Chair, Secretary and Treasurer’s Annual Report 9.2024-8.2025
In line with Charity Commission requirements, our Trustees have ensured that our activities have the widest possible public benefit, whether in Christian or Youth Work operations. Assets and resources have been used to further the Objects of the Constitution and specified Mission Statements adopted by Trustees in past years. Funds are ethically sourced, and control of finances maintained. Open access for all our events and activities is applied in line with our Equal Opportunities policy and underlying Christian principles. Legal rules have been observed and relevant policies adopted or updated, each specifically approved by Trustees.
Councillor Darren Byford commenced the year as Chair and resigned his post in March 2025. Father Daniel Heaton continued as Vice Chair and Lesley Harrison as Treasurer. Our other Officer Trustees were Heather Turner, Secretary and Safeguarding Trustee and John Walter, Business Manager. Reverend Andrew Atkins moved to a new area and resigned his post in June 2025 and will be replaced when the new Minister for the same area arrives in September 2025. Reverend Hannah Hobday resigned her post in March 2025. .
Great thanks to all our Trustees, Ministers, Officers, Business Committee members, our Fundraising Coordinator John Gallagher, Gary Bentley and the Project Youth Work Staff, Volunteers, Parents and, very importantly, Church members, for supporting and assisting all we do. Gary Bentley moved to a new Christian post in February 2025 with John Walter picking up Youth Project oversight.
Our activities began with Autumn Harvest singing in September 2024 at the local Co-op, well received by shoppers and customers.
In October, we held our annual community Quiz Night at St Johns Church, led by quizmaster, Mark Hunter with 57 people across the area coming together for a fun and cerebral challenge.
Christmas carol singing took place in the Co-op on Saturday December 21st, reaching out to the community and handing out service times and chocolates for the children. A joyous occasion at the end of the year.
The 2025 United Service was held on Sunday January 19[th] at Horbury Methodist Church led by Reverend Jacob Kaiga and was supported by all our churches. A service welcomed by the 25 strong congregation.
The February 2025 we had a tremendous Annual Forum, at Horbury Methodist Church, with 70 people attending. Our speaker was the famous Jamie Jones-Buchanan, 7-time Rugby League Grand Final winner with Leeds Rhinos. He talked about his life challenges as both a non-white player and committed Christian. It was an exciting and encouraging talk on a wide range of experiences.
The local Coop in Horbury, a major supporter of Horbury Churches Together and our work, was the venue for our Good Friday witness on 18[th] April where we gave out small crosses and our Saturday 19[th] April egg and leaflet event. We had a very good reaction to these community outreach parts of our work.
Our Free Whit Family Fun Day, on Saturday 24[th] May, at Horbury Academy, saw almost 500 people attending, most being families wanting a great afternoon out without breaking the bank. The atmosphere was very much of community as entry, all activities and prizes won were provided free of charge. On a perfect day, a Whitsuntide Community Cake 1 metre long by 30cm wide was ceremonially cut at 3pm by the Reverend Jacob Kaiga. The free event included a Bar B Q, refreshments, Bouncy Castles, Kite making, Donkey rides, Hook-a-Duck, Crafts, Music and 3 Face painters! A big effort from a large number of volunteers, our 8 churches and our sponsors, but the joy on the adults and children's faces all afternoon made it more than worthwhile.
Heather Turner, our Community Newsletter Editor again did a first class job compiling and editing the monthly newsletter. We widened leaflet distribution and it includes local shops as well as those in residential homes and some community groups. Well received often by those feeling left out in our community.
Our young people's mission statement is ‘Helping young people to value themselves and others’. Through its Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project (HBYP) we run an open access project available to all young people, predominantly aged 11 to 25 years, living in Horbury, Lupset, Netherton and surrounding areas from a range of social backgrounds but prioritising disadvantaged young people. This year we reached 546 young people in our groups and activities plus 261 young people through our detached work in local parks, gathering points and skateboard locations.
Over the year we ran a wide variety of individual and group support programmes and activities including Archery; Duke of Edinburgh; Dodgeball; Girls’ Group and Lads’ Group aimed at specific issues with particular needs; as well as youth clubs in three locations; outreach in the local high school at lunchtimes; Cooking Corner; Dodgeball; Chess Club; a self-esteem / confidence boosting group called Bravery and mentoring in the local high school. Our chess club is doing really well – seeing over 240 young people in the year accessing this lunchtime club across three lunch breaks in Horbury Academy.
