## Trinity Vineyard Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2024
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE
PO Box 71128 London SE18 9NF
GOVERNING DOCUMENT
Declaration of Trust dated June 2001 amended July 2012
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1088718 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE Stephanie Akinboyewa (appointed April 2024, FOR MANAGING THE CHARITY resigned August 2024) Paul Bickley [Pastor] Duncan Ho (resigned July 2024) Rebecca Morris Ronald Yee Aishat Damilola Alli-Balogun (Appointed November 20
BANKERS INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Co-operative Bank
Sarah Crispin Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
## **INDEX**
Page 1 Legal and Administrative Details Pages 2-4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 8-9 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
## **Trinity Vineyard Church**
## **Trustees ’ Report**
## **For the Year Ended 31 December 2024**
## **Aims and Purposes**
Trinity Vineyard Church is a registered charity and a member of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland (VCUKI). We exist to extend God ’ s kingdom — everywhere and in every way. Our charitable objectives include the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with VCUKI ’ s Statement of Faith, the relief of poverty and distress in Greenwich, Lewisham, and beyond, the furtherance of religious or secular education, and other charitable work as the Trustees deem appropriate.
In planning and delivering the church ’ s work, the Trustees confirm that they have followed the Charity Commission ’ s guidance on public benefit. The life of the church centres on three priorities: seeking transformation in Christ, building authentic community, and declaring and demonstrating the Kingdom of God.
## **Seeking Transformation in Christ**
Throughout 2024, Trinity Vineyard Church continued to offer weekly Sunday services at the Tramshed in Woolwich. Attendance fluctuated slightly across the year but remained steady overall, with an average of 27 adults and 8 children in the first quarter and 26 adults and 13 children by the year ’ s end.
Teaching remained central to our worship and formation. Our sermon series took us through themes such as _The Kingdom of God_ , a Lent reflection titled _Just One Thing_ , the Gospel of Mark, and an Advent journey through the _Advent Songs_ series. Each message was recorded and published weekly as a podcast to extend its reach beyond the Sunday gathering.
Our commitment to discipleship was further expressed through two mid-week groups. A theology class met fortnightly, drawing six regular attendees, while a weekly Bible study moved from fortnightly to weekly and grew in number. We also facilitated termly prayer gatherings and continued with weekly prayer walks. A summer retreat day offered a deeper space for reflection and renewal.
The wider Vineyard community remained a source of inspiration and connection, with members attending Cause to Live For, Vineyard Leaders’ Gathering, the DTI summer youth festival, and regional equipping days.
## **Building Authentic Community**
We believe that authentic Christian community is formed through consistent relationships and shared experience. In 2024, we hosted a number of gatherings to foster these connections. Our Burns Night celebration brought together 33 people, while events such as the progressive dinner, men ’ s pizza and pool night, and a quiz night helped deepen friendships. Informal hospitality was also a key part of community life, with BBQs, park picnics, and open house weekends drawing people into one another ’ s homes.
Our welcome lunches, Soul Food gatherings, and the nativity service in December — which drew 80 people — were all signs of a community that is growing in breadth and depth. We continue to prioritise safety and wellbeing in our community. Safeguarding training for our youth, children ’ s, and welcome teams is scheduled for early 2025, and DBS checks are being updated for volunteers and staff.
Page 2
## **Declaring and Demonstrating the Kingdom**
A key area of growth in 2024 was our engagement with young people in Woolwich. In partnership with Tramshed, we ran a Friday youth drop-in programme which, over the academic year, saw 493 different young people attend. Of those, 241 came more than once, 71 came to five or more sessions, and 15 attended more than half of the sessions offered. Weekly attendance averaged over 80 in the first quarter, with 160 young people attending our final pre-Easter session.
Funding received by Tramshed enabled us to provide food, creative workshops, and employ provisional staff alongside our volunteers. However, by the end of the year, the project paused due to the lack of long-term funding. Multiple bids were submitted — including to Children in Need, Greenwich Healthier Communities, and Young Greenwich — with a view to relaunching the initiative in 2025.
Alongside this, our weekly English Club (run in partnership with Foxfield Primary School) has gone from strength to strength. In total, we hosted 34 sessions, welcomed 46 adult participants and 19 children, and saw average attendance increase from 9 to 15 adults by the final quarter. A faithful team of seven volunteers sustained the work, and new volunteers have begun shadowing in preparation for the year ahead.
