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2024-03-31-accounts

Annual Report 2023-2024 fx FRESH EXPRESSIONS

fx Annual Report 2023/24

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Who We Are

A MOVEMENT OF MISSION-SHAPED COMMUNITIES

Calling ordinary Equipping people for the

Connecting contextual Networking mission of the extraordinary

God

Fresh Expressions is a growing movement of everyday people across all denominations, starting new Christian communities in the nooks and crannies of people’s everyday lives. From new housing to rural, urban to suburban, messy church and third age to forests, coffee shops, beaches, pubs, barns, online and even church buildings! Fresh Expressions of church can increasingly be found across the UK and around the world, helping those who would never approach a traditional church service to encounter the reality of Jesus.

With over 30 years’ experience of pioneering in creative and contextual ways, accompanied by robust theological research, reflections and reports on how Fresh Expressions have gathered and discipled people

who weren’t connecting with traditional forms of church, we know all about the challenges and joys of pioneering, but more importantly we know this approach to mission works.

We’re not a denomination. We’re not a pathway to ordination. We’re a grassroots movement filled with people who can’t stop thinking about who isn’t in church and want to do something about it. We’re a band of misfits, visionaries, prophets, evangelists and creative entrepreneurs who can see what isn’t there and have the grit and faith to go out, listen, love, serve, tell people about Jesus and work with their new communities to create a new and authentic expression of church that makes sense to them.

info@freshexpressions.org.uk www.freshexpressions.org.uk

Photo by Helena Lopez on Unsplash

fx Annual Report 2023/24

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ANON FX PRACTITIONER

TAKEN FROM A FEEDBACK QUESTIONNAIRE IN NOV 23

fx Annual Report 2023/24

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the fx Prayer

GRACIOUS GOD,

KEEP US EVER MINDFUL OF YOUR PRESENCE THANKFUL FOR WHAT HAS BEEN AND EXCITED FOR WHAT IS TO COME.

MAY WE WALK IN HUMILITY

ALWAYS HUNGRY FOR MORE OF YOU.

OPEN OUR EARS THAT WE WOULD ALWAYS HEAR YOU.

BREAK OUR HEARTS FOR WHAT HURTS YOU.

HOLY SPIRIT, LEAD US ALWAYS TO WHERE YOU NEED US TO BE. EQUIP US TO BE A COURAGEOUS MOVEMENT TELLING STORIES OF HOPE AND PROCLAIMING, IN FRESH WAYS,

THE GOOD NEWS TO THIS GENERATION;

TO THE GLORY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

AMEN

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How we work

How do we structure a charity so it supports a genuine move of the Holy Spirit? How to support a movement that is led by God and not by any one individual?

That’s a question the FX team has continuously wrestled with over the years, and has led to a structure including a board, a leadership community and the operations team.

We’ve been running this structure successfully for a few years which has been a positive change.

The purpose of the charity is “to serve the fresh expressions movement and help it flourish”.

The relationships within and between the charity, the movement, the operations team and the leadership community can be illustrated as follows:

The fx movement is served by the charity and the leadership community through:

The purpose of the fx leadership community is to respond to and for the fx movement by ‘fanning the flames’ of the networks and holding a common vision for the movement. It also provides strategic guidance as to how the charity can best deploy the FX Operations Team.

The FX board provides governance and finance that enables the charity to offer...

...the FX operations team who serve the movement and help the individuals and networks within it to flourish through effective connecting, resourcing and communicating.

OUR PURPOSE

“to serve the fresh expressions movement and help it flourish”

PUBLIC BENEFIT

Fresh Expressions Limited’s purpose has always been and will continue to encourage innovative ways of making church available to all members of the public. The Trustees have had regard to The Charities Commission guidance on public benefit. The Trustees believe that the activities of the Charity encourage faith and moral values across all communities and are available to all. The principle of embedding actually encourages even greater local community engagement and therefore

benefit for all.

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How We Work

CHARITY NUMBER: 1080103

COMPANY NUMBER: 03598030

OFFICE ADDRESS

Fresh Expressions, 22 Brook Drive, Bude, England, EX23 8NY

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER:

Susan Monckton-Rickett, 21 School Lane, Lawford, Manningtree, Essex, CO11 2HZ

BANK:

The Co-Op Bank, PO Box 101, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester M60 4EP

SOLICITORS:

Anthony Collins Solicitors, 134 Edmund Street, Birmingham B3 2ES

freshexpressions.org.uk IN - @freshexpressionsuk YT - @freshexpressionsuk TK - @freshexpressionsuk TW - @freshexpression FB - @freshexpression

DIRECTORS & TRUSTEES

OPERATIONS TEAM

LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY

This group is made of a number of experienced practitioners from our movement with different denominations and experiences which aim to reflect the depth and breadth of the movement. They offer a key perspective that helps us to keep connected to our grass-roots. This group grows and contracts as new people join and others relinquish the responsibility.

fx Annual Report 2023/24

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ANON FX PRACTITIONER

TAKEN FROM A FEEDBACK QUESTIONNAIRE IN NOV 23

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Chair’s Report

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share what Fresh Expressions has achieved over the last year! There’s lots to share with you in the coming pages.

