Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 Sept. 2024 Period start date To 31 Aug. 2025 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 Parish priest, 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 i) supports the local West Cheshire Food Bank, ii) 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, iii) supports the All Saints Orphanage in Uganda, which is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Supporting local families and parishioners in distress is also 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 and seminars 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. In addition, our Priest Emeritus, Fr Pancratios Sanders, visits the Parish on the first Sunday of each month to hear confessions and offer pastoral care, providing spiritual guidance and strengthening our faithful in their journey and life in Christ. 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 wonderful Saints of our church, promoting further spiritual growth as our parishioners meet and worship together. 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 |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | We continue using SumUp card payments that has improved cashflow. Gift Aid has not yet been claimed this year, which contributes to a reduction in income to £29,367.28, as compared with £36,544.71 last year. No further additions have been made to our NSI savings account, so the Church’s financial position broadly remains the same as last year, with total annual expenses of £22,205.46 as compared to £23,434.16 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:
Para 1.47
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
||
|---|---|---|
| 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(if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop Nikitas Lioulias |
||||
| Theodoros Papadopoulos |
Chairman | |||
| Natalia Septelici | Treasurer | |||
| Lidia Critchley | DeputyTreasurer | |||
| Andrea Vaida | ||||
| Sergiu Orbu | ||||
– 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) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
||
|---|---|---|
| Theodoros Papadopoulos | ||
Chairman |
||
| 11thJune 2026 | ||
| 11thJune 2026 |
ORTHODOX COMMUNITY OF SAINTBARBARA Balance Sheet for year 1 Sept 2024 -31 Aug 2025
| INCOME | INCOME | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Clles Cndl Sles Plann Givng HMCR Gift Aid Refund Misc Donations Ceri Bok/Shop Sles Sundries NSI Interest |
Weekly Giving GlfAld Stnding Orders Parish Membership Non-spcifc Use of Church SUMUP Payment Charity Tea/coee d ns Non-specifc |
£3,740.6 £1,1S9.0 £3,69.0 £1,19.0 £6,858.18 £34.0 £8,110.8 £155.0 £156.79 £76.76 |
£4,89.6 £2,131.42 £4,839.0 £0.0 £7,198.18 £6.0 £747.61 £9,191.39 £0.0 £29,37.Z |
| INE '/2025 EDTURE 2024/25 lTOT Al END OF YER 2025 |
£9,367.28 £22,20.46 � |
| EXPENDITURE | EXPENDITURE | |
|---|---|---|
| Church Building Building Insurance |
£ 1,328.28 | |
| Toilet rental | £1,259.72 | |
| Elctricity | £2,29.27 | |
| serice Exnses Fr Pancratios Expnses Archdiese Candls Oef Pension Fund Oergy Conference Other donations Fr John's E Building Fire Security B ks/serice books/Ink Chanting course/ebsite Phone Car Expnses Allowance C bk CDument Clleion donation Allowance/Salary Invices |
£61.80 £66.0 £875.08 £252.0 £193.10 £1,20.0 £1,213.6 £18.0 £250.0 £8,230.0 £0.0 |
£4,948.07 £941.08 £1,65.10 £1,63.6 £574.0 £10.0 £0.0 £650.0 £8,230.0 |
| sundries Misc Items |
£3,310.03 | |
| Thiryoneeight | £163.50 | |
| £3,473.53 | ||
| Sunday School | £0.00 | £0.0 |
| £ ,205.46 | ||
| 00E • 31 Augus 2025 Barclay Current Account (as pr statement at 31 August 2025) Add uncredited amounts as at 31" August 2025 Error on credltslip Less cheques uneare 31" Aut 2025 |
£45,722.81 £566.62 .£10.0 £0.0 |
|
| £46,279.43 | ||
| NSI (D account as at 31 August 2024) | £37,539.88 £,19.31 |
|
| OPEN -1 Sm 2024 Barclay Current Account (as pr statement at 31 August 2024) Add item from 2024 pid in 2025 Less cheques unleared 1 � sept embr 2024 |
£38,336.88 £780.73 £0.0 |
|
| £39,117.61 | ||
| NSi (Depi account as at 31 August 2024) | £37,539.88 | |
| £76,657.49 | ||
| (rrA END OF YEAR 2025 | £7~~1~~161.82 |
Prepared By: Name: Signature: Date: Approved Sy: � Signature: Date:
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees The Greek Orthodox Community of Saint Barbara the Great Martyr On accounts for the year 31 Aug. 2025 Charity no 1144751 ended (if any)
Set out on pages
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended DD / MM / YYYY .
Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Lilia Secrier Date: 26/05/2026 Name: Lilia Secrier Relevant professional ACCA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 5 Fenwick Rd. Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port CH66 4UE
1
Oct 2018
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
Oct 2018
IER