2025-03-31-accounts

Little Hill Church

Wigston

Trustees’ Report for the Year ending

31 March 2025

Little Hill Church

Launceston Road, Wigston, Leics, LE18 2GZ

www.littlehill.org.uk

Registered Charity (England & Wales) No. 1138737 HM Revenue and Customs (Charities) Reference: XN32811

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Governing Documents

The objects of Little Hill Church and procedures for its government are laid down in the Trust Deed of 16 May 1975 (amended on 20 January 1993) and the Constitution adopted about 1975

Trustees during the year:

Rich Andrew Harley Clarke John Eardley (Chair of Trustees) James Harrison Joshua Harrison Peter Holmes

Andrew Irvine Faqir Kallow Mike Smith

Kenny Sunmboye

Elders :

Faqir Kallow (Chair) John Eardley

Joshua Harrison Kenny Sunmboye

Deacons:

Rich Andrew Harley Clarke James Harrison

Peter Holmes (Chair) Andrew Irvine Mike Smith (Treasurer)

Bankers:

HSBC, 2-6 Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, LE1 1DA

Independent Accounts Examiner

Melanie Smith

11 Tremaine Drive, Wigston, Leics., LE18 2GW

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Trustees’ Annual Report

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting this report of the church’s activities for the year ending 31 March 2025, which includes the information below and the attached Receipts and Payments Account.

Purpose and Objectives

Little Hill Church is ‘an undenominational and evangelical work for the service of Almighty God and the education of young persons’ and for other purposes ‘incidental to or connected with the work of a Christian church in accordance with the teaching of the Scriptures’ (Trust Deed clause (a)).

Little Hill Church exists for:

• a. the building up of Christians through preaching and teaching,

• b. bringing Christians together to love one another,

• c. the worship of God through prayer, praise and ‘breaking of bread’ (communion)

• d. baptising believers,

• e. fulfilling the commission to make disciples. (Constitution para.1)

Public Benefit Statement

Little Hill Church aims to provide public benefit through the advancement of the Christian Religion, in accordance with reformed evangelical theology, through the various activities highlighted below. The main area of activity has been Wigston and the immediate surrounding area, but Little Hill Church believes in a global mission in accordance with the command of Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19 and 20. We have therefore provided support for members, other individuals and organisations, as resources permit, where such individuals and organisations are seen as sympathetic to our theological position and are themselves engaged in the promotion of Christian Religion.

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Regular Activities

In pursuit of these objectives, the following regular activities have been undertaken during the year ending 31 March 2025.

• On Sunday mornings Joshua Harrison, the church’s Pastor, has continued to preach through the Gospel of Luke. A series on Biblical Ethics ran through the autumn and into the new year. Sunday afternoon services have continued with men from the

• church preaching through various Biblical topics. Joshua Harrison completed his series on the letter to the Philippians and preached a series on the book of Job. There have also been visits from guest preachers at both our Sunday morning

and afternoon services which have been very much appreciated.

• During the last year, the church has run a creche during the Sunday morning service each week. This is run by volunteers on a rota basis. The age range of children attending the creche is 0-4 years old. Typically, we have 2-3 children attend each week. We provide toys and books along with basic drawing equipment. The purpose of the creche is to provide childcare so parents can join in with the main service.

• Children’s Talks: Talks continue to be given mainly by James Eardley with Trevor Bowman covering breaks and other men on standby. Numbers of children tend to average around ten each week. Talks aim to be mostly interactive as a means of all ages and abilities having access to the content. Children engage well and learning is consolidated upstairs during Lion’s Cubs.

Talk subjects over the past year have included several prophets, a series on people Jesus met and another on Jesus’ parables. Additional talks have included: a harvest thanksgiving talk and a Blythswood talk by Derek McDonnell sharing about this gospel charity work. These, though not in the regular curriculum used, address questions children may have on other aspects of the Christian life.

The ‘objective’ of each talk is to present the Gospel simply to the children, through a key story theme, making clear the

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great human need for forgiveness and salvation from sin through Christ Jesus.

