UNION ROAD COMMUNITYCHURCH {OSWALDTWISTLE) REPORTAND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31STMARCH 2025 (Reglstered Charlty Number 1093218)
UNION ROAD COMMUNITYCHURCH (OSWALDTWISTLE) REPORTAND ACCOUNTS- 2025 CONTENTS Page Trustees, report Report of the Independent examiner Statement offinanclal actlvlties Balance sheet Notesto the accounts O&Sep
Trustees report st Year Ended 31 March 2025 Union Road Community Church Church Registration Number: 1093218 The Trustees (Leadership team), of Union road Community Church, are pleased to present their annual report and financial statements for the accounting year, 2024-2025, accordin8 to the format outllned in the Charlty Commission's guldellnes. Structure, Governance and Management The charlty is an independent evangellcal church, within the membershlp of the Assembles of God (AOG), which Is a network of Pentecostal churches in the UK. The church was formed in 1901, and has outworked continued Christian minlstry, within its surrounding community. The church building Is centrally located on the main road of Oswaldtwistle, a town situated in East Lancashlre. The salaried church minister is Duncan Allton, and he is supported by the voluntary leadership team and the falthfully committed membership. Following the adoption of the new constitution, (our key goveming document), by the membership on the 23, June 2002 and the subsequent registration of the Church with the Charity Commission, all those actlvely exercising leadership are now recognised as Trustees. An amendment to the constitution Ivas approved by the membership on 9 September, 2018, to set up a new Leadership Team consisting of at least five persons which superseded the traditional distinttion between the roles of elders and deacons. and this has enabled us to develop a more flexible and effective structure to lead the Church. The Leadershlp Team in 2024-2025 conslsts of the followlng indlviduals and roles. Church Minister-mr Duncan Allton Trea5urer-Mrs Alison Allton Mrs Ann Flood Dr Mark Haydock Mrs Dawn Preston Mr Norman Sucherzewski Mrs Barbara Sucherzewskl Previous Leaders, Mrs Angela Bridges and Mr Davld Legg, both resigned during the report period. Appolntment prOS$.. New Team Leaders are chosen by consensual agreement of the exlstlng Leadership Team followlng the consideration of the views of the wider membershlp. All nomlnatlons of the Leadershlp Team are ratified by members at a full meeting. Decision-moking Procedures.. The Ilftlng of all Covld-19 restrictions allowed us to resume our normal pattem of internal decision-makin8 throughout the 2024-2025 report perlod. The team leaders meet
in person at least once a month to provide spiritual oversight and dlrection for the Church and to admlnisterthe day to day prdctical needs and ourfinancial and property resources. Whenever possible during the year, the whole leadership tsam sought to discuss specific objectives and strategies for the fvture, to engage in tralning and skills enhanrnent, and to revlew and, where necessary, update procedures. policles and governance structures. In addition. the Trustees met when required to make major decisions related to the Churches buildin& other assets, and liabilities. The Constitution speclfies that fomial members meetings are held at least twice per annum for the leadership to Inform and consult members about the Churches affairs and forthe opportunity to vote on particular issues and recommendations. RtskAssessment.. Because of the inevitable risks associated with the Church's programme of activitles for children and young people, we require full DBS disdosures for any person involved in these mlnistrfes, as set out in the Church's Chlld Protection DocurnenL Because the Church's worship services and other actlvitles are open to the general publiG the Trustee's ensure that any buildings we own or use are covered by Public Liability insuran, and that any employees are simllarly protected against third party claims. Charitable Aims and Activities The general aims of the church are fivefold. as defined in the Constitution: -The promotlon of God's glory. -The furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. -The salvation and discipling of eternal souls. -The support of the needy. -The service to the local community. This has been recently been summarised as: 'Union Road Community Church aims to preach. teach and outwork the Gospel of Jesus, in the power of the Hoty Spirit.. Review of Achievements and Performance In 2024-2025 In the 2023-24 Trustees Repo¢ the Leadership Team defined the following objectNes for the Church in 2024-25. -The Church'sfinanciol base.. has continued to Improve, with improved giving from the membership and also compounded by an increase In membership numbers.This has contributed to a more soltd foundatlon of finance, which allows better planning and the ongoing future security of ministries that outreach into the community. The objective for the next annum, is to continue to teach the advantages of blbllcal gMn& in faith, without the Church feeling any sort of pressure or 8uilL -Discipleship." (learning and following Jesus) The Leaderships alm is to brin& further Into the centre, the continual development of the community of the Church. Thi& we hope to achieve, by keeping the constitutional objects levant in our culture through discipleship centred teachin& partlcularly In Sunday services and Its message.