In spring, we ran a pre-marriage course attended by four couples. On Mother ’ s Day, we handed out 60 bunches of daffodils in the centre of Woolwich. Our Easter Egg Hunt was a joyful success, with 86 children participating and plenty of engagement from the local community. Youth Alpha began in the first quarter of the year and was attended by up to 12 young people, with eight attending regularly and five joining us for a Holy Spirit Day. We were also pleased to launch an adult Alpha course in May in partnership with Woolwich Central Baptist Church and Woolwich Community Church.
## **Partnership and Advocacy**
Our commitment to justice and long-term transformation continues through strategic partnerships. We remain active members of Greenwich Citizens. Planning permission has been granted on one of the affordable housing sites we've campaigned for, and Paul sits on the board of London CLT.
Becca is a member of the Greenwich ESOL network and attends the Borough of Sanctuary meetings. She is due to join the steering group in 2025. In December, we raised £1,032.25 (including Gift Aid) for Christmas hampers in support of the Greenwich Migrant Hub. The funds provided 30 hampers, each including a Tesco voucher, and five members of our congregation volunteered at the Migrant Hub ’ s Christmas event.
## **Staffing**
Becca Bickley is employed for 26.25 hours per week (3.5 days), though in the final quarter of the year she averaged 31 hours per week and accrued 62 hours of time off in lieu. Paul Bickley continues in a part-time role at 18.75 hours per week (2.5 days). Mansi Kamble was employed during the year to work four hours a week supporting Youth Alpha and preparation for the possible relaunch of the youth drop-in.
Staff time is supplemented by significant volunteer commitment by many individuals, specifically in welcome, children’s ministry, worship, trustees, and preaching teams.
Paul and Becca took a planned sabbatical in June, July and August. A core leadership team (Abby and Syd Razavi and Cherry and Duncan Ho), took the reins for that period.
## **Financial Review**
Page 3
Trinity Vineyard Church is primarily funded by the regular giving of its members. These donations support our staffing, ministry activities, and community outreach. The youth drop-in initiative placed significant pressure on our budget this year, and despite several applications for external funding, we closed the year with tight margins.
That said, careful financial oversight and modest additional income meant that we remained within our reserves target by year-end. Trustees continue to review the financial position regularly and staff are seeking additional funding where appropriate.
## **Reserves Policy**
The church aims to retain unrestricted reserves equivalent to three months ’ overall expenditure, plus an additional three months of staff costs. This equates to approximately £38,000. This buffer allows for appropriate flexibility and resilience. Trustees reviewed this policy during the year and continue to hold it as a prudent target.
## **Risk Management**
Risks to the church ’ s operations are monitored by the Trustees and managed through a combination of internal controls, external partnerships, and insurance. We continue to work with Christian Safeguarding Services to ensure compliance and best practice in our safeguarding procedures. Financial systems are externally supported and audited, and our insurance policies remain in place and up to date. Safeguarding training and record management will be a priority in early 2025 as we prepare for new volunteer engagement and youth drop-in programme relaunch.
## **Trustees ’ Responsibilities**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing financial statements in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring the proper stewardship of the church ’ s assets. We take these responsibilities seriously and are committed to transparency, accountability, and the faithful use of the resources entrusted to us.
## **Approval**
This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## P. Bickley
P. Bickley (Oct 26, 2025 17:07:36 GMT)
**P. Bickley Chair of Trustees Date:** Oct 26, 2025
Page 4
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Trinity Vineyard Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2024 on pages 6 to 9 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: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. 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.