• Thursday Meetings: We meet every Thursday for fellowship, prayer and ministry from God’s word. In our Bible studies this year, we have completed a series on God’s Attributes, and begun a series on God the Holy Spirit. Monthly home-based Fellowship Groups have studied and discussed chapters from the church’s Bible reading scheme (many are following this to read through the Bible in three years). Once a month we meet for the Lord’s Supper and we also meet for a monthly time devoted mainly to prayer where we split into small prayer groups. All these meetings are a blessing and help the church to grow in its spiritual life.

• Ladies’ Bible Study: Over 20 ladies gather each Tuesday morning to study God’s precious Word, pray and share fellowship together. Others use the Bible study notes at home. Studies this year have included series on Proverbs, Timothy and Titus, and ‘The Gospel from Genesis to Revelation’. There have been meetings for praise and worship at Christmas and Easter, as well as occasional visits from outside speakers. The group is grateful for the contribution made by Judith Rowe in leading studies this year, as she now takes a break for family reasons, and for Victor Rowe who continues to provide the refreshments so faithfully.

• Warm Space Warm Space opens each Thursday from 10-12 noon with breaks for Easter, Summer and Christmas. Numbers coming in average 30-45 with a rotating core team of up to 8 people running it. Once again we have seen new people come in from the local area, friendships have been formed and some people have attended other events. We celebrate birthdays together and this year the VE Day celebration. We serve light refreshments, there is a craft table, table tennis, jigsaws and a kiddie corner. The local carers walking group join us every other week. We thank God for the opportunities to serve especially with the focus on welcoming local people into the building.

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• Monthly Saturday Prayer Focus Meetings are held to praise God and pray for the work of the gospel locally here in Wigston, nationally and internationally.

• Friday Fellowship continued through the year with a meeting most months, providing hymn singing and a devotional talk followed by a lunch. This is designed for senior citizens from the church and other friends.

Evangelism The church has held meetings for various age groups over the years. All the following meetings are provided at no cost to individuals, and most are term-time activities.

• Little Ones at Little Hill is a group for pre-school children that happens on Monday afternoons from 1:30-3:00pm in term time. In total, there are five ladies from the church who serve at Little Ones in different ways. All are DBS checked and church members. One of our helpers retired at the end of July after many years of serving faithfully at Little Ones. We offer a wide variety of toys, activities, and crafts for the children to enjoy. We then have story time, where the children hear a Bible story and sing some songs afterwards – a mixture of nursery rhymes and children’s choruses that contain simple Biblical truths. Approximately 25-30+ parents and carers attend, with a similar number of children and babies. The aim of Little Ones is for the team members to show friendship to the parents and carers, to share their Christian faith when appropriate, to invite them to Sunday services and evangelistic events, and to sow seeds of Biblical truth in the story time for children (for example, that God made the world).

• Kids’ Club is our weekly meeting for primary school aged children held on Friday evenings during term time. It has been great to keep this meeting going, and we continue to be encouraged meeting new families from the local area. We teach stories from the Bible and sing Christian songs with the children. There are a variety of activities, including sports and crafts, as well as fun games and events. There are regularly between 15-25 children attending this meeting each week.

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• Lion’s Cubs: The attendance of children at Lion’s Cubs on Sunday mornings continues at an increased number. We have between 6 and 19 attending, averaging about 12. The children are aged between 4 and 12 years. We currently have one leader and one helper in attendance at each session but call on additional helpers when necessary.

The group follows the same curriculum as the Children’s Talks giving opportunity to ensure the lessons are understood.

The children enjoy activities related to the stories, singing, learning Bible verses and sharing their news. It is a wonderful privilege to teach our children and share the Lord Jesus with them.

• Open-Air witness in Wigston : This is scheduled for the last Saturday of each month, under the banner of The Open-Air Mission. A total of nine took place between April 2024 and March 2025. Between two and five members of the church regularly take part in this. The aim is to share the Christian message with local people. This is done through preaching, offering free literature (in English and a range of languages spoken locally), and engaging in conversation. Invitations are regularly given to Sunday services and other church activities, such as the Thursday ‘Warm Space’. A free-literature table and display board are used. It is usually located on Bell Street, near Sainsbury’s, between 10:30 and 12:30. There is generally a good uptake of literature and several conversations each time. This activity is covered by the Open-Air Mission’s public liability insurance, risk assessments, and code of practice. Please see oamission.com for further information.

