THE_UNITED_REFORMED_CHURC - Accounts

The Directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's Memorandum & 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016)

The Company’s objectives are to advance the Christian religion for the benefit of the public in accordance with the doctrines, principles and usages and the Basis of Union of the United Reformed Church. In pursuit of this, the Company acts as trustee, holding monies, investments and properties for these purposes and for local churches.

The Company supports the Northern Synod’s vision, to enable local churches to be lively, informed and be effective in being the church in their local setting and Synod to be an expression of the Church at regional level, in the light of the five marks of mission (tell, teach, tend, transform and treasure). The Company provides financial, advisory and technical support to assist churches in the Synod.

Public benefit

The Company is aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. This requirement is met by enabling local churches to provide their services to the general public.

Activities

The Company carries out its work under 4 headings and illustrative examples of activity in 2019 are given below.

• 1. Discipleship - supporting Christian spirituality, nurture, lay and ministerial education, development and training.

This is a cornerstone of Synod activity and the Trust assists this by funding courses, sponsoring events, and offering grants for specific developments and projects which strengthen individual or group faith experience. Growing Leader courses continue throughout the Synod and increases capacity for leadership development. Through the Ministries and Development Committee, the Trust have been able to offer support for lay people attending courses on baptism and communion and acquiring skills and knowledge of Zoom.

• 2. Mission - promoting evangelism, mission, church growth, outreach and racial justice.

This is central to the Company’s purposes. Specific examples include, supporting church related community work, chaplaincies and local churches with projects and events. Grants are awarded for ministry in local ecumenical partnerships. Through the work of the Mission Enabler, the Trust can support the mission and outreach of local churches. Synod continues to explore new ways of being church.

• 3. Partnership - supporting joint working with ecumenical, community and global partners.

The Company supports the Synod’s partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Mozambique. Collaboration with Northerly Synods continues and funding is available to assist with joint working on projects and events.

• 4. Property - providing and managing housing for ministers, retired ministers and their widow(er)s or former civil partners and supporting local churches in proper care of their properties.

Property issues are considered by the Trust’s Manse and Property sub-committees. Both committees initiate a schedule of surveys to assess the condition of property and subsequent maintenance requirements. Financial support for building preservation is made available through grants.

The Company continues to seek sustainable and responsible ways to fulfil Synod’s aspirations and making resources available to assist with developing new forms of ministry. It also recognises the potential benefits of employing people to support churches in their work.

The Trust has continued to participate in planning for the Synod’s future as and when asked to do so.

The key issue remaining to the Trust is tackling how to use resources to support churches, which might involve employing more lay people, whilst maintaining its charitable duty to achieve best value for its investments.

Grant-making

Much of the Company’s work is achieved through making grants (in 2021, some £318,646) , which are given to churches and other bodies as well as individuals, in accordance with published policies for the following purposes:

• Repair, maintenance and improvement of church and manse buildings

• Mission, outreach and fresh expressions of church

• Lay and ministerial education and learning

• Travel to events for young people

• Small welfare benevolences are also given.

Staffing and Volunteers

The work of the Company is carried out by volunteers (mainly the Directors) who receive expenses, as well as by two members of paid staff, who are responsible to the Board and refer to Directors or Officers when major decisions are needed. The work of the other staff is directed by the Synod.

No honoraria are paid to Directors of the Board, except for the Treasurer who, in recognition of the additional work carried out by him, receives an annual honorarium of 10% of a minister’s stipend.

Volunteers donated an estimated 700 hours' work in total during the year, which is difficult to value in financial terms. The Board takes the view that the Company is not excessively dependent on any one individual.

Volunteers support the Trust directly through their roles as Directors, and others offer their time and help to subgroups and committees. The role of volunteers in furthering church activities is extensive and without it the churches’ effectiveness will be limited. The Synod has recognised that volunteers require support, and this is reflected in the Synod Way Forward.

