2024-08-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 Sept. 2023 Period start date To 31 Aug. 2024 Period end date

Charity name: The Greek Orthodox Community of St Barbara the Great Martyr

Charity registration number: 1144751

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	To promote the Orthodox Christian faith, to advance public education and to relieve poverty, sickness and distress and to provide facilities in the interest of social welfare for recreation and leisure time activities with the object of improving the conditions of life for the inhabitants of the county of Cheshire and its environs.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	In terms of public education, our Parish offers Sunday school for children of various ages and holds Catechism classes every Wednesday evening, open to all. Additionally, Fr. John Petkov, our priest-in- charge, actively visits local schools to promote awareness of the Christian values from the Orthodox perspective. Heritage Days are particularly successful, attracting many non-Orthodox people eager to learn about Orthodoxy. To combat poverty, sickness, and distress, our Parish supports the local West Cheshire Food Bank and participates in a mission to aid children living in zinc houses in Sierra Leone, initiated by Alexios Gennaris, with the blessing of Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain. Supporting local families and parishioners in distress is a priority and we have extended our assistance to Ukrainian families fleeing the war in Ukraine. Our Parish fosters social welfare and fellowship by offering coffee and cookies after our Sunday Liturgy as well as organising social gatherings at other suitable venues. We also arrange pilgrimages to Holywell and St. Plegmund’s Well, providing further opportunities to worship and bring our community together

		in the spirit of brotherhood and love in Christ.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission's guidance as outlined in the “Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit” document and have had regard to it in their administration of the charity.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	This section highlights our Parish's ongoing commitment to spiritual growth in Christ our Lord, as well as education, charity, and community engagement. We look forward to continuing these efforts in the coming year. Fr John Petkov continues his enthusiastic ministry attracting people to the Parish, who are baptised, and now attend the Divine Liturgy on a regular basis. His work on catechesis has been fostering a deeper understanding of God and the Orthodox faith, vital for the spiritual health of the Parish. Apart from the Holy Liturgy celebrated every Sunday, our liturgical schedule includes morning and evening week services, to commemorate events in the life

of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Theotokos, and the many great Saints of our church, promoting further spiritual growth as our parishioners meet and worship together more frequently. Our safeguarding policy as well as our health and safety policy are reviewed annually every January to align with the latest Archdiocesan guidelines, ensuring the safety and well-being of our community members. Our annual pilgrimage to Holywell has been a great success, drawing Orthodox pilgrims from Cheshire, Wales, and beyond. The Parish also offers a bursary for parishioners to attend the Trisagion choir training school, helping them to improve their singing skills and enhance our liturgical music.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

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Achievements against Para 1.41
objectives set
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives Para 1.41
set
Investment performance Para 1.41
against objectives
Other
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Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Overall, initiating the use of SumUp card payments has improved cashflow. Claiming the gift aid refund for several years has made a significant difference in turnover this year, resulting in a surplus of £13,110.55 compared to £7,784.30 in the

		previous year. However, no further additions have been made to our NSI savings account, so the Church’s financial position broadly remains the same as last year.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	According to our Constitution, Article 5vi, any capital of the current administration is to be placed in the bank in the name of the Community, and is to be withdrawn to cover the financial requirements of the Community.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	NSI deposit account as of 31stAugust 2023: £37,540
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	We appeal to our parishioners to consider making monthly contributions via standing order to help stabilise our income and reduce fluctuations.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Deed of Trust and Constitution

How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Our Constitution has been adopted and voted at the First Clergy-Laity Conference of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, held in London, October 22nd - 24th 1964. It was amended at the Second Clergy-Laity Conference of the Archdiocese held in Glasgow, October 14th, 1966, and by the Third Clergy-Laity Conference held in Birmingham, October 20th, 1968 and the Fourth Clergy-Laity Conference held in Manchester, November 10th 1970.
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	According to our Constitution, Article 5ii, Trustees are elected by the Community Board after consultation with the Archdiocese, and their appointment is confirmed by the General Assembly of the Community members.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	The Greek Orthodox Community of Saint Barbara the Great Martyr
Other name the charity uses	The Orthodox Christian Parish of St Barbara
Registered charity number	1144751

Charity’s principal address	Overleigh Cemetery Overleigh Road Chester CH4 7HW

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole **year **	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Archbishop Nikitas Lioulias
	Theodoros Papadopoulos	Chairman
	Eirini Rakitzi	Secretary
	Lidia Critchley	Treasurer
	Adelina Traista

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of	Name	Address
adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) ~~Cr~~ Full name(s) Theodoros Papadopoulos Position (eg Secretary, Chairman Chair, etc) Date 17th June 2024

