year running the New Generation Church Trust brings its joys. The Trustees are acutely aware that there are servants, leaders, staff and of course an Oversight team that make up the bigger picture of us as a Trust and we are so thankful that we have faithful people in place to carry on the work. We would not exist without them. We acknowledge these people first and foremost because they are all so valued.
Each year also brings challenges. As I have said before, it’s how we respond to challenge that defines the year and ourselves. There have been any number of newer initiatives that have resulted in the review of all Trust and employment policies. We have continued to update and change according to current legislation and these changes reflect the challenging times that we are in. In particular, it should be noted, that with extensive input, we have significantly updated our ‘Safeguarding’ policies. The safety of our staff, our church members and the community at large will always be our priority.
As a Church we continue to reach out into the local community. Not just through Sunday church meetings that are currently still held at the Blackfen Community Library but also through various courses, classes and interest groups either at the library or other premises. These are all very popular.
Our support of local initiatives has also continued. Lark in the Park has again been warmly received in Sidcup during the summer, with significant attendance on most days. Support of our local Foodbank and Hope School has also carried on. Main ‘church’ meetings have been well attended and there have been significant times where the Holy Spirit has been on the move. Worship, prayer and learning from inspirational speakers has again been at the heart of these gatherings. We continue to be a part of the Pioneer national network of Churches.
Financially we have received gifts and donations over quite a few years towards a new building that has long been desired. Although we occupy the New Generation Centre in Birkbeck Road we do not own it. These received funds were given specifically so we have decided to set these aside in a separate savings account going forward. We have also commenced a project which will look at our staff salary structure, comparing the different roles and responsibilities with others of similar churches.
There have been changes to our membership numbers with people moving in and out of our area. We have also seen a small number of retirements and as a result our donations and gifts have slightly dropped. However general income through our faithful members has remained steady. This enables us to not only continue to support our main Christian initiatives but to also support smaller ones both in the UK and overseas. We are so very grateful for all the financial and sometimes sacrificial giving that we receive. The Trust and indeed the Church would not exist without the support of our members.
The unrestricted funds show a deficit after transfers for the year of £24,737 (2024 - surplus of £12,790) leaving unrestricted funds of £95,365 at the year end.
The designated funds show a surplus after transfers for the year of £nil (2024 - surplus of £9,000) leaving a balance of designated funds of £9,000 at the year end.
There was a surplus after transfers on restricted funds of £15,726 (2024 - surplus of £7,556) leaving restricted funds at the balance sheet date of £112,912.
Overall the Church recorded a deficit of £9,011 (2024 - surplus of £29,346)
It is the policy of the trust that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s 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 trust’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.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the trust is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The trust is a company limited by guarantee, governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 29 March 2006 and amended in October 2009 and May 2012.
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:
The spiritual government and leadership of the Church fellowship resides with the recognised spiritual leadership of the Church whilst the trustees have responsibility for the proper management and administration of the Charity.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of New Generation Church Trust 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 trust 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 trust 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 trust 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 trust 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 New Generation Church Trust (the trust) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the trust are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the trust’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Since the trust’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.
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 trust as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
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 Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements 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.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
New Generation Church Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is New Generation Centre, Birkbeck Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 4DJ.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the trust's Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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 trust is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The trust 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 trust. 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 trust 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.
Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
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 trust 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.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Property, plant and equipment are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following basis:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the trust reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
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 trust 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 trust's balance sheet when the trust 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 trade and other receivables 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.
Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other payables 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 payables 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 payables are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the trust’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 trust 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.
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the trust during the year. No trustees were reimbursed for any expenses during the year.
The total aggregate amount of unrestricted donations received from the trustees and persons connected to them amounted to £13,796 (2024: £17,048).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The trust operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the trust in an independently administered fund.
The income funds of the charity include the following restricted funds for donations and grants given on trust for specific purposes:
Lark in the Park fund - Lark in the Park is an annual community festival the Church established and helps run with other churches and groups. It is now a separate charity.
Hampers fund - these were monies given to prepare and donate Christmas hampers.
Building fund - this represents monies donated for property maintenance and future acquisitions of property. Included in the fund balance is also money set aside by the Trustees from general funds.
Hardship fund - these are monies given to the Church for the support of people in hardship.
Asha fund - the Asha fund represents monies collected and distributed for charitable work in India.
Into the Future - this is a restricted fund for monies received for special projects.
Ukraine fund - this is a restricted fund for monies received for Ukraine humanitarian relief.
Van fund - this represents restricted donations towards the cost of a van acquired by the New Generation Community Trust and transferred to them in the year.
Minibus fund - this represents a restricted donation towards the cost of a new minibus.
These are unrestricted funds which have been set aside by the Trustees for a proposed future purpose.
Minibus fund - this represents the scrappage allowance for the old minibus set aside as a designated fund towards the cost of a new minibus.
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.
The Trust has a Manse leaseback arrangement with its Pastor at a rental of £22,800 per annum determined on one months notice.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).