Discipleship – (£133,721) As might be expected, COVID-19 has had a significant effect on events that had been planned, During the year a number of online courses were held to refresh, and train anew, lay leaders in Baptism, Presiding at Communion and acquiring skills of using Zoom.

Mission – (£143,348) Mission continued to be supported during 2021 and included grants to Roker URC for damp remediation works, Redcar Mission House to bring the building up to scratch, St George’s United Reformed Church for installing a separate heating system in the meeting room at the church in York Road, Holy Island Mission Project towards the refurbishment of St Cuthbert’s Centre, Keld Resource Centre Ltd towards the repair and restoration of the former school building at Keld, St Columba’s United Reformed Church towards roof and stonework repairs at the church. Emergency loans were available to be applied for by any Church who felt because of COVID-19 they were in financial hardship. Small mission grants were awarded, helping churches to benefit local communities and support to the Staying Alive initiative in Newcastle.

Partnerships – (£609,215) Costs relating to ecumenical ministries were shared during 2021, and resources were also shared with poorer synods in the United Reformed Church through the Resource Sharing process. Support grants continue to be awarded to local churches where required. The Board is also apprised of and involved with collaborative arrangements between other synods in Northern Britain. These are intended to provide efficiency gains and put in place supportive and constructive working partnerships. The Safeguarding Advisor is continuing to work with Synod, Trust and local churches to review and strengthen systems across all parts of the Synod. Pulpit supply continues to be subsidised by the Trust for churches in Northumberland. Liaising with Solicitors regarding church investment funds is ongoing throughout the year.

Property – (£434,113) The Company continued to maintain the properties for which it is directly responsible and ensured professional advice on legal and property matters for local churches. Church surveys were carried out throughout the year and grants were awarded for church and manse repairs and improvements totaling £213,858 during 2021.

Goals achieved in 2021 include:

• Review of insurance brokers

• Review of auditors

• Review of HR

• A skills audit had been completed

Goals still in progress and carried forward to 2022 include:

• Review of surveyors/architects

• Complete the reform of the investment pool

• Complete the update of data protection practice

• Ongoing discussion of financial strategy

During the year, total funds increased by £2,546,019 (2020: an increase of £1,323,335 ) to £16,143,987. The increase in funds is largely due to increases in the valuation of our investments of £1,505,126 (see note 10) and reduced expenditure across the year.

Income

Investment income of £354,185 was pleasing to note. Included in other income (note 5) is £1,939,785 for church properties handed over to the Trust for sale, an increase in 2021 of £828,432.

Expenditure

There were no exceptional items of expenditure during 2021 other than at the year end a provision of £400,000 was made in respect of a payment to the URC Ministers' Pension Fund. This has been included within direct charitable activities 'Partnership' - see notes 6, 20 and 25.

Reserves Policy

The Balance Sheet on page 14 shows the disposition of the various funds totalling £16,144k as at 31 December 2021 (2020: £13,598k). The term “reserves” describes that part of a charity’s funds that are freely available. Some of the funds are invested in property or restricted in use. The unrestricted fund net assets readily available are £12,216k (2020: £10,142k). The Director’s review the policy annually and have taken a risk-based approach to setting a reserves target.

The main financial risks that the Director’s feel need to be covered are:

• possible future lump sum contributions required to be made to either of the pension funds (current commitment £3m over 10 years),

• an increased rate of support to Churches in relation to their Ministry and Mission Fund commitments as per the newly agreed Synod Assessment process (currently running at circa £300k per year) and

• possible legal action against the Synod/Trust requiring lump sum pay outs.

Based on these risks, the Directors feel that they should aim to maintain reserves at a level between £7m to £8m.

The current level of reserves held is in excess of the target level, however with the uncertainty around the performance of investments due to the impact of the COVID-19 situation, world-wide market instability and rampant inflation, the Directors were satisfied that this was appropriate.

The Directors will review the policy annually.

