This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Churches Together in Willenhall

Churches Together In Willenhall

Annual Report & Accounts For the Year to 30[th] September 2025

Page 1 of 9

Churches Together in Willenhall

Churches Together in Willenhall Registered Charity No. 1093921

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 September 2025

Charity Name:

Churches Together in Willenhall (also known as Bridging the Gap)

Registered Charity No.

1093921

Principal Address:

Bridging the Gap 79a Stafford Street Willenhall West Midlands WV13 1RT

Objects of the Charity:

To spread and increase the knowledge of Christianity in and around the Willenhall area.
The relief of poverty, sickness and distress for those people who are in need by virtue of their financial circumstances, sickness or social isolation, in particular – but not exclusively – by the provision of, and signposting towards, advice, information and counselling.

Bank:

HSBC Queen Square Wolverhampton WV1 1TE

Charity Officers:

Chairperson:

Mr R Wilcox

Treasurer:

Ms K MacMahon

Other current Trustees:

Mrs E Wilcox, Mrs K Mckeown, Mr G Ward, Ms C Johnson

Independent Examiner:

Simon Tonry Graphic House, 15-18 New Rd, Willenhall WV13 2BG

Governing document:

20[th] October 2005.

How the Charity is constituted:

Association of Christian churches in the locality

Page 2 of 9

Churches Together in Willenhall

Trustee selection methods:

Trustees are appointed or reappointed at the Annual General Meeting held in October. The Constitution also provides for co-option under certain circumstances.

Administrative Information:

Churches Together in Willenhall is an unincorporated association under the responsibility of an Executive (trustees) who met four times during the year.

Structure, Governance & Information:

The Charity has a voting membership. The members are Christian churches in the locality of Willenhall which commit themselves to furthering the objects and have paid the annual subscription laid down from time to time by the Executive. The Charity is managed by an Executive (trustees) appointed at the Annual General Meeting by the member churches through votes vested in their nominated representatives. Trustees are appointed to serve for two years and may stand for re-election. Member churches have a voice into decision-making at quarterly general meetings. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefit.

Operation:

Our principal activity, involving more than 95% of our finance and most of our energy, is the running of a Community Resource Centre called Bridging the Gap, located in one of the main shopping streets in our Town. There we employ a part time centre manager and operate with twenty or so volunteers who, typically, give a few hours a week. We also take work experience placements. Volunteers receive no benefit. In addition, we run a foodbank in association with The Black Country Foodbank and provide face to face advice and support. Thirdly, we run an open air prayer stall in our town market area, from where we engage with the public, inviting prayer, signposting to churches in the locality and supplying Christian literature without charge. Finally, the Charity coordinates joint public Christian events in the community such as a Walk of Witness on Good Friday, a presence at the annual Town Carnival and carol singing in public places in the Christmas season. These events generate a small income to the Charity; always in excess of any costs incurred in running the events.

Premises:

Bridging the Gap is a three storey, shop-fronted building owned by the Methodist Church of Great Britain, represented by the local Methodist Circuit. The Charity rents the building from the Methodist Church. During the year we continued, as in previous years, to offer help with benefits applications, general form filling, bereavement support and other similar helps to people in need or who are vulnerable because of mental health issues, social isolation, lack of literacy, numeracy or computer skills or who are otherwise disadvantaged.

Members of the public and beneficiaries of our services, all of whom are received without distinction, enter our Centre through our on-street charity shop. This becomes the point of contact, help or referral for all who make such a request. Our costs are funded almost entirely by the sale of second-hand goods in our charity shop.

In September 2023 we took on the next-door shop at number 79 and currently have a 4-year lease running from April 2025, with a break point after two years. This is an affordable way to increase our

Page 3 of 9

Churches Together in Willenhall

shop floor area, giving needed space for the display and sale of larger donated items such as occasional furniture, household goods, curtains and the like.

The main premises at 79a is also on a four year lease, also running from April 2025. The landlord has indicated its wish to sell the property after we quit. Accordingly, we have waived our right to renewal of the lease. It is likely that our presence on the high street will end at that point.

Public Benefit Test:

The previous heading (Operation) provides good evidence that, in the carrying out of our charitable purposes, we provide significant and widespread public benefit to the people of Willenhall. Other than an annual subscription of £20 paid by each member church, all our income is provided in kind by Willenhall people (mainly) who donate second hand items for sale, other local people who buy those items, with the income generated being used for the benefit of Willenhall people who seek our help. Part of our strength is that we raise our income from local people and expend it for the benefit of local people in need. We always keep in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The local community continues to have a high degree of confidence in what we seek to achieve and provide. .

Risk Analysis:

The trustees have carried out a recent review of the Charity and consider that we have sufficient safeguards in place to respond to the now likely closure of the two shops. We are alert to the possibility of unforeseen risks and maintain a responsible view of what our response should be in light of this, including maintaining appropriate reserves for such an eventuality.

