## **Annual Report and Accounts** ## **2025** ## **Registered charity number 1135764** **117 Pier Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, CO15 1NJ.** **www.pabc.org.uk info@pabc.org.uk** **Annual Report 2025** ## **Contents** **3. Annual Report for the year ending 31[st] December 2025 4. Structure, Governance and Management 5. Objectives and Activities 7. Achievements and Performance 8. Minister’s Report 9. Treasurer’s Report** **11. Financial Reserves Policy 12. Financial Accounts for 2025 17. Enfold Project 18. Girls' Brigade 20. Sunday School 20. Tiny Treasures 21. Zoom Boys’ Club 22. Worship Team 22. Premises Usage 23. Premises Hires & Income** **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **2** ## **Annual Report 2025** ## **Annual Report for the year ending 31[st] December 2025** The Trustees are pleased to present their report together with the independently examined financial statements of the charity for 2025. Pier Avenue Baptist Church registered as an independent charity with the Charity Commission on 4[th] May, 2010. Our Charity Registration number is 1135764. The church is administered by the Diaconate who are the Managing Trustees of the Charity and comprise: Minister and Chairman: Rev. Michelle Eversden-Thomas Church Secretary: Mrs Karen Rai Church Treasurer: Mrs Heather Baines Elder: Rev. Pauline Bailey (from 20[th] July 2025) Deacons: Mr Antony Meloy Mr Richard Geddes Rev. Pauline Bailey (until 20[th] July 2025) Mr Ian Day Miss Elaine Hoadley Mr Ian Smith Mr Phil Gooden (until 8[th] September 2025) Ms Victoria Oyekunle Mr James Paterson The Charity’s bankers are Lloyds plc (Current accounts) and CCLA Investment Management Ltd (Deposit account). The Independent Examiner engaged by the Charity is Karen Payne. **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **3** ## **Annual Report 2025** ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Governing Document** The Church’s governing document is the Constitution for Pier Avenue Baptist Church, Clacton-on-Sea which sets out the objects of the charity. The revised Constitution was approved by the Church meeting on 17[th] March 2024. ## **Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees** Deacons and Elders who are the Managing Trustees of the charity are chosen from among existing church members who show the reality of their faith by the consistency of their Christian character and by their loyalty to the cause of Christ. The Diaconate consists of two Church Officers, Secretary and Treasurer, together with up to ten elected Deacons / Elders, making a possible twelve in all. Annual elections are held at the Church Members’ meeting by ballot. Nominees must secure a vote of at least 66% of those voting (eligibility is specified in the constitution). The Minister is also a Trustee. ## **Organisational Structure** The Church’s legal structure is as an Unincorporated Association. The Church is governed and regulated by its own members where all aspects of the work of the Church are subject to the approval of the Church Meeting which is normally held bi-monthly. The Minister of the Church is a paid Managing Trustee and together with the Deacons and Elders give leadership to the Church. The Minister and Secretary are responsible for preparing the business for the Church meeting. ## **The Baptist Union of Great Britain and Eastern Baptist Association** The Church is part of the wider Baptist family and is therefore a member church of the Eastern Baptist Association (EBA) and also of the national body, The Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB). Both organisations are registered charities. The Church pays an annual subscription to BUGB based upon its membership numbers and also makes a donation to the EBA for the Baptist family in the UK (Home Mission). ## **Relationships between the Charity and related parties** Churches Together in Clacton (CITC) – the Church is a member of the ecumenical partnership of churches in the Clacton-on-Sea area. The Church continues to take part in community activities organised by CITC during 2025. The church has joined with other denominations for a short Christmas and Easter service in the Town Square and also taken part in a Walk of Witness on Good Friday and hosted the service that followed. The Church also took part in the first ‘Light Event’, an alternative to Halloween held in the town centre. We also continue to build links with the Baptist Churches at Holland-on-Sea and Thorpe-le-Soken and are meeting with them regularly. The Church also supports a number of connected organisations including the Girls’ Brigade. These connected organisation of the Church exist as part of the work and mission of the Church and are open to the community. Each organisation has its own committee, officers and members but they still fall within the scope of the Church Meeting and the Minister / Trustee is entitled to be Chair of all meetings. **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **4** **Annual Report 2025** ## **Objectives and Activities** ## **Objectives of the Charity** Established for the purposes of advancement of religion through the spiritual work of the Church, these purposes include the provision and upkeep of the place of worship, the carrying on of religious services and the payment, housing and pensioning of a minister of religion employed for the purposes of a place of worship. ## **Charity’s aims** As a member of the Baptist Union, the Church subscribes to the Union’s Declaration of its Christian responsibilities beyond the local community and seeks to engage in both national and international situations. Principle: The basis of this Union is: 1. That our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, is the sole and absolute authority in all matters pertaining to faith and practice, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and that each Church has liberty, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to interpret and administer His laws. 2. That Christian Baptism is the immersion in water into the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, of those who have professed repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ who “died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried and rose again on the third day.” 3. That it is the duty of every disciple to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to take part in the