The Church aims and promotes the recognitlon that. It has to adapt the unchanging message of the Gospel, to a population Ilvlng in a fast-changing culture. Therefore, the Church strives to bring Jesu message of hope, and the 'new life, he has promised. recorded in the Bible. to fvture generations. -Leadership." The fim) foundation and development of the leadership team and its structures are a continuous key aim, in order to support the future growth and health of the Church. Objectives such as long-terni succession and a wider age range, in the team, are seen as achievable tsets. The Church is satisfied it has hit its target of an equal split of male/female make-up of the team. -Mlnlstries.' The Church consists of a membership, in which God has gfven ministy gifts for the building of the Church and the minlstries contsined within it. The ministries suth as the Food Market, Noah's Ark {pre-school children), services, as well as Church services, are seen as areas where members can exercise their gifts to achieve the objectives of the Church. The Church alms to promote and develop each member in their giftln& in a safe and unpressured environment -Prayer.' The Church has a great tradftion of prayer and this is seen as an essentlal element of its present and future culture. We contlnue to have the objective of looking for ways to develop the Church's prayer life. To help build on its foundation of prayer, which is vitsl in all thlnBS of Church Plans and Objectives for 2025-2026 and Beyond. -The Church's Financialsltuatlon." As we move forward with a firni vision to fulfil our objectives from 2025 onwards, we will continue to teach and promote biblical principles. This is to be athieved under the mandate that God wants US to give, not out of compulsion, but cheerfully and in line wlth what the member wants to give. The Church believes we give in faith, but with responslbllity. for our commitment to salaries, utilities and outgoings. -Discipleship.' In a surrounding world Cultu that can have many objectives and aims, that are not always helpful. the church wants to disciple its members and not yet members who attend regularly, in the teachings of Jesus, from the Bible. The aim moving forward is to give a broad teaching of the splrftual disciplines, that are needed to navigate our everyday lives. Jesu5, mandate was to give us life to the full, so that we are a refiection of Jesus and his teachings to those who we are In connection with. The Tuesday evening 'big picture, meeting assists us in equipping us for thls, and we wlll continue to develop as disciples. Thls we are continuing to discover, leads to a more organic method of evangelism. The Church has dlscovered within its minlstrie5, that this is more in line with those who are seeking spiritually, partially In the post covid culture, we have found ourselves within. The Churth leadership is aware that past performance is not a guarantee of future success, so we will keep alert, changing as diretted by the Holy SpiriL -Leadership.' In Ilne with our objective of growth, the Church leadership aims to broaden and strengthen area's where growth has and Is occurring. We believe that all things are within the Church for growth and to sustain it. Therefore, we develop from the membershlp those who are tsking on tssks and dlsplaying leadership qualities in their5erving. -Ministries.' The Church leadershlp aim is to look for continuous improvement and leading from God. as we build his Church. Two examples of this are in the food market, which has become mre sustalnable, (due to govemment funding reductions) whilst still retaining its great values. The other is Noah's Ark, which has changed emphasis, to local parents, (as opposed to childminders}.
Development of volunteer members and thelr encouragement, to see the opportunities that ministries provide in reathing our surroundlng communty, still remain a priority for the future. Financial Review General Fund.. In 2024-25, the General Funds total income, primarily from members direct contributions, was about £0 and expenditure (including depreciation) amounted to about £01 000, leaving a surplus of £CKHX)O. Building Fund.. During the financlal year, the building fund's income from designated gifts and deeds of covenant totalled £0. While total expenditure on maintenance and renewals amounted to £ooa)o. Resenes Poliry.. Unrestricted liquld funds are needed to sustain and develop the day to day operations of the Church. The Trustee's policy is that unrestritted reserves Should be managed, firstly, to avoid the need to realise fixed assets for the Church's current use, and, secondly. to cover at least 6 months current expenditure, especially the salary of the full-time employee. The level of reserves Is reviewed regularly by the Trustees.