A major highlight was our Youth Lunch Sunday 17[th] November. Including those receiving awards we had 114 attendees, a mix of young people, families and church people. It was a very enjoyable and successful event, led by our young people and the staff team, with a cake stall producing almost £90 for The Little Princess Trust who provide wigs for children with Cancer.
Once again, we have seen a significant turnover in staff this year. However, as we ended 2024/25we are working to recruit high-calibre individuals and to ensure that our organisation structure provides the best framework possible for our crucial youth work.
Income was as budgeted for the 12 months to 31[st] August 2025. However, due to the significant staff and activity re-structuring an overall less than budgeted expenditure meant that Reserves increased by £34,788 to £84,741 on 31[st] August 2025 (12 months to 31[st] August 2024: £49,953).
Total Receipts were £143,350 (12 months to August 2024: £139,830) including NLCF (National Lottery Community Fund) grants of £83,650 (12 months to August 2024: £82,500), just over 58% of total receipts. Other Donations and Grants were £39,582 (12 months to August 2024: £36,366), 27% of total receipts and included Aire Calder Methodist Circuit £2,000, Children in Need £15,000, Methodist District Advance Fund £5,000, Garfield Weston Foundation £10,000, Horbury Common Lands Trust £7,000, WMDC £511 and other receipts £71.
Regular Donations from loyal individuals and our Churches generated £5,885 (12 months to 31[st] August 2024: £7,625), 4% of total receipts. A huge thank you to the individuals and our local Churches, who have continued to support ‘Horbury Churches Together’ throughout the report period.
Numerous Fund-raising activities and Events, including the Great North Run, Family Fun Day and Store collections, generated £5,312 (12 months to 31[st] August 2024: £4,848), 4% of total receipts. Activity contributions by young people including our Holiday Activities and Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme generated £6,921 (12 months to 31[st] August 2024: £7,887), 5% of total receipts. Gift Aid and Other Income generated £2,000 (12 months to 31[st] August 2024: £604), circa 2% of total receipts.
Total Payments of £108,562 (12 months to 31[st] August 2024: £136,999) consisted of Salaries, Pensions & NI of £79,698 (12 months to 31[st] August 2024: £95,959) 73% of the total, Youth Activity costs of £10,254 (12 months to 31[st] August 2024: £20,094), 9% of the total, Rent, Utilities & Office costs £14,806 (12 months to 31[st] August 2024: £18,153), 14% of payments, other costs of £3,804 (12 months to 31[st] August 2024: £2,803) 4% of payments. This financial summary was prepared by Lesley Harrison, treasurer. Special thanks to John Gallagher, John Walter and Mark Hunter (retiring as one of our Fundraising Coordinators) for preparing and submitting the various grant application forms, and the external organisations supporting us in 2024/25.
Horbury Churches Together and The Horbury Breakthrough Youth Project also benefit from Trustees and individuals giving time freely and our own 8 Churches who provide free or reduced rent for meetings and youth activities at Church premises.
Our partners this year included: Local Businesses Horbury Academy The Youth Association Horbury and Ossett Rotary Club Prosper/NOVA Wakefield Wakefield MDC Youth Services Cross Project Wakefield Young Lives Consortium The Well Project WMDC Duke of Edinburgh team Aire and Calder Circuit Sitlington Parish Council WMDC Third Sector Framework Organisation West Yorkshire Police – through Safer Communities
Thanks to all these groups for on-going support.
Elected Trustees for 2024/2025 were: Councillor Darren Byford – Chair (part year), Lesley Harrison – Treasurer, John Walter- Business Manager, Heather Turner – Secretary, Reverend Jacob Kaiga, Reverend Hannah Hobday and Reverend Andrew Atkins (both part year) Father Christopher Johnson, Father Daniel Heaton. Co-opted Advisors– Claire Hardcastle, Youth Work Practitioner
Prepared on behalf of the Trustees by - John Walter – Business Manager, Lesley Harrison – Treasurer, Heather Turner- Secretary.
