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← Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Exmouth

2025-09-30-accounts

Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees’ Report and Accounts 1[st] October 2024 to 30[th] September 2025

Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

Our Vision: ‘To be a Christ centred people demonstrating the love of God in the community’

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Trustees’ Report for the Year 1stOctober 2024 to 30thSeptember 2025 3
Reference and Administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers 3
Charity Status 3
Managing Trustees 3
Principal Advisers 3
Structure, Governance and Management 3
Governing Document 3
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees 3
Induction and Training of Trustees 3
Organisational Structure 3
Baptist Union of Great Britain and South West Baptist Association 4
Relationships between the Charity and Related Parties 4
Risk Management 4
Objectives and Activities 4
Objects of the Charity 4
Charity’s Aims 4
Declaration of Principal 4
Charity’s Main Objectives for the Year 5
Charity’s Vision and Purposes 5
Mission Statements 6
Achievements and Performance
 6
Pastor’s Annual Report
 6
Administration Annual Report
 7
Servanthood Annual Report
 8
Youth and Children’s Worker Annual Report
 8
Growth Groups Annual Report
 10
Safeguarding and Pastoral Care Annual Report
 10
Health and Safety Annual Report
 11
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club Chaplaincy Annual Report
 11
Hospitality Annual Report
 11
Worship Annual Report
 12
Community Engagement Annual Report
 12
Premises Annual Report
 13
Stewardship - Treasurer’s Annual Report
 13
Trustees Responsibilities in Relation to the Financial Statements
 15
Signature and Declaration
 15
Independent Examiner’s Report
 16
Financial Accounts for the period 1stOctober 2023 to 30thSeptember 2024
 17

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

Annual Report for the Year 1[st] October 2024 to 30[th] September 2025

The Trustees are pleased to present their report for the year 1[st] October 2024 to 30[th] September 2025. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers:

Charity Status

Brixington Community Church (Baptist) is a registered charity under the Charities Act 2011, Registered Charity Number 1139968.

Managing Trustees

The church is administered by the Managing Trustees of the Charity comprising: -

Minister and Chair of Trustees Reverend S Atkinson

Administrator Miss R Brooks Treasurer Mr G Hughes Elders Mr N Fryer-Saxby Mrs J Corney (co-opted member) Deacons Mrs M Carvalho Mrs J Clark Mrs D Goodwin Mr M Greaves Miss C Jackson Mr R Smith

Principal Advisers

Bankers CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ. Independent Examiner Streets Bush Chartered Accountants, 2 Barnfield Crescent, Exeter, EX1 1QT.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The church’s governing document is a declaration of model trust deed dated 17[th] June 1974 which sets out the objects of the charity. The current land site has been occupied since 1972 when the first building was erected.

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

The Administrator, Treasurer, Elders and Charity Trustees (Deacons) are the Managing Trustees of the charity and 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. Annual elections are held at the church Annual General Meeting by ballot. Nominees must secure a vote of at least 60% of those present and eligible to vote.

Induction and Training of Trustees

New Trustees appointed during the reporting period receive one-to-one briefings with the Chair of Trustees on operational policy, the Charity Trust Deed and Constitution. They are also briefed on the responsibilities of a Trustee based on the Charity Commission guidance booklet CC3 - ‘The Essential Trustee’ and in line with our Induction Policy.

Organisational Structure

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 church meetings which are normally held bi-monthly. The Minister of the church is a paid Managing Trustee and with the Administrator, Treasurer, Elders and Charity Trustees (Deacons) gives leadership to the church. The Administrator, Treasurer, Elders and Trustees (Deacons) assist the Minister in his role and are also responsible for preparing the business for the church meetings.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

The Baptist Union of Great Britain and the South West Baptist Association

The church is part of the wider Baptist family and is therefore a member church of the South West Baptist Association (SWBA) and 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 donates to the BUGB Home Mission Fund for the Baptist Family in the UK.

Relationships between the Charity and Related Parties

Churches in Exmouth - the church is an active member of the ecumenical partnership of churches in the Exmouth area.

The church supports Open Door in Exmouth .

These connected organisations of the church exist as part of the work and mission of the church which are open to the community.

The church also allocates some of the Minister’s time to fulfil the role of Chaplain to Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club .

Exmouth Foodbank - the church works in partnership with Exmouth Foodbank and supports people in the local area.

Evangelical Alliance - The church is a member of The Evangelical Alliance which is an umbrella grouping for Evangelical Christians in the UK. Formed in 1846, the Alliance aims to bring Christians together and help them listen to, and be heard by, the government, media and society.

Risk Management

The Trustees examine on a rolling basis all major strategic business and operational risks that the charity faces. Controls and action plans are developed to address any additional risks that are identified during this process.

