NORTH EAST CHURCHES ACTING TOGETHER North East Churches Acting Together Annual Report and Financial Statements Year ended: 31 August 2025 Charity no: 1157138 North East Churches Acting Together Reports and Financial Statements Year ended: 31 August 2025 Contents Legal and administr*Ne information Trustees, annual report 2-5 Indèpendanl examinerfs rewrt Statement of financi81 actwities Balance shee* Notes to the finanaal statements 9-12 Legal and admlnlstrative information Tiustees.. Or MA 8onnington Mrs R Maudslay Mrw Offler Rt Revd M Wr Revd A Currer (Appointed 23102r251 Chairman.. Dr MA Bonnington Acting Treasu￿.. Dr MA Bonnington R￿lOn81 Officer.. Address.. 30 Fieldhouse Lan& Durham DH14LT Independent Examiner.. Neil Mullen FCA FCCA Mullen Stoker Ltd Mullen Stoker House Mandale Business Park Belmont Industrial Estat& Duiham DH1 1TH Bankers.. Bardays Bank PLC The North Tyneside Group 3 Northumbedand Square North Shields NE30 IQX North East Churches Acting Together Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2025 The Trusteès present their ￿port and the unaudited financial statements of the charty for the year ending 31 August 2025 Reference and AdminiStra￿ve Dètsils Name of the charity Charity number Registered office North East Churches Acting Together 1157138 30 Fieldhouse Lana Dutham DH14LT The Trustees The Trustees who served the Charity durin9 thè yèar endgd 31 August 2025 were.. Dr MA Bonnington Mrs R Maudsley Mrw Offler Rt Revd M Wroe Revd A Currer (Appointed 23102r25} Indèpèndent Examiner Nèil Mullen FCA FCCA Mullen Stoker Ltd Mullen Slokei House Mandale Business Park Belmont Industrial Estate Outham DH1 1TH Banker8 Barclays Bank PLC The North Tynesido Group 3 Northumbedand Square North Shield5 NE30 1QX North East Churches Acting Together Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2025 Structuro, Governance and Managemènt North East Churthes AGting Together {NECAD was iegisleied as a thaiitable inwrpoialed organisalK>n {CIOI on 21st May 2014. The governing documents are the rnemorandum and articles of assoa&tion of the CIO. Oryanisattonal Structure The Trustees consist of nominated trustees representing the Churches Together groups. the regional denominational ecumenul offi￿r5 and the Northern Church leaders as well as other 8ppoinled Ttuslees. The Trustee$ who havè setvèd during the year and since the year end are set out on page tsvo. Tru$tee8 usually rneet foul times ea¢h year and ar& responsible for fomalty m(>nitoring the Charity. Trustees theirtime voluntarily and receive no beneffit from the Charity. No expen8e8 were reclaimed by Trustees from the Ch8rty during the yèar. T¢¢¥ Valley Ministry Oversighl and financial guidance ol Tees Valley Ministry is the responsibility of NECAT. Objective¥ To advance tho Christian ieligion and the promotim of the thur¢ho8 mission in the North East of England fortho benefft of chufth members, local churches, the wider church, and the public generally through.. idénh"fying opportunities for prayer and worship. promoting stiritU81ty 8nd theological iefle¢tion. providing 8(fvicg, support and training to local thurches, 10¢81 ¢huTche8 together groups and other ecumenical bodie5. idenh"fying piiorities and managing resources. bringing together slalulory. voluntary, communty. ¢J)M￿e￿￿91. arb"slic, and c￿tural agencies in a o)mmon attempt to advance the churches mission. interpreting key social and economic trends and issues from the perspective ol the Christian faith and developing appropriate responses. promoting religK)us harrnony for the benefit ofthe wmmon good. NECAT is an ¢cum¢nical body in the North East of England. serving 8 region with a distinct culture, spiritual life and self- aW8renes$. NECAT was formed as a resull of a review of the ecurnenical structures in the North East and a combining of North East Chnslian Churehes Together INECCTI and The Churc*es' Regional Commission in ihe North East ICRCNEI. NECAT seeks lo serve the Kingdom ofGod in the North East by being a partnership ol churches and Christian organisations dedicated to answering th8 call of Jesus Christ and worf(ing ecumenically for the renewal of the region through spec¢fic and t￿1 action to bring about change ft>rthe comtnon good. NECAfs aim and method ofworking is to encourage and support churthes to work togèther and wlh othèr partn8ts both locally and regic¥)ally and to identify and release resources which will bring tangible benefi15 especially lo communitie5 arvj ¢hur¢hes workiNJ V￿th vulnerablé pooplg and groups. Its piocess wilhin the rich inheritance