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2025-08-31-accounts

Trinity Church Sunderland

Report and Accounts Year ended 31 August 2025

1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk

TRINITY CHURCH SUNDERLAND

LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Trinity Church Sunderland Stockton Road Sunderland SR2 7AQ GOVERNING DOCUMENT Constitution for a CIO Association from 11 April 2023 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1154068 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Duncan Hellier Woods (Senior Minister) MANAGING THE CHARITY Benjamin Jeremy Richard Goldenberg Richard George Morley The Reverend Dr Ian Mark Somasundram Thomas John Ream Welch NAMES OF ADVISERS Treasurer: Donald Kernohan Solicitors: Monro Fisher Wasbrough LLP Edward Connor Solicitors INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Sarah Crispin Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB INDEX Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-5 Trustees' Report Page 6 Independent Examiner's Report Page 7 Receipts and Payments Account Page 8 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Page 9 Notes to the Accounts

Page 1

Annual Report of the Charity Trustees

September 1[st] 2024 - August 31st 2025

Trinity Church Sunderland, Stockton Road, SUNDERLAND SR2 7AQ

Trinity Church Sunderland operates as an independent evangelical church affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches within the North-East Gospel Partnership., Duncan Woods was appointed as minister commencing ministry at the inauguration of Trinity Church Sunderland in September 2013.

The Charity is constituted to advance the Christian Faith including:

Church Structure

Trustees

The five Trustees include the Senior Minister, two members of the Church and two who are not members of the Church. New trustees are appointed by the existing trustees after being approved by the Leadership Team and by the general membership of the Church at the Annual General Meeting.

Leadership Team

The Leadership Team are members of the Church and discuss with the Senior Minister all major decisions of policy and hold the Senior Minister to account for his ministry. Their appointments are approved by the general membership of the Church at the Annual General Meeting.

Church Council

The role of the Church Council is to provide wise advice to the Leadership Team and the Trustees whether as provided in the Church Constitution or when requested by either body.

The Church Council consists of between six and twelve members of the Church approved by the general membership of the Church at the Annual General Meeting following proposal by the Leadership Team with a view to appointing only those who are godly examples in their lifestyles and who have proved themselves to be in full agreement with the aims and vision of the Church, the Basis of Faith and Doctrinal Distinctives as outlined in the church handbook.

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Annual Report of the Trustees continued

Members

Membership of the Church is open to any individual interested in promoting the Objects who

Trinity Church Sunderland is financed through charitable giving raised through the membership as well as external supporters of the ministry.

The church meets to worship God, read the bible, pray, hear the scriptures taught and encourage each other. Sunday meetings currently take place at 10:30am and between 6- 7:30pm during school term time. During these times there are opportunities for younger children to participate in various groups.

Various activities occur during the week, including pastoral groups for mutual encouragement and prayer, a monthly prayer meeting, a toddler group as well as various opportunities for people to find out more about the Christian Faith.

The church supports missionary work by contributing to the financial needs of Robbie and Lizzie Bellis (Crosslinks) in Belgium, Eddie & Sue Arthur (Wycliffe Bible Translators) as well as another married couple in North Africa.

Developments Sept 2024 - August 2025

This last year has seen continued growth in number within the church family particularly at Sunday morning gatherings. The continued focus has been on structural changes as well as pathways into discipleship for a church that is no longer small but is not large.

This report reflects our continuing desire to be a gospel church, in community, prayerfully seeking to reach our locality. Our aims remain to faithfully proclaim God’s word prayerfully aiming to engage people with the gospel and evangelise while seeking to equip and establish believers . All so that everyone takes the next step with Jesus.

ENGAGE

The heartbeat of engagement is in organic relationships with friends, family, colleagues, neighbours. However, there are a number of church organised activities which aim to commend the gospel of Christ and meet the needs of local people. The church has continued to use the building to support the work of FODI (friends of the drop in – women’s refugee support), Sunderland music for all , our regular toddler group – Trinity Tots and to partner with Friends International for Globe café among international students at Sunderland University. The community hub café on Thursday afternoons, partnered with Durham Christian Partnership as a foodbank, is now well established.

EVANGELISE

Engaging the community gives opportunity to evangelise and while this often happens on a personal level there have been several church events throughout the year including some specific evangelistic courses as well as some street evangelism in the city centre. Christmas

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and Easter remain prime opportunities including through Carol Services, Trinity Tots and an Easter Family afternoon tea. This last year saw a joint Good Friday Easter celebration with like-minded churches in Mowbray Park. Church members were given the opportunity to give away free evangelistic books to someone over both the Easter and Christmas period.

EQUIP

Sunday meetings, small groups and Prayer meetings remain the hub of equipping the congregation for works of ministry. The 4 pastoral groups across the church family are significant in this. Sundaypm continued to give an opportunity for church regulars to dig deeper into various aspects of discipleship a youth group for children in year 6 and up. There are periodic and regular training slots for specific ministry such as those leading services. There was book group between May-July considering how to develop a culture of evangelism. The north-east gospel partnership also provides equipping opportunities with the ministry training course on Tuesdays at Holy Trinity Gateshead, both men’s and women’s conferences as well as specific counselling questions through BCUK training at Christ Church Newcastle.

ESTABLISH

3 adults have been through a church membership course this year. Children's work on Sundays continued with TK Midis (school years 2 to 4) and TK Minis (school years 1, reception and nursery) upstairs and the crèche (under 3-year-olds) downstairs. The Tuesday woman’s pastoral group continues for those who cannot get out in the evenings. Sundaypm plays an important role in both equipping and establishing the saints beginning the new city catechism this year.