Risk Assessments are carried out for each event held in the church to identify any risks posed, and these continue to be monitored on a regular basis.

Objectives and Activities

Objects of the Charity

The Charity is established for the purposes of the advancement of religion through the spiritual work of the church. These purposes include the provision and upkeep of a place of worship, carrying out religious services, the payment, housing and pensioning of a Minister of Religion and other persons employed for the purposes of a place of worship.

Charity’s Aims

Under the Baptist Union Declaration of Principle (below), Brixington Community Church seeks to be an active Christian community/fellowship bringing Christian witness and care to the area known as Brixington within the town of Exmouth. The church also acknowledges its Christian responsibilities beyond the local community and seeks to engage in both national and international situations.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

Charity’s Main Objectives for the Year

The church continues to offer public worship on Sunday mornings together with a selection of Mid-week activities. We continue to stream our Sunday morning worship services through our YouTube page.

Conversations continued with those who are interested in discussing their faith and the possibility of baptism and church Membership.

The church continues to be involved in Mission activities locally, nationally and internationally.

  1. Locally – Exmouth Food Bank; the Open Door project, including Haven; Seniors’ Lunches; Coffee Mornings; Messy Church; Parent Pop In; Exeter Chiefs and Street Pastors.

  2. Nationally - As part of Home Mission within the Baptist Union, New Wine and Sports Chaplaincy.

  3. Internationally - Supports two individuals on long term overseas mission in Mozambique and Romania, as well as supporting the Baptist Missionary Society.

The church continues to develop and grow through Fellowship, Worship, Discipleship, Servanthood and Evangelism.

The church premises are situated in an ideal location within Brixington which makes the premises attractive for a wide range of community groups, organisations and other charities. Where possible and appropriate, the church aims to recognise the needs of the community and organise activities and support groups to meet these needs.

Work has continued throughout the year to develop the church buildings into a hub serving the growing needs of both church and community. This year £27,246 has been raised towards this goal.

The Charity’s Vision and Purposes

Vision

The Charity’s vision is ‘To be a Christ centred people demonstrating the love of God in the community’.

Purposes

Fellowship:

We believe we are called by God to be part of His family (the body of Christ) in Exmouth expressing our faith through love for others.

(John 13:35, Romans 12:10 & Hebrews 10:25)

Worship:

We seek to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, thus surrendering (offering) our lives as an act of worship.

(Psalm 95:6-7 & Romans 12:1)

Discipleship:

We seek to make disciples of all ages, encouraging people to grow and mature in faith by the study and application of the living Word of God through the power and the joy of prayer, which is at the heart of all we do and by the equipping (empowering) of the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us. (Acts 2:42, Hebrews 5:13-14 & 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Servanthood:

We believe that each person has been given gifts and talents to use to fulfil the plans and purposes of God in this and future generations by being fruitful and serving others.

(John 13:14-15, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 2:10 & 1 Peter 4:10)

Mission/Outreach:

We aim to actively seek the lost and be a door of hope in the community by demonstrating and declaring the good news of Jesus Christ because we are convinced that He is able to save all who believe in Him. (Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 19:10 & Acts 20:24)

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

Mission Statements

Fellowship

Church Family: We aim to encourage all people to live Christ centred lives. To:

Youth and Children’s Work : Young people are important to the life of the church. We aim to:

Worship:

Services: Worship is important to the life of the church and includes the study and application of the Word of God. We aim to:

Prayer: Prayer is important in everything we do. Therefore, we seek to:

Discipleship:

Church growth: We believe that God desires this church to grow numerically and spiritually. We:

Growth Groups: Growth Groups are necessary for the spiritual growth of the church. We seek to:

Servanthood:

Serving the community: Our aim is to demonstrate the love of God in the community by:

Buildings: Our aim is for the building to be an asset valued by both church and community by:

Mission/Outreach: We believe everyone has a role to play in mission and outreach. Therefore we:

Achievements and Performance

Pastor's Annual Report

Thank you for being part of the journey over this last year. We began the year with a dedicated week of prayer, seeking God’s direction for us as a fellowship. This focus on prayer continued into the start of 2025 with another week of seeking the Lord together. Throughout the year, our monthly church prayer meetings have remained a key part of our rhythm.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

We truly believe prayer is foundational to everything we do — it sustains us, guides us, and brings change. Prayer isn’t just something we do; it’s at the heart of who we are as a church.

One of the most significant highlights of the year has been the 7 baptisms that have taken place as we have twice opened the baptistry this last year. It is always a joy to see people commit their lives to following Jesus and becoming part of the membership.