evangelisation of the world. ## **Charity’s main objectives for the year** The Church premises are situated in an ideal location in Pier Avenue in Clacton-on-Sea which makes the use of our premises attractive for a wide range of community groups, organisations and other charities. Where able and appropriate, the Church aims to discern the needs of the community and organise activities and support groups to meet these and, this year we have been able to do this again, especially through our Enfold project. The community initiative, which commenced in 2010, the Enfold Project (to provide breakfast, an opportunity for a shower and access to support services, one morning a week, for the homeless and vulnerable people of Clacton) is now a well-established part of our church. This is run by a team of volunteers, led by Del Thomas as well as accessing support services such as Peabody and more recently, the DWP (Department of Work & Pensions). One of the other ways in which the Church seeks to engage with others is not only the use of our premises by many varied groups but to use our kitchen facility for the benefit of the community in as many ways as possible. This facility is used weekly by FoodCycle who obtain excess food from supermarkets in the area and cook a meal for anyone in the community who needs it, one day a week. **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **5** ## **Annual Report 2025** Another way we continue to support our community is by providing a space for RAMA and Calais Light to provide support and Language lessons for Asylum seekers who are housed locally. Our Coffee Morning, Tiny Treasures Parent and Toddler Group and Zoom Boys’ Club are also regular opportunities for us to bring our objectives to life. The Church continued to offer public worship on Sundays at 10.30a.m. in person but continues to be available on-line through our Livestream facility. Conversations continue, where possible, with those who are interested in discussing their faith and the possibility of Baptism and Church Membership. The Church aims also to develop and grow as a fellowship through both study and social activities: - a. **Nationally** – to assist in the development of denominational and inter-denominational churches and discover the experience of the church in Great Britain. - b. **Internationally** – to discover more, the work of the Christian Church overseas and support that work wherever possible. ## **Charity’s Strategies** - a. **Worship** – to seek to provide appropriate worship to God and review our act of worship on a regular basis. - b. **Ecumenical** – to actively encourage, promote and participate in ecumenical activities. - c. **Premises** – to maintain the premises to good standard, to promote and provide community activities. - d. **Community needs** – to review the work of the Church and discern the needs of the community and then develop strategies and actions to support as appropriate. - e. **Fellowship** – to develop a programme to promote Christian knowledge and understanding and to enhance the social awareness of the Church. Such a programme to include educating the Church members and congregation about the Baptist denomination regionally and nationally and its links to international Christian activity through the Baptist Missionary Society – World Mission and other Christian organisations. **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **6** ## **Annual Report 2025** ## **Achievements and Performance** ## **Easter, Harvest and Christmas** Special services took place during the time of Easter, Christmas and at Harvest. ## **AGM and Membership** The Annual General Meeting of the church took place in the usual way again this year. The Annual Report and Accounts were accepted and passed there. Our membership stood at 61 on 1[st] January 2025 and had increased to 67 by 31[st] December. Two people were baptised in 2025, and the average weekly congregation is around 100. Our Sunday school continues and this area of our work has seen a significant growth in numbers during this year due to new families attending our church. ## **Housekeeping, Hall Hire and Fabric** Looking after pre-war buildings remains a challenge so we are especially grateful to those church members and friends who oversee and help to maintain the building in good order. The use of our premises by community groups continues to be busy. **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **7** ## **Annual Report 2025** ## **Minister’s Report** By the end of 2025 I had been minister at PABC for a year and five months. Whilst hard-working deacons and members have continued to run our various groups, my focus has been on worship, faith exploration, outreach to our local community and overall leadership. 2025 Sunday Worship began with a short series on Hope, followed by going through the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis, with a break for Lent, Easter and Pentecost. The latter was particularly special this year, as we experienced the Holy Spirit giving us ‘pictures’ of how he would like PABC to move forward: from a vibrant garden, over a shaky bridge, into a heavenly city beyond … We have yet to find out what this will mean for us. In the summer, we followed a series which I called ‘God on the Move’, exploring how we could join in with God’s mission. We celebrated Harvest and then went into a study of the Ten Commandments and what they mean for followers of Jesus today. For the Advent season, we followed the Church of England’s lectionary this year before celebrating the God of Surprises who brings Good News of Great Joy. Throughout the year, the themes for Sunday worship were chosen and delivered by our worship team, consisting of Pauline, Ian Smith, James and myself. On the 28[th] September, before the water got too chilly, Del and I had the honour of baptising Lorraine and Terry in the sea. They brought their testimonies of how God had transformed their lives from struggles with depression to a new fullness of life. Alongside our teaching series on mission, the congregation were also invited to complete mission questionnaires about what they thought the needs of the local community are and how we might reach out to them. We established a mission sub-group to plan outreach. During the summer, a team of us were out with a stall at the community days in the town centre, with a particular focus on our children’s groups. We