• Youth Club is becoming more established with young people aged 11-16. Attendance varies from four to sixteen teenagers. The evenings consist of practical activities on a four-week rotational basis; sports and games one evening; team activities around tables; a series of challenges in pairs; or a club night where there are choices available for the young people. Every effort is made to make each session interesting and fun. Each evening there is a talk addressing various issues of life or simply

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relating an aspect of the life of Jesus from the Bible. There are opportunities for questions and conversations pertaining to teenage life.

• ParkLife: This is our summer outreach to youngsters and others in the local parks. Unfortunately, we were not able to go out this year because we had no female volunteers - only men. There is a desperate need for a lady (or more), otherwise we will not be able to go out in the near future. This is an urgent prayer need.

• Women2Women : We had three events this year, the first at Buttercups Cafe on a Saturday morning (August 2024) when about 30 women gathered for informal fellowship. Everyone enjoyed coffee, cake and chat. There were many guests and it was good to get to know new people.

In November 2024 we held a craft afternoon at the church which was very well attended. Derek McDonnell did a presentation about Blythswood (a Christian charity involved with education, community support and also sending Christmas Shoeboxes to struggling communities especially in Eastern Europe). There was also a short film about the joy that our gifts bring and the importance of sharing the Good News about Jesus along with the shoeboxes. There was great feedback from the event and many women took a shoebox home to fill for Blythswood.

Our third event was a very popular ‘Portuguese night’ at Zeph's cafe Oadby in March 2025. Ioana Eardley spoke to around 50 women about growing up in Romania (just after the 1989 revolution) then her journey to England and to faith in Jesus Christ. We had a quiz, a Portuguese-style meal and read John 3:16 in Romanian and English; everyone took home a Portuguese-inspired cork coaster. About two thirds of the attendees were guests of church members with several from other informal meetings like Warm Space. We find that interviews facilitate good conversations and Ioana’s story certainly sparked a lot of interest and discussion.

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• Men’s Evangelism: Between April 2024 and March 2025 we put on two men’s outreach evenings. In June we offered a meal at a local Indian restaurant, with a themed quiz and an afterdinner gospel talk. In December we hosted a group quiz night in the church building, with food brought in, plus a Gospel talk. These events are free for all attenders, paid for by the church. Both have had between 35 and 40 men in attendance, of a wide age range from teenagers to senior citizens. Approximately a third of attendees are church members; others are guests, family members, friends and work colleagues.

• Senior Citizens: Four Saturday teas were held in this period. The programmes typically included music, poems (both classic and light-hearted), quizzes, gentle sitting-down exercises, and a gospel talk, followed by the tea.

• Free-literature case: Christian literature, Gospels, New Testaments and Bibles continue to be taken from the box, at the rate of a few copies per month. The literature is checked and restocked on an on-going basis. Literature relevant to Easter, Christmas and Remembrance Day is made available at relevant times. A poster with a QR code link to the online YouVersion is in one of the door windows, making the Bible instantly available to smart-phone users in many international languages. This is to make sure that as many as possible are able to read the Bible, and also reflects the multicultural demographic of the Little Hill estate. This year the case (and church main door frame) was graffitied with messages and questions. Thankfully these were in pencil, so removable. Our response to this was to add question slips and churchaddressed envelopes, enabling genuine questions to be submitted and answered. None have been received to date.

• Ministry to International Students: In partnership with Globe Café five Church Trips to Little Hill were arranged. We had 82 students visiting from 15 different countries: China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, St Vincent and The Grenadines and Vietnam. The Carol Service proved once again to be extremely popular, and the church was packed

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with many visitors as well as regular attenders. We continue to thank God for the privilege we have as a church to make Christ known amongst these needy souls, especially as many of them are not allowed to go to church or speak about Jesus in their own country.

Worship and Ministry

• Joshua Harrison is the full-time pastor and he continues to bring a consistent, consecutive ministry.

Other Activities

• Church History Lectures: Since 2018 an annual series of Church History Lectures has been given by one of our members, Dr Lesley Rowe. This year saw the continuation of the series ‘Three Great Johns’ with lectures on John Bunyan and John Newton. The 2025 series on ‘Three Victorian Defenders of the Faith’ opened with a lecture on JC Ryle, delivered by Rev Dr Lee Gatiss, Director of Church Society, on a return visit to Little Hill. An encouraging number of people, including friends from other churches, has attended, and enjoyed sharing fellowship together. A good number of viewings on YouTube demonstrates a wider interest in the subject.