In the lead-up to Easter this year, we marked the occasion with a well-attended Passover meal, which was a wonderful time of fellowship. Food continues to be an important part of our community life, with events like Coffee Mornings, the Senior’s Lunch Club, and various fellowship gatherings bringing people together. I'm pleased to share that we have once again received a 5-star food hygiene rating. A big thank you and well done to the team for maintaining such high standards and keeping everyone safe.

Throughout the year, a group of musicians led by Eve has come together to rehearse and lead us in live worship on several occasions. It has been a great source of encouragement to witness this development. Please continue to pray as we seek to grow and strengthen this ministry within the life of the church.

Our Growth Groups again have played a vital role in helping develop people with their Christian walk. We now have 10 groups mainly meeting once a week to pray, study God’s word, encourage one another and have fellowship together. Thank you to our group leaders for the time they invest in preparing and leading their groups.

Over the past year, we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming Ben as our South West Youth Ministries (SWYM) trainee, joining us while undertaking the Be Transformed course with SWYM. We are grateful for the contribution he’s made to the life of our fellowship during his time with us. Ben has successfully completed his course, and we wish him every blessing as he steps into whatever God has in store for him next.

Our Youth and Children’s department has continued with all its different activities throughout the year and a big thank you to Bradley for leading this for us and to the team that support this important ministry.

At the start of the year, we welcomed Rebekah as our new Administrator, following Tricia’s departure as she relocated to North Devon. We are grateful to Rebekah for all the dedication and hard work she contributes behind the scenes. I’d also like to express sincere thanks to Geraint, who has faithfully continued in the role of Treasurer as we seek someone to take on this important position at BCC. Please continue to pray with us as we wait on the right person to step into this vital role in the life of our church.

Our Leadership Team also includes our Deacons, who are committed to supporting the practical aspects of church life. I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued dedication and service to the fellowship.

One of the major pieces of work the Leadership team have been working on is to prepare the church for a change in charitable status to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), with a particular focus on agreeing a new constitution/governing document. As the church has now formally agreed to adopt this new constitution, and we are currently in the process of registering the change with the Charity Commission.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Norman and Jo. As we’ve met together regularly as Elders over the past year, their wisdom, encouragement, and partnership have been a great blessing. It has been a privilege to pray and share fellowship together as we’ve carried the responsibility of providing spiritual oversight for the church.

This has been another full and active year as we continue reaching out into the community and working toward our vision: to be a Christ-centred people, demonstrating the love of God in the community . Thank you for your contribution—whether big or small—to the life of BCC. We’re especially grateful to God for His continued faithfulness throughout the year.

Reverend Simon Atkinson Pastor

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

Administration Annual Report

We currently have 81 Members worshipping at Brixington Community Church alongside regular visitors and people joining worship through our online streaming. In November 2024 we observed 4 people give their lives through baptism; Joy Mundy, Sean Bennet, Leah Condliffe and Prudence Mbimbi. We welcomed Eve and Jamie Burns into membership in December 2024. We also saw 3 new members baptised in January 2025 and welcomed into fellowship in May and June; Gill Haggerty, Joy Carson and Maggie Sumner followed by Mike and Sue Martin joining us in September 2025 as well as celebrating the arrival of baby Brodie Goodwin.

We received official resignation from Tricia Hill in June 2025 following her many years of faithfulness and dedication as she moved to be closer to family. She rallied the troops as Administrator for 10 years and leaves some very big shoes to fill.

This year has seen the need to hold a number of special and additional Church Meetings as we worked to adopt the new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) status and constitution. We have also sought guidance in supporting Bradley Goodwin’s spiritual development as he begins to undertake Ministerial Training.

We welcomed Amanda Heyworth to the team as Cleaner in April and have been more than pleased with her commitment, positive attitude and burgeoning interest in supporting the wider life of the Church.

The Trustees and Deacons have seen a ‘rebranding’ to become part of the Leadership Team in line with the new CIO document. They continue to meet once a month to discuss the life of the Church and continue seeking Gods wisdom in future endeavours.

I have been so appreciative of everyone’s support and encouragement while stepping in to the role of Administrator and finding a balance between other commitments. As I became privy to more of the ‘behind the scenes’ of Church life it was clear to see just how much time and effort from individuals goes into making our Church a home. I have grown up in Brixington Community Church and it has always felt like an extended family to me. There is a clear dedication and purpose in providing for our local community and sharing the love of God despite the need to make some tricky decisions and what can seem like a never ending ‘to do’ list. Following my first official Deacons meeting I had a song stuck in my head and was timely reminded that ‘Christ is my firm foundation – the rock on which I stand. When everything around me is shaken, I’ve never been more glad that I put my faith in Jesus because He’s never let me down.’

Rebekah Brooks Administrator

Servanthood Annual Report

The giving of financial support and the offering of practical ministry are rooted in scripture and seen as examples in the early church. Therefore, they are essential to the ministry of BCC, both the church itself and witness in the community.

