Aigburth Community Church
Report and Accounts For the year ending 31st August 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
AIGBURTH COMMUNITY CHURCH
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE C/O 46 Dunbabin Road Livepool L15 6XN GOVERNING DOCUMENT Deed of Trust dated 30 March 2009 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1129291 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Jeremy Clark (Elder) MANAGING THE CHARITY Jonathan Critchley (Elder) Richard Grindey (Elder) Paul Hewitt (Resigned 29 April 2025) Richard Moss (Elder) Stuart McClelland (Treasurer) Graham Kneale (appointed 28 January 2025) Edward Peck (Resigned 27 February 2026) INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Nick Spear ACCA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-3 Trustees' Report Page 4 Independent Examiner's Report Page 5 Receipts and Payments Account Page 6 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Page 7-8 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
AIGBURTH COMMUNITY CHURCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Objects of the charity
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a trust deed and is constituted as a trust. A summary of the charity's principal objects, as set out in its governing document, are:
a) to advance the Christian faith in the UK or the world;
b) to undertake purposes which are exclusively charitable and are connected with the charitable work of the church
c) to relieve sickness and financial hardship and preserve good health.
Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements
To further the above objects and vision, the charity has continued to:
-
Hold public Christian meetings each Sunday for adults and young people.
-
Provide meeting space for local community groups to use for the good of the community, and run community events (carol services, etc…) for the community.
-
Support full time Christian workers overseas for the purposes of advancement of the Christian faith, sending finances and practical support.
-
Ongoing training of staff for their further work for the charity and for the advancement of the Christian faith.
-
Support other individuals, churches, and charities for the advancement of the faith and the relief of hardship through donations. These donations have been sent locally in the city, across our region of the UK, and to other areas of Europe and internationally.
-
Support the sick or those facing hardship amongst the congregation with practical and financial support.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Financial review
During the 12 month period income decreased by £23,808 to £175,600, and expenditure increased by £1,520 to £201,144. Note that the prior period figures cover a 13 month period. The cash deficit for the year was £25,544 (2024: a cash deficit of £216) and the cash held by the charity decreased by this amount to £69,361, of which £67,665 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Reserves policy
The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold general fund cash of no less than £47,000 (which equates to about 4 months' of unrestricted expenditure in normal circumstances) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary unexpectedly. At the year end, the charity held general fund cash of £64,665 and so was complying with the reserves policy.
Page 2
Governance
Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. New trustees are recruited and appointed by the church's spiritual leadership, by a majority vote.
Risk statement
The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. Along with most other churches, the main area of risk is believed to the charity's dependence on voluntary giving from church members. The trustees review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks.
Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
SHMcClelland
_________SHMcClelland (Apr 13, 2026 22:49:35 GMT+1) Stuart McClelland
Apr 13, 2026 Date:_____
Page 3
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
AIGBURTH COMMUNITY CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Aigburth Community Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 August 2025 on pages 5 to 8 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.
Nick Spear
Nick Spear (Apr 15, 2026 10:25:13 GMT+1)
Nick Spear ACCA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Apr 15, 2026
Page 4
AIGBURTH COMMUNITY CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| Notes Income receipts Donations and gifts Income from letting facilities Income from church activities Bank interest Other Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Transfers between funds 5 Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net of receipts / (payments) before Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Mortgage payments |
Unrestricted Funds £ 145,433 18,061 3,375 1,479 71 168,419 111,758 33,044 144,802 48,466 193,268 (24,850) (3,726) (28,576) 93,240 64,665 |