The past two years have seen a marked downturn in our shop income; a phenomenon reflected across the town. Pockets are squeezed, people are spending less and the Town is often unusually quiet. This has been coupled with extensive road works and diversions to the main approach roads to Willenhall. These have lasted for more than a year and have contributed to the downturn. To exacerbate our situation, the Methodist Church, which has made regular donations from the outset in support of our work, stopped their support last October. We are gearing up for an orderly and managed closure in the not-too-distant future as we are steadily depleting our reserves. N.B. The other charitable activities of the Trust will continue after the closure of our shops.

Financial Review:

This report covers the twenty third year of operation since registering as a charity. During the year, receipts amounted to £48,892 (down from £55,748). Payments in total amounted to £55,701. Through prudent management, we have maintained financial stability throughout the year.

Reserves Policy:

The Trustees are committed to ensuring that there are sufficient reserves in unrestricted funds to ensure the net settlement of all debtors and creditors, redundancy payments and any costs in meeting its legal obligations. Having reached our ‘warning’ threshold of £10,000 of unreserved funds, we have undertaken a priority review of our finances. We currently have a reasonable financial margin over and above what we need to close the charity.

Page 4 of 9

Churches Together in Willenhall

Trustees responsibilities:

The Trustees are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity, for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities and to provide reasonable assurance that:

the charity is operating efficiently and effectively
its assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use or disposition
proper records are maintained and financial information used within the charity or for publication is reliable
the charity complies with relevant laws and regulations

Certain day to day management activities of Bridging the Gap are delegated to the Centre Manager, while all major decisions are taken by the trustees.

Declaration:

The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees on 29 May 2026.

Roger Frederick Wilcox Chairman Trustee Signature Trustee Name Position

Page 5 of 9

Churches Together in Willenhall

Independent Examiner’s Report To the Trustees of Churches Together in Willenhall (Registered Charity Number 1093921)

I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ending 30[th] September 2025, which are set out on pages 7-10.

Respective Responsibilities of the Trustees and Examiner

The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (The Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

a) examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act,
b) to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given the Charity Commission (under Section 145 (5)(b) of the Charities Act), and
c) to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with these records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequentially no opinion is given as the whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: -

which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:

to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act;

to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or

to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed…………………………………………………. On: 29[th] May 2026

Mr Simon Tonry KST Accountancy LLP Graphic House 15-18 New Road Willenhall West Midlands WV13 2BG

Page 6 of 9

Churches Together in Willenhall

Statement of Assets & Liabilities

----- Start of picture text -----
30 September 30 September
2025 2024
Notes £ £ £ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets 0 0
Current assets
Bank balance Main account 26,362 33,340
CTIW 21380206 305 236
Grants account 103 103
Cash in hand 400 300
27,170 33,979
- -
Less payments after date
Adjusted bank & cash in hand 27,170 33,979
Total Assets 27,170 33,979
----- End of picture text -----

Notes on Accounts for the Year to 30[th] September 2025

Note 1 Accounting convention

The accounts are prepared on a receipts and payment basis

Page 7 of 9

Churches Together in Willenhall

Receipts & Payments Account

Year to 30/09/2025 £ £ 5,370 0 5,370 36,673 6,849 43,522 48,892 13,651 14,959 3,889 383 881 2,870 5,290 4,564 0 5,263 259 703 2,989 55,701 (6,809) 33,979 27,170	Year to 30/09/2024 £ £ 4,945 0 4,945 41,280 9,523 50,803 55,748 11,852 13,914 799 387 1,964 3,452 4,599 3,696 1,031 6,851 0 747 3,555 52,847 2,901 31,078 33,979	Year to 30/09/2024 £ £ 4,945 0 4,945 41,280 9,523 50,803 55,748 11,852 13,914 799 387 1,964 3,452 4,599 3,696 1,031 6,851 0 747 3,555 52,847 2,901 31,078 33,979
36,673 6,849	41,280 9,523
13,651 14,959 3,889 383 881 2,870 5,290 4,564 0 5,263 259 703 2,989	11,852 13,914 799 387 1,964 3,452 4,599 3,696 1,031 6,851 0 747 3,555
		55,748 52,847

		2,901 31,078
		33,979

Page 8 of 9

Churches Together in Willenhall

Donations & membership Subscriptions Church donations Donations General expenses Performing rights Cleaning Software Miscellaneous PAT Testing/Security	2025 £ 300 4,185 885 5,370 514 1,677 26 1,461 886 4,564	2024 £ 260 4,185 500
		4,945
		497 1,547 58 1,073 521
		3,696

Page 9 of 9

2025-09-30-accounts