## Stour Valley Vineyard Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **STOUR VALLEY VINEYARD CHURCH**
## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Suite 1 & 2 Sudbury Business Centre Chilton Industrial Estate Milner Road Sudbury CO10 2XG GOVERNING DOCUMENT Constitution for a charitable incorporated organisation from 27 August 2020. CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1131617 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR J Taylor (resigned 10th December 2025) MANAGING THE CHARITY K Taylor (resigned 10th December 2025) R Woodman I Copeman (resigned 31st March 2025) C Vernon H Forth M Buckland (appointed 31st March 2025) BANKERS CAF Bank 25 Kings Hill Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Lisa Darby FCA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
## **INDEX**
Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 8 - 9 Notes to the Accounts
1
## Trustee Report on 2025 Accounts
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Objects of the charity
In summary, the principal objects of the charity (as set out in the governing document) are:
(a) to advance the Christian faith;
(b) to further Christian education; (c) to relieve sickness and financial hardship.
The Church seeks to demonstrate the Christian faith in action by reaching out with God's love; Sunday services; prayer ministry; pastoral groups; youth and children's ministries; prayer for the sick within and without the church; providing financial and practical help, food and support to those in need; ministry training; life-skills and personal development; biblical studies; in the Stour Valley area.
Our vision is to be a people who seek to encounter the presence of the living God and be transformed by that encounter. Our mission is to grow vibrant Christian communities in the Stour Valley Area, to bring healing and hope in Jesus’ name.
## Governance:
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Organisation. In planning activities, the trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Review of Activities
Church Life:
The church is currently seeking the Lord’s will over a new Senior Pastor to replace Joel and Kady, who felt the call to move on during the final quarter of 2025. An appointment panel has been established, who are currently looking to recruit a new pastor. Stour Valley Vineyard is blessed to have from within its congregation three people with church leadership experience who are the interim leadership team during this period.
Despite the lack of a Senior Pastor, numbers have remained constant and momentum has been maintained, with all church activities continuing and in some cases growing. The church body is made up of all age groups with multi-generation families attending. There are multiple Sunday teams that operate each week in order to support the Sunday meeting. These teams include set up team, venue management, welcome team, café team, worship team, kids team and youth team. We have weekly HOME groups - these groups promote the
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benefit of fellowship, spiritual growth and friendship. The Little Wonders toddler group that is run for the community each week is growing and young mums are finding it incredibly helpful in supporting their well-being.
## Storehouse Foodbank:
Storehouse continues to bless the community by providing food for those in crisis and sign posting individuals to the many support services offered in Sudbury. The foodbank is operated on an emergency referral-only basis with two “drop-in” sessions per week at set times for assessments and collection of food parcels. There is a team of experienced volunteers both from the Church and from the community who help each week. Funding received for Storehouse in 2025 included grants from Suffolk Community Foundation through Private Fund – JA Suffolk Giving Grant Making Programme.
## Finances and Reserves
During the year income increased by £11,201 to £154,439 and expenditure decreased by £12,768 to £147,103. As a result the charity has reported a surplus of £7,336 (2024: loss £16,632) and the cash held by the charity increased by £7,336, to £79,233. This comprised unrestricted cash of £47,357 and cash of £31,875 held for restricted purposes (mainly for Storehouse).
## Reserves Policy
The Trustees have determined that the charity should aim to unrestricted cash equivalent to 3 to 6 months of general fund expenses in the charity’s designated contingency fund and in unrestricted general funds. This would equate holding cash of somewhere between £20,000 to £40,000 in these funds. The Trustees are satisfied that this level of reserves would be sufficient to allow the charity to continue to operate smoothly should income fall, or expenditure increase, unexpectedly. At the year-end the charity held cash of £47,357 in these funds and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.
## Risk Statement
The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. 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.
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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:
## R A Woodman
R A Woodman (Apr 24, 2026 14:57:03 GMT+1)
## Apr 24, 2026
……………………………………………….. ………………………………………………..
R Woodman – Trustee Date
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## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **STOUR VALLEY VINEYARD CHURCH**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Stour Valley Vineyard Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2025 on pages 6 to 9 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.
## Lisa Darby
Lisa Darby (Apr 27, 2026 15:36:57 GMT+1)
Lisa Darby FCA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Apr 27, 2026
5
## **STOUR VALLEY VINEYARD CHURCH**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Donations and grants including gift aid
Income from charitable activities
Bank interest
**_Capital and similar receipts_**
**_Total receipts_**
**_Payments_**
2
3
**_Total payments_**
Transfers between funds
6
**Net movement in funds**
Cash funds as at last year end
**Cash funds at this year end**
A
Sale of fixed assets
Net
of
receipts
/
(payments)
before
transfers
Grants
paid
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken by others
Payments
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken directly||General
Designated
Funds
Funds
£
£
86,946
11,410
8,259
-
651
-
95,855
11,410
-
-
95,855
11,410
87,879
-
-
11,134
87,879
11,134
7,976
276
1,320
(1,320)
9,296
(1,044)
7,040
32,066
16,336
31,022
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
Funds
£
46,702
-
472
47,173
-
47,174
48,089
-
48,089
(916)
(916)
32,791
31,875|2025
£
145,057
8,259
1,123
154,439
-
154,439
135,969
11,134
147,103
7,336
-
7,336
71,897
79,233|2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
Funds
£
86,946
8,259
651
95,855
-
95,855
87,879
-
87,879
7,976
1,320
9,296
7,040
16,336||||
||||||132,920
6,837
1,482|
||||||141,238|
||||||2,000|
||||||143,239|
||||||150,521
9,350|
||||||159,871|
||||||(16,632)
-|
||||||(16,632)
88,529|
||||||71,897|
The notes on pages 8 to 9 form part of these accounts.