1. Financial support

The major proportion of our income is given to supporting the practical operation of BCC, e.g. salaries, activities, running costs and building maintenance etc. Following the covid pandemic, when our new building project was suspended, we are beginning to bring this back onto our main agenda. This presents a further challenge to our funding and our faith in God, that he will provide what we need.

We continue to tithe our general income at 10%. This enables us to bless other missionary enterprises, in addition to other designated giving. This year, our servanthood fund was divided between two supported missionary workers, Andrew in Romania and Elena in Mozambique, plus our food distribution ministry and the Bible Society.

2. Practical ministry

As part of our local outreach, we continue to provide a wide range of activities to support the community and offer support, friendship and advice. It is encouraging to see many members of the congregation involved in this valuable ministry. Our desire is that all our community work has an outward looking focus. Also, that we ensure all our activities are engaging with the community and effective in promoting the gospel. Our aim is to develop a bridge to those linked to BCC via these activities.

Norman Fryer-Saxby Elder

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

Youth and Children’s Annual Report

Shine: is our after-school club that meets every Friday from 3:30PM to 4:30PM during term time. Over the past year, the club has experienced remarkable success in engaging the wider community. The average weekly attendance has increased significantly, rising from 6 to 8 children last year to an impressive average of 16 to 17 children this year. Furthermore, we have noticed a growing number of parents and guardians staying for the duration of the sessions and actively participating alongside their children, particularly during craft sessions and action worship songs. The peak attendance period for Shine occurred during the second half of the children's second term at school, specifically from 28[th] February 2025 to 04[th] April 2025. During this timeframe, we observed an average attendance of 22 to 23 children, with our highest club attendance reaching 25 children.

Ignite: In the past year, on November 8, 2024, we launched a youth club aimed at secondary school students. This initiative takes place every Friday during term time from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The club began modestly, with only one child attending on the inaugural night, followed by two the next week. However, as we became more established in our operations, the group steadily grew, reaching a total of nine children over the course of six sessions.

Throughout the year, we continued to invest in this group, fostering strong relationships with a core group of four to five regular attendees. The highest attendance recorded was twelve children, with an average of five to six participants by the end of July 2025. We are excited to further develop this group, strengthen our connections with the youth in the Brixington and Exmouth areas, and explore future opportunities.

Messy Church: We have consistently hosted our Messy Church event on a monthly basis, typically occurring on the first Saturday of each month from 10-1130AM, although this may be adjusted due to local school holidays and

calendars. Over the past year, we

have experienced a commendable turnout, averaging 19 to 20 children and young people per session, with a peak attendance of 29 children and young people at a single event. In addition to providing crafts and activities suitable for children of all ages and abilities, we were fortunate this year to collaborate with a local firefighting crew in Exmouth. This partnership allowed us to celebrate International Firefighters' Day on May 4th, during which the crew showcased their fire engine and equipment, offering the children a hands-on experience with the fire hose.

The “Who Let the Dads Out?” sessions experienced a significant decline in attendance toward the end of 2024. In response, our team decided to place the group on hold from September until Christmas, aiming to reassess our approach and develop a strategy for moving forward. Following a thorough review conducted in early 2025, we concluded that it was time to bring “Who Let the Dads Out?” to a natural end.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

As a team, we explored alternative offerings that were not currently available in the area. Ultimately, we conceived a new initiative called “Play and Praise.” This program will provide children with a space to engage with toys and equipment, followed by a snack and a puppet show that conveys clear Christian teachings and messages. These sessions will replace “Who Let the Dads Out?” and will typically occur on the third Saturday of each month from 10-1130AM, welcoming all children and young people to attend no matter their ages and abilities.

One-Off Family Events:

Throughout the year, we organize a variety of special events, including a three-day holiday club and seasonal celebrations such as Christmas, Easter, and light parties. Historically, these events have been immensely popular among the children and families in our local community.

Our annual Light Party, held on November 2, 2024, marked the beginning of our series of youth, children, and family events. This year, we welcomed an

impressive total of 104 attendees, comprising 75 children and young people along with 29 parents and guardians from both the local community and beyond.

Later in 2024, on December 14, we hosted an all-age Christmas party. This event served as a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the festive season while sharing the nativity story as recounted in the Bible. We were able to bless many children and young people with gifts, accompanied by a generous buffet spread donated by church members who regularly attend Sunday services. That evening, we experienced a turnout of 107 individuals, including 65 children and young people and 42 parents and guardians, along with a dedicated team of volunteers.