hosted events celebrating what God is doing in Clacton and across Essex, with worship led by Transforming Essex and Champion Music. With representatives from other local churches, we put on our first Light Event in October, a Jesus-centred alternative to Hallowe’en. This involved children’s art activities under gazebos and handing out ‘Bags of Light’ in the town centre. A team of us launched a new club for primary school aged boys this January. It’s called Zoom and has an established group of boys attending, both from within and outside the church fellowship, with some new additions, and a good atmosphere. We recognised this year that our Enfold Project, which provides a breakfast and support for homeless and vulnerable people on a Thursday morning has become its own expression of church, when we meet for around twenty minutes of Bible reading and discussion before the food is served. In response to a growing number of homeless people in Clacton this year, Del and I met with the local Methodist ministers in December to discuss support, in addition to what Enfold and their Hope @ Trinity provide. A meeting with the head of housing at Tendring District Council was arranged for January. In March this year, our parish nurse, handed in her notice. We took a few months out to reflect and pray and an advert went out in December for someone new to fulfil the role. Also in March, Pauline took over co-ordination of the pastoral team, with a new WhatsApp group, so that we can share who is being visited and contacted when needed. 2025 was a very busy year with highs and lows, as always with church life. It is a privilege to be serving as minister at PABC and I have never doubted my calling to Clacton-on-Sea. ## **Rev. Michelle Eversden-Thomas** **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **8** **Annual Report 2025** ## **Treasurer’s Report** Grateful thanks to God and ALL His people at PABC as well as the wider community who respond so graciously and generously to His call on our resources. The Church assigns its finances into Funds: **General Fund** – for the majority of our Income from tithes, donations, one-off gifts, fundraising etc and the major of our Expenditure mainly covering: - Minister’s salary: employer on-costs, training, expenses and visiting speaker costs; - Manse (Church House): upkeep, Council Tax, water rates and internet; - Church Premises: Cleaner salary, cleaning products/equipment, repair, maintenance of our large building including fuel, water, and all legal/necessary services; - Mission: Includes our Sunday School and Welfare Ministry. We tithe the value of our Offerings income and donate 5% to BMS World Mission and 5% to the BU’s Home Mission. We gift to other causes such as Operation Agri as budgeted or through special appeals. - Administration: includes IT & website, payroll agent, Church internet and photocopy costs; - Operational: course fees, copyright licences, audio & livestream, subscriptions and many other fairly minor expenses such as First Aid kit, Health & Safety, posters etc; - and finally, ‘Other’, including food & refreshments, furniture and equipment. **Restricted Funds** are only used for the purpose it has been given or awarded. The majority comes from charitable grants supporting our community activities and for which we are grateful: - We did not have a Parish Nurse in post after March, but The Tudor Trust allowed our retention of the Parish Nurse grant until we are able to appoint another. - Enfold Project was awarded a Winter Food Support Fund 2025/26 grant from Essex County Council via Clacton Voluntary Services Tendring. This sustained the vital Enfold project over the Winter, but as funds are now low, we will need to apply for an operating cost grant in 2026. **Designated and Earmarked Funds** should be used for the purpose funds were given, but if a project closes or loan repaid, these funds can be used for other things, subject to consent from the Church: - The Premises Project involved three H&S and upgrade building projects in 2020. An appeal to was made to the Membership at that time and we received a Baptist Building Loan for which we have five years of instalments to make before the loan is repaid. - The Toddler Group and ‘Zoom’ Boys Club generate their income through subs, but not having their own auxiliary bank accounts, their funds are retained by the Church for them. A Financial Report on all Funds is submitted monthly to the Deacons and to Church Meetings. The 2025 General Fund budget was set with a significant deficit, but by the year end we had reigned Expenditure in and by December the In-Year Income & Expenditure balanced. We thank all Members and Friends who facilitated this turn around. Our 2025 year-end balances of £104,597 were just £2,606 lower than the previous year, and consisted: - £47,628 in Restricted and Earmarked/Designated Funds; - £26,969 in General Funds; - £30,000 retained for the Financial Reserve. An important mission of the Deacons and the Fellowship is to act prayerfully and responsibly with a view to making decisions that ensure best use of the financial resources we have available. In doing so, we must trust in His leading for decisions we feel should be made. PABC’s financial situation has been tight over the years, and remains so, but God has never left Pier Avenue short of the funds it needs to fulfil its functions and purposes. God is always loyal giving us, ‘Just enough … no more, no less!’. We are grateful for the voluntary efforts of many in the Fellowship who help the Church keep its costs down. Many tasks are fulfilled in the background, often unseen, but vital for the Church to survive financially. The goodwill of so many is crucial for PABC is to continue its work to advance God’s Kingdom and it is gratefully appreciated. **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **9** ## **Annual Report 2025** Wisely using those resources He has provided and trusting His provision are the mainstay of our Church’s financial and spiritual health. In 2025 we had little need to spend much maintaining or repairing our premises, so these costs are likely to rise in 2026 instead. This may be our biggest challenge in the year ahead. We must make decisions that help our buildings stay in good condition for several years, rather than for one or two, but such investment will cost more. As individuals we must pay attention to the ‘little’ things that