of the Christian tradition is for action-reflection aimed to bring about changes whith will improve Ihe lives of people in local communities at)d the region. NECAT will offer a Vol￿ for the region and rts eCUmen￿al vision in national and InteT-iegional forums. NECAT will be 8bout action lo encourage renewal, and the action being undertaken with otheis wherever possible. Working together will be a eatalyst foi tslking together. Rofle(*"on and 8naly$is ￿11 follow pr8(*c81 acb"on8 benefrtting local cthnmunibes across the region. North East Churches Acting Togetherworks to support the churches ofthe North E8St in their relatiwship5 VAth one another and in their wider mission in the world. Our aim is to work in partnership and help to encourage partnership working with d)urches, voluntary agencies and other public bodies. Churches Together Groups in the region hold 8 key iole in Contributing lo the WO￿ of the church locally. They and othtrr Ecumenical agencies are supported by Ihe Regional Officer and denominational Ecumenical Offitsrs who togethgr wth répresentation from the Northem Church Leader's Group forni the Local Ecumenical Group ILEGI. North East Churches Acting Together Trustees, Annual Report for the year ended 31 August 2025 Churches Together Seventy Iwo Chur¢he8 Together groups are formally registered with NECAT, varying fr(xn large groups, who arg in themselve5 separate charities. to small loczl alliances and fellowship gioup5. In these last couple of years after the Covid pandemic some gioups are recovering well while others are struggling to re-estsblish Ihetnselves wrth reduced v￿unteer engagement. Many groups support their cornmunity with food banks, debt advi￿, clothing bank5, warm fi)od and other support. Other groups engage their community by providing Dernentia-friendly hubs, Holiday Fun and Food. Attér School or Breakfast dubs or by going into local sthools to delwer 'Open the Book, sessions or Collective Worship or to Off￿ volunteer time to support children wrth reading. Agencies and other voluntary sector groups in the community. Chur¢hés Togèthér groups continue lo provide fellowship and opportunrties to learn from on8 another and to worship together. bringing peoFle from an ever-growing range of churches together to grow loyelher and lo pray for their local communities. During the general election period Churches Togethergroups whowere able to hold eledion hustings for theii local communrfties, particularfy with a short timetr8me for planning and organizing. This enabled our CT groups to act as a hub for civic and iespecrful dialogue in their community. The database of Ix)ntact Information for the groups has been updated, and we sent out quarterfy newstetter5 and kept our social media and website ypdaled with events. The Regional Church Lèaders. Gro The North East Regional Church Leaders Group continues to meet online lo pray together. disujss local and national i&sues and to liaise wlh one another across the thjrches. Thére have been a number of transitions in leadership ovèr the past year and we have welcomed several new church leaders to this group. Rl Rev Paul Butler retired as Bishop of Durham, during the prevKius financial year and this role is curiently in vacancy. In the interim we have worked with the Acting Bishop of Durham. and Bishop of Jarrow. Rt Rev Sarah Clarke. Revd Dr Stephen Lindridge retired from his posttion as Chair of the Newcast Methodist district, in the previous finanaal ye8r. and we welcomed Rev Jona Sewell lo this position on 1 Septembèr 2024. We also welcomed the two new Regional Minsters of the Northern Baptist Assoaation, in the previous financial year, Johnny Pouo and Linda Donaldson. Rl Rev P8uI Feiguson retired as Bishop of Whilby and we welcome the new Bishop of ￿lIby, Rt Rev Barry Hill. o)nsecrated on 10 October 2024. We continue to focus on building partnershipswith all our regional church groups and the Regional Officèr attènd￿1 denominational Synods and Assemblies dLEring her appoinlmenl. There have beèn no ecurnenical visits since thè Covid pandemic by the Church Leaders group as it warts for the new thurch leaders to take th8ir position and become familiar with the regK)n. Tees Valtey Ministry {TVM} TVM 15 a charity set up to work in the Tees Valley to promote aThJ support workplace chaplaincy by supportiThJ volunteer chaplains and being an advocate of the chrisb.an in the workplace. It has been part of NECAT Sin￿ 2015 and NECAT continue lo work wlh Regional Church leaders to dIs￿rn the luture direction and proieds ofTVM. Regional