During the February 2025 half-term, we facilitated a highly successful royal-themed event over three days—Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This initiative was led by myself and my exceptional youth and children's volunteers, who ensured that all participants had an engaging and enjoyable experience. We averaged 26 to 27 children each day, with the most popular session attracting 32 children. Over the three-day period, we welcomed a total of 80 children and 47 parents and guardians who participated in the activities.

Finally, our culminating event was the Church’s Easter Egg-stravaganza, which boasted the highest attendance of any youth and children’s event of the year, drawing a total of 173 attendees. This included 90 adults over the age of 18, 72 children and youth under 18, and a committed team of volunteers who facilitated everything from the kitchen and BBQ to the bouncy castle, Easter egg hunt, and various games.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

Schools Engagement: Over the past year, we have had the privilege of continuing our support and collaboration with two local primary schools in Brixington. Our efforts have included preparing and delivering a series of assemblies at both Brixington Primary Academy and Bassetts Farm Primary School.

At Brixington Academy, we successfully conducted weekly assemblies every Tuesday afternoon, focusing on the school's PSHE curriculum. Additionally, we welcomed the entire school to the church on two occasions: once for a Christmas-themed assembly and again for an Easter assembly. This past year, we also partnered with the school to host a special assembly on the school grounds, encouraging students to bring dried or canned food items for donation to the food distribution program operated by Brixington Community Church during Spring Harvest.

At Bassetts Farm Primary School, we were granted the opportunity to run assemblies on a weekly basis every other half term for students in Key Stage Two.

Furthermore, I continued my involvement at Exmouth Community College alongside Rose and the Haven team from Exmouth Open Door. On Fridays, I assisted in running a lunchtime safe space known as the Haven Hub, where students could engage in card and board games, as well as converse with trusted adults within the school. I also provided one-on-one mentorship to several boys facing various challenges, including mental health issues, anxiety, and academic difficulties. Towards the end of the academic year in 2025, I collaborated with Rose to facilitate a series of transition days. Additionally, we participated in Exmouth Community College's multi-faith and worldview day, where we had the opportunity to share our beliefs as a church and discuss our community work with Year 7 students.

Team Update: A Fond Farewell to Ben Culshaw: We are thrilled to share that Ben Culshaw has had an outstanding year with us at Brixington Community Church while studying alongside everyone at South West Youth Ministries (SWYM). During his time here, Ben has gained invaluable experience and increased his confidence by working with various volunteer teams, including our youth and children’s ministries, as well as the Open Door Exmouth's Haven team.

Since the beginning of his journey, Ben has shown remarkable personal growth in both his work and spiritual life. As a church community, we take pride in having contributed to his development.

On Sunday 17[th] August , we celebrated the conclusion of Ben's time with us by hosting a Family and Friends BBQ after the service, honouring all his achievements. He has since returned home to Honiton, where he is preparing to embark on the next chapter of his studies with South West Youth Ministries (SWYM). As a church, we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Bradley Goodwin

Youth and Children’s Leader

Growth Groups Annual Report

We are committed to walking alongside individuals in their faith journeys, and our Growth Groups are a key part of that mission. These groups provide a welcoming space to explore faith-related topics, study Scripture, pray together, and offer mutual encouragement and support.

At present, we have ten Growth Groups meeting regularly, including one that gathers online. We are grateful that more than 75% of our fellowship is actively involved in these groups.

This year, we were also blessed to host an Alpha course, which was well attended and deeply enriching for those who participated.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to our Growth Group leaders for their dedication, preparation, and faithful leadership each week as they guide and care for their groups.

Reverend Simon Atkinson Trustee responsible

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

Safeguarding and Pastoral Care Annual Report

Safeguarding: Brixington Community Church (BCC) aims to provide a safe and creative place for children, young people and adults in a vulnerable situation, to be valued and nurtured.

The church has a robust safeguarding policy structure in place and a reporting procedure for issues of concern. Our policy demonstrates that every member of the fellowship has a part to play in creating and valuing a safe community. Within the annually updated policy there are also guidelines for 'best practice' for all who work alongside the vulnerable, along with an efficient and prompt system to respond to any safeguarding issues surrounding children, young people or adults in a vulnerable situation. Our policy includes guidelines in the use of media, mobile phones and the use of photographs and has been highlighted in the 'best practice' section of our policy for all members to observe.

The policy statement is read out annually to the fellowship at the AGM, who are reminded of our collective responsibility for the well-being of all and the reporting procedure in the event of any concern.

Our safeguarding team of Lead Trustee, Safeguarding Administrator and Youth Worker meet every 6-8 weeks with an agenda of overview and support of our work with children and young people. Our relationship with the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) workers, the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) team and the SW Baptist Association Safeguarding Lead, ensures that BCC's Lead Trustee can process any urgent reported concerns within 24 hours to the appropriate authorities or support services.