when put together become costly - don’t run water while you lather your hands or wash up, use only the lights you need rather than them all, turn off the lights and heating when not in use. All small acts, but important ones! Despite the difficulties we may experience at home, our Members and Friends continued their tithes and donations through 2025. We know God will uphold us when we rely on his assurances, in the very same way that Paul wrote to the Corinthians: _“Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also repeat sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver._ _And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)._ Many in our Fellowship held fast to this promise and once again found themselves able to share with PABC all they could afford, and very likely, even more than they believed they could really afford. Thank you everyone for your devotion to PABC through the gifts and offerings you make in honour of the One who originally gave it to you. My duty as Treasurer is to ensure the Church has the funds it needs to fulfil its functions and is secure for the coming year, as well as in the years to come. Please give thanks to Him for: - Offerings & Donations the Members & Friends of PABC sacrificially give; - Gift Aid reimbursement of an amazing £8,830 on behalf of our tax-paying donors who have signed up to the HMRC Gift Aid scheme. If you only pay a small amount of tax, do sign up!; - Income received from hirers and users through the use of our building for their activities; - Legacies, one-off gifts and donations received; - Grant funding that supports us financially with our work in the community; - Church activities and fundraising events, whether regular or one-off which generates valuable income; and - The essential prayer life that sustains us in all we do. Place everything - every need and every joy in the hands of our loving and sustaining God. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me in confidence if there is anything I can do to help you in your tithing, gifting, one-off donations: - Gift Aid Scheme – please ask me for a form and join up if you pay any level of tax. We can reclaim your tax from the Inland Revenue on your donations provided you have are signed up to the scheme; - Giving through the Bank – please consider making your gifts and donations directly into the Bank. You can make a monthly Standing Order through your online banking, or please ask for a Standing Order form; - Bequests – please consider leaving a gift to the Church in your Will, whether as a percentage of your estate or as a set sum. Your gift will be greatly valued and will allow the Church to continue its work after you have been called Home. Do ask me for a Gift Aid form or Standing Order form if these will help you in your giving. If you wish to pay your gifts and donations directly into the bank this is the information you will need: Bank: Lloyds plc, Account Name: Pier Avenue Baptist Church Account type: Business Bank Sort Code: 30-96-26 Bank Account Number: 80144668 ## **Thank you for the help you give in advancing God’s Kingdom in the place He has set us.** **Heather Baines, Church Treasurer** **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **10** ## **Annual Report 2025** ## **Financial Reserves Policy** ## **Background to the Policy** Charities should have sufficient reserves to allow their affairs to wind down in an orderly manner or to consider how long it would take to reduce its expenditure or raise its income to allow it to cope with any significant financial challenge. A financial challenge can come at any point and can be due to any number of things. On expenditure, it could be due to the need for a significant property repair; on income it could be due to losing a significant premises hirer or donor(s), or failure to secure grant that had been applied for but not awarded. The closure of the Church and its loss of hirers in 2020-2021 meant our income was drastically cut and is a recent example why a Financial Reserve is necessary for covering the unexpected. The Charity Commission are particularly anxious though that excessive reserves are not held, as this would amount to holding money back that should more properly be used for furthering the charitable/mission objectives of the charity or church. ## **The Reserves Policy for Pier Avenue Baptist Church** **The Financial Reserves policy of Pier Avenue Baptist Church is to hold three months of all expenditure plus a further three months staff costs to allow the church to adapt to any changes in the income or expenditure of the Church. The Trustees have committed to the recommendation that £30,000 is retained for this purpose.** Throughout 2025 we had no reason to break into our Financial Reserves. God, through the Friends and Fellowship at PABC has allowed His people to be very gracious to us in their giving once again. Unless unforeseen circumstances arise where the Church finds itself unable to fulfil its proper purpose and function without breaking into this sum, this £30,000 will be retained on the Church’s Deposit Account; the bank interest can be used to support the work of the Church through the General Fund. ## **Heather Baines, Church Treasurer, on behalf of the Deacons / Trustees** **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **11** Annual Report 2025 Pier Avenue Baptist Church General Fund & Deslgnated Funds Flnanclal Statement For the year ended: 31 st December, 2025 Nolfr 2025 2024 Rocel Offerin - Gift Aid (Ggnoral & Desynated) - Other (General 8 t)wnaledl Gift AidlGASDS IncyJTh Tax Redaim.. (Gen8rn1 Funrfi Gift Aid Income Tax Redarm.. Girts, ade {RestrrctthJl ac*s and Memorial rfts Grants (General Fund). 