Investment Policy

The majority of the available funds of the Company are invested through its nominees, primarily the CCLA (Churches, Charities and Local Authorities) Investment Management Ltd, one of the largest Charity Fund Managers in the UK. The financial policy of the company is to maximise the total return whilst maintaining a steady income by which the financial requirements of the company can be met. The portfolio is highly diversified with investment in both UK and oversea equities. CCLA operates an active ethical policy based not only on the types of activity engaged in by companies in which the fund invests, but also on active engagement over issues such as good governance and management, and good environmental policies.

It is not felt that this policy is having any detrimental effect on income or capital; the fund has returns that compare well with other investment vehicles, and performance is monitored at meetings of the investment sub-committee, which are held twice yearly. The current target is a total return of inflation plus 5% over the long term, in the COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund. This would include the provision of a reliable income stream that maintained its real value over time. It aims to control volatility to 75% of that of the UK equity market.

Risk Management

The Directors are responsible for assessing the major risks to which the Company is exposed, and for establishing systems to mitigate those risks. The Trust maintains a risk register and considers external and internal risks to which the Company is exposed. The Trust undertakes a formal review of the risks to which it is exposed each year.

The Directors carried out a comprehensive review of risks due to a new template being received from Church House, which focused on identifying risks of future factors impairing the Trust’s ability to fulfil its purposes, identifying suitable mitigations and not focusing on issues which are being actively managed.

The Directors will continue to review and monitor risks, and the adequacy of the systems in place to reduce them.

COVID-19 risk

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to generate a significant level of uncertainty in the global economy. The Directors will regularly assess the likely effects on the Trust's operations in an attempt to mitigate the risk as far as possible.

Factors Affecting Performance

The Company's ability to achieve its objectives depends on several factors, not necessarily within its control, such as performance of investments, and the effective coordinated work of professional advisors. In 2020 there were no significant factors of this type.

Other factors of which the Trust is cognisant of include the reduction in volunteers across the Synod and in churches which can cause them to close. This in turn may mean the Synod having to make up a shortfall on their in-year M&M contributions. Some remaining churches will have high maintenance costs. All these issues have been considered by the Trust and Synod when developing future plans.

Plans for the Future

The Company plans to continue its work for the foreseeable future.

The Company has agreed in principle to support the Synod and Trustees recognise their important role in assisting the implementation of the Synod’s future strategy.

The Board reflects a broad range of professional experience within private, statutory and voluntary organisations, and of course extensive involvement with ministry and churches all of which will be drawn upon to steer the Company through the changes in the Synod which lies ahead.

Goals for 2022 include:

• Increase board membership to ten

• Appoint a new convenor

• Review discretionary investment manager’s appointment

• Complete manse policy

• Respond to Synod deployment policy

• Respond to Church Life Review process

• Work towards net zero carbon

• Complete the volunteer handbook

• Develop support for churches on property

The United Reformed Church (Northern Province) Trust Limited (formerly known as the Durham and Northumberland Congregational Union (Incorporated)) was incorporated in England & Wales in 1914. It is a private charitable company, limited by guarantee. It is governed by its Memorandum & Articles of Association, adopted in revised form on 4 August 2009, which confer various powers, including powers to hold, maintain and administer property, money and investments; to buy and sell property and investments; and to take over any assets legally transferred to the Company.

Directors/Trustees

The Directors who served during the year were:

Most of the Directors give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the Company. Any expenses reclaimed from the Company are set out in note 10 to the financial statements. The exception is Mr G.I.Wanless who, as treasurer and in recognition of the additional work carried out by him, receives an annual honorarium of 10% of a minister’s stipend.

The Directors are appointed by the United Reformed Church Northern Synod, and the officers are appointed by the Board. A balanced Board is sought, with a mixture of experience, gender, and geographic spread. Where vacancies are identified, nominations are sought either by direct approach or advertisement amongst the 61 churches of the Synod. Under the United Reformed Church Acts 1972-2000, all members and Directors must also be members of a local church or ecumenical area of the United Reformed Church, and for this reason no candidates are sought outside the churches of the Northern Synod.

