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← Emmanuel Christian Centre

2025-01-31-accounts

~~a~~ TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025

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Index to the Trustees Report and Financial Statements

Year Ended 31 January 2025

Page No
3 Reference and Administra�on Details
4 Structure, Governance and Management
4 Aims and Objec�ves
5 Achievements and Review of the Year
8 Independent Examiner’s Report
9 Statement of Financial Ac�vi�es
10 Balance Sheet
11 Notes to the Accounts

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Emmanuel Chris�an Centre Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 January 2025

Reference and Administra�on Details
Charity Name Emmanuel Chris�an Centre
Charity Number 1052196
Address Mill Street
Ulverston
Cumbria
LA12 7EB
Board of Trustees: Other Roles:
Chairman David Darren Roy Senior Minister
(known as_Darren Roy_)
Secretary Lisa Smith Chaplain, Treasurer
Other Trustees David Smith Elder
Colin Thornhill Deacon, Safeguarding Lead
Paul Sedgwick Deacon
Andrew Wright Steward
Bankers TSB Bank Plc
Lunedale House
4 Market Street East
Morecambe
Lancashire
LA4 5DW
Independent Examiner Knox Accountants Limited
Unit 1 The Old Fire Sta�on
1 Abbey Road
Barrow in Furness
Cumbria
LA14 1XH

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Structure, Governance and Management

Organisa�on

Emmanuel Chris�an Centre (ECC) has been registered with the Charity Commission in its current form since 23[rd] January 1996, in prac�ce opera�ng as a church. ECC is a member of the Evangelical Alliance and Churches in Communi�es Interna�onal (CIC), governed by its Cons�tu�on and Trust Deed last updated in 2012.

Organisa�onal Structure

ECC is administered and managed by a board of trustees known as the Church Council, chaired by the senior ordained minister. Members of the Church Council give their �me freely and receive no remunera�on for managing ECC as trustees. Each trustee has an equal vote on decisions of the Church Council which meets at least four �mes a year to ensure ECC carries out its purposes for public benefit in accordance with charity law and its Cons�tu�on. Every issue considered by the Church Council is determined by a simple majority of the votes cast. For the sake of public confidence, whenever a member of the Church Council has a personal interest in a ma�er to be discussed, they are required to declare their interest and then be absent from that part of the mee�ng.

Recruitment & Appointment of Trustees

A�er consulta�on, the Senior Minister nominates an individual to be a trustee and the Church Council sanc�ons the appointment by vo�ng. This ensures that any trustee is a member of the Chris�an faith who understands the founda�onal tenets and can effec�vely promote our objects. Trustees are selected to bring varying skills and insight to the Church Council and to fairly represent the beneficiaries. Some trustees may focus on par�cular interests of the church or represent specific demographics.

same organisa�on so as to maintain probity and impar�ality. The Senior Minister must be ordained, hold relevant theological and pastoral qualifica�ons at Level 4 (RQF) as a minimum, and be subject to an annual review.

Induc�on & Training of Trustees

Induc�on and training of a new trustee is under the guidance of the exis�ng Church Council. A new trustee is given a copy of the Cons�tu�on and Trust Deed, the Charity Commission’s trustee welcome pack, ECC’s adopted policies and procedures, and a guidebook to the opera�on of the Church Council. Safeguarding training and DBS checks are completed before appointment. Trustees are made aware of their responsibili�es, accountability, scope and limits.

Risk Management

The Church Council has assessed the major strategic and opera�onal risks which ECC faces and they have systems in place for protec�on, including a regularly reviewed reserves policy. Reports are produced so that necessary steps can be taken to lessen any risks. Insurance cover is always in place, finances are kept under review, and policies are regularly updated. Appropriate DBS background checks are undertaken and external safeguarding training is provided for volunteers. Checks are also carried out on organisa�ons ECC works with for safeguarding and financial probity.

Aims and Objec�ves

The purposes listed as ECC’s charitable objects are the primary goals for the charity and the various internal departments are assigned to achieve these. A modified version of ECC’s vision statement from 1986 is s�ll ac�vely pursued, and each member of ECC is encouraged to demonstrate the core values.

ECC is accredited by Churches in Communi�es Interna�onal, recognised in the Free Churches Group, and it is a member of the Evangelical Alliance.

The vision statement of ECC is for the member of the church to:

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community of growth and unity, and to honour God and people according to the Scriptures.

Charitable Objects

The main objects of ECC as a charity are to:

objec�ves with due regard to public benefit according to guidance published by the Charity Commission.

[ The following overview is based on ac�vi�es up to 31 January 2025]

Achievements and Performance

Review of the Year

A�endance at ECC has risen during the year and there has been an 18% increase in formal membership. Most of the increase has been in the under 30 years age group. Both �ers of sea�ng areas are used weekly and are near capacity at gospel services. There is a con�nued sense of being a family, centred around each members passion for Jesus Christ and His Good News. Growth has led to an increase in house groups as well as impromptu fellowship, prayer mee�ngs and get-togethers arranged by members. The core values of love, community and honour are manifest and the Church Council is pleased with the enthusiasm throughout the Church.