olfreer Coryn Stehguwerstarted in herposl on 1 January 2024. She has worked to visit and meet many Churches Together groups to build relationships and support ecumenical work in the region. This includes supporting ChurGhgS Together groups seeking to re-vislon and make changes in th￿r groups to best reflect the changing needs and dynamics faced in their churches and communibes. She has been building relationships with Orthodox and evangelicallindependent churches in the legion lo broaden our ecumenical partnerships and supported a number of nèw ecumenical initiatives including new LEPS. Churches Together gioups. and r&forming the Ecumenical Environrnent group. Coryn's work has also included relati¢bnships wth ecumenral ￿dieS, denominational synods and intef-church activities. and partldpating in Churches Together in England's training, enabling groups, arKI mission Confe￿nce. North East Churches Actlng Together Tru•t•••' AnTrual R•port forthe yoarended 31 August 2025 r•twn to C8n•Ja fty famNy rea80n& She e¥presged IMIr￿n98 gratitude for the support and w*f the 8bove results are deriv￿ from continuing aCtivth"es_ All gains and losses reox)gnised in thè year a￿ induded atx)ve. North East ChurGhe8 Acting Together Balance Sheat as at 31 August 2026 Charfty 2025 C￿rity Char 2024 2024 2025 Inveslmerts 22,246 22.246 23262 Cunentassets Cash at bank In Iwnd 86003 86￿57 Cr•thrn'. •mowts Ialllny y8ar 13.687) (2,7741 Netcurr•nt •¥￿ts 94,855 107.345 117,101 107.345 Fundj: G¢n¥ral fuTrJ 27,598 D•slgnatsd fun MissM fwd RgseThe fund 2.190 20.C 2190 20,LJX) 211 22.1S4) T¢)t41 unr•strktsd fund• 60,058 Publtryty fvThJ Refuges and aSy￿M Seekets fund Blg Sodety fthd TVN fund 814 f,525 9.4Q2 46,502 614 1.525 4fj.016 57.S57 Total fund8 107,101 107.345 The fftwnclal 8tthments on pages 8 to 12 were appro¥ed by the EX￿￿1¥¢ Commlttee and authorlsed for issue by tr trustee$ on 18 Marckn 2026 artyj signed on thelr b•half by.. Mrw Offer Cholmian North East Churches Acting Together Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025 Accounting policies lal Basis of preparation and going concern The financial statements have been prepared under the hist()rical wsl convention. with the exception of investments which are included at Ma￿et value. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance wrth the Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting and Reporting by Charities prepafing their a￿oUNts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Républic of Ireland IFRS 102} and the Charities Acl 2011. The financial statements are prepared in steding, which is the fUnctI￿al currency of the tharity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £1. The Charity constitutes a Public Benofil Entity as defir￿a by FRS 102. The trustees consider that the￿ arè no material uncertainties about the Charty's a￿lIty to continu8 as a going concem. {bl Fund accounting General fvnds are unrestricted funds wh￿h are available for use at the discretion of INslees in furtherance olthe general objectNes oflhe eharity and whith have not been deggnaled for other purpo￿. Designated funds have been transferred from unrestricted fvnds for a particular purpose and are to be used in ac(x)rda￿e with that purpose as imposed by thè tfustees. Restricted fijnds are funds which are lo be used in accordance with speciffic restrictions itnposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity fora partieu18r purpose. The cost of raising and admlnislering such funds are charged against Ihe speryfic fund. InvestrrÉnl income an¢J gains are allocated lo the approprkate fund. Ic} Incomlng resources AJI in¢oming resources are induded in thè St8temenl of Financial Activities when the tharity is legally ent￿e￿ lo the income and the amount can be quanttfied with re8$onable accuracy. Gifts in kind donat8d for distribution are induded at valuation and recognised as income when they are distributed to the projects. Grfts dollat￿ for resa￿ are includéd as income when they are sold. Donated facilities are included at the value lo the i*arity where this can be quantffied and a third party is bearing thè cost. No amounts are induded in the financial stat8tnenls for services donated by volunleeis. {dl Grant income Grants and contributions received for current year expenditure are recognised in full in the Staternelll of Financial Activities in the period in whith they are received, provided that thé CONd￿'0n$ for receipt have been cornplied with. Vthere income is received in advan￿ for expenditure in 8 future 8c¢ounting period, it is defèrred and