## Sarah Crispin
Sarah Crispin (Oct 28, 2025 15:42:02 GMT)
Sarah Crispin
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Oct 28, 2025
Page 5
## **TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
||||||||Unrestricted|Funds|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||||General|Designated|||Restricted|Total||Total|
||||||||Funds||Funds||Funds|2024||2023|
|||||||Notes|£||£||£|£||£|
|**_Income receipts_**|||||||||||||||
|Donations|||||||80,765
||-||981|81,746||65,164|
|Gift aid receipts|||||||19,687||-||13|19,700||16,099|
|Other grants|||||||-||-||2,962|2,962||8,130|
|Investment income|||||||6||-||-|6||5|
|**_Total receipts_**|||||||100,459||-||3,955|104,413||89,397|
|**_Payments_**|||||||||||||||
|Payments
in
relation
to
activities undertaken directly||||charitable||2|75,732||-||10,249|85,981||86,436|
|Grants
paid
in
relation
to
activities undertaken by others||||charitable||3|7,647||-||-|7,647||11,284|
|**_Total payments_**|||||||83,379||-||10,249|93,629||97,720|
|Net
of
receipts
transfers|/|(payments)|||before||17,080||-|-|6,295
|10,785|-|8,323|
|Transfers between|funds|||||5|346||-||(346)|-||-|
|**Net movement in funds**|||||||17,426||-|-|6,641
|10,785|-|8,323|
|Cash funds as at last||year|end||||31,104||-||10,511|41,615||49,938|
|**Cash funds at this year end**||||||A|48,530||-||3,870|52,400||41,615|
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
## **TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**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:**
Pension due
Fee for Independent Examination
Accrued expenses
**D**
**Assets retained for charity's own use**
Equipment|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
48,530
-
**48,530**
**-**
1,973
-
**1,973**
**-**
249
-
1,098
-
1,161
-
**2,508**
**-**
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
3,870
**3,870**
-
**-**
-
-
-
**-**
Fund to
which asset
belongs
General|Total
2024
£
52,400
**52,400**
1,973
**1,973**
249
1,098
1,161
**2,508**
Value
2024
£
19,447
**19,447**|Total
2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||41,616|
|||||**41,616**|
|||||2,136|
|||||**2,136**|
|||||249
1,050
-|
|||||**1,299**|
|||||Value
2023
£|
|||||19,447|
|||||**19,447**|
The trustees have used insurance values as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from current values.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf
P. Bickley by ___________________________ P. Bickley (Oct 26, 2025 17:07:36 GMT) date ____________ Paul Bickley
## Oct 26, 2025
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
## **TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **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
Rental costs
Conferences and training
Church meetings and outreach
Equipment, IT and other resources
Administration and other support costs
Other costs
Governance
**3**
**Grants and gifts paid to others**
Grants for:
Vineyard Church UK
Debt Centre Greenwich||Unrestrict|Designated
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ed Funds|Restricted
Funds
£
8,927
-
-
1,202
120
-
-
-
10,249
-
-
-|Total
2024
£
57,520
11,580
2,784
7,498
2,153
1,283
2,264
900
85,981
5,257
2,390
7,647|Total
2023
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
funds
£
48,593
11,580
2,784
6,295
2,033
1,283
2,264
900
75,732
5,257
2,390
7,647|||||
|||||||55,654
12,862
1,226
9,818
2,909
1,243
1,824
900|
|||||||86,436|
|||||||5,735
2,566|
|||||||11,284|
## **4 Transactions with related parties**
Paul Bickley, a trustee, served as a senior pastor and was paid £20,400 [2023: £20,000] for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee. The spouse of Paul Bickley was paid £32,560 [2023: £33,800] in her capacity as finance officer and senior pastor. The governing document authorises remuneration of the Lead Pastor. No other payments were made to trustees or persons related to them, except for reimbursement of expenses paid out on behalf of the charity.
Page 8
## **TRINITY VINEYARD CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**5**
**Movement of funds**
General funds
Restricted funds
Community Innovation Grant
Joy Bags & Christmas Hampers
Tramshed Grants
Refugee crisis [English Club]
Total funds|Opening
balance
£
31,104
31,104
2,877
-
-
7,634
10,511
41,615|Receipts
£
100,459
100,459
-
993
2,962
-
3,955
104,413|Payments
£
(83,379)
(83,379)
-
-
(2,962)
(7,288)
(10,249)
(93,629)|Transfers
£
346
346
-
-
-
346
-
(346)
-|Closing
balance
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||48,530|
||||||48,530|
||||||2,877
993
-
0|
||||||3,870|
|||||||
||||||52,400|
The Community Innovation Grant is to be used for the English Club.
Joy Bags fund is used to provide Christmas hampers for members of the community Tramshed Grants are to enable the Youth Drop-
in
The Refugee funds are for the charity's work with refugees and asylum seekers; paying for the English Club, supporting local appeals for items of furniture or household items, and enabling those from other countries to feel welcome and supported in our communities. A grant of £8,130 was received to support the English Club.
Transfer from the refugee crisis fund to general funds is due to the under-recognition of the fund expenses in prior years.
Page 9