We continue to work with some of the largest church denominations in the UK as our major partners; the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, the Salvation Army and the United Reformed Church. Each of them continue to use FX methodology as a key part of their evangelism strategies, developing new missional communities to reach unreached people across the country. We’re providing resources and running learning hubs for their pioneers to help their work.

We’re also networking with a number of other denominations and newer church networks who historically have grown through attractional church models, but are now also looking towards more of a mixed ecology, using missional church alongside their existing methods.

And we also find ourselves fielding growing requests from other nations around the world wanting to learn from our expertise and use the FX six-step journey to fuel their church pioneering work. Contacts from the Far East and East Africa are starting to implement it, showing the model is relevant beyond western, post-Christendom cultures.

We’re excited for the future, as we continue helping ordinary people to start new church communities that can reach those outside the usual church world with the life transforming gospel of Jesus. Read on, and hopefully you’ll be excited too!

MARK WILLIAMSON

Chair of Fresh Expressions Board

fx Annual Report 2023D4 +200/0 86% 2023 the mission shaped podcast len me F R E S M E X P R E S S l O N S 0%. pxkcs MICHAEL MOYNAGH & MICHAEL ADAM BECK THE 21st CENTURY CHRISTIAN FOIIOWING JESUS WHERE HAPPENS

fx Annual Report 2023/24

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ANON FX PRACTITIONER

TAKEN FROM A FEEDBACK QUESTIONNAIRE IN NOV 23

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some EMAILS SUBSCRIBER LIST APPROX: stats 9000 AVERAGE OPEN RATE 39%

WEBSITE PAGE VIEWS 610K

SOCIALS

VISITORS 137K

HOURS OF VIDEO WATCHED

530

FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM PROFILE VIEWS UP

280%

EVENTS

EVENTBRITE TICKETS ZOOM GUESTS FOR ON & OFFLINE APPROX 276 1K+

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It is not how we do it, it’s about our relationship with Christ and one another

ANON FX PRACTITIONER

TAKEN FROM A FEEDBACK QUESTIONNAIRE IN NOV 23

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Networking Report

Coaching emerged as an essential focus area. We expanded our coaching team through comprehensive training and held two evening events to boost coaches’ confidence and skills. The launch of our Coaching Hub further reinforced our commitment to coaching excellence.

These endeavors exemplify our dedication to growth, learning, and strengthening our impact in fresh expressions and community-building. As we move forward, we eagerly anticipate another year of transformative progress.

In 2022/2023, we marked significant milestones and hosted a variety of events that enriched our mission. Our bi-annual gatherings played a pivotal role in our journey. The March event, a hybrid gathering held at the Hayes in Swannick, explored the theme “More than,” encouraging us to seek what more God has in store for us. In September, our online gathering, themed “For such a time as this,” celebrated a significant birthday and set the stage for discerning our charity’s future direction.

Our event calendar also featured diverse offerings. “The E Word” delved into modern evangelism, addressing its relevance today. We conducted “Who Me” sessions for practitioners, providing an introduction to fresh expressions methods and practices. “Sharing Jesus” workshops equipped attendees with insights on effective utilization of the Sharing Jesus resource. The “Rural & Wild” workshops focused on uncovering opportunities in rural contexts, while “Explore Sabbath” events offered leaders an informal space to rediscover the value of rest and Sabbath.

fx Annual Report 2023/24

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ANON FX PRACTITIONER

TAKEN FROM A FEEDBACK QUESTIONNAIRE IN NOV 23

fx Annual Report 2023/24 15

Resourcing Report

The purpose of fx resourcing was to inspire and support those called to start new Christian communities. Over the past year, our main focus was the development of the Godsend resource and the rollout of learning communities for contextual mission.

We reviewed our older resources and decided to close

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the ‘FX Stories’ and ‘FX Godsend’ apps due to low usage and high maintenance costs. The godsend.cloud website now serves as an accessible alternative, with strong user engagement. We also began consolidating features from fxresourcing.org onto the main freshexpressions.org.uk site, streamlining our web presence.

Excitingly, through our partnership with the Growing Faith Foundation’s Flourish initiative, we created a version of Godsend for younger audiences. In 2024, we distributed 800 copies of the ‘Flourish’ edition to 40 church schools across 10 dioceses, offering training

for adults to help children start new worshipping communities.

We continued sharing our learning through the National Church Planting Network, the Methodist Church, and other partners. Our distinct approach remained valued, and we were confident in our unique contribution to these spaces.