REPORTOFTHE INDEPENDENTEXAMINER TO THETRUSTEESOFUNION ROAD COMMUNITYCHURCH (OSWALDIWISTLE) I report tothe trustees on my examlnatlon of the accountsof the charltyfor the year ended 31st March 2025which are set out on pages7to 11. Responsibillties and basis of report Asthe charitystrusteesyou are responsible forthe preparation of the accounts in accordance wlth the requlrements ofthe CharitiesAct 2011 (heAct"). I report In respect of my examinatlon of the trustees accountscarrled out under section 145 of the Act and in carrylngout myexaminatlon I have followed allthe appllcable Directlons&ven bythe Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) oftheAct. My examination was carried out In accordance with the General Directlons glven by the Charlty Commissioners. An examinatlon Includes a review of the accountlngrecords kept by the charityand a comparlson of the accounts presented with those records. It also Includes conslderatlon of any unusual Items or disclosuresin the accounts, andthe seeklngof expLanatlonsfromyou astrusteesconcernlnganysuch matter&The procedures undertaken do not provlde allthe evldence thatwould be requlred in an audit, and consequently no opinion is ven astowhetherthe accounts present a rue and falrvlevf andthe report is limited to those mattersset out in the statement below. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no mateiial mattershave come to my attention in connection wlththe examinatlon Ovingrne cause to believethat In anymaterial respect: accountlngrecordswere not kept In respect of the charityas required by sectlon 130 of the Act; the accountsdo not accordwiththose records: or 3) the accounts do not complywlththe applicable requirements concernlngtheform and content of accounts set out In the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accountsBlve a "true and falrviewh4ch is not a matter considered as part of an independent examinatlon. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters In connection wlththe examlnation towhlch attentlon should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accountsto be reached Sharon Loc i) 2th December 2025 Accountlng4 Umlted
STATEMENTOF FINANCIAL ACTNMESYEAR ENDED 31STMARCH 2025 2025 2024 Unrestrlcted Restrlcted funds funds Total Total Note Offerlngs. collectlons& legacies Foodbankdonations and grants 32856 32856 34671 18991 18991 21683 Noah'sArktoddler8roup 979 150 240 57723 Other Income Investment Income 32856 18991 51847 Charltable actmtles Salarles and penslon Mlsslonary, workers support and other causes Church events 22411 22411 18,500 187 Depreciation Office Expenses and Telephone Repairs and outslde malntenance Insurance Llght and heat Rates Bankcharges Entertalnment Donation Ucencesand subscrlptlons Teachlng trainin& etc Sundry expenses Foodbankexpenses Noah'sAJktoddler group 7409 317 2928 1.522 7.885 1032 2431 1032 2431 58 5802 235 55 61 1168 1206 105 5138 150 61 1168 06 105 5138 877 1578 23051 789 53552 65,061 463 41089 463 Governance Costs Professional fees Net Incomlnyl (outgolngl resourcesfortheye Transfers between funds Total funds brought forward -1705 108634 422323 530,957 538295 Totalfunds carriedforward 100401 428851 529252 530,957
BALANCESHEET31STMARCH 2025 Note 2025 2024 Tanglble assets 535726 513027 Debtors Cash at bankand In hand 6273 773 7046 18790 22880 Credltors and accruals 13520 4950 -6474 17930 S252 530957 Unrestricted- General Purposes Restricted 100401 428851 108634 422323 )proved bytheTrusteeson 27thJanuary2025 and gned on their behalf by: Angela Bridges MrsA Brldges-Trustee
L Accountlng poucles The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practlce: "Accountlngand Reportlngbycharltles preparlngtheir accounts In accordance wlth the Flnanclal Reportlngstandard appllcable In the UK and Republlc of Ireland (FRS 102}" ("the Sorp°} andthe Flnanclal Reportlngstandard appllcable in the Unlted Klngdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102} and the CharitlesAct 2011. The partlcular accountlngpollcles are described below. Accountlng conventlon The accountsare prepared under the hlstorlcal cost conventlon. Donatlons b) i) Donatlons and glfts under deeds of covenant, together wlththe assoclated Income tax recoverable, are recognlsed as Incorne when the donatlon Is recelved. Other donatlons and glfts recelved are credlted to the Incorne and expendlture c) Depreclatlon Depreclation Is calculated so asto wrlte off the cost of the asset over Its useful economlc Ilfe as follows: Land Bulldlngs 2% per annum Equlpment 10%-20% per annu 2 Offerlngs. Collectlons & Legacles 2025 2024 Offerlngs, covenants and other 32856 34251 3. Foodbank Donatlons and Grants 4 Expendlture 2025 2024 Included wlthln expendlture for the year are the followlngcosts: Staff costs 22,411 18500 Reportingaccountants, fees: Independent Examlnatlon Fee There was l employee duringthe year {2024- 1). STrustees' remuneratlon, expenses and other transactlons One of the Trustees, the senlor team leader, recelved remuneration as dlsclosed In note 3 above. No remuneratlon or relrnbursement of personal expenseswas pald durlngthe year to any other trustee orto any person knownto be connected wlth anytrustee. In common wlth most charltlestheTrustees make donationstothe charity.
Flxtures and equlpment Total 8 Tangible flxed assets Land and buildings Cost At 1st April 2024 Addltions Disposals 605,050 56025 661,075 At 31st March 2025 605,050 56,025 661.075 Depreclatlon At 1st Aprll 2024 Depreclatlon foryear Charge Dlsposals 95,174 63 52874 148048 378 At 31st March 2025 95.237 52,874 148.426 Net book value At 31st March 2025 499678 2,836 512,649 At 31st March 2024 509876 3,151 513027 7 Statement of funds Unrestricted Restrlcted Total Tangible assets Current assets Uablllty: amounts fallingdue wlthin one year 535,726 7046 535.726 -13,520 13,520 The restricted funds comprise amounts raised, @ven or transferred frorn unrestricted funds toward the bulldlng project, Noah'sArktoddler group and the Foodbank