6
## **STOUR VALLEY VINEYARD CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|Notes
**A**
**Cash funds**
Cash at bank with immediate access
**B**
**Other monetary assets**
Gift aid due to charity
Prepayments and other debtors
Grant due to charity
**C**
**Liabilities**
**Falling due within one year**
Other creditors
Independent examiner's fee for
preparing and examining the accounts
Payroll related creditors||General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
16,336
31,022
**16,336**
**31,022**
-
-
320
-
-
-
**320**
**-**
-
-
750
-
360
-
**1,110**
**-**
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
31,875
**31,875**
-
800
-
**800**
-
750
-
**750**|2025
£
79,233
**79,233**
-
1,120
-
**1,120**
-
1,500
360
**1,860**|2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
funds
£
16,336
**16,336**
-
320
-
**320**
-
750
360
**1,110**||||
||||||71,897
|
||||||**71,897**|
||||||50
1,120
5,000|
||||||**6,170**
|
||||||904
1,392
558|
||||||**2,854**|
## **D Assets retained for charity's own use**
|Air-conditioning units
Equipment & fittings
Equipment & fittings|Fund to
which asset
belongs
Restricted
Unrestricted
Restricted|Cost
£
10,050
7,325
850
18,225|Current
Value
£|
|---|---|---|---|
||||-
1,620
-|
||||1,620|
The current values of the charity's assets have been estimated by the trustees.
## **E Guarantees and secured debts**
The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## R A Woodman
R A Woodman (Apr 24, 2026 14:57:03 GMT+1)
--------------------------------------------
R Woodman Apr 24, 2026 Date: __________________
The notes on pages 8 to 9 form part of these accounts.
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## **STOUR VALLEY VINEYARD CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **1 Accounting policies**
These 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.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. 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.
|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
_Direct expenditure on activities_
Advertising
289
-
Equipment
677
-
Other ministry costs
6,712
-
Events
7,332
-
Other Storehouse expenses:
Items purchased for distribution
-
-
Consumables
-
-
Repairs, maintenance and cleaning
-
-
Staff costs
58,920
-
Training and conferences
1,340
-
Venue hire
9,735
-
85,005
-
_Support costs_
Independent examiner's fee
696
-
Insurance
539
-
Office costs
918
-
Phone and internet
721
-
2,875
-
87,879
-
**3**
**Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others**
Grants for:
Open Doors
-
950
Great Lakes Outreach
-
925
Universities & Colleges Christian Fellowship
-
-
Suffolk Transforming Futures ( Home for Good)
-
925
Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland
-
4,709
Future Vision Sudbury
-
1,325
Eden's Project Sudbury
-
800
Relief of poverty and hardship
-
500
Other charities
1,000
-
11,134
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
Funds
£
-
78
8
-
823
670
182
33,041
-
11,351
46,152
696
521
195
526
1,937
48,089
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Total
2025
£
289
755
6,720
7,332
823
670
182
91,961
1,340
21,086
131,157
1,392
1,060
1,112
1,247
4,812
135,969
950
925
-
925
4,709
1,325
800
500
1,000
11,134|Total
2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|
||||413
631
4,838
7,097
1,397
1,059
956
107,272
2,533
19,289|
||||145,484
1,320
986
1,467
1,263|
||||5,037|
||||150,521|
||||1,200
1,000
500
1,200
5,200
-
-
250
-|
||||9,350|
## **4 Transactions with related parties**
Mr & Mrs Taylor served as church pastors and received employment benefits totalling £38,022 (2024: £39,617) for serving in that capacity, not for serving as trustees; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
## **5 Non-monetary resources**
During the year the charity was donated food and other items with an estimated value of £70,000 (2024: £86,000) for distribution by the charity's Storehouse Foodbank to those in need.
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## **STOUR VALLEY VINEYARD CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **6 Movement on designated funds and restricted funds**
|**vement on designated funds and restricted funds**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Building fund
Designated
Building fund
Restricted
Contingency fund
Designated
Storehouse fund
Restricted
Tithe fund
Designated
Total for all designated funds
Total for all restricted funds|Balance at
31 Dec 2024
£
5,884
1,460
7,343
25,339
31,331
843
32,066
32,790|Receipts
£
-
2,385
2,385
-
44,789
11,410
11,410
47,174|Payments
£
-
-
-
-
(48,090)
(11,134)
11,134
-
(48,090)|Transfers
£
(1,320)
-
(1,320)
-
-
-
(1,320)
-|Balance at
31 Dec 2025
£
4,564
3,844|
||||||8,408
25,339
28,029
1,119|
||||||31,022
31,875|
## **Designated funds**
i) The **Contingency fund** represents funds set aside to help cover unexpected variances in income and expenditure.
ii) The **Building fund** represents funds set aside by the trustees to provide or improve facilities used by the charity. iii) The **Tithe fund** represents funds set aside by the trustees to help fund grant giving to other charities and individuals.
## **Restricted funds**
i) The **Storehouse fund** was created from donations and grants received to help fund the Storehouse compassion ministry of Stour Valley Vineyard Church including the Storehouse foodbank, aiming to help local families and individuals in crisis. At the year end the carried forward balance on this fund includes a contingency of £9,000 to help ensure that Storehouse could continue to operate smoothly should income and / or expenditure vary adversely.
ii) The **Building fund** was created from donations received which were restricted to help provide or improve facilities used by the charity.
A transfer was made as money from the Building Fund was used in the year in relation to a noise impact assessment.
9