Internationally, we collaborated with the Reuss Institute in Switzerland to publish a German translation of Godsend,

which we shared at the European Pioneer Gathering in Zurich. We also strengthened our connection with the Fresh Expressions USA team, preparing to roll out Godsend Hubs in new dioceses in 2025, along with the publication of three new books, making for an optimistic year ahead

fx Annual Report 2023/24

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ANON FX PRACTITIONER

TAKEN FROM A FEEDBACK QUESTIONNAIRE IN NOV 23

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Financial Review

FINANCIAL POSITION

The balance of the charity’s funds now stands at £159,984 including a restricted fund balance of £4,400

Induction and training of new directors

Prospective directors undergo a formal briefing by the Chairman of the Board and other directors as appropriate. Relevant documents, procedures and policies are supplied in connection with the day- to- day running of the organisation as part of an induction plan. Any training or personal development needs in line with the roles and responsibilities of Board Directors are arranged as required.

Key management remuneration

The charity has no paid staff. The Operations Team are paid monthly and reviewed annually.

Risk management

RESERVES POLICY

The Directors review the activities of the charity on a regular basis for exposure to a range of risks and are satisfied that arrangements are in place to mitigate these.

The trustees have a policy of holding six months of operational expenditure in reserves. The charity does not have any employees but has a flexible Operations Team, enabling a light touch strategy that can deliver the charitable objectives and also respond quickly to changes in need or circumstances.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Recruitment and appointment of new directors

Directors are appointed by The Board of Directors.

Organisational structure

The Board of Directors meets three to four times a year and receives reports on finance and projects from Operations Team and specialist advisors. Interim board meetings are occasionally arranged between meetings.

Individual Directors have light touch operational responsibilities for specific areas of expertise and activity and contracts will be negotiated to both facilitate a light touch and ensure strategic focus.

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STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees (who are also the directors of Fresh Expressions Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

The independent examiner, Sue Monckton-Rickett FACCA, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 17th December 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

M P Williamson - Trustee

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It’s much more than new structures and methods, it’s about rethinking what church is.

ANON FX PRACTITIONER TAKEN FROM A FEEDBACK QUESTIONNAIRE IN NOV 23

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Statement of Financial Activities

(INCORPORATING AN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)

Donations and legacies
Income And Endowments From
Governance
Raising funds
Expenditure On
Operating / Core Running Costs
Resourcing
Networking
Charitable activities
Charitable activities
Resourcing
Networking
Investment income
Total
Other trading activities		 70,588
Unrestricted
Funds 2024
£
621
4,346
23,015
21,405
70,750
-
14,566
1,306
90,192
3,733		 70,588
Unrestricted
Funds 2024
£
621
4,346
23,015
21,405
70,750
-
14,566
1,306
90,192
3,733		 9,000
Restricted
Funds 2024
£
0
0
-
7,000
189
0
-
-
9,000
-		 79,588
Total
Funds 2024
£
621
4,346
23,015
28,405
70,938
-
14,566
1,306
99,192
3,733		 Total
Funds 2023
£
144,536
3354
-
22,207
30,165
77,841
1,299
19,404
69
169,850
4,542
Total 120,236 7,189 127,425 133,567
Reconciliation Of Funds
Total funds brought forward
Transfer between funds
Net Income/(Expenditure)
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
Prior Year Adjustment		 180,785
4,744
-29,945
155,584
0		 7,333
-4,744
1,811
4,400
0		 188,117
0
-28,134
159,984
0		 151,797
0
36,321
188,117
38

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 31 MARCH 2024 Fixed Assets ~~SS~~

31 MARCH 2024
31 MARCH 2024
Fixed Assets
~~SS~~		 Unrestricted
Funds
2024 £
Designated/
Restricted
Funds 2024 £
Eeee		 ee Total Funds
2024 £
eeee		 ee Total Funds
2023 £
ee
Tangible Assets 0 - 0 -
Current Assets
Stocks 842 - 842 1,958
Debtors 63,906 - 63,906 53,449
Prepayments and accrued income 1,356 - 1,356 9,027
Cash at bank 92,246 4,900 100,146 148,926
161,350 4,900 166,250 213,360
Current liabilities
Creditors falling due within one year -5,766 -500 -6,266 -25,243
Net Current Assets 155,584 4,400 159,984 188,117
Total Assets Less Current Liabilities 155,584 4,400 159,984 188,117
Net Assets 155,584 4,400 159,984 188,117
Funds
ee
Unrestricted funds 155,584 180,785
Restricted funds 4,400 7,333
TOTAL FUNDS 159,984 188,117

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2024. In accordance with Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011, the accounts have been examined by an independent examiner and their report has been included in these Financial Statements.

The Directors (who are the charitable company’s Trustees for the purposes of charity law) acknowledge their responsibilities for:

The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and were approved by the Board of Trustees on 17th December 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

M P Williamson - Trustee

fx Annual Report 2023/24

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ANON FX PRACTITIONER

TAKEN FROM A FEEDBACK QUESTIONNAIRE IN NOV 23

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