24 Home Misslon Grnnts {ReslrK#ed Funds.. TuthxlCVS P￿miseS Use Income Minibus Hire Income Coffee Momin s Funds raised for other causes Chur¢h Premises Prgect (Restride other Receipts.. (Gen £7540, 1)wnated £4280) 24,832 15.102 9,218 428 412 24,751 15.117 13.642 353 15 15 4,583 26,820 29.376 354 3.023 23.453 2,872 467 4,038 11.820 92,694 1.862 11,910 £ 134,655 Totals Pa monts Minis Minislerial Ex Manse u kee MiSs￿n & charitsble ￿Yse8 of church remises Administrats"on r*ional e nses nated Fund." Church Prwnises P Desi naled Fund.. Ti Troasures TcwJdlw Grou Resliieted & Other ments ind sti . travel. visitors 34379 4980 10835 27849 1875 19.W5 36,841 11.879 29.263 2.150 2.222 10 11 12 12 13 14 Total8 4950 417 5195 974 95,300 303 20,512 2,744 £ 128.219 SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR DEFICIT FOR THE YEAR BALANCE BROUGHT FORWARD BALANCE CARRIED FORWARD 6.436 £ 107.203 £ 104,597 100,767 £ 107.203 'Comprlses: £56.W GwornllUnre8trfcled & £47.628 R￿trICted￿rmalkOd Funds eather BQL HJ. Balnes. Church Tro48urer 19th Februa 2026 The accounts and statement of assets and lia￿lit￿ ￿lating to the year 1st January 2025 to 31st December 2025 as approved by th6 Church Meeting hebj on 31st May 2026 AR.25 Annual Report 2025 12 Annual Report 2025 Pier Avenue Baptist Church NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 2025 130 01 the Chgntss 2011 2. Non4non•ts ••••l• hold lor th• chur¢h* u is Chufch Church m•ue ￿ 36 Churth F¥lvrn8. Fumrturn 181 abov• •r• shwi at 6.S84.139 369.841 245.425 7.199.405 8.211.451 233.231 1,793.$88 3. Li4bilitio•. Lo•nA outstsndlng18W &JthJ Cbo) 18,5(K) Donatlon•. R•c•l and Il•morb•l Gllts GqneTh￿ £82565 l R & 0£9716 412 102.387 2024 202S Giv•n Glv•n BUS Workl 8 Bithd Schen 226 135 321 155 29d BMS Chufd*• T 16 250 250 10,865 8. Mlnl• Min¢sterf$ a 20251£ 23.228 Mffttstef$ Pastw￿ a Genwal ￿1 Mmwefs Tra Cwrse Fees & vh 745 823 1.683 1•,005 ¥379 7. M•n8• U 36041 6. MIMlon 10.865 820 236 10,8JS of Chureh Pr•ml#•# J water 9.847 8.39S S.992 C￿￿n Insurance 4.499 Prolesshywl Fertlfvomisrt r•lalgd 29263 AR.25 Annual Report 2025 13 Annual Report 2025 Pier Avenue Baptist Church continued 10. A¢knlnlstr•tk>h ICT so1￿• 727 407 451 1.87S 482 1150 11. Church rntloml ht I￿enseS 1.272 birn 450 327 nd Trwi 561 2222 nat•d Funds Treasures PweTrwfcoSJ 417 3.367 13. R••lJlet•d Fun 101 ETrfobJ PwiJh Nurt• 2.511 1.010 133 5.190 3.512 20.S11 14. Oth•r P 670 2.432 267 45 2.744 H￿r reluTrJ 974 16. Grnfjts rn¢•l¥•d 28￿20 Stslemont of Consolidated Assets and Llablliti •t 31•t D•e•mb•r. 202S Nots 2025 2024 Bank and other W•nc4• f*￿ntin b•lanc•8 on th• foll¢>wln General FuThJ & Restr￿￿E•m7*￿od Church gu￿11? fu 125,838 128.748 104.597 21.041 125.638 107.203 21.545 1x748 Held lor ¢hurd)'s u8•.' Ll•bllltl•• 7,199.405 6.511.486 18,5C#) 19.8 AR.25 Annual Report 2025 14 Annual Report 2025 Pier Avenue Baptist Church Auxillary Accounts Flnanclal Statement •t 31•1 D•c•mb•r. 2026 Exp•ndlturn 8￿. 8rtgad•: Tfv•sur•r. Smllh18B clomd li• B•nlE ¥l¢c￿nI In 2025. Furrtl• tr*n•f•rrnd to Pl•r Av•nu• B•pll•t Chu￿￿.• Zoom club L)••1gn•tsd Fund) Bal Ju 2025.. Transfer Balance lo I Churth tor Other lThx Bal cJfv% 1986 Glrf*' Brfyd•: TrM•urnr- Lorrnln• Ad•m• 9.Ir GB IIQ Subgcn UnrfomilG8 th) Don8tionsffiundr Ou¢1 u¢k Act￿ltIe Cam Admirrffrnini Traini Unif(￿r￿G8 Fundrai*n 220 307 3.501 2.499 314 other￿rar￿fer8 Bal Currw*. 10.102 18.038 1¢038 PABC Fl¢w•r Fund: Tr•Myrnr. Vl¢t4>rl• Oy•kunh & H••th•r B•lTr (ln 2026 th• dl•pl•y•d In ChuT¢h hav• b••n klndly don•t•d by IA&S. Cl•clon •nd th•r•lor• no •xp•ndllur• b••n n•¢￿￿ry In y••r.I 18 18 Auxlll• Accounts S 10.921 10.120 21,041 R•¢•i 8.932 21.041 BalarKe8 cnMI AR.25 Annual Report 2025 15 Annual Report 2025 Pier Avenue Baptist Church CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinèr's Report Report to the trustm membern of Pier Avenue Ba￿￿1$1 Chwth. ClaGtM on Soa. Essex, C015 1NJ On accounts for the y￿1 Charlty no lif •Try) 31* Oecember 2025 1135784 S•t out on pag•8 12-15 I report to ￿ trustee8 on my examinati￿ of the 8ccounts of the abov8 charity (Ihe Trust") for the year ended 31112r2025 R•spon•lbllltl•s and As th8 chaiity truste8s of the Trust, you are rospM$rble for the prep8ralion 811 of r•port of the accounts in aCt0rdan￿ wrth the requirements Of1￿ ChantièA Ad 2011 {'the A(a"l. I report in respe(a of my examination of the TNst'$ accounts carried out under set#ion 145 of the 2011 Act and in tsrrying ¢yJt my examinabon. I have followéd the aPplbca￿e Directions given by the Charity Commi88ion under 8eclion 14451{b) of the Arl. Independent examinerfs Statement I have comwed my exaMInat￿ft. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attèntion in ¢>)nnodion wrth the examination which gives me U80 to belwe that in, any material respe&'. aeccHJntsng r¢¢tyds were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do nLrt accor(i vthh the accounknng record$ I have no cont4￿ arMI have ¢om6 a(xoss no other matters n connedi with tho examination lo which attent￿* should be dravm in order to enable a nderntanding ol the arxourds lo be reached. Slgn•d: 0110412026 Karen P ne Relevanl profvssional qualificationlsl or body {If any): AAT Addr•M: 25 Palthirg Hall Larn, c￿lmSford. Essex. CM148T. AR.25 Annual Report 2025 16 ## **Annual Report 2025** ## **Enfold Project** Enfold is a project run by Pier Avenue Baptist Church for the homeless and those who are vulnerably housed, for many reasons. These include to help in a practical manner, give guidance and advice and also a chance to share each other’s company, On average we have around 30 guests attending Enfold each week. We are pleased to have a dedicated, hardworking, happy team of volunteers, who all gel together really well. We also have many people outside of Enfold coming in to access 'PEABODY' for housing and benefit support, mainly due to the cost-of-living crisis. We also partner with the DWP to help people who need help with their benefits. We also have the local hairdresser trainees come in and give the team and guests free haircuts. Most weeks we normally give our guests cereals and a cooked meal. After a request from our guests this is usually bacon or sausage rolls with baked beans available too. We open the doors at Enfold at 9am, our guests are offered a drink and our minister Michelle leads a bible study / thought and short time of prayer. It is encouraging that more and more of our guys are attending earlier and we have seen a lot of our guests develop their faith during this part with people commenting how much closer this has bought them to God and also how they look forward to their `church`. After this we serve breakfast and our guests can chat with us about issues they are facing. We stop serving food and drink at 10.45am and we all tidy away together. We try to demonstrate an ethos of showing our guests love and care and we carried out a survey in the middle of the year to find out why people came and what we could do to improve. This was really important to us as we want our guests to be involved and have a say in what happens and they made a couple of suggestions which we implemented. We also have been inviting our guests along to other events such as Harvest and it was really good to see so many of our guests attending. We will carry on inviting our guests to future events in 2026. 