All who work alongside the vulnerable groups , Trustees and Elders are Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked and have received 'Safe to Grow' and 'Safe to Belong' training. I can report that all such workers are up to date in their accreditation. In addition, our existing policy for 'Working Alone' is also implemented into our working practice. A risk assessment is prepared and carried out before any activities, both on and off-site, can take place. These risk assessments also include activities such as senior lunches, all youth work and any home visits. The Lead Trustee reports to the church Trustees at their monthly meetings.

Pastoral Care: The primary purpose of Pastoral Care at BCC is to care, support and nurture people so that the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is a resource for every situation. Although the primary responsibility for Pastoral Care lies with the Pastor, he is assisted by the Elders, Trustees and Growth group leaders. They review the pastoral needs of individual members of the fellowship and liaise with the Pastoral Care team. This year the team of 4 have been most effective in their response to the needs of an ageing fellowship, with ill health, family loss & bereavement, providing emotional and prayerful support.

Pastoral Care is also exercised through the prayerful and practical support within smaller Growth Groups. The Prayer Chain, which exists for members of the fellowship facing immediate crises, ensures a prompt prayer support covering when needed.

The church office and growth group leaders have remained a point of contact for anyone experiencing difficulties with shopping, medication collections, hospital appointments, or needing a re-assuring chat or home visit during the year. The Minister and Trustees diarise any pastoral care visits and are accompanied where possible, in line with current Pastoral Care training.

Plans are in place to monitor any vulnerable adults who may experience physical and financial hardship during the Winter season and to offer assistance for their well-being, alongside the weekly food bag deliveries already in place for families.

It has been heartening to see how caring and supportive all fellowship members have been for one another during this year.

Jill Clark Trustee Responsible

Health and Safety Annual Report

I am pleased to report that we are fully compliant with current H&S regulations.

In terms of reported accidents, they are thankfully few and minor in nature.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

We carried out a recent fire evacuation practice in order to observe and learn about the implications of a newly positioned RVP (assembly point). This evacuation did highlight points for improvement, which will be communicated back to you in due course.

I continue to enjoy serving in the role of a Deacon at Brixington Community Church, supporting and discerning direction given by the church elders.

We work together to also support each other in our various roles, so a special thank you to my fellow Deacons.

If you have any questions or wish to bring to my attention any H&S issues, I will endeavour to help.

Michael Greaves Trustee Responsible

Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club Chaplaincy Annual Report

Serving as Chaplain to the Exeter Chiefs presents a distinctive opportunity to engage with players, coaches and staff. It is a ministry founded on presence—one that enables me to build meaningful relationships so that, when life’s challenges arise, I am already a trusted and familiar face. While I do not initiate conversations about faith, I remain open to sharing my beliefs when invited to do so. My role encompasses the provision of pastoral and spiritual care through attentive listening, encouragement, and support for all individuals, irrespective of their faith background. This year has brought significant changes to the playing squad and coaches, with a number of experienced players moving on and a new generation of younger talent joining the team along with some international talent. Among them are several players of Christian faith, whom I have had the privilege of encouraging in their personal journeys. As I commence my fifteenth year as the club’s Chaplain, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the church for permitting me three hours each week to serve the Exeter Chiefs in this capacity.

Reverend Simon Atkinson Chaplain to Exeter Chiefs

Hospitality Annual Report

We are grateful to the Lord for the blessings and the sense of unity we have experienced through all our events and activities this year.

Coffee Mornings

Our weekly Coffee Morning continues to be a joyful space for fellowship. Average attendance has grown from 17 to 25. I would like to thank everyone from our congregation who attends and helps us spread God’s love and care. A special thank you goes to Michelle Mulcahy, Sue and Stuart Sutton, Pauline Bedford, Jean Bell, Debby Goodwin, Paul and Maggie Sumner for their continued and selfless support. Without you, our Coffee Mornings would simply not exist.

May the Lord bless you abundantly!

Sunday Coffee

I would like to thank our team of volunteers for their dedication and hard work in providing refreshments every Sunday. Thank you, Pauline Bedford, Jo Corney, Gill Haggerty, Jean Bell, Chris Bird, and Viv Doran .

God bless you always!

Seniors' Brunches

The Seniors' Brunches have consistently provided a warm atmosphere, delicious food, and a platform to celebrate birthdays. Attendance has been encouraging, fostering meaningful connections and enriching the lives of our seniors. A special thank you goes to Jean Honey and her dedicated team for all their hard work in maintaining such high standards for this event.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

Prayer

We continue to pray for more volunteers to join our teams and help us support our growing numbers.

Acknowledgments

We thank the Lord for Pastor Simon Atkinson, Bradley Goodwin, Ben Culshaw, Debby Goodwin, Becky Brooks, our Trustees, and all volunteers for their invaluable contributions in their various ministries.

