## **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||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
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– 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
- • 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**