• Little Hill Church continues to support the Blythswood shoebox project with collection and despatch again taking place at a member's house. Blythswood is a Scottish-based charity providing Christian care for body and soul to many in Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia.

A record 3061 boxes containing Christmas gifts and practical necessities for distribution to the needy in Eastern Europe were collected and sent. The greatest number of boxes were sent to Ukraine, giving hope to many suffering from the conflict.

• Food Bank: We continue to support the local community by the collection of food donated by members of the church.

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A collection point is located in the foyer of the building and when full this food is taken to one of the South Leicestershire hubs.

Practicalities

• Deacons and Elders have separate monthly meetings to consider their respective responsibilities.

• Elders and Deacons continue to meet monthly at the Church Council to conduct the business of the church. Here decisions are made and practicalities discussed including church finances. Members of the church are invited to attend.

• Those working with children, young people and vulnerable adults have been DBS checked and continue to be rechecked after five years.

• The Little Hill Link is sent out electronically to inform the church of forthcoming activities and is a useful prayer stimulus. Copies are printed and posted to those who are not online.

• A library of Christian books is available for members and visitors to borrow.

Risk Management

• The Deacons conduct an annual inspection of the premises to identify and evaluate any physical risks to which the church and its attendees may be subject, and they are satisfied that appropriate measures are in place to mitigate or eliminate these. A system of annual Risk Assessments for activities is used.

• We continue to review Safeguarding Policy each May which now includes protection for vulnerable adults.

Management of Funds

The attached Receipts and Payments Account shows total income of £107,057 (excluding gifts designated for other

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organisations), compared to £92697 the previous year. This is entirely made up of voluntary donations, mainly from members of the congregation. There are no fundraising activities.

All designated giving has been used for the purpose stated by the givers.

The income enabled us to complete an upgrade of the foyer and begin refurbishment of the toilets, as well as maintaining our regular activities and ministry without any significant reduction in reserves.

Day to day expenditure is normally met by individuals within the congregation and reimbursed on production of an invoice or till receipt. More than 95% of payments are now made by

Bank Transfer or Direct Debit. Two Deacons are authorised to conduct Internet Banking. All payments are checked against the records after the end of each month and signed off by two Deacons other than the Treasurer.

The church continues to support gospel work elsewhere. This year £17065 has been sent as gifts to individuals and

organisations involved in evangelism, training leaders, Christian advocacy and general relief work around the world. This is just under 16% of the church’s income.

Throughout the year the church held a comprehensive insurance policy with Congregational Insurance which included cover for Public Liability, Employer’s Liability and Trustees’ Indemnity. The Public Liability cover includes activities of the church on or off the premises.

The Trustees consider that the church is in a sound financial position with sufficient reserves for our regular activities and current maintenance projects.

Approval

The Trustees’ report was approved by the Trustees at a meeting on 8.09.2025.

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Notes to the Accounts

Note 1 2 3 4	Gifts and Donations Giftaided Gifts GASDS Gifts and Donations Other Offerings Designated Income Love Gifts Designated Gifts: Other Designated Gifts Ministry Pastor's Salary, Nat Ins & Pension Pastor's expenses and training Other meeting costs Special Gifts Lectures Warm Space Visiting Preachers Weekend/day away Evangelism Evangelism - General Publicity HBC Little Ones Kids Club Friday Fellowship Women to Women Mens Events Senior Citizens Youth Lions Cubs Printing/Literature Catering	2025 £ 59,400.60 2,153.35 17,761.00 6,961.83 86,276.78 0.00 825.00 825.00 41,539.10 304.99 785.93 487.00 295.42 1,248.04 1,220.00 895.51 46,775.99 40.00 21.00 326.12 293.45 81.14 586.70 1,169.32 1,344.09 464.73 621.47 45.54 1,846.69 1,286.35 8,126.60	2024 £ 55,498.00 2,333.01 14,545.00 6,480.55
			78,856.56
			0.00 980.00
			980.00
			39,836.85 427.16 1,451.61 82.66 412.71 1,181.34 1,535.00 0.00
			44,927.33
			225.46 254.45 411.07 380.53 101.65 785.16 926.95 1,677.60 281.05 341.47 100.57 2,353.84 1,159.90
			8,999.70