Upon appointment, all Directors are provided with an induction pack explaining the work of the Company and including the Charity Commission's leaflet The Essential Trustee: what you need to know. Further training is provided during the year on a range of relevant topics.

The Board meets five times a year and receives reports, sets policies and takes major financial decisions. Subcommittees deal with investments, staff remuneration, denominational Ministry & Mission Fund assessments, church and manse properties, and human resources. Small grant applications are considered by subcommittees, with larger ones referred to the Board. Investments are monitored regularly, with quarterly reports from the Investment Managers. Periodic condition survey reports are received from the Property Consultants on local church properties.

All decisions are taken by simple majority, with the Convenor having a casting vote. The Board may make decisions by agreement of two Directors, on straightforward, non-controversial matters. The day-to-day running of the Company's affairs is carried out by two members of office staff, who are responsible to the Board. The Finance Officer and Trust Officer support the day to day working of the Trust Company. Their tasks are operational in nature and they work within parameters defined by their role descriptions. The Trust Officer supports the Trust with administrative and legal support with policy decisions referred to the Board.

The Trust has a remuneration policy to provide effective stewardship of resources as well as being objective and transparent so that salary levels are perceived as being fair and rational. The salaries of lay staff employed by the Trust are assessed when a new post is created. This is carried out by members of the Human Resources sub-committee. In making a recommendation of an appropriate salary level account is taken of:

• Levels of remuneration for posts of comparable responsibility within the not-for-profit sector in the North East of England

• Salaries being paid by the URC and other denominations across the United Kingdom.

The proposed salary and its rationale are then discussed with the Remuneration sub-committee and the outcome recommended to the Trust. Salaries of lay staff are reviewed annually to reflect changes in the level of responsibility and increases in the cost of living which have occurred in the last 12 months. In exceptional circumstances a bonus payment may be recommended by the Remuneration sub-committee to reflect the performance of duties well in excess of what might normally be expected of the post-holder.

Relations with other Parties

The Company carries out its activities in concert with and in support of the United Reformed Church Northern Synod, an unregistered unincorporated charitable association.

The directors, who also act as trustees for the charitable activities of The United Reformed Church (Northern Province) Trust Limited, are responsible for preparing the Directors' Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company Law requires the Directors to prepare accounts 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 accounts, the Directors 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 accounts; and

- prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The Directors 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 accounts 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.

A resolution proposing that RMT Accountants & Business Advisors Ltd be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a Board Meeting.

Each of the Directors has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information.

The Directors' report was approved by the Board of Directors.

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The United Reformed Church (Northern Province) Trust Limited (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2021 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 December 2021 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The Directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

the information given in the Directors' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and

the directors' report included within the Directors' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the Directors' report.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Directors' report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

the Directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Directors' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

As explained more fully in the statement of Directors' responsibilities, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

Based on our understanding of the charitable company and the sector in which it operates, we identified that the

following laws and regulations are significant to the entity:

• Those laws and regulations considered to have a direct effect on the financial statements including UK financial reporting standards, Company Law and Charity Law.

• Those laws and regulations for which non-compliance may be fundamental to the operating aspects of the charity and therefore may have a material effect on the financial statements include compliance with charitable objectives, public benefit, fundraising regulations, safeguarding and health and safety legislation.

These matters were discussed amongst the engagement team at the planning stage and the team remained alert throughout the audit.

Audit procedures undertaken in response to the potential risks relating to irregularities (which include fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations) comprised of: inquiries of management and the Trustees as to whether the entity complies with such laws and regulations; enquiries with the same concerning any actual or potential litigation or claims; inspection of relevant legal correspondence and legal costs incurred; review of Trustee meeting minutes; testing the appropriateness of journal entries; and the performance of analytical review to identify unexpected movements in account balances which may be indicative of fraud.

