Transforming Lives Together (A Company Limited by Guarantee)
Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements Year ended : 31[st] December 2024
Company Number: 08419285 Charity Number: 1157348
Transforming Lives Together
Board of Trustees during the Year to 31[st] December 2024
Victoria Wells Rev Christina Phoebe Upton Rev Dr Andrew Knight Myrtle Lacey Rev Dr Margaret Jones Rev Catherine Cleghorn Canon Jane Brooke Kath Leigh
(appointed 12 June 2024) (resigned 7 January 2024) (resigned 4 January 2025)
Company Secretary
Victoria Wells
Registered Office
Chester Cathedral 9 Abbey Square Chester CH1 2HU
Amended on 2 January 2025 to
30 Werburgh Street Chester CH1 2DY
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Transforming Lives Together
Trustees’ Report for the Year ended 31[st] December 2024
The Trustees, who are also Directors for the purposes of the Companies Act, present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year to 31st December 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) Accounting and Reporting by Charities in preparing the Annual Report and financial statements of the charitable company, which also comply with the charity’s governing document and applicable law.
The Charity
Transforming Lives Together (TLT) is constituted as a Company Limited by Guarantee and not having a share capital. The company is registered with Companies House in England and Wales – number 08419285. The principal governing document is the Company Memorandum and Articles of Association. The charity is registered with the Charity Commission – number 1157348.
Objects
The charity’s objects are for the benefit of the public:
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To promote the efficiency and effectiveness of Christian based charities in the furtherance of their objects or any one of them, mainly but not exclusively, by the promotion of information, advice, support and infrastructure provision; and
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The relief of financial hardship, either generally or individually, through the provision of grants, goods or services.
Activities and Performance
TLT operates within the geographical area covered by the Diocese of Chester, which includes parts of 11 Local Authority areas including Halton, Wirral, Tameside, Cheshire East, Trafford, Stockport, Warrington, Cheshire West & Chester, Flintshire, Manchester and Wrexham.
This is a very diverse area of over 1000 square miles, which includes dense urban populations, rural heartlands and prosperous suburbs, and has a population of 1.6 million people.
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Transforming Lives Together
Trustees’ Report for the Year ended 31[st] December 2024 continued
Who We Are
TLT is a locally based ‘faith in action’, people-driven, passionate advocate for social justice. We aim to bring people together by stimulating and supporting church social action to help communities flourish and thrive in the Chester Diocese.
We are an independent charity working with Chester Cathedral and Chester Diocese with whom we have a creative and effective partnership meeting our joint aims of physical and spiritual transformation. TLT is also part of the Church Urban Fund Together Network of related faith-based charities across England, linked by faith and driven to tackle poverty, loneliness and social inequality.
What We Do
Outreach work is made possible by focussing on Asset Based Community Development. This encourages local churches to engage with their communities by knowing who they are and responding to local social needs. These fulfil our aim to bring about community engagement and change through mobilisation of people within local churches over the diverse urban and rural diocesan footprint.
In generating church and people-led social action we especially work to respond to food poverty and social isolation issues. Our projects strengthen children’s wellbeing, family resilience and bring diverse communities together; combatting child holiday hunger and adult loneliness. We build meaningful relationships between people and their communities, fostering stronger bonds and supportive social networks. Inspired by our Christian values, all the projects and services we provide in communities are open to people from all backgrounds, regardless of their beliefs.
Why We Do It
TLT does its charitable work because it wants to see all people and their communities flourish and enjoy life in all its fullness, with those in poverty having a better chance of realising their unique gifts and potential. Our work is based on God’s command to ‘Love thy neighbour’.
In setting out our objectives and planning our activities, the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.
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Transforming Lives Together
Trustees’ Report for the Year ended 31[st] December 2024 continued
Our Vision
To transform lives and communities through the work of every church across our region, working in and alongside their local community, by tackling poverty in all its forms. TLT aims to inspire, equip and enable churches to tackle poverty, loneliness and social inequality through social action projects and thus enable communities to thrive.
Our Aims
Our aims are to achieve the Vision by:
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partnering with churches to catalyse a movement to tackle poverty, loneliness and social inequality
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providing a framework for good practice
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building relationships with churches and other organisations and charities to foster local engagement within communities
This how we intend to meet our Aims :
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provide long term and sustainable partnerships and guidance for churches and Christians working alongside people profoundly affected by poverty
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enable churches to recognise and utilise the community assets available to them
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assist churches in accessing funds which encourages self-sustainability
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enable churches to articulate and celebrate what they are doing
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use the diversity within the diocese to connect church communities to encounter each other and work collaboratively
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provide access to resources, for example for theological reflection, and tool kits that equip churches for action
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enable access to training courses, for example mental health awareness or food safety
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raise awareness of poverty by providing information about the nature and impact of poverty and sharing stories of transformation and models of good practice
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be an advocate for churches and tell the truth about poverty and wealth and promote a new way of living and acting
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Transforming Lives Together
Trustees’ Report for the Year ended 31[st] December 2024 continued
Summary of Work in 2024
The community workers and trustees have been successful in applying for several grants this year, importantly given the current climate some of these grants (£27,500) have been for core funding. Other grants have been awarded enabling us to carry out our work in the community.
In October 2024, 44 attendees from across the Chester Diocese represented 17 of our Places of Welcome gathered for a celebration of the work at Chester Cathedral.
