Barnstaple Street Pastors Registered Charity Number: 1140645
BARNSTAPLE STREET PASTORS
Trustees Annual Report and Accounts For the year ended 31[st] March 2025
Barnstaple Street Pastors CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 3 to 5 |
| Receipts and Payments | 6 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 7 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 8 |
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Barnstaple Street Pastors
The trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2025. The trustees have opted, under section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Charities Act’), to prepare receipts and payments accounts
Objectives and Aims
The objectives of BSP are:
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To promote, and support, the inhabitants of Barnstaple and the surrounding area and such other local communities and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the trustees may from time to time think fit, to advance the Christian faith according to the Scriptures in Barnstaple and surrounding districts and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the trustees may from time to time think fit and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales.
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To relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods, or services of any kind including through the provision of counselling and support in Barnstaple and surrounding districts and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the trustees may from time to time think fit.
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To advance education in accordance with the Scriptures by such means as the trustees may think appropriate including but not so as to limit the generality of the foregoing in the areas of health, citizenship, community development, human rights, conflict resolution and the promotion of religious and racial harmony in Barnstaple and surrounding districts and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the trustees may from time to time think fit.
BSP started operations on 31 October 2009. The principal activity of the charity is street pastor work under a licence agreement with the Ascension Trust, operations generally being on Saturday nights and occasionally other occasions as requested by the police.
Public benefit
The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and consider that the activities of the charity meet its charitable objectives and provide a benefit to the public.
The team activity over the 12-month period covered by this report has continued on Saturday nights whenever there has been a team available to include a prayer pastor either at the base of the House of Prayer or from home.
The team has not been keeping accurate records of all of its activities however, from the Patrol Reports produced for each evening, the following figures have been gleaned. The team actually has provided a great deal more than the below and the figures provided represent the confirmed minimum.
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12 Street Pastors & 19 Observers deployed over 32 nights, providing 576 hours on the streets
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7 Prayer Pastors providing support to patrolling teams
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13 instances of Street Pastors calming aggressive situations
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6 vulnerable individuals supported (mostly due to excessive alcohol)
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2 pairs of free flip flops distributed
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50 free drinks dispensed (this figure combines water given to aid those suffering from excessive alcohol intake and hot drinks to the homeless.)
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7 instances of first aid.
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130 instances of removal of glass bottles or broken glass from the streets
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3 instances where the Street Pastors have arranged transport for stranded people
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45 significant faith conversations (it must be noted here that Street Pastors are not street preachers; these are instances where people have spontaneously come to the team to ask questions or seek prayer)
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39 other significant conversations where people have been either requesting guidance on life issues or simply needing someone to talk to including homeless support with food & hot drinks.
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8 instances of information
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1 instance of lost property being handed into CCTV manager.
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1 sleeping bags supplied to homeless.
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Barnstaple Street Pastors
Achievement and Performance Charitable activities
Barnstaple Street Pastors (BSPs) continued to operate effectively in the twelve-month period to March 2025.
A number of individuals have observed the work of the team and one additional member has been recruited. Two team members retired and the co-ordinator has not been available for a period of months due to unforeseen circumstances at work. However, it is hoped she will be able to return to full involvement soon. Whilst patrol team numbers have reduced slightly overall to 13, team members have been very committed and this has enabled there to be patrols at least twice a month on average with a focus placed on the busier ‘pay day’ weekends.
Prayer Pastor numbers remain small but sufficient to allow the team to operate. As well as email, a team WhatsApp group enables members to communicate their availability on a week-to-week basis.
The team has provided a visible, reassuring and supportive presence to users of Barnstaple Town Centre on Saturday evenings whenever there have been sufficient team members (in line with insurance requirements) to operate. This will always include a dedicated prayer pastor either at base or praying from home. During the year, the team has continued to use as its base the North Devon House of Prayer right in the centre of Town.
The timing of patrols has varied between 6pm and 2am depending upon the availability of team members. Patrols normally last for around 4 hours and before ending patrols on any given night, BSPs will determine whether there is a need to continue patrolling depending on the number of people on the street, the presence of particular community tensions and any incidents we may be dealing with. Whilst out on patrol the team work in partnership with the on-duty CCTV operator using digital radios and door staff at the different licensed premises.
The team also experimented by providing a Friday patrol, but this was very quiet and it was felt the benefits provided by the team on Saturdays were greater. In the course of encounters with people, the team has provided practical support including food and hot drinks as well as emotional and spiritual help to those who they encounter. It has been noticeable that whenever the team have been patrolling, the emotional and mental wellbeing issues that they have encountered have been significant and their support greatly appreciated.