No instances of material non-compliance were identified. However, the likelihood of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is limited by the inherent difficulty in detecting irregularities, the effectiveness of the entity's controls, and the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures performed. Irregularities that result from fraud might be inherently more difficult to detect than irregularities that result from error. As explained above, there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements may not be detected, even though the audit has been planned and performed in accordance with ISAs (UK).

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Other expenditure

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account

under the Companies Act 2006.

Other expenditure

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The United Reformed Church (Northern Province) Trust Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the charity. The registered office is 4 College Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8JJ.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum & 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

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, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis. The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Trust has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. This includes taking into account the potential impact of COVID-19 to ensure that cashflow is positively managed and the impact to the Trust's operations are mitigated. The Directors have concluded that the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these financial statements.

Transfers to and from the General reserve fund to designated funds are made in accordance with the annual budget and in accordance with need. Funds are closed when the purpose for which they were created comes to an end, or it is otherwise resolved to discontinue them.

Details of the nature and purpose of each fund are explained in note 23.

Designated funds are determined by the Board.

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 arising on endowed funds is treated as an addition to the endowment.

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Grants payable are voluntary payments to individuals, local URC churches or other organisations in accordance with the purpose of the relevant fund. They are accounted for when they have been approved.

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include staff and governance costs which support the charity and its activities. These costs have been allocated to expenditure on charitable activities. The bases on which support costs have been allocated are set out in note 8.

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Freehold properties have been brought into the financial statements at the value at which they had previously been included in the accounts of the Northern Synod in 2009. Properties brought in after this date are valued at market value on donation or purchase.

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 bases:

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.

Investment property, which is property held to earn rentals and/or for capital appreciation, is initially recognised at cost, which includes the purchase cost and any directly attributable expenditure. Subsequently it is measured at fair value at the reporting end date. The surplus or deficit on revaluation is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.

At each reporting end date, the charity 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).

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in income/expenditure for the year, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried in at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

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.

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.

Provisions are recognised when the charity has a legal or constructive present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that the charity will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting end date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the amount expected to be required to settle the obligation is recognised at present value. When a provision is measured at present value, the unwinding of the discount is recognised as a finance cost in net income/(expenditure) in the period in which it arises.

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 Directors 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.

In assessing whether there have been any indicators of impairment of assets, the trustees have considered both external and internal sources of information such as market conditions and experience of recoverability.

The company depreciates tangible fixed assets over their estimated useful lives. The estimation of the useful lives of assets is based on historic performance as well as expectations about future use and therefore requires estimates and assumptions to be applied by management. The actual lives of these assets can vary depending on a variety of factors, including technological innovation, product life cycles and maintenance programmes.

Judgement is applied by trustees when determining the residual values for tangible fixed assets. When determining the residual value trustees aim to assess the amount that the company would currently obtain for the disposal of the asset, if it were already of the condition expected at the end of its useful economic life. Where possible this is done with reference to external market prices.

As described in note 16 to the financial statements, the investment property is stated at fair value based on the valuation performed by an independent professional valuer, Sanderson Weatherall, Chartered Surveyors with recent experience in the location and category of property valued. The valuer used observable market prices adjusted as necessary for any difference in the future, location or condition of the property

Grants receivable

Rental income from investment properties is accounted for under income from investments.

Rental income

Northerly Synods Contribution to Clerk Salary

Monies received from investors

Church properties handed over to the Trust for sale during 2021 are shown under properties held for resale. Properties that remain unsold have been included as current assets in assets held for sale, valued at expected sale value.

Discipleship

Mission

Partnership

Property

Direct activities

Discipleship

Mission

Partnership

Property

Direct activities

Discipleship

Mission

Partnership

Property

Discipleship

Mission

Partnership

Property

A full list of the individuals and institutions to which the grants have been committed is available on request from the Synod office.