re¢ognised the fvture period to which rt relates. le} Resources expend¢d All expendtture is accx>untsd for on an accruals ba￿S an¢J h8s been d888Tfied under headingsthat aggregate all costs related lo the category. ifj Invests￿ents Investments are stated al market value at the balance sheet d8te. The Ststement of Finan(yal Aetwilies indudes the net gains and losses arisin9 on revaluations and disp)sa15 throughoul the year. North East Churches Acting Together Notes to the financial ststements for the year ended 31 August 2025 (g) Dgfined contrlbutlan pènsion s¢hamè Existing employees of the Charity were entifjed to join The Peoples Partnership which is funded by contributions from the employee and employèr. New and existing employees were automatically enrolled into the master trust with the option to opt out should they choose to do so. 2 Related party transactions and trustees. expenses and remuneratlon The trustees give freely their time and expertise without any fomi of remuneration or olhef benefft in c&sh or kind 12024.. £nil). Expenses, in rèspèct of travd and substslencè, p8id lo Iw81ees in the year lotalled £nil {2024: £nill. Inv•sbn8nt incom• Unr•s￿¢tod Deslgnat¢d R¢$ffi¢t¢il Funds Funds Funds Total 2025 Totsl 2024 Interest receNable- Barclays A¢tive S8ver 8lc Interest receivable- CBF Deposit alc 449 449 666 278 889 449 1,315 1,167 4 Resources expended Unr•gtriet•d Desig￿ts￿ ReBtrlcted Totsl 2025 Total 2024 Slalionery and printing Computer softwartheb&te Telephone- emails Travel and subsisten Conferences and coursed Subscriptions Insurance Salari8S Employers pension payment Sundfies Wage$￿Pp processing Independent examination TPP set up Interest on ¢werdue PAYEINI 122 314 470 2,410 678 761 415 22.310 2.060 238 338 990 380 446 701 380 701 518 518 54 13,477 1,020 310 361 990 13,477 1,020 310 361 990 170 170 18,493 18.493 31,7(6 The average number of employees during the year was I 12024.. 11 wrth 811 employee time involved in providing eilhef support to the govemance of the d￿rity or support services to Charitable activities. The total employment benefits including employer pension contributiC>ns of the key management personnel were 21.020 12024.. £2,060). No ernployees had employee beneffits (excluding èmployer pens￿ o)sls} in excess of £60.00012024.. £nil). 10 North East Churches Acting Together Notes to the fJnanGial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025 S Fix•d assèt Inv8stsn4nts 2025 2024 rthin the UK Church of England Investment Fund at rna￿et value 22.246 23.262 6 Prepayments 2025 2024 Insurance Subscriptsons 260 7 Cred5tors: amounts falllng due wlthln one year Unro$trlcted Restricted 2025 2024 Creditors and accruals.. HMRC PAYE and Nl Employers pension payment Regional Officer expenses Independent examin8tion Wage$￿PP processin9 1972 680 1972 936 680 28 990 140 990 45 990 45 11 North East Churches Acting Together Notes to the financial statsments for the year ended 31 August 2025 8 Statement of funds At 1 Sept 2024 InvoStm&nt Ilo$$Vgaln At 31 August 2025 Exwndlture Trdnsfo Unr•strlcted General fijnd 27,598 27,763 118,4931 36,868 D8signat•d funds: Mission ftjnd Reserve fund 2,190 20,0(XJ 2,190 20,000 Total unr8strfictrd funds 49,788 27,763 {18,4931 59,058 Restricted funds: Publitily fund Refugees and asylum seekers fund Big sO￿*ty fund TVM fLJnd 614 614 1,525 9,402 46,016 1,525 9,402 46,502 1,502 11,0161 Totsl restrlcted funds 57,557 1,502 11,0161 58,043 Total funds 107,345 29,26S 118,4931 11,0161 117,101 General funds are avaiLable for use at the discretion of the Iruslees in furtherance of the general objeth'ves of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. Mission fvnds provkle small grants to Local Churches Together and similar groups such as Regional bodies1￿1118thyes and ad hot groups formed for a particular event. Detsignated re$etve funds are to be used to pay expenses due should the aims and objectives of NECAT, as originally envisaged, cease resulting in the cessatKin of NECAT. Publicity fvnds are for the purpose of publicising NECAT and lor reglonal events. Refug66S ond asylum seekers fvnds seek to provide support and Int￿ration into the community. Big society furKI is a social impact fund which looks into thefeasibility of using church land aTKI buildingslo provKle affordable housing. 11 supports a feasible project's fijrther planning and securing its financing where appropriate. TVM fund operates in the Tees Valley to promote and support workplace chaplaincy by SUp￿ing vdunteer thaplaM)S a)d 'ng an advocate of the Chrlstian in the WorkP￿Ce. 12