Closing

We look forward to continued growth and engagement as we share God’s love in our community.

Maria Carvalho Trustee Responsible

Worship Annual Report

Worship

As in last year’s Report, I include this statement – ‘ W ith O ut R eservation S erve H im I n P raise’. This statement says that our true worship is to be found in our service to God, and we do so with praise to Him. This is an essential characteristic in the life of BCC. Not just on a Sunday but seven days a week and in every part of our individual lives and together as a community of God’s people.

We are praying that in future our style of worship will:

Norman Fryer-Saxby Trustee Responsible

Community Engagement Annual Report

In this role I work alongside some of the other Deacons and Staff and reach out to the Community, advertising events and helping in clubs and weekly events, trying to engage new and old people as they join us here at Brixington and as we attend other events away from Church.

During the past year as Community Engagement Deacon, I have continued to reach out to the community making contacts and organising events to make this happen.

In November the year started for me with the annual Christmas fair with several sellers of festive treats and lots of festive refreshments. The Church was decorated readily with all the decorations and the tree was put up ready to go. The public came new and old, and it was very well attended. £500 funds were made.

In December I joined forces with Bradley and a small team to hold our annual Christmas party. The children who attended got to interact with festive fun and feast on a festive buffet where they received the Christmas message and a small gift each before leaving. Sadley due to a shortage of volunteers and attendance we had to cease parent pop-in at the end of December after many years.

As the year started Shine started to climb in numbers and the outreach with young families became much stronger and new faces were coming through the door weekly with an average attendance of 17.8 children.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

February, we held our half term holiday club with a theme of Kings and Queens. An average of 26.6 attended over the three days and great conversations were had with the families involved and some of the families even attended the following Sunday at the family service.

March, I continued to advertise the weekly events such as Coffee Morning but concentrated on a big clean within the church and sorted all the cupboards in the office and the toy cupboards in the small hall.

April is always a busy month in Church as we bless the public with our one free event - the annual eggstravaganza. Complete with easter egg hunt and BBQ this is a great opportunity to engage with the young families that attend. This year we had 72 children and 172 overall in attendance. Once again, a great outcome.

Other months I continue to help Bradley with youth clubs, Messy Church and Play and Praise and Maria with Coffee Mornings. Whilst Maria had to have some time off this summer, I had a chat with her and took it as an opportunity to reboot Coffee Mornings with Michelle. Our numbers have jumped to an average attendance of 20 a week which peaked at 36 people. We now offer a weekly menu of homemade cakes and bacon rolls as well as a warm safe space and friendship. We are also looking at having a small sales table to raise a few more funds. A regular amount of funds although small is now coming in and covering costs which is great.

July was our peak time for Shine. We had 31 attending one Friday which was a little manic but totally awesome and felt like a massive achievement. The Church was also starting to look tired, so I refurbished all the noticeboards ready for our Summer Fair when our visitors entered the Church. I also had another tidy up session and big clean this time in the kitchen.

Our Summer Fair was a great hit this year and we had some great feedback from people who attended as well as from stall holders. We had our usual BBQ and bouncy castle but this year we had our local fire engine and ice cream van which were a great success. Even though the day began with heavy rain, the clouds lifted and we all had an amazing day and still managed to raise £950 for the funding pot which was amazing.

Debby Goodwin Trustee Responsible

Premises Annual Report

The work to maintain the premises has continued with jobs being carried out in-house, by a band of volunteers to whom I am very grateful, and by external contractors.

The largest task carried out by volunteers was painting Simon’s Study and the vestry, many thanks to Christine and Marian for their assistance.

Among the plethora of other tasks were: - Repainting lines in the car park

PAT testing - many thanks to Stuart

I am very grateful that Chris continues with grass cutting and many other maintenance tasks. Shrub trimming - many thanks to Andrew

The major contracted tasks were: -

Extension of guttering around the office to resolve the drainage issues. Replacement of the side doors to the Small Hall due to storm damage.

Marcom Road Property

Continues to be managed by Belvoir. No issues to report.

My aim is to expand the number of volunteers to spread the load.

Bob Smith Trustee Responsible

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

Stewardship - Treasurer’s Annual Report

As part of the Church’s vision and values, the role of the Stewardship team is to provide good stewardship of the church’s financial resources by:

Each year at the AGM the Treasurer presents a draft budget on behalf of the Trustees for the new church financial year. Once approved by members, this is then monitored monthly throughout the year and circulated to the Trustees with an analysis by the Treasurer of income and expenditure issues, projections and trends.

The Leadership Team would like to express their sincere thanks to members and friends for consistent and generous giving in 2024/25 against a background of continuing challenges for many people's personal finances. God's timely provision, both for the ministries of the church and its fixed and running costs, is testament again to meeting the needs within the fellowship and in the local community.