2025 was a special year for Enfold as it marked 15 years since it first opened in September 2010. We had a lovely celebration and it was good to look back over the years and see what Enfold has done and how it has helped people and I also learnt that Nicky Campbell once visited Enfold and presented his radio show live from Enfold. The team are all very caring and always go the extra mile for our guests. It was lovely to see Christmas in 2025 where they were given a personalised gift from the team (they chose it themselves) and these were handed out from under the tree. The presents were all donated from members of the congregation or from funds. They were also given an individual Christmas cards. We were also fortunate to have been given a grant from Essex County Council till March 2026 just before Christmas. Enfold is growing and we have seen a lot of our guests housed and moving forward successfully with their lives. We are really excited to see what God brings and how He acts in our guest’s lives in 2026. ## **The Enfold Team** **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **17** **Annual Report 2025** ## **Girls’ Brigade** We continue to offer a wide range of activities for girls and young women between the ages of 4 and 20 years. Our numbers have fluctuated around 35, and we have welcomed a few new members throughout the year in our various sections. The 11 leaders and 2 assistant leaders continue to work within the 4 age groups that make up the Company. The badge work covered during the year was: **Explorers** - Autumn, Celebrations, Our Toys and Our Community **Juniors** - Faith, Co-operation, Motivation and Self Control **Seniors** - My Family, Entertaining, Coping with Life and World Need **Brigaders** - Future, Creative Minds, Adventure, Big Issue and Domestic Goddess A minimum of 4 weeks out of 5, must be completed to achieve each subject when a certificate is presented to each girl. One of our leaders, Emily, had the privilege of attending a Buckingham Palace garden party on 12[th] May, which is organised to celebrate young people who have achieved their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. She was accompanied by her mum to partake in tea and cake, various lawn activities, listening to military bands and 3 guest speakers located around the garden. There were around 5000 guests who at 4.15pm were spoken to by The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, before walking around among the attendees. What an amazing occasion for Emily. We have continued to hold our bi-monthly Church Parades, with the best attended being Mothering Sunday and Enrolment service. We are always pleased to welcome parents and friends to join in these worship events. We also attended the annual Remembrance Parade organised by the Royal British Legion when we marched from the Town Hall to the War Memorial for the 2 minutes silence and short service. In February we took a group of girls to a Pantomime at the Westcliff Theatre and on Shrove Tuesday we held our annual Pancake evening which was extremely well supported by parents, friends and church folk. We made around 100 pancakes with a choice of fillings, a drink and a cake stall was available. A grand total of £200 was made which was split between ourselves and the church. Other fundraising events held were – a coffee morning and two quiz nights with the one in December taking on a Christmas theme. We also received £150 from the Clacton Carnival Committee for our support in stewarding for their procession. A few leaders again took on the responsibility of cooking the Easter breakfast. During the year we held two sleepovers at the church. One over the Mother's Day weekend when we took the girls bowling followed by playing games, making gifts to give out, practiced a song and wrote some prayers for the service on the Sunday. Our November event took us bowling again and we made some decorations for our Christmas tree for the church’s festive display. Our Display and Awards evening in July was well supported as we celebrated all the girls had achieved during the year. Heather Baines presented the badge bags which had subject, Company and Church attendance badges pinned onto them. Various items were then performed by the girls including the story of Joseph, team games, and a line dance. We also heard that one of our Junior girls had been baptised at the church she attends in Walton. Our summer term concluded with a beach evening when the girls enjoyed a sandcastle competition, egg throwing, games and refreshments. The strong winds did not dampen everyone's enthusiasm despite preventing a few activities. **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **18** ## **Annual Report 2025** We returned to Thorrington for our summer camp which, despite a burst water main at the site, was able to take place albeit, a day later than planned. The 12 young people learned new skills including – kayaking, pedal karts, tomahawks, assault course, bouldering and 3D maze. Craft items made were - pebble pictures, sand art, felt bookmarks, sun catcher decorations, wooden bunting and 3D butterflies. They decorated a drawstring bag in which they placed all their items. Five of our Explorers joined us for the day on Wednesday when they enjoyed being part of the camp with the older girls. They made pizzas for their lunch, attempted the assault course, played outdoor games and made some craft items. Each evening we spent time around the campfire and played games taking advantage of the wooded areas. Our daily devotion times took a seaside theme with Bible stories of - Jesus calming the storm, The wise and foolish man parable, Feeding the 5000 and Catching fish. We related these to our everyday lives and each day a memory verse was given as a jigsaw puzzle which they had to piece together. A tiring but rewarding week for girls and leaders alike. Girls’ Brigade nationally received money from a Uniformed Grant Fund to support growth for groups in marginalised areas (for which we were eligible), from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. We were given £60 towards organising a ‘Bring a Friend Evening’ and a few items of games equipment. We held this as a Light Party on 4[th] November with craft activities including