The charitable objects have been promoted through regular Sunday worship and teaching services which are the main public-facing provision available to all. Sunday services have been described by a�endees as ‘lovingly-welcoming’, ‘inspiring’, ‘dynamic’ and ‘full of God’s presence’. As well as in-person a�endance, several people from Europe watch the live stream each Sunday, and 112 people watch the sermons published later on YouTube, some of which form house-groups in Austria and Australia.

There has been a con�nued emphasis on developing the Sunday fellowship which is described as ‘the less formal part of the service’. This is where Chris�an unity and friendships are developed, and it’s o�en the case that people stay for an extended period into the a�ernoon. It’s not uncommon to see people praying together, suppor�ng one another and reading the Bible in groups for encouragement, as you might expect in a faithful Chris�an community; many wearing their ECC church-merch hoodies which almost every member of the church purchased.

spiritual support. Much of the prac�cal support has been overseen by deacons, but it’s been encouraging to see members looking out for each other’s welfare. The members area of the website has also been widely resourced to enable access to biblical teaching, helpful ar�cles, forms and important documents. The use of online forms has improved our administra�on and managing of the facili�es.

dedica�on of the members and volunteers has been commended at the AGM. Brief reports related so some of the departments are detailed below:

The Ulverston outpost of Royal Rangers was established at ECC in August 2021. Royal Rangers is a uniformed, prac�cal programme that includes scou�ng-style ac�vi�es, outdoor adventure, and opportuni�es for personal achievement. Elements of the curriculum support our aim of promo�ng the Chris�an faith among young people aged 11–17, while the programme as a whole focuses on developing a broad range of prac�cal skills, including the increasingly popular discipline of bushcra�.

Sessions were held on Wednesday evenings during term �me, and a�endance con�nued to grow over the

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past year. The Rangers took part in two weekend camps and were ac�vely involved in a number of community events, including Remembrance Day and civic services.

Chaplaincy

In 2024, ECC had two dedicated chaplains: one serving the emergency services community and the other suppor�ng students and young adults. Each chaplain worked in accordance with the needs and protocols of their respec�ve sector, thereby helping ECC to meet its objec�ves of advancing the Chris�an faith, allevia�ng sickness and financial hardship, and promo�ng and preserving good health through counselling and support.

The Emergency Services Chaplain a�ended Police duty mee�ngs, Fire Service training days, and a range of civic and remembrance services. Drawing on resources from Oscar Kilo, the Police wellbeing charity, the Chaplain provided officers and staff with tools to improve their mental wellbeing. Addi�onal support was offered through ac�ve involvement in the Chris�an Police Associa�on.

ECC’s Chaplain for Students and Young Adults delivered weekly self-worth courses in local schools in partnership with the Be Me Project. There was also a growing number of referrals for counselling vulnerable young people. While the support offered is grounded in a Chris�an perspec�ve, it is available to all, subject to parental and school consent. The Chaplain is accredited and undergoes an annual review by a na�onal body.

All-Stars Junior Church

All-Stars is the children’s church at ECC which runs on Sunday mornings. During this year, All-Stars was run by a team of parents and helpers who on a rota basis were teaching the children Chris�an messages and Bible stories. The Church Council are grateful for the commitment of all the parents involved.

All-Stars used Scripture Union resources as a basis to provide fun lessons with arts, cra�s, singing and ageappropriate ac�vi�es. All-Stars is open to all children in the area and it promoted the objec�ves of advancing educa�on and the Chris�an faith. The lessons from All-Stars teach the children to be good Chris�an ci�zens within their community. The children a�end enthusias�cally and o�en the theme for their session matches the sermon in the main service.

Emmanuel Toddlers

This year, Emmanuel Toddlers met on Tuesday mornings during school term. The group con�nues to support young families in the community by offering a warm, s�mula�ng environment where parents, toddlers, and babies can interact and develop suppor�ve rela�onships. A clear Chris�an element is maintained through Bible stories and songs.

hardship, and promo�ng good health by providing a service that includes informal counselling and support. Emmanuel Toddlers meets in the minor hall at ECC and has experienced steady growth since moving from a�ernoon to morning sessions.

Missions Department

This year the Missions Department had the purpose of raising funds and communica�ng with people and organisa�ons that benefit from ECC as a charity, both locally and interna�onally. The Missions Department reported to the Church Council and presented requests from organisa�ons and individuals who were in need of charitable assistance.

