EPIC – Chairman’s Report: 2024-2025
Mission Statement:
European Partners in Christ (EPIC) exists to promote links between churches in Britain and Eastern Europe, providing spiritual and material support through prayer, fellowship, teaching, and financial aid, enabling church buildings to be available as centres of Christian worship and witness.
Trustees: Rodney Sexton (Chair) Bryan Hilton (Treasurer), Sheila Hilton, Maureen Morris, and Heather Sexton
EPIC employee: Chris Fox.
- Review of the 12 months: August 2024 July 2025
The main aim of EPIC is as outlined in previous annual reports: to link churches in the UK with churches in Eastern Europe on a one-to-one basis, and to support the English churches, once they are linked, by helping to arrange exchange visits and to provide information and updates on what is happening with the churches in Europe. Likewise, the churches in Eastern Europe are given support materially, spiritually and by these mutual visits. Donations come from UK churches supporting their partner churches, from churches giving into the general fund and from individual donors.
It is with deep sadness that we must report the death of Chris Fox on September 24[th] , 2024. As last year’s report stated, Chris had become ill in the spring but continued to be in regular contact with the churches in Europe supported by EPIC. This contact was maintained until almost the very end, when Chris passed into the presence of the one she loved and served. A service of celebration for her life and work was held at Bildeston Baptist Church, Suffolk, and was attended by many UK donors to EPIC and by also a number from the partner churches in Europe.
As Chris was the only employee of EPIC – and it could be said that EPIC was Chris – the trustees were faced with the inevitability of the closure of EPIC, but this had to be done in an orderly way. A major concern for the trustees was the loss of income this would bring to the partner churches. The trustees have taken the following decisions to bring about an orderly closure of the charity:
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1) To not rush the process. Money coming in, both for general funds and those restricted to partner churches, could continue to be passed on to those who regularly received income via EPIC.
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2) The trustees would communicate with both donor churches and individuals to say that EPIC would have to close as a charity, and that donations should cease. Churches and individual donors in the UK with direct links to churches and people in Europe have been encouraged to make personal contact and establish how their partnership could continue, if they so desired.
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3) Similarly, partner churches and individuals in Europe would be informed that EPIC would eventually cease to function. They have also been encouraged to make direct contact with their UK partners to see if the relationships they have could continue.
As anticipated, this process is taking a long time, perhaps even longer than expected, primarily due to donors continued giving when being asked to stop, and the trustees being very careful in making sure our friends in Europe are totally aware of what is happening. The current position is that we have monies in the charity’s accounts which are not designated for any church or person in Europe. We will distribute this to our European partners as equitably as possible, with any residual funds being passed on to a charity with similar aims to EPIC.
Income this year, as last year, has been more than enough to maintain, and even increase, the level of support given. Current account level is approximately £84,000.
Ways of promoting EPIC include speaking engagements, regular reports and letters to churches, magazine articles and newsletters.
Rodney Sexton Chair, EPIC Trustees
MRS. W S BAYLISS
11 MARLBOROUGH CRESCENT LONG HANBOROUGH WITNEY OXON OX29 8JP TEL: 07826054446
Independent Examiner’s Report to the trustees of EPIC – registered charity no: 1057592
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] July 2025 as set out on the attached two pages.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner.
As the Charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2)) of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent audit is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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Follow the procedures laid down in the General Direction given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)b of the 2011 Act and
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State whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of independent examiner’s report:
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement.
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention.
(1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material aspect the requirements
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To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
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To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records Have not been met; or
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(2) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Ce SA\~
Mrs. W S Bayliss 25/04/2026
EPIC - REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1057592
Statement of Financial Activities for the year to 31/07/2025
| Income Receipts Interest Total Income Expenditure Administration Motor Expenses Rent Wages & PAYE Trips & Visits Expenses Total Fund Expenditure Gifts via transfer Gifts given via Trips Church Fund Gifts Totals Net Income Fund Balances Forward Interfund Transfers Fund balances carried forward |
31/07/2025 Undesignated Restricted or Total Funds Designated funds 16176 10404 26580 154 154 16176 10558 26734 1120 1120 0 480 480 0 0 1600 0 1600 4392 16852 21244 0 5400 5400 4392 22252 26644 10184 -11694 -1510 7884 27799 35683 0 18068 16105 34173 |
31/07/2024 Undesignated Restricted or Total Funds Designated funds 52451 76190 128641 101 101 |
|---|---|---|
| 52451 76291 128742 |
||
| 251 251 1262 1262 1440 1440 2716 2716 2805 2805 |
||
| 5758 2716 8474 |
||
| 46217 34963 81180 2469 2469 26316 26316 |
||
| 48686 61279 109965 |
||
| -1993 12296 10303 9877 15503 25380 0 |
||
| 7884 27799 35683 |
EPIC - REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1057592
Balance sheet for year to 31/07/2025
Notes 31/07/2025
31/07/2024
| Assets Current Account Deposit Account Assets Represented By : Undesignated Funds 1a Restricted Funds 1b Churches Funds ( Restricted ) 1c |
18068 16105 34173 34173 34173 18068 0 16105 34173 |
24736 10947 35683 |
24736 10947 35683 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35683 | |||
| 35683 | |||
| 7884 16852 10947 |
|||
| 35683 |
Notes :
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1a Funds held which are unrestricted .
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1b Funds held for restricted use
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1c Funds held which are restricted for Churches abroad .
Independent Examiner’s Report to the trustees of EPIC – registered charity no: 1057592
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31st July 2025 as set out on the attached two pages.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner.
As the Charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2)) of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent audit is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
-
Follow the procedures laid down in the General Direction given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)b of the 2011 Act and
-
State whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of independent examiner’s report:
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express
an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement.
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention.
-
(1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material aspect the requirements
-
To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
-
To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records
-
Have not been met; or
(2) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mrs. W S Bayliss 25/04/2026