INCOME

Sources of income included regular giving, donations, legacies, Gift Aid, property letting, premises hire, small grants funding, some staffing support costs and a grant from South West Baptist Association towards our SWYM student placement.

The budget setting process aims to reflect a faithful but realistic approach to the levels of anticipated giving set against likely expenditure, with any shortfall being covered by church general funds/reserves. It should be noted moreover that the expenditure budget takes into account the church's corporate giving/tithing to other ministries (see below).

The overall income target of £126,770 (including a grant but excluding Building Fund donations and staff health insurance award) was exceeded at £136,601. While church members have felt led to give generously and consistently as in the previous year's giving, the year target of £70,000 for regular giving and weekly offerings came in 3% below at £67,626. These gifts provided half of the annual income target achieved. Maximising Gift Aid refunds from HMRC resulted in £15,488 which contributed 10% of total income.

Alongside its regular Coffee Mornings and Seniors’ Lunch activities for local people and church members, as a Community Church Brixington also hires its premises to link with local community groups, hosting activities including craft sessions, a model gaming club and a carers group, as well as private hire and being a regular polling station. This hire of premises contributed over £8,770 (5% of the church’s income) towards meeting running costs.

The Building Development Fund (BDF) is part of a faith journey to Build the Church as a fellowship and as a Community Hub is a major and ambitious vision for the church. With the impact of rising inflationary building costs and charges, the re-valued project cost is now estimated at well over £5 million, and the church has committed to fundraising locally and at a national level from grant-funders to move the project forward. In the meantime, a total of £10,529 was raised in 2024/25 from members' ongoing giving and donations (excluding Gift Aid).

Savings investments - primarily BDF funds - have achieved positive results through higher interest rates being applied throughout the year, and this brought a welcome return of £17,568 from a mix of Charity Bond investments and bank interest. The donations above plus this interest took the total Building Fund to nearly £365k.

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

EXPENDITURE

The expenditure budget represents the various areas of ministry and church activity covering Fellowship (Community, Children and Families outreach), Worship, Discipleship (including training and development of staff, SWYM workers and volunteers) and the committed/ fixed costs under Ministry support (i.e. staffing, payroll and pensions), Administration and Finance, and Property-related spending.

The Expenditure budget of £132,190 was exceeded by £18,178 to total £150,368, mainly arising from church commitment to a SWYM (South West Youth Ministries) intern placement along with significant property-related spending on the church premises, the upgrading/replacement of multi-media equipment, professional fees and some increases to annual running costs. Staffing-related costs comprised over 60% of total spend but were offset by payments awarded from the BU Pension scheme to cover long-term sickness. The SWYM training costs for the intern placement were partially offset by a South-West Baptist Association grant, but the church nevertheless committed to £6,408 training and food and accommodation costs being met from general funds.

On a positive note expenditure also included spending from grants, legacies and donations for Family Support, Food Distribution etc. It also reflected the church’s corporate tithe giving to other Christian organisations working locally, nationally and internationally. This included the Baptist Home Mission Fund (HMF), Baptist Missionary Society (BMS), Bible Society, TEAR Fund, Exmouth Open Door's community support, the Persecuted Church and to church members working on mission in Romania and Mozambique. This year's total giving of £11,810 equated to just under 10% of total income (excl Building Fund and staff health insurance award).

Reserves Policy : It is important to note that as part of its total reserves and in line with the annual assessment of financial risks under the church's Stewardship (Finance) Policy, the Trustees have stipulated that unrestricted "emergency" reserves of £52,000 are maintained within the church's working reserves. This is made up of £25,000 to ensure salaries and related costs can be met in the event of extenuating or extraordinary circumstances e.g. impending church closure, staff reductions, and £27,000 to cover regular operating costs for a 3-month period if the church cannot maintain an adequate level of net income for any unforeseen reason.

My heartfelt thanks as always to Katie Hughes and Sally Vince for their highly valued support and continuing commitment every week throughout the year toward ensuring that stewardship of the church’s finances does what it should on behalf of Brixington Community Church.

On a personal note from myself as Treasurer and Interim Treasurer, a huge Thank You again to all members and friends as you have each felt led to celebrate God's generosity by being generous yourselves over many years.

Geraint Hughes

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

Trustees Responsibilities in Relation to the Financial Statements

The law applicable to Charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the Charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Signature and Declaration

I declare in my capacity as Chair of Charity Trustees that:

Signed: Dated: 8 February 2026

Reverend Simon Atkinson Pastor

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

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Brixington Community Church (Baptist) Trustees Report 1[st] October 2024 – 30[th] September 2025

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