Carelink

The purpose of Carelink is to demonstrate the love of God in a prac�cal way mainly through the provision of meals. The meals offered are either part of Carelink’s regular meals service which replaced Cumbria County Council’s meal-on-wheels provision, or they are given as Carelink free meals which were open to anybody in the community experiencing short-term crisis because of illness or financial hardship.

The meals service has been running for over 11 years and has built a great reputa�on in Ulverston. On Christmas Day, Carelink again provided a free dinner for those who wanted to either a�end ECC for a celebra�on or have a meal delivered. On behalf of those who benefi�ed from Carelink’s services in 2024, the Church Council are thankful to all the volunteers and drivers.

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House Groups

Due to growth, even more house-groups were needed and therefore held throughout the year. These were at the heart of ECC’s midweek fellowship and discipleship. The aim of the groups was to provide Chris�an teaching, develop rela�onships between members, and to prepare members for work in the community. Each group had a slightly different format as they were facilitated by people with different, but equally valuable, talents.

The groups met our objects of advancing educa�on and advancing the Chris�an faith, as well as the provision of counselling and support to group members. It has been encouraging for the Church Council to see such an increase in voluntary a�endance at house-groups, resul�ng in meaningful friendships, a sense of unity, and growth in personal discipleship. At the AGM, those who a�ended groups from 2024 to 2025 expressed their gra�tude to the house-group leaders for ‘promo�ng Chris�an fellowship and hospitality’.

Worship Music & AV Group

As a Chris�an organisa�on our Music & AV Group plays an integral part in our objec�ve to advance the Chris�an faith. The team provides live music at our Sunday services and also supports all the other departments in various ways. The Music & AV Group allows for our members to meet for corporate expressions of worship and none of this would be possible without their regular prac�ce nights and training.

The Church Council noted that those who serve on ECC’s Music & AV team, carry a Chris�an commitment that extends beyond Sunday services. Each member of the team being faithful to personal discipleship is what allows for a genuine expression of praise each Sunday. There is a real sense of enthusiasm, joy and ‘presence’ which is felt when the team play.

Kintsugi Hope

ECC has partnered with Kintsugi Hope from 2021, to form a wellbeing group which is a safe and suppor�ve space for people who feel or have felt overwhelmed. By providing tools for self-management, the group was able to cover subjects such as disappointment, loss, anxiety, anger, depression, shame and resilience.

compliments other ECC ini�a�ves by providing refreshments and the space for mee�ngs. The area has been hired by a number of community groups and other churches for business mee�ngs and fellowship events.

draw on many volunteers to offer a great service. The Dickensian fes�val was constantly busy, during which Church members were available to answer ques�ons, supply Chris�an literature and introduce new people to ECC. Proceeds from Connec�ons are used for charitable purposes and missions giving is funded through it.

Chosen Youth Group

Chosen Group is a house-group style provision which encourages and supports high-schoolers in the Chris�an Faith. It forms part of ECC’s discipleship and pastoral system for children in year 7 or above. During the year, the group met at least monthly and was a place of help and prayer for younger people naviga�ng the challenges of school life, at whatever stage of the Chris�an journey they may be. Discipleship through Chosen Group was rooted in rela�onship and the concept of God’s love for all was the primary value. It was a blessing for the Church Council to see the group members taking steps forward in the Way which is Jesus, and to then see those steps outworked through involvement in the wider Church.

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As At 31 Janua 2025 Notes Flxed Assets Oepre(iabnq Assets 178,840 187,547 Current Assets 300 Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Buildino society and kn.wdom bank ￿(￿nts 28,0411 113,444 141,784 28,019 8U,628 1118,947 Current liabilities edrcors and accruals 1211 1211 Net Current Assets 141,664 108,827 £ 320,504 296,374 Represented By: Capltal Account Accumulated Reserves Unrestncted qeneral funds Unrestncted degqnated funds RestrKted funds 254.920 -111.178 75.763 226,276 9,288 60.809 £ 320,504 296,374 These financial statements were ap￿￿ed by the trustees on the 3() April 21125 arKI are signed on their behalf by: Trustet Trustee io

un For the ear ended 31 Janua 2025 Note l Accounting Policies The accounts on paqes 2 3 have been prepared under the historical cost convention. Depre(iation is charged on the f￿ed assets of the church as follows: Freehold propety Fixtures arKI fikn.nqs Equipment 20/0 straMJht line 250/0 reducino balan(e 150/0 reducing bala￿e Note 2 Depreciating Assets Freeliold Property Fixtures and Fittings Equlpnient Total Cost At l February 2024 Additions At 31 January 2025 346,633 35,530 41,126 423,289 346,633 35,5311 41,126 423,289 Depreciation At l February 21)24 Charqe for the year At 31 January 2025 166,545 6,933 173.477 34,621 136 34,758 34,574 1,639 36,213 235,741 8,7118 244,449 Net Book Value At 31 January 2025 173.156 772 4,912 178,8411 At 31 January 2024 180,089 6,551 187,547