2025-08-31-accounts - The Pais Project

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THE PAIS PROJECT Charity Number 1120891

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31[ST] AUGUST 2025

THE PAIS PROJECT Year ended 31[st] August 2025

Reference and administrative details

Trustees D Baker (Resigned October 2025) Philip Rhys Miles (Appointed 17/03/2025) Jonathan Richard Buckley (Appointed 17/03/2025) Elisabeth Thomas (Appointed 17/03/2025) Elizabeth Thompson (Appointed 17/03/2025)

National Director Louisa Thomas Registered office St Michaels Church Budbrooke Warwick Warwickshire CV35 8QL

Bankers Virgin Money

Independent Examiner M Heaton FCCA FCIE DChA KM 1[st] Floor Block C The Wharf Manchester Road Burnley Lancashire BB11 1JG

THE PAIS PROJECT Year ended 31[st] August 2025

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31[st] August 2025.

The year ending 31 August 2025 has been a period of ongoing development for Pais UK. During this time the trustees have begun strengthening governance and compliance arrangements across the organisation and have been working to review and improve policies and processes to support this.

The charity has continued to deliver its mission through partnerships with churches and schools across the UK. Trustees remain grateful for the dedication of staff, volunteers and apprentices whose commitment has enabled the work to continue and young people to benefit from the activities delivered by Pais.

During the year the charity received funding which has supported the continued growth of the work and contributed to the ongoing financial stability of Pais UK. Further grant funding has been obtained since the financial year end.

Changes have also taken place within the trustee board. New trustees have been appointed strengthening the range of skills and experience available to support the charity. The trustees would also like to express their sincere thanks to those trustees who stepped down during the year for their service and contribution.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims

To seek the advancement of the Christian religion in accordance with the charity’s statement of faith.
The relief of persons who are unemployed, particularly through the provision of advice, education and training opportunities.
To advance the education of children, young persons and adults in accordance with Christian principles.

We seek to achieve the objectives of the charity by the following activities:

Providing free training to young adults in youth and schools ministry.

THE PAIS PROJECT Year ended 31[st] August 2025

Working in partnership with local church throughout the UK to share the Gospel by:

Delivering assemblies, RE lessons and clubs in schools providing opportunities to explore the Christian faith.
Delivering mentoring and training opportunities for young people to develop in their Christian walk.
Supporting church leaders and volunteers through training and mentoring in outreach ministry.

In regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, we carry out these activities:

Increased volunteerism among young people, which creates more confident, healthy and well-rounded members of society.
Strengthened work of local churches who add benefit to their communities through spiritual support, as well as other supports to the community, for example poverty relief.
Supported work of schools in their provision of SMSC (spiritual, moral, social and cultural development). SMSC provision is believed to increase academic standards and increase aspirations of children, giving opportunity to practise empathy, compassion, forgiveness and deepen spirituality.
Increased positive Christian role models in young people, developing leadership and communication skills, giving them greater future opportunities and aspirations.

A significant proportion of the work with The Pais Project in 2024-25 was carried out by volunteers and apprentices. We, as Trustees, are grateful for all the time and effort that they, and our paid employees, have given to the organisation. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to fulfil our charitable aims and objectives; thank you.

THE PAIS PROJECT Year ended 31[st] August 2025

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Receipts for the year were £85,335 (2024: £64,456) Payments for the year amounted to £74,762 (2024: £98,417)

The principal funding sources are partner churches and individual regular donors, plus occasional grants. The Trustees continue to commend the staff team for their exceptional performance and service, without which The Pais Project could not have achieved the growth and stability that has come into being. Overheads continue to be kept lean, reserves are being built and much continues to be achieved from a very modest operational budget.

The Pais Project reserves policy states that reserves should fund three months of operating costs in the event that The Pais Project ceases to operate. At year ended 31[st] August 2025, this amounts to £24,000 (2024: £24,000). At year ended 31[st] August 2025 £22,790 (unrestricted) (2024: £12,217 unrestricted) was held in bank balances.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document: Declaration of Trust dated 18[th] December 2006

The Trustees regularly discuss business risks and implement systems to mitigate these risks.

The trustees have continued to review governance arrangements and organisational policies to ensure good practice and compliance with charity law.

New trustees are nominated by existing members of the board and formally appointed at trustee meetings. Trustee appointments are recorded in the minutes of those meetings.

The trustees regularly review statutory responsibilities including safeguarding, health and safety and data protection.

Under charity law, trustees are responsible for preparing financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity. Trustees must also ensure that proper accounting records are kept and that the assets of the charity are safeguarded.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 8[th] June 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

P Myles - Trustee

THE PAIS PROJECT Year ended 31[st] August 2025

Independent Examiners Report

Respective responsibilities of 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:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and

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 those 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 consequently no opinion is given as to 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; and
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.

M R Heaton FCCA FCIE DChA KM 1[st] Floor, Block C The Wharf, Manchester Road Burnley BB11 1JG

8[th] June 2026

THE PAIS PROJECT Year ended 31[st] August 2025

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

Receipts Church contribution Giving and donations Gift Aid tax reclaimed Fundraising and other income Grants – Methodist Youth Activities & Seedfield Trust Other income Total receipts Payments Staff costs Charitable activity costs Independent examination and payroll Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end	2025 £ 67,847 9,645 - 1,003 6,500 340 85,335 23,819 49,803 1,140 74,762 10,573 12,217 22,790	2024 £ 50,848 12,845 57 706 -
		64,456
		39,358 58,369 690
		98,417

		(33,961)
		46,178
	22,790	12,217

THE PAIS PROJECT

Year ended 31[st] August 2025

Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year

Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year
Cash funds General Fund Liabilities PAYE Independent examination	Total funds £ 2025 22,790 22,790 482 700	Total funds £ 2024 12,217 -
		12,217
		- 700

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf on 8[th] June 2026 by:

P Myles Trustee