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Horbury Churches Together
Charity Number 1092641 Accounts for the year ended 31st August 2025
Ms L J Harrison BSc, FCCA - Treasurer Mrs M Smith, FCCA - Independent Examiner
(approved by the Trustees - 11th February 2026 {presented at the AGM - 25th March 2026)
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Horbury Churches Together
| Restricted | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | Restricted Fund | Fund 12 Months |
||
| (HCT) | (Youth Project) | (Benevolent Fund) | ||
| Receipts and PaymentsAccount | ||||
| Receipts | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 |
| ChurchSubscriptions&Donations Contributions Events&FundRaising GiftAid Grants&General Donations individual Donations Other Income |
[ | _370]~—~—~—SOO]~—SC~C~C~‘ SCCdzCOC;C‘*Y;«CYOO |
7/555 Pe 6921;8921 |
7,887 aes COC:~CdSC(‘“CC‘SSNONQYT «4.848 |
| Payments | 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | |
| Events&Fund Raising Insurance Rent, Utilities& Office Costs Salaries, NI & Pensions YouthWork |
2-5 pd 3,013 |
<2 ee = 2043] = |
2,043 |
9750{ — - |
| Net Inflow /(Outflow | (971) | 35,759,Y 34,788 |
2,831 | |
| Restricted | ||||
| Balance Sheet | General Fund _ | Restricted Fund | Fund 31/08/2025 31/08/2024 |
|
| (HCT) | (Youth Project) | (Benevolent Fund) | ||
| Cash on Hand | - | 100 | - 400 |
100 |
| Cash at Bank | 11,980 | 74,001 | 100 86,081 |
51,423 |
| 11,980 | 74,101 | 86,181 | 51,523 | |
| Creditors Accrued Expenses |
- (1,440) |
- (1,440) |
(262) (1,308) |
|
| Current Liabilities | ee | Le (1,440) |
||
| Total net assets/ (liabilities) | 11,980 | 72,661 | 84,741 | 49,953 |
| Net Inflow / (Outflow) | (971) | 35,759 | - 34,788 |
2,831 |
| 72,661 | 84,741 | 49,953 |
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Horbury Churches Together General Fund 2025
Receipts and Payments Account
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|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Receipts|Notes|2024|
|(12|months)|
|Church|Subscriptions|&|Donations|4|
|Contributions|es|
|Events & Fund Raising|2|[aes|[7.848 ||
|Grants &|Genera!|Donations|3|f|2,340|||2,110|
|Individual|Donations|||1,224 ||2,374|
|Other income|es|
|Total|Receipts|General|Fund|
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|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Payments|2025|2024|
|(12|months|(12|months)|
|Events &|Fund|raising|4||, 581|||1,825|
|Newsletter and Website|P3013|572|||
|Salaries,|NI|&|Pensions|Y|1,908|||4,630|
|Youth|Work|- Young|Christian|5|
|Total|Payments|General|Fund|7,514|7,639|
|Net|Inflow|/|(Outflow)|- General|Fund|(971}|(842)|
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|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Balance|Sheet|-|General|Fund|Notes|31/08/2025|31/08/2024|
|Cash|on|Hand|-|.|
|Cash|at|Bank|11,980|12,951|
|12,951|
|Creditors|
|(Corrent|Cables|
|Total|net|assets|/|(liabilities)|11,980|12,951|
|OpeningNet|InflowReserves / (Outflow)|12.951(971)|7|(342)|
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Horbury Churches Together
General Fund 2025
Notes to the Accounts - General Fund
| 1. Church Subscriptions & Donations -General Fund (Receipts) | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| {12 months) | (12 months) | |
| Horbury Methodist | 70 | 60 |
| Netherton Trinity Methodists | 40 | 35 |
| Salvation Army | 40 | 70 |
| St Andrews | 40 | 35 |
| St Lukes | 40 | 35 |
| St Mary's | 70 | 60 |
| St Peter's & St John | 70 | 60 |
| Total Church Subscriptions & Donations - General Fund | 370 | 355 |
| 2. Events& Fund raising -General Fund (Receipts) |
2025 | 2024 |
| (12 months) | (12 months) | |
| Awards Lunch | §94 | 486 |
| Family Fun Day | 598 | 591 |
| Forum | §57 | 475 |
| Quiz Night | 446 | 296 |
| Total Events - General Fund | 2,195 | 1,848 |
| 3. Other Donations & Grants - General Fund (Receipts) | 2025 | 2024 |
| (12 months) | (42 months) | |
| Methodist DistrictAdvance Fund | 1,500 | 4,500 |
| WMDC Family Fun Day Grant Total Other Donations& Grants - General Fund |
840 2,340 |
610 2,110 |
| 4. Events& Fund raising - General Fund | 2025 | 2024 |
| (12 months) | (12 months} | |
| Awards Lunch | 450 | 50 |
| Family Fun Day | 1,813 | 1,680 |
| Forum | 186 | 95 |
| Quiz Night | 132 | - |
| 2,581 | 1,825 |
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Horbury Churches Together Restricted Fund (Youth Project) 2025
Receipts and Payments Account
| Receipts | Notes | 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (12 | months) | (12 months) | |||
| Church Donations | 5 | 1,200 | |||
| Contributions | 6,921 | 7,877 | |||
| Events & Fund Raising | 6 | 3,117 | 3,000 | ||
| Gift Aid | 7 | re | |||
| Grants & General Donations (excl. NLCF) | 8 | 37,242 | 34,256 | ||
| Individual Donations | 3,591 | 3,696 | |||