Designated Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - 3,000 3,000 - 3,000 |
Restricted Funds £ 7,181 - - - - 7,181 3,592 4,284 7,875 - 7,875 (694) 726 32 1,664 1,696 |
2025 £ 152,614 18,061 3,375 1,479 71 175,600 115,350 37,327 152,677 48,466 201,144 (25,544) - (25,544) 94,904 69,361 |
2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 171,398 23,752 3,120 1,139 - |
|||||
| 199,408 | |||||
| 127,191 15,168 |
|||||
| 142,359 57,265 |
|||||
| 199,624 | |||||
| (216) - |
|||||
| (216) 95,120 |
|||||
| 94,904 |
The notes on page 7 & 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 5
AIGBURTH COMMUNITY CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| A Cash funds CAF Cash CAF Gold HSBC B Other monetary assets Other debtors C Liabilities Falling due within one year Mortgage Trade creditors Fee for Independent Examination Pension contributions Falling due after one year: Mortgage Total |
Unrestricted funds £ 5,395 55,634 3,636 64,665 463 463 - - 1,668 607 2,275 - 2,275 |
Designated funds £ - 3,000 - 3,000 - - - - - - - - - |
Restricted funds £ - 1,696 - 1,696 - - - - - - - - - |
2025 £ 5,395 60,330 3,636 69,361 463 463 - - 1,668 607 2,275 - 2,275 |
2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30,703 56,343 7,859 |
|||||
| 94,904 | |||||
| 1,579 | |||||
| 1,579 |
|||||
| 17,735 116 1,590 604 |
|||||
| 20,044 28,381 |
|||||
| 48,425 |
D Assets retained for charity's own use
| ets retained for charity's own use | ||
|---|---|---|
| Church building purchased in May 2021 Furniture (hall chairs) purchased in June 2021 |
Fund to which asset belongs Unrestricted Unrestricted |
Cost £ |
| 307,251 13,068 |
||
| 320,319 |
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
SHMcClelland SHMcClelland (Apr 13, 2026 22:49:35 GMT+1) _____Stuart McClelland Apr 13, 2026 Date:_____
The notes on page 7 & 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
AIGBURTH COMMUNITY CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
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.
Unrestricted funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. 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 Salaries and related costs Sunday services and other events and activities Other ministry expenses including training and conferences Premises expenses including utilities, maintenance costs and insurance Fee for Independent Examination Administration and support costs 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Radstock - to support outreach work in the Balkans The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches Trinity Church Everton Open Doors- Brother Andrew UFM Worldwide - to support outreach work in Greece Holy Foundation Baptist Church UFM Worldwide - to support outreach work in France Radstock Ministries Myanmar Cuban Gospel Network Beechwood Chapel Various small grants <£1,000 Navchaa & Oggie Yoshua in Mongolia |
Unrestricted funds £ 76,119 8,906 4,648 20,275 1,500 310 111,758 500 2,364 2,280 2,000 1,500 1,000 8,671 7,500 3,000 1,500 1,729 1,000 33,044 |
Restricted Funds £ - - 3,592 - - - 3,592 1,400 - - - - 464 1,419 - - - - 1,000 4,284 |
Total 2025 £ 76,119 8,906 8,240 20,275 1,500 310 115,350 1,900 2,364 2,280 2,000 1,500 1,464 10,090 7,500 3,000 1,500 1,729 2,000 37,327 |
Total 2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89,980 9,329 13,204 12,387 1,500 792 |
||||
| 127,191 | ||||
| 5,350 2,172 2,200 - 2,405 2,000 - - - - 1,040 - |
||||
| 15,168 |
4 Transactions with related parties
During the year R Grindey served as Interim Church Manager and was paid employment benefits totalling £20,942 (2024: £20,274). J Clark served as Teaching Coordinator and was paid employment benefits totalling £5,013 (2024: £0) They were paid for serving in these capacities, not for serving as trustees; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
Page 7
AIGBURTH COMMUNITY CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
5 Movement in restricted funds
| vement in restricted funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds Designated funds Ministry Training Fund Restricted funds Ministry Training fund Hardship fund Mission Support fund |
Opening balance £ 93,240 - - 1,564 100 - 1,664 94,904 |
Receipts £ 168,419 - - 3,474 100 3,607 7,181 175,600 |
Payments £ (193,268) - - (3,342) (250) (4,284) (7,875) (201,144) |
Transfers £ (3,726) 3,000 3,000 - 50 676 726 0 |
Closing balance £ 64,665 3,000 |
| 3,000 | |||||
| 1,696 - - |
|||||
| 1,696 | |||||
| 69,361 |
The designated Ministry Training fund is for funds set aside by the trustees to support ministry training
The restricted Ministry Training fund is for funds received and used specifically for supporting ministry training The restricted Hardship Fund is for funds received and used specifically towards the relief of hardship The restricted Mission Support Fund is for funds received and used specifically to support mission work
Page 8