Notes to the Accounts

Note 5 6 7	Gifts Vinukonda Zambesi Mission Blythswood Care Friends International Penny Wang Friends International Ruth Duffin Platform 67 Open Air Mission Christian Institute Int'l Mission to Jewish People (formerly Christian Witness to Israel) Int'l Mission to Jewish People - presentation/ministry Bulkington Congregational Church Thurlaston Chapel > printing Platform 67 - presentation/ministry Our Daily Bread Ministries UFM - Daveys UFM - 50/50 Hicham/Coquerel Children for Christ Ministry Good News For Everyone Leic South Food Bank SIM International Matt & Lisa Wallis European Mission Fell - presentation/ministry North Church CIO SGA - for Ukraine work SGA - visiting speaker re Phoebe Project Designated Expenditure Designated Gifts: Other Designated Gifts Love Gifts Accommodation Light & Heat Insurance Cleaning and Hygiene Building and Fixtures Building repairs & services Water Rates	2025 £ 1,750.00 1,600.00 575.00 1,150.00 1,150.00 575.00 1,150.00 1,150.00 2,150.00 250.00 0.00 120.00 825.00 120.00 250.00 1,000.00 500.00 0.00 0.00 250.00 250.00 0.00 2,000.00 250.00 17,065.00 895.00 0.00 895.00 4,947.31 2,206.26 709.08 20,638.73 2,336.60 501.12 31,339.10	2024 £ 1,750.00 1,600.00 1,000.00 2,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 0.00 1,500.00 120.00 0.00 120.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 250.00 200.00 0.00 0.00 60.00 0.00 0.00
			13,600.00
			1,033.75 0.00
			1,033.75
			3,311.86 966.98 526.42 1,359.76 2,239.85 461.21
			8,866.08

Notes to the Accounts

Note 8	Administration Bank Charges Recording Library Equipment purchases Equipment repairs Printing/photocopying Postage Telephone Stationery Advertising Audit Website Professional fees Affiliations and CRB checks	2025 £ 129.62 57.23 12.47 2,963.72 64.25 218.90 208.66 375.38 144.00 140.26 250.00 605.16 676.17 742.50 6,588.32	2024 £ 131.11 24.54 0.00 2,634.87 438.00 227.80 300.80 368.43 97.89 121.90 230.00 619.44 744.96 225.50
			6,165.24

Little Hill Church

Receipts and Payments Account y.e. 31st March 2025

		2025	2025	2024	2024
		£	£	£	£
	Note
Opening Balances
Bank Current Account		3,870.82		3,126.36
Bank Deposit Account		29,215.55		19,874.50
Receipts
Gifts and donations	1	86,276.78		78,856.56
Designated Income	2	825.00		980.00
Income Tax Refund		14,960.47		13,374.70
Bequests and Legacies		5,102.46		0.00
Interest Received		472.46		466.35
Miscellaneous receipt		245.00		0.00
Payments
Ministry	3		46,775.99		44,927.33
Evangelism	4		8,126.60		8,999.70
Gifts	5		17,065.00		13,600.00
Designated Expenditure	6		895.00		1,033.75
Accommodation	7		31,339.10		8,866.08
Administration	8		6,588.32		6,165.24
Closing Balances
Bank Current Account			3,030.05		3,870.82
Bank Deposit Account			27,148.48		29,215.55
		140,968.54	140,968.54	116,678.47	116,678.47

NOTE

No credit has been included in the accounts for a sum of £7,742 (2024 £7,500) which is due by way of an Income Tax Refund against Giftaid for the period.

AUDITORS REPORT

I have examined the Church's Books of Account and the Receipts and Payments Accounts which, in my opinion accurately state the Church's affairs.

CHANGE TO ACCOUNTING POLICY

The Church decided to change the way the accounts are prepared and presented with effect from 1st April 2019 from an accruals basis to a receipts and payments basis. The effect of this is that there is no longer a balance sheet showing the value of the church building, other fixed assets, current assets and liabilities.

………………………………………….

Melanie Smith

Qualified with CIPFA in 1976, (member between 1976-2013) but no longer a member of the Institute 16th June 2025