| National Lottery Community Fund Otherincome Total Receipts - Restricted Fund |
83,650 82,500 |
1,535] 804 |
136,807 133,133 |
||
| Payments | Notes | 2024 | |||
| (12 months) | |||||
| Events & Fund raising | 1,223 | ||||
| Insurance Rent, Utilities & Office costs |
2,043] | ||||
| Salaries, NI & Pensions | 77,793 | 91,319 | |||
| Youthwork Total Payments -RestrictedFund |
9 | ||||
| ) | Net inflow/(Outflow) - Restricted Fund | 35,759 | 3,673 | ||
| Balance Sheet - Restricted Fund | Notes | 31/08/2025 | 31/08/2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash on Hand | 100 | 100 | |
| Cash at Bank | 73,401 | 38,372 | |
| Current Assets | 73,501 | 38,472 | |
| Creditors | (262) | ||
| Accrued Expenses | (1,308) | ||
| Current Liabilities | _(1,440) | ||
| Total net assets/ (liabilities) | 72,061 | 36,902 | |
| Opening Reserves | 36,902 | 33,229 | |
| Net Inflow / (Outflow) | 35,759 72,661 |
3,673 36,902 |
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Restricted Fund (Youth Project) 2025
Horbury Churches Together
Notes to the Accounts - Restricted Fund
§. Church Donations - Restricted Fund
| §. Church Donations - Restricted Fund | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Horbury Methodist Church | 500 | 500 |
| St Leonards Hospital Trust | - | 500 |
| St Mary's /The Junction | 200 | 200 |
| Total Church Donations - Restricted Fund | 700 | 1,200 |
| 6. Events & Fund Raising - Restricted Fund | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Great North Run | 2,794 | 2,204 |
| Store Collections | 4111 | 185 |
| Youth Fundraising | 212 | 611 |
| Other income | - | - |
| Total Fund raising - Restricted Fund | 3,117 | 3,000 |
| 7. Gift Aid | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| HMRC Charities - Tax year 2020/21 | - | - |
| HMRC Charities - Tax year 2021/22 | - | - |
| HMRC Charities - Tax year 2022/23 | - | - |
| HMRC Charities - Tax year2023/24 | : | - |
| HMRC Charities - Tax year 2024/25 | 51 | - |
| Total GiftAid - Restricted Fund | 51 | - |
| 8. Other Donations & Grants - Restricted Fund | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Aire Calder Methodist Circuit | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| Children In Need | 15,000 | - |
| Family and Social Welfare Fund | - | 5,000 |
| Garfield Weston | 10,000 | - |
| Horbury Common Lands Trust Leeds Methodist District Advance Fund |
7,000 3,500 |
6,000 3,500 |
| NOVA Wakefield | - | 6,867 |
| Rotary Club | 71 | 299 |
| The Foyle Foundation | - | - |
| Wakefield Metropolitan District Council | (329) | 10,591 |
| Totai Other Donations & Grants - Restricted Fund | 37,242 | 34,257 |
| 9. Youth work - Restricted Fund | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Bursary Giving | - | 10 |
| Duke of Edinburgh Award | 1,995 | 2,737 |
| General Expenses | 3,285 | 4,675 |
| Holiday events | 1,223 | 5,950 |
| Recruitment Training Travel expenses |
300 2,639 797 |
460 2,657 3,093 |
| TotalYouthwork-RestrictedFund | 10,239 | 19,582 |
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a; CHARITY COMMISSION | Independent examiner's report on the
(34) FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts
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Section A
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Independent Examiner’s Report
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Report to the trustees Horbury Churches Together On accounts for the year | 31* August 2025 Charity no | 1092641 ended (if any) | report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended . Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act”). | report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent | have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: e the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or e the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or e the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts givea ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. | have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. * Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Relevant professional |[ACCA] qualification(s) or body (if any):
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Address: | 11 Grey Gables
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IER
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Oct 2018
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1
West Yorkshire, WF4 4SS
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Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern
(see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and
guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of
any items that the N Be:
examiner wishes to
disclose.
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IER
2
Oct 2018