eshment encouraging & equipping Christian mission Annual Report 2024-2025 refreshm
TRUSTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT
01/04/2024 to 31/03/2025
Charity Name:
REFRESHMENT UK
Registered Number: 1153542 Address: The Refresh Centre 156 Waterloo Road Blackpool FY4 2AF
Date of Formation:
February 2012
Date of Registration: 27[th] August 2013
Charitable Objects:
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a) TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION IN ENGLAND AND WALES, AND OVERSEAS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE HOLDING OF PRAYER MEETINGS, LECTURES, AND EVENTS; AS WELL AS PRODUCING LITERATURE ON CHRISTIANITY TO ENLIGHTEN OTHERS ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION;
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b) THE PREVENTION OR RELIEF OF POVERTY FOR CHILDREN IN INDIA BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY PROVIDING GRANTS, ITEMS AND SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS WORKING TO PREVENT OR RELIEVE POVERTY.
Trustees:
Mrs L Cooper Mr S Hobin Mr A Walker Mr P Warne Mr A Maxton-Livesey
Governing Document: CONSTITUTION ADOPTED 16/04/2013 AS AMENDED ON 21/09/2014
Activities: Refreshment UK exists to encourage and equip Christians in the UK, as well as provide mental health support in Blackpool and overseas aid in India. We do this through training courses in Blackpool, local community development, provision of a mental health drop in space, overseas mission trips and Christian discipleship courses, as well as providing mentoring and resources for individuals.
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TRUSTEES REVIEW & REPORT – 2024 to 2025 SHOCK AND AWE
Refreshment UK had an incredible and changing year in 2024 to 2025 as they went through a year described as shock and awe, with an incredible range of events and activities to maximise the impact.
The main shock element during the year was the announcement that Simon and Laura Cooper, stewards of the Refresh Centre for the last decade, left the Refresh Centre at the end of the year to move to Leicestershire. The Refresh Centre was handed on to Greg & Catherine Doughty from the start of April 2025.
However, that change led to a year of high-profile events, including the following:
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The Ask Me About Hope Mission – a summertime week of mission culminating in a praise party at Stanley Park;
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It is Well With My Soul – a presentation of a musical featuring Gareth Hides in Blackpool for churches across the area;
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Magnify – a wonderful ecumenical carol service that took place at Blackpool Tower with hundreds singing carols in the historic venue;
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United in Prayer – a powerful day of prayer in MK Dons stadium that featured a day of prayer and worship that liberated the area;
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The Refreshers Conference – a very special end to the year as people were able to gather at the Winter Gardens to hear from world-renowned speakers and celebrate our work in Blackpool together.
Alongside all of these events were our weekly activities, mission teams at the Refresh Centre and a whole host of mission activities that kept our work going in encouraging and equipping Christians.
FINANCIAL POLICIES
Refreshment UK operates an unrestricted fund for ongoing charitable activities and holds funding which is specifically for the Refresh Centre.
A separate fund is held to support the work that we do in India and a separate is in operation for restricted Refresh Centre funding.
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES OF REFRESHMENT UK
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REFRESHMENT UK Balance Sheet – As at 31[st] March 2025
| 2025 (£) | 2024 (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed Assets | ||
| Tangible Assets | 80163 | 65000 |
| Current Assets | ||
| Stock | 6850 | 4650 |
| Other Assets | 30000 | 0 |
| Cash | 363 | 1599 |
| Unrestricted | 363 | 96 |
| Restricted | 0 | 1503 |
| Debtors | 4132 | 4502 |
| Liabilities | ||
| Creditors | 26017 | 941 |
| Long Term Liabilities & Accruals | 52001 | 37906 |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES | 43488 | 36904 |
| Represented By | ||
| Carried Forward Balance | 36904 | 33096 |
| Surplus/Deficit for Year | 6585 | 3808 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 43489 | 36904 |
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REFRESHMENT UK
Income and Expenditure Account – Financial Year 2023/2024
| 2024/2025 (£) | 2023/2024 (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming Resources | ||
| Charitable Activities | 39980 | 35479 |
| Fundraising | 149356 | 72806 |
| Restricted Funding | 8570 | 10882 |
| Trading Income | 11605 | 8596 |
| Refreshers Fund | 30347 | 29605 |
| Overseas Giving | 4804 | 5239 |
| Mission Income | 4268 | 11580 |
| Miscellaneous | 602 | 4235 |
| TOTAL INCOME | 249532 | 178422 |
| Charitable Activities | ||
| The Refresh Centre | 35274 | 34803 |
| Refresh Deansgate | 23586 | 23351 |
| Charitable Activities | 87485 | 61694 |
| Overseas Giving | 4802 | 5239 |
| Resources | 1043 | 556 |
| Miscellaneous Direct Expenses | 11883 | 0 |
| Director Renumeration | 33197 | 19475 |
| 197270 | 145118 | |
| Cost of Fundraising | 17383 | 1481 |
| Operating Expenses | ||
| Travel Costs | 6494 | 6180 |
| Office Costs | 5796 | 2677 |
| Professional Fees | 9240 | 1369 |
| Miscellaneous | 2571 | 1606 |
| 24101 | 11832 | |
| Depreciation & Write Off | 4193 | 16183 |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 242947 | 174614 |
| Income over Expenditure | 6585 | 3808 |
| Brought Forward | 36904 | 33096 |
| TOTAL INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE | 36904 | 33096 |
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Notes on Accounts:
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The increase in fundraising was due to many of our shock and awe events being led by donations only and not chargeable. Guests were encouraged to give rather than buy tickets. We also included some high-profile fundraisers and collections, and a large increase in fundraising was achieved.
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The wide range of events included in this programme added to the increased expenditure on Charitable Activities.
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Direct Expenses included us going to exhibitions to advertise and therefore, our advertising expenses were much higher.
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Our overseas giving includes income from the USA at £1908.
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Our overseas expenditure represents the amount sent to FIM in India for £4802 including fees.
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Independent Examiner’s Report on the accounts of Refreshment UK - 1153542 Report to the Trustees of Refreshment UK for the accounts - year ending 31[st] March 2025
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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Examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act;
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To follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5) (b) of the Charities Acts, and;
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To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has now come to my attention:
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1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
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To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
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To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act;
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2) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: c/o SN ACCOUNTING Date: 26[th] January 2026
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