Further details:

Conclusion

Sept 2024- August 2025 has continued to see growth at Trinity and the structural changes required to meet the needs of a diverse church.

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FINANCIAL REVIEW

Trinity Church Sunderland is financed through charitable giving raised through the membership as well as external supporters of the ministry. The trustees are very grateful to everyone who has supported the church so generously.

The charity’s income for the year to 31 August 2025 was £75,878 (2024: £81,597) and its expenditure for the year was £83,398 (2024: £75,885). The charity has therefore reported a deficit of £7,520 (2024: surplus £5,712).

The charity’s bank and cash balances decreased by this year’s deficit of £7,520 to £39,226, nearly all of which is unrestricted.

RESERVES POLICY

The trustees have determined that the church should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £20,000 (which equates to about 3 months of unrestricted expenditure) so that the church could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary unexpectedly. At the yearend the charity held unrestricted cash of £39,021 (2024: £46,541) and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.

RISK STATEMENT

The church is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. The trustees review the church's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES

Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.

We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.

We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.

APPROVAL

This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Duncan Woods

May 12, 2026 …………………………………………………. Duncan Woods (May 12, 2026 16:53:21 GMT+1) ……………………………… Duncan Woods - Trustee Date

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

TRINITY CHURCH SUNDERLAND

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Trinity Church Sunderland ('the charity') for the year ended 31 August 2025 on pages 7 to 9 following.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Sarah Crispin

Sarah Crispin (May 19, 2026 13:42:12 GMT+1)

Sarah Crispin Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Date: May 19, 2026

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TRINITY CHURCH SUNDERLAND

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Notes
Income receipts
Donations
Gift aid receipts
Grants
Letting facilities for community use
Conferences, courses, events and resource sales
Provision of services to Crosslands
Total receipts
Payments
2
3
Total payments
Transfers between funds
5
Net movement in funds
Cash funds as at last year end
Cash funds at this year end
A
Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers
Grants paid in relation to charitable activities
undertaken by others
Payments
in relation to charitable activities
undertaken directly
Purchase of fixed assets		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
54,133
12,353
4,000
2,850
792
1,250
75,378
77,107
5,791
82,898
-
82,898
(7,520)
-
(7,520)
46,541
39,021		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
500
-
-
-
500
500
-
500
-
500
-
-
-
205
205		 2025
£
54,133
12,353
4,500
2,850
792
1,250
75,878
77,607
5,791
83,398
-
83,398
(7,520)
-
(7,520)
46,746
39,226		 2024
£
59,568
12,300
4,900
3,150
999
680
81,597
68,931
6,954
75,885
-
75,885
5,712
-
5,712
41,034
46,746

The notes on page 9 form part of these accounts.

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TRINITY CHURCH SUNDERLAND

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

A
Cash funds
Cash at bank with immediate access
Petty cash
B
Other monetary assets
Gift aid due to charity
Other debtors
C
Liabilities
2025 accounts
2024 accounts
Other creditors
Independent examiner's fees for preparing
and examining the:		 Unrestricted
funds
£
38,901
120
39,021
12,273
-
12,273
1,164
1,140
4,032
6,336		 Restricted
funds
£
205
-
205
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2025
£
39,106
120
39,226
12,273
-
12,273
1,164
1,140
4,032
6,336		 2024
£
46,626
120
46,746
12,353
-
12,353
1,500
1,140
1,172
3,812

D Assets retained for charity's own use

Church building
Fittings and equipment		 Fund to
which asset
belongs
Restricted
Unrestricted

The church building is a long leasehold property and it was transferred from Sunderland Free Church to Trinity Church Sunderland in July 2013. The lease for the property expires in December 2078.

E Guarantees and secured debts

The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.

The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Duncan Woods

Duncan Woods (May 12, 2026 16:53:21 GMT+1) May 12, 2026 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Duncan Woods - trustee Date

The notes on page 9 form part of these accounts.

Page 8

TRINITY CHURCH SUNDERLAND

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

1 Accounting policies

The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.

Unrestricted funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.

2
Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly
Staff costs, including training
Premises costs
Other costs
Independent examiner for preparing and examining the accounts
3
Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others
Grants to support other charities:
Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
NEGP
Grants for overseas mission work
Crosslinks
Frontiers
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Grants for relief of poverty
Individuals		 Unrestricted
funds
£
61,494
7,238
6,875
1,500
77,107
1,608
125
1,353
1,353
1,353
-
5,791		 Restricted
Funds
£
500
-
-
-
500
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total
2025
£
61,994
7,238
6,875
1,500
77,607

1,608
125
1,353
1,353
1,353
-
5,791		 Total
2024
£
44,428
15,085
9,418
-
68,931
1,476
-
1,353
1,353
1,353
1,420
6,954

4 Transactions with related parties

Duncan Woods served as church leader and was paid £45,239 (2024: £43,419) for serving in that capacity, not for serving as trustee; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.

5 Movement on restricted funds

FODI fund
Staff fund		 Opening
balance
£
205
-
205		 Receipts
£
-
500
500		 Payments
£
-
(500)
(500)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-		 Closing
balance
£
205
-
205

FODI fund : this was created from donations received to help support the work of a drop in centre for asylum seekers and refugees, which makes use of the church building.

Staff fund : this fund was created from donations received to help employ church staff.

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