The Greek Orthodox Community of St Barbara the 1144751 Great Martyr

Receipts and payments accounts For the period 01/09/2023 To from ~~ee ee~~

31/08/2024

CC16a

Section A Receipts and payments

	Unrestricted funds		Restricted funds		Endowment funds		Total funds		Last year
	to the nearest £	to the nearest £	to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations, legacies andgrants	-		-		-		-		-
Collections and donations	22,728		-		-		22,728		-
Regular Donations & Members' subscriptions	3,469		-		-		3,469		-
Use of church	430		-		-		430		-
Fundraising events	929		-		-		929		-
Book stall	84		-		-		84		-
Certificates	360		-		-		360		-
Gift Aid Reclaimed	8,546		-		-		8,546		-
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)	36,546		-		-		36,546		-
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). NSI Interest - - - - - - - - - ~~Sub total~~- - - - - Total receipts 36,546 - - 36,546 - ~~—————~~
A3 Payments
Church activities			-		-		-		-
ClergyPension Fund	100		-		-		100		-
ClergyConference	150		-		-		150		-
Candles and Books	3,003		-		-		3,003
Certificates Book	666		-		-		666
Donations	1,550		-		-		1,550
Fr Pancratios's Expenses			-		-		-		-
House Rent and allowance	2,600		-		-		2,600		-
Telephone andpostage	258		-		-		258		-
Car Expenses	174		-		-		174		-
Fr John's Expenses			-		-		-		-
MonthlyExpenses	5,400		-		-		5,400
Invoices	-		-		-		-
Electricity	2,131		-		-		2,131
Building Fire Security	-		-		-		-
Smart Water Technology	-		-		-		-
Buiding Insurance	1,173		-		-		1,173
Thirtyoneeight Subscription	145		-		-		145
Zoom subscription	-		-		-		-
Miscellaneous Items	3,937		-		-		3,937
Chanting course and website	2,147		-		-		2,147		-

Sub total [ 23,434 ] - - 23,434 -

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - - - - - - - Sub total [ - ] - - - - ~~—~~ Total payments ~~—————=~~ 23,434 - - 23,434 - Net of receipts/(payments) 13,112 - - 13,112 - A5 Transfers between funds - - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end - - - - - Cash funds this year end ~~SSS~~ 13,112 - - 13,112 - CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 1 26/06/2025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

			Unrestricted Restricted		Endowment
Categories	Details		funds funds		funds
			to nearest £ to nearest £		to nearest £
B1 Cash funds	- - - - - - - - - - - - N/A Total cash funds ~~—===>=~~
	(agree balances with receipts and payments	(agree balances with receipts and payments
	account(s))		Agreement Error OK		OK
			Unrestricted Restricted		Endowment
			funds funds		funds
	Details		to nearest £ to nearest £		to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - N/A ~~—_=-—~~
B3 Investment assets	Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - - Details N/A ~~nee~~
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use	Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Details N/A ~~mie~~
			Fund to which Amount due		When due
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities	liability relates (optional) (optional) - - - - - Date of approval 15th Jun. 2025 Print Name Theodoros Papadopoulos Signature N/A Details ~~——=~~

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

26/06/2025

2

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR E￿LAND ANO WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Report to th• tru8t••8 The Greek Orth(xlox Conmnunty of Sainl Barbafa the Great Votyr On accounts for th• y••r 31 Aug. 2024 Charlty no (11 any) 1144751 S•t out on p•9•• I report to the trustees on My eyAminatK>n of t￿ xcounts of the ab(Ne charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year end￿1 J fl,,, Responslbllli•B and basis of raport As Ihe tharitvs trustees, you are resp￿81b￿ fix the prepwaw)n of aCC￿nts in accordance with the reqUi￿￿ntS of the char￿e9 Act 2011 I report in respect of my examination of the Trusfs aCC￿nts carried out under sectic￿ 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my exarnIrAtic￿, I have followed all the applicabk DirectK)ns gNen ty the Charity Cormiission under section 145(5Mb> of the ACL Independent I have completed my examinatDn. I confirm that no material matters tBve •xamino¢s statement come to my att￿tion in Connecti￿ with the examnatM)n vknich gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in awdaKe ￿th sedion 130 of the Charities Act. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records". or the accounts dNJ not compty wth the appI￿able wulr￿ts con￿MIr¥3 the form and content of accounts set ¢￿t in the Chartses (Accounts and Reports) Regulat￿n5 2(K18 other than any requirememt that the ac(x)unts gNe a 'tfue and fairf view ￿lch is not a conshJeraJ as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have con% xross no 0th8r mattws in connect with the examination to which attenlK•n should be drawn n this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reach&J. Dat•: Name: Li￿a Secr*r Relevant profe•slonal quallficatk)n(s) or body (If any): ACCA 5 FenwKk Rd. Great Sutton, Elle8Thfe Port CH66 4UE Oct 2018