In the summer of 2024 we organised Emergency First Aid Training, equipping 24 Place of Welcome volunteers to better support the safety and well-being of the communities and congregations that they serve.
In the Autumn of 2024, we arranged training in Trauma Awareness and Trauma Informed Practice. The course offered practical tools for recognising and responding to trauma within community contexts, helping individuals and churches become more compassionate and trauma-informed spaces.
We have continued to visit our growing number of Places of Welcome, and Filling the Gap projects tackling hunger in the school holidays. These visits offered encouragement and advice on community outreach, Asset Based Community Development and Engaging Faith,and shared the Church Urban Fund’s ‘Growing Good’ course on community outreach and our prayer resources. We have continued to offer workshops and training to our many Places of Welcome and Filling the Gap volunteers, from active listening skills and dementia awareness to food and hygiene qualifications.
We have been working on arranging an inaugural Rural Community Networking Event to be held in February 2025 to consider how we can work together to tackle poverty and isolation in rural areas.
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Transforming Lives Together
Trustees’ Report for the Year ended 31[st] December 2024 continued
Finance Review
Our anonymous principal donor gave £25,000 and a charitable Christian trust donated £10,000 and we won an award for two year’s Lottery funding of £10,000 per year which together with several other unrestricted donations, made a total of £77,306. Other restricted funds of £14,444 were received and along with funds received late in 2024 these monies were distributed to food banks and similar organisations for the relief of food poverty and to support social loneliness and mental health issues. The Trustees continue to look for other sources of funding to ensure the stability of the charity.
Directors’ Responsibilities
The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the directors to prepare Financial Statements each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare Financial Statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the Financial Statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:
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Make suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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Make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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Prepare the Financial Statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business;
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that Financial Statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking responsible steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Small Company Exemptions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the Small Companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. This report was approved by the Board on 10 September 2025 and signed on their behalf.
Signed by: Rev. Dr Andrew Knight Chair: 10 September 2025
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Transforming Lives Together
Statement of Financial Activities
(including Income and Expenditure account)
For the Year ended 31[st] December:
| INCOMING RESOURCES Grants and Donations note 4 Total Incoming Resources RESOURCES EXPENDED Cost of charitable activities note 5 Total Expended Resources Net (Deficit)/ Income for the Year NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Total Funds at 1stJanuary 2024 Total Funds at 31stDecember 2024 |
2024 £ 91,750 91,750 61,151 61,151 30,599 30,599 52,691 83,290 |
2023 £ 70,531 70,531 73,929 73,929 (3,398) (3,398) 52,691 52,691 |
|---|---|---|
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Transforming Lives Together
Balance Sheet As at 31[st] December
| 2024 £ Current Assets Cash at Bank and in hand 98,025 Prepayments note 6 120 Current Liabilities Creditors – falling due within one year note 7 4,855 Net Current Assets 93,290 Net Assets 93,290 FUNDS Unrestricted Funds 83,290 Restricted Funds 10,000 Total Funds 93,290 |
2023 £ 59,966 - 7,275 52,691 52,691 51,090 1,601 52,691 |
|---|---|
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form part of these financial statements.
For the year ended 31[st] December 2024, the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Responsibilities of directors/trustees:
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The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
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The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
Approved by the Board of Directors and Trustees on 10 September 2025 and signed on their behalf:
Signed by: Rev. Dr Andrew Knight Chair: 10 September 2025
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Transforming Lives Together
Notes to Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31[st] December 2024
1. Basis of Accounting
The financial statements are prepared on the historical cost and accruals basis of accounting. The financial statements are also prepared in accordance with the applicable Accounting Standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities”.
2. Accounting Policies
a. Grants and Donations
All incoming funds are only included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. All grants that are restricted are spent in the financial year or included within creditors.
b. Resources Expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that category. Governance costs are those costs incurred in connection with the compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
c. Unrestricted Funds
Current funds under management are all unrestricted.
d. Restricted Funds
All grants that are restricted are spent in the financial year or included within creditors.
3. Company Limited by Guarantee
The company is limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital.
4 . Grants and Donations
| Grants unrestricted Grants restricted Donations Gift Aid refund |
2024 £ 27,500 14,444 49,806 0 91,750 |
2023 £ 0 28,522 40,148 1,861 70,531 |
|---|---|---|
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Transforming Lives Together
Notes to Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31[st] December 2024
5. Cost of Charitable Activities
| Distribution of Donations Training and Charitable events Employee Salaries Employee travel and subsistence Office and administration costs |
2024 £ 18,341 368 39,010 2,327 1,105 61,151 |
2023 £ 30,812 1,806 37,422 2,613 1,276 73,929 |
|---|---|---|
The TLT staff are employees of Chester Cathedral. The Cathedral charges TLT for the cost of their employment but does not charge any administration fee.
6. Current Assets
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Prepayment | 120 | - |
7. Current Liabilities
| Training and Donations Employee Salaries and expenses |
2024 £ 1,000 3,855 4,855 |
2023 £ 1,601 5,674 7,275 |
|---|---|---|
Current Liabilities include salaries and staff expenses unpaid at the year end.
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees and Directors of Transforming Lives Together for the Year ended 31[st] December 2024
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 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 144 of the 2011 Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145 of the 2011 Act) 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 In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my examiner's statement attention
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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 2011 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed by: Sally-Anne Heaford Dated: 29 September 2025
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