decorating a jam jar in which a tea light was placed. Outside we had a fire pit for all to toast marshmallows to make smores, followed by sparklers. As a result of the girls previously making invitations, we welcomed 20 guests with a few coming to join us on a regular basis. We concluded the evening by sitting round a parachute under which fairy lights had been placed to sing some songs. Each child was given a light themed party bag to take home. A hectic but worthwhile evening. We held our Carol service and Nativity on 9[th] December which was well supported by parents, friends and church members. After doing an alternative version of the 12 Days of Christmas the girls presented the nativity with readings and songs. Our minister Michelle brought us a Christmas message involving children and adults alike. The evening concluded with our older girls serving coffee and mince pies. Our year concluded with our Christmas parties when the girls enjoyed games, craft and food. They also took home a chocolate treat and a Christmas story magazine. All our Leaders have recently completed part 1 of some mandatory online training including safeguarding. The second part involves joining members of the National Training Team online for a two-hour session to discuss putting the training into practice. All extra time we have to find in our busy schedules. We must be so grateful to the Leadership team for their dedication and commitment to the work amongst children and young people as they seek to show them the love of Jesus. We pray that all our members will continue along their faith journey accepting Jesus as their own personal Lord and Saviour. ## **Gill Stennings - Captain** **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **19** **Annual Report 2025** ## **Sunday School** Our Sunday school is still expanding and we are averaging between 15 to 20 young people each week. We have had new teachers and helpers join our team, but still could use more help at times. We enjoyed lots of different activities e.g. Bible study, Craft activities, Games, Word searches etc. We had a Beach day in July. We organised and led a Christingle service just before Christmas. **Emma, Becky, Trudi, Nicola, Lee and the Sunday School Team** ## **Tiny Treasures** We are pleased to report another good year at Tiny Treasures. January is normally a little quite but numbers very soon picked up. The register was quite full but we didn't need to introduce a waiting list. We had a steady intake of babies and toddlers throughout the year, some moved on to nursery but retention was better than the previous year. We keep in place the same structure as we have for many years and continues to work well and good for the children to know the routine. This includes general play time, craft and sensory play, followed by a 'tidy up time' ready for their snack (including a thanksgiving song). We end the session with a ten to fifteen minute session of singing. We have found, through consistency, the children engage more and more in the singing along with their parent, grandparent or carer. Our volunteers arrive before the start for discussion and to pray for the session that morning and for God's presence and guidance to be with us. We are sometimes blessed with opportunities to have conversations, to offer support and a safe place, and in some circumstances to offer prayer, which is gratefully accepted. At Easter we provide Easter themed activities and we went into the church to hear the Easter story. We also advertise any activity that may be available at the Saturday morning coffee mornings, normally at Easter and Christmas time, and find a few do bring their children along, which is a good way for the church to reach out to the community. In July we had our end of term teddy bear's picnic and bear hunt in the church, finishing with a picnic. We also held our picnic 'past and present' during August on the Greensward near the park, meeting up with our present and past attendees. Our new term in September started very much in the same manner as before the summer break. Register quite full and a few new faces. The year ended with our Christmas party which is always very popular. We took the children into the church for the nativity story and to sing 'Away in a manger'. We also looked at the Christmas trees from the other clubs which are held at Pier Avenue. Followed by a visit from Santa, a gift for each child and Christmas songs. Ending the session with party food. Our team of volunteers are very committed. Thank you to Georgina, Miriam and Richard for setting up all the tables, chairs and toys and the Monday team of Karen, Sylvia, Trudi, Carol, Richard, Georgina, Emily and Lynn. Please continue to pray for the Tiny Treasure group and for the link between the church and the wider community to grow. Your prayers are very much appreciated. **Karen, Lynn & the Tiny Treasures Team** **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **20** ## **Annual Report 2025** ## **Zoom Boys’ Club** Having had to close down out work with Boys through Boys Brigade. following the COVID shutdown, due to difficulties in recruiting sufficient Leaders, the church continued to look for ways to provide a program for Boys, both from within the church family and the wider community. The arrival of our new minister, Michelle Eversden-Thomas in the summer of 2024 created a new desire to find ways of recommencing the work with Boys. Following a period of prayerful consideration and discussion a small group of those interested in supporting this work met and it was agreed that there was now sufficient support and desire to move this forward in 2025. The Team agreed on a January start for a trial period up to Easter to gauge the response, both form Leaders and Helpers and Boys joining in the programme. The launch in January was successful with a number of Boys from church and community attending as a result of some prestart publicity. On our opening night of January 9[th] , we had a total of 6 Boys attending and the number grew over that first Spring Term and by Easter we had 12 Boys registered. With this successful start it was agreed that the work should continue and the Club met every school term time evening on Thursdays from 6pm through to 7.30pm. The age range attending covered all Primary school years from Reception up to year 6. The programme each week varies and always seeks to challenge the Boys to explore