The Network Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
THE NETWORK CHURCH
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 33 Mayflower Road Park Street St Albans AL2 2QP GOVERNING DOCUMENT Declaration of Trust dated 16 August 1999 as amended March 2004 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1078577 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Shuk Yee Lee MANAGING THE CHARITY Rebecca Mitchell Laurence Singlehurst Trevor Withers Sarah Woolmer Man Lung Yuen BANKERS The Co-operative Bank plc National Westminster Bank plc INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Pages 2-3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Pages 7-8
Legal & Administrative Details Trustees' Report Independent Examiner's Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of Assets & Liabilities Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
THE NETWORK CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Objects of the charity
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a trust deed. The community of Network Church exists to commit our lives to serve the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our primary responsibility as a church is to:-
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a) Build and nurture a Christian community
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b) Serve those outside the community in a variety of different ways
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c) Provide a forum for those who do not know God to explore the possibility of a relationship with him.
Our Mission Statement
A community of God's people working together to see God's Kingdom extended in our spheres of influence.
We are a church built around small groups which means that an important focus of the life of the church is the midweek 'cell groups'. These meet weekly and are where the group members worship together, encourage one another, and share their lives with families and friends.
The cell groups come together for larger meetings as the weekly Sunday morning meeting, where we experience God in corporate worship, and receive teaching from the Bible.
We follow a cell church structure, in that the leadership team supports and trains several small group leaders, who support and train their small group members.
Governance
In 2025 there were six Trustees, one of whom is also the team leader of the Leadership Team, who oversee the running of the church and the financial decisions that are made by the Leadership Team.
Network Church is part of the Pioneer group of churches, who support our Leadership Team, and oversee our progress and major decisions.
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity.
New Trustees are recruited and appointed by the existing Trustees, who discuss and agree on the capabilities and likely profile need to fill the role. This takes into account considerations such as the capabilities of the current Trustees, specialist skills available and diversity considerations.
Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements
To further the above objects and mission, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
We support and encourage those with a faith to deepen their relationship with God, and to increase the reach and effectiveness of their positive contribution to society.
We provide financial assistance for people linked to Network Church to attend spiritual retreats or counselling courses, and provide occasional financial support to individuals in need that are known to someone in Network Church, irrespective of their faith.
We give regular financial support to various charities and individuals, and support local charities either financially and/or with practical help, such as St Albans & Harpenden Education Project, Harpenden Money Advice Centre and Azalea.
We run a community pottery studio on an entirely voluntary and free to use basis to encourage young and old in their creative skills and benefit their wellbeing. Our ethos is to create a friendly welcoming environment for all comers. We attract a wide variety of people from the local community and in conjunction with Mind in Herts have regular groups to benefit their mental wellbeing. We are grateful to have received several grants over the past five years from The Harpenden Trust for new and improved equipment.
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In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Financial review
During the year income decreased from £119,700 to £114,800 while our expenditure increased from £121,600 to £132,300. This resulted in a reduction of our current account bank balance and the use of £10,000 from savings. The Leadership Team have implemented a strategy to increase the income from our membership in 2026.
The cash held by the charity at year end is £47,300, £43,500 of which is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose. Additional funds are held in an ethical investment fund. We gave away approximately 12% of our income during 2025 to individuals in need and to a variety of organisations.
An annual budget is prepared by the Leadership Team, approved by the Trustees, and presented to the church as a whole. At least twice a year, the actual figures are compared to the targets. Three of the Leadership Team and one Trustee are bank signatories. Two signatories are required on cheques and all bank documents.
Reserves policy
The Trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash to cover expenditure commitments for 3 months (which equates to approximately £33,000) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £43,500, plus an investment fund, and the charity is holding excess funds; we continue to invest in the pottery project, and costs associated with our continued growth which will need some of these funds.
Risk statement
The Trustees have reviewed the risks to which a small charity operating with few employees is exposed. Appropriate procedures are in place to identify, monitor and review these risks on a regular basis.
Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
T. Withers
_____T. Withers (Jul 8, 2026 10:00:19 GMT+1) Trevor Withers Jul 8, 2026 Date:___
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
THE NETWORK CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Network Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2025 on pages 5 to 8 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
J. Young
J. Young (Jul 9, 2026 09:52:49 GMT+1)
Jaimée Young Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Jul 9, 2026
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THE NETWORK CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Notes Income receipts Donations Gift aid receipts Grants 5 Charitable activities 5 Other Away day Capital and similar receipts Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Transfers between funds 5 Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Sale of fixed assets Net of receipts / (payments) before Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly |
General Designated Funds Funds £ £ 90,190 - 15,448 - - - 68 - 45 - 570 - 106,320 - - - - - 106,320 - 111,408 - 12,816 - 124,224 - (17,903) - - - (17,903) - 61,418 - 43,515 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds £ 1,361 556 629 5,933 - - 8,479 - - 8,479 7,626 440 8,066 413 - 413 3,404 3,817 |
2025 £ 91,550 16,004 629 6,001 45 570 114,799 - - 114,799 119,034 13,256 132,290 (17,490) - (17,490) 64,823 47,332 |
2024 £ 92,430 17,235 2,801 6,868 175 - 119,509 220 220 119,729 107,906 13,712 121,618 (1,888) - (1,888) 66,711 64,823 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
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THE NETWORK CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Notes A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity C Liabilities Falling due within one year NEST [pension] Fee for Independent Examination D Assets retained for charity's own use Equipment and fittings |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 43,515 - 43,515 - 1,499 - 1,499 - 364 - 1,140 - 1,504 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ 3,817 3,817 - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs General |
2025 £ 47,332 47,332 1,499 1,499 364 1,140 1,504 Value 2025 £ 17,684 17,684 |
2024 £ 64,823 64,823 636 636 363 1,122 1,485 Value 2024 £ 19,140 19,140 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The trustees have used insurance values as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.
E Investment assets
CCLA - COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund
| Fund to which asset belongs General |
Value 2025 £ 54,814 54,814 |
Value 2024 £ 56,034 56,034 |
|---|---|---|
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
T. Withers
_____Trevor WithersT. Withers (Jul 8, 2026 10:00:19 GMT+1)
Jul 8, 2026 Date:_____
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
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THE NETWORK CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment costs Note 4 Venue hire Church activities and Community events Away day Equipment Gifts and visiting speakers Courses / conferences / training Phone Insurance Office and administrative expenses Computer and internet Governance Pottery Sundry 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Organisations: STEP Azalea Pioneer Trust Organisations < £1,000 Individuals |
General funds £ 86,503 11,787 4,978 1,866 348 772 252 675 377 505 835 2,462 - 47 111,408 3,000 1,100 1,560 3,149 4,007 12,816 Unrestricte |
Unrestricte | Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - 921 - - - - - - - 6,705 - 7,626 - - - - 440 440 |
2025 £ 86,503 11,787 4,978 1,866 1,269 772 252 675 377 505 835 2,462 6,705 47 119,034 3,000 1,100 1,560 3,149 4,447 13,256 |
2024 £ 76,382 8,025 4,778 - 1,419 1,975 761 575 404 1,338 291 2,164 9,699 94 107,906 3,500 1,020 1,560 3,282 4,350 13,712 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 Transactions with related parties
Mr Trevor Withers, a trustee, was paid a gross salary of £53,250 [2024: £52,211] for serving as a Team Leader, not for serving as a trustee; as permitted by the charity's governing document. These payments include employer pension contributions.
No payments were made to any other trustees or persons related to them, except for reimbursement of expenses paid out on behalf of the charity.
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THE NETWORK CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
5 Movement of funds
| General funds Restricted funds Mission support Equipment Pottery Restricted funds total Total funds |
Opening balance £ 61,418 - - 3,404 3,404 64,823 |
Receipts £ 106,320 440 921 7,118 8,479 114,799 |
Payments £ (124,224) (440) (921) (6,705) (8,066) (132,290) |
Transfers £ - - - - - - |
Closing balance £ 43,515 - - 3,817 3,817 47,332 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Mission Support fund relates to donations given for the support of mission organisations and missionaries. The Equipment fund relates to donations made to cover various items of equipment purchased during the year.
The Pottery is a small community pottery run by and supported by Network Church. It is open (by appointment) to anybody whether families or groups or individuals. The purpose is to provide a safe space for people to have fun with clay and rediscover their creativity. Other donations have been given to support this project.
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