The team uses various items of literature to give away to those that feel they would like ongoing spiritual support including Churches Together cards to sign post individuals to their local church or North Devon House of Prayer.
In addition to Saturday patrols, team members also meet once a month for a breakfast as a way of supporting each other and keeping connected and have attended events such as Local Church events at Lee Abbey.
The management team has met twice within the period covered by this report to ensure proper oversight and management of the team’s operations and their work has included strengthening procedures around Safeguarding and Health and Safety. The chair indicated his desire to step down from that position and positive efforts were made to identify a new chair to be in place by May 2025. In January 2025, four members of the leadership team agreed to become trustees of the charity in addition to their involvement as team leaders.
As a group, BSPs are members of Churches Together in Barnstaple and have supported a number of local events to promote united prayer and mission. This whole ministry can only be made possible and successful by the glory of God and we continually give our thanks and praise to Him.
Volunteers
The charity is grateful for the volunteers who help in the organisation and running of its prayer and patrol teams.
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Barnstaple Street Pastors
Financial review
These financial statements aim to show donors, contributors and sponsors how their money has been used and to give some idea of the effectiveness of members’ efforts.
The work of the charity includes intangibles difficult to measure – possibly the simplest being how safe the people of Barnstaple feel on the streets on Saturday nights when we receive many positive words from people that have been helped and those who appreciate the peace we bring to situations. There are cordial relationships with both the Police and door staff at the various locations in the town and on occasions SPs have been requested to calm or help situations which may become inflamed if official action is taken.
The incoming resources for the period were £1,171 (2024: £1,224) and outgoing resources were £2,003 (2024: £3,462) The Cash balance at 31[st] March 2025 was £5,413 (2024: £6,245).
The funds in hand will provide for training and safeguarding in the next financial year, both for retraining of existing members and new. To minimise costs, where possible this will be carried out with other street pastor organisations in Devon & Somerset.
The accounts have not not independently reviewed.
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Reserves policy
The trustees consider the reserves held at the year-end to be sufficient for the ongoing needs of the charity.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing document
Barnstaple Street Pastors (BSP) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by a trust deed dated 6[th] October 2019.
Formerly incorporated on 12[th] August 2010, Barnstaple Street Pastors was a company limited by guarantee (CRN 7344549) and registered as a charity on 2[nd] March 2011, operating under the licence agreement signed with the Ascension Trust. It converted to a CIO in October 2019.
Trustees are appointed by seeking people with relevant skills and experience. Induction and training are provided on a personal basis as appropriate. The trustees meet between 2 and 4 times a year.
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Barnstaple Street Pastors
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS
for the Year ended 31[st] March 2025
| Receipts Donations from Barnstaple churches Donations from other organizations and individuals Total receipts Payments Payments to Ascension Trust Training and uniforms Equipment and consumables Rental of communication equipment Tithe of income to similar charities Induction and celebrations of street pastors CCPAS disclosure service Premises Rent (NDHOP) Total payments Net receipts / (payments) Reconciliation of funds Transfer between funds Total Funds brought forward Total Funds carried forward |
2024 2023 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Restricte d funds Total £ £ £ £ £ 500 0 500 0 1365 724 0 724 3000 2998 |
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| 925 246 1,224 3,000 4,363 |
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| 800 0 1,157 0 1,000 80 0 1,318 0 620 30 246 152 0 49 0 0 0 0 692 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 278 570 0 145 690 0 462 |
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| 1,758 246 3,462 0 2,822 |
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| -833 0 -2,238 0 1,541 , 0 0 0 0 0 6,246 0 5,485 0 3,944 |
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| 5,413 0 3,246 3,000 5,485 |
Page 7
Barnstaple Street Pastors
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES For The Year ending 31[st] March 2025
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES For The Year ending 31st March 2025 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
Unrestricted |
Restricted | Total | Restricted | Total | |
| funds | funds | Funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fixed Assets | |||||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Current Assets | |||||
| Stock @ Start of Year | 916 | 0 | 1,222 | 0 | 509 |
| Stock After 25% Depreciation /Year | - 229 | -306 | -127 | ||
| Stock Increase | 276 | -246 | |||
| Cash at bank | 5,413 | 6,246 | 8,484 | ||
| 6,100 | 0 | 7,162 | 8,866 | ||
| With Restricted Funds Removed | -246 |
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| Current Liabilities | |||||
| Creditors | |||||
| • Ascension Trust |
-200 | -200 | 0 | -330 | |
| Total Assets less Liabilities | 5,930 | 6,962 | 8,536 |
Page 8
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