Discipleship

Discipleship grants are awarded for specific developments and projects which strengthen individual or group faith experience.

Mission

Mission grants are awarded to fund events and projects central to the company's purpose including promoting evangelism and church growth.

Partnership

Partnership grants are awarded to support joint working with ecumenical, community and global partners.

Property

Property grants are awarded to support local churches in funding proper care of their properties.

A full list of the individuals and institutions to which the grants have been committed is available on request from the Synod office.

Office & executive

Office staff costs

Resource staff costs

Sundry expenses

Support and governance costs are allocated as an approximation of average working time for staff costs, and equally between all categories for the running costs of the Synod Office and the Synod Executive Committee.

Governance costs includes payments to the auditors of £5,000 (2020: £5,000) for audit fees and £1,000 (2020: £1,000) for non audit services.

Other expenditure

Monies paid to investors

None of the Directors (or any persons connected with them) received remuneration during the year (2020: none), but 4 of them were reimbursed a total of £131 travelling and other expenses (2020: 4 were reimbursed £266).

The treasurer received an annual honorarium of £2,760 being 10% of a minister's stipend in recognition of the additional work carried out by him.

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

Key management are considered to be the Directors of the Trust, none of whom received any remuneration this year or in the previous year.

Freehold properties comprised in the total above are functional assets and managed by the Trust. Loans relate to properties for the purpose of providing houses for some ministers, retired ministers and their spouses. These properties are managed by the United Reformed Church Retired Ministers' Housing Society Limited.

The above property, Blyth URC, was obtained in 2009 and included at a valuation of £210,000 derived from the market value as calculated by an independent valuer. An updated valuation was obtained during 2018 and property is now valued at £155,000.

Common investment fund

Traidcraft Investment

Included in the above grants are amounts which are expected to be paid after more than one year totalling £83,874 (2020: £100,521).

Grants are normally awarded with a maximum contribution towards costs and a time frame to be claimed. If the grant is under spent or not claimed within the allotted time frame, the unclaimed grant provision is reversed.

A full list of the individuals and institutions to which the grants have been committed is available on request from the Synod office.

Unrestricted

Restricted

Endowed

Unrestricted

Restricted

Endowed

An actuarial review of the Ministers’ Pension Fund has been completed and the Synod has committed £1.2m for the period 2022 to 2024, with another £1.8m in principle for 2025 through to 2030 to the deficit recovery plan. A total commitment of £3m. This commitment has been made in conjunction with all other Synods throughout the country. Due to the structure of the national church and ministerial appointments there is no legal obligation for the Trust to do this, but all Synods were approached and there is wide acceptance that there is a moral obligation at the Synod level and that such support does fall within the charitable purposes of the Trust.

The company owns an investment property for rental purposes. Rental income earned during the year was £15,000. The property has a committed tenant until 2024.

At the reporting end date the charity had contracted with tenants for the following minimum lease payments:

There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2020: none).

The charity had no debt during the year.

A comprehensive list of properties vested in the company is available on request to the URC Northern Synod Office.

The Trust contributed £62,899 (2020: £59,053) to The United Reformed Church Final Salary Scheme, a pension scheme principally for lay staff which is administered by TPT Retirement Solutions (formerly The Pensions Trust). The scheme is a defined benefit scheme but the Trust is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities – each member in the scheme pays a common contribution rate.

The most recent formal actuarial review of the scheme was at September 2019 when the scheme had a surplus of £2,689,000. The assumptions underlying that valuation include:

Discount Rate:                1.4% pa

Pensionable earnings growth:        2.5% for three years, 2.75% thereafter

Price Inflation and pension increase:    2.55%

Retirement age (active members):        65, with maximum commutation

It has recently been decided at National level that a new Defined Contribution scheme will be introduced. It is intended that this will be from the 1st January 2023.