new activities and each week they would be involved in a range of different games and activities. The Leaders and Helpers bring many skills and inspiration, and these are valuable in developing the varied programme. As a Church based group, we have an emphasis on Faith and within and through our programme we find opportunities to share God’s love and use Bible teaching where possible, but not to the exclusion of other program ideas. The boys respond well to our activities and there is a good atmosphere on the evenings we meet. Over the year we have provided sports type coaching in table tennis through to computer classes that included programming computer devices and some simple robotics creation. We continue to be optimistic, as we move into 2026, with new boys joining who have been introduced to the club by current members. Further publicity opportunities are being sought to expand the club. The support of the dedicated leadership team has been key to the success of this new venture and the prayer support from the wider Church Family is also recognised. The Boys from Zoom have become increasingly involved in the church’s gathered, 00interactive worship on a Sunday. Particularly exciting was the opportunity to lead the annual Fathers’ Day service and present gifts to those attending that the Boys had made over the weeks before as part of their activities. ## **Rev. Michelle Eversden-Thomas & Ian Smith** **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **21** ## **Annual Report 2025** ## **Worship Team** Thanks and appreciation to the Worship Team for their continued commitment this past year. The Worship Team meet for rehearsal before each Sunday service at 09:45 and ton Tuesday evenings as required. The Worship Team consists of: |Tracey|- Piano|Karen|- Guitar and Vocals|Dawn|- Vocals| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |Nic|- Piano|Tony|- Guitar and Vocals|Joy|- Vocals| |||||Alesis|- SR18 Drum Machine!| The Christmas services involve a lot of work for the team with extra services as well as the Carol Service. An extended group sang at Carols by Candlelight. Our thanks go to the singers, musicians, Heather, Matthew, James and Ian for doing the PowerPoint / Live Feed and Chris for operating the sound, as well as those who decorated the church so beautifully with the candles, lights, tree and flowers. We now have a new mixing desk which is providing better clarity for sound all round. A separate live stream music feed has been installed to enhance the sound for listeners online – we are in the process of tweaking to make the audio feed better. Our prayer for the coming year is that we will grow closer together with each other, but more importantly, grow closer to God as we follow His leading and serve Him by serving our fellowship. ## **Tony Meloy** ## **Premises Usage** Here is a flavour of the activities and events which are held on our premises during the year: ## **Church Groups & Organisations** ## **Community Users** - 1[st] Clacton-on-Sea Girls Brigade (GB) - Sunday School - Tiny Treasures Parent and Toddlers / Baby group - GB Sleepovers & Quiz night - Prayer Meetings - Fellowship Lunches & Teas - Coffee Mornings - Enfold Project - Warm Hub - Church Members’ meetings - Worship Team practices - Joint event with Holland & Thorpe Baptist - Church House Group - Table-Top sales - Deacon’s meetings - Wellbeing Drop In - Zoom Boys’ club - FoodCycle - Four different regular Dancing & Fitness groups - Darby & Joan Club - Birthday Parties - 1[st] Clacton Rainbows, Brownies, Rangers & Guides - Escrima (self-defence classes) - Cancer Support Group - Thanksgiving (funeral) services - Tip Top Education Tours - STEAM Powered Education - CFT Care - Afro-Caribbean drop-in group - RAMA / Calais Light - Roman Catholic Church - SANDS - NHS Immunisation Team - Voyage Care - - Champion Music **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **22** ## **Annual Report 2025** ## **Premises Hires & Income** Over this last year, we have seen God’s provision in the way our premises hires have been upheld. Premises income grew steadily during 2025, then receded over the summer period when some groups take a break, then finished strongly. Overall, our hire income was down on 2024, as three hirers ended their terms with us, and the way Enfold is financed changed too (core costs). We finished the year with a total of £26.4K (including core cost transfers). We surpassed the budgeted figure of £23.5K which helps us achieve our aim of the Premises income covering premises costs, so the congregational income supports the church’s ministry costs. Again in 2025, 84% of our income was achieved through our regular hirers, like: 1[st] Clacton Guides & Brownies, Ballroom Dancing, FoodCycle, Enfold Project, Darby & Joan, other various dance classes. The other 16% of income was through many one-off hires, like: children’s parties, training days, wellbeing and support groups. During 2025, we are pleased to have new hirers join us. Local and regional NHS teams offering help and support to the local community. Groups like the Pamoja Project (linked with AfiUK) have been expanding and been very active in recent months. Many of the current activities have been ongoing, including Cancer Support Group, Family support groups, Afro-Caribbean drop-in group, a group providing English Language learning as a second language to name but a few. We have a wide range of groups and activities that use our halls, some are seeing us as their ‘home’, and reaching out to strengthen links with PABC. To help nurture our links with the hirers, we have also encouraged them all to take part in our annual Christmas Tree Festival, where a mixture of hall hirers, community organisations and our own church groups brought together 14 trees to display at the front of church during the festive period. This gave them an opportunity to celebrate and share with others who they are and what they do during the week, in a fun way through the diverse themes of their tree decorations! We thank God for bringing us in direct contact with so many local groups and organisations, who are happy to meet at PABC. Praise God. We will endeavour to extend these links further, as we work in partnership with our hirers in 2026. I would also like to thank Karen for helping me process the high number of enquiries and supporting the new hirers. **Ian Day** **AR-25** **Annual Report 2025** **23**