## **UNITED CHURCH FERNDOWN TRUSTEES’ REPORT 2025** ## **Aim and Purposes** The purpose of United Church Ferndown is to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the principles and practices of the Baptist and United Reformed Church. The Minister(s) and Deacons (Trustees) aim to promote the purpose of the Church and be responsible for the maintenance of the Church premises. ## **Objectives and Activities** The Church premises are open for public worship every Sunday morning. Our services put the Christian faith into action through worship, prayer, bible readings with exposition and communion. When planning our activities the Minister(s) and Deacons (Trustees) have considered the Commission’s guidance on Public benefit and in particular, the guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We engage in a range of activities including: Public worship, teaching of the Christian faith, pastoral work, provision of facilities with a Christian ethos for local community, supporting other charities in the UK and overseas. ## **Achievements and Performance** _The Celebration of Public Worship & the teaching of the Christian Faith_ Sunday mornings continue to be the main worship event within the Church and we have a number of different themes that have been brought throughout 2025. It has been such a joy to see so many continue to regularly worship together each week. These services are “streamed” and can be watched on YouTube for those unable to attend services in person. Easter was a great time and it was brilliant to be able to talk to shops and place clues within them for people to find and then come and get a prize from us at the church. What a witness to be able to share what Easter is really about with those that would not normally engage. A team from the church continued through 2025 to take a monthly service at Fernhill Dementia Care Home for the residents and staff. It is very moving to see people who have dementia responding to the truth that God loves them. A “High Tea, Low Church” monthly service has continued through 2025 where people enjoy singing the older style hymns and the testimonies given have been heart-warming and great to hear. ## _Mission and Evangelism_ As a church we continued in 2025 to have a stand at the Ferndown “Fete on the Field”. This was a fun chance to show the community who we are and what we do. Also, a great opportunity to talk to other stall holders and share Jesus with them. Socials in the Angel (pub) with some of the ladies from the community and church have also been a great way to show non church people that we at church aren’t always that strange There were also many other social events through the year which has been a fantastic way to build our community and links. The Angels at the Angel (18+ group) has been successful again and we have had some great discussions about God and what that means to us and the world around us. The fortnightly “Lunch Club” continued through 2025 which is open to anyone who wants to meet with others for a reasonably priced lunch. A routine Food Safety inspection from Dorset Council in June 2025 resulted in us retaining a five-star rating. The “Thermal Thursday” group continues to be popular with those attending enjoying crafts, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, card making, games and quizzes etc. Items were also made / prepared for shoe boxes for the elderly, families, and children which went out to the Ukraine. The Church runs a group for Parent/Carers with their pre-school children called “Tiddlers”. During 2025, our children and youth groups ‘Bright Sparks’ (years R – 4) and ‘Ignite’ (years 5 – 8) continued to meet weekly. Holiday club (in the October 2025 half term) was another time to see more people enter into our church and learn just how much Jesus loves them and thinks they are special. It was a different time of year this time and we had great feedback from parents saying they enjoyed the change and helped with childcare. Also gave us a great opportunity to do a holiday club party instead of Halloween and we saw families come together to join the fun. “Messy Church continues to be run every month with many families joining us and hearing about Jesus and how much he loves them with the Church coming alongside those in our community who need to hear the Good News of Jesus. Our ministry continues with the Christian Union at the local upper school as well as in some lessons to answer the big questions on faith. ## _Pastoral Care_ 2025 saw our Ministers further increasing their hours, given our inability to recruit a Pastoral Worker, to ensure the very real pastoral needs of our fellowship and those within the wider community could be sustained. Dedicated church members also continue to act in a voluntary capacity (for which we are all extremely grateful) in fulfilling the pastoral needs. _The Church Premises_ The Church buildings are not only available for Church run events but are used by the community for meetings, children parties etc. All hall hirers must adhere to the Church lettings policy, health and safety policy and young people and adults at risk Safeguarding Policy. The upkeep of the premises is an important consideration of the Trustees with General maintenance carried out on the Sanctuary, Hall and Grounds during the year. ## _Support of Charities in the UK and Overseas_ During the past year, we have kept in regular contact with our missionary friends at home and abroad. Monthly prayer meetings on zoom have enabled some of our missionary friends to join us and update us on their work. In addition we continue to receive monthly newsletters and prayer requests from all our missionaries that we support. During 2025 we were also privileged to have a visit from the missionary family we support from South Africa who work with Operation Mobilisation. The Church has financially supported a number of missions and charities as shown in the accounts. ## **Financial Review** We finished 2025 with a deficit of £9,075.00 (previous year deficit being £3,721.51). ## _General Receipts_ The monthly/weekly offering for the first half of 2025 was higher than the previous year but there was a fall in the offering in the latter part of 2025 resulting in an overall reduction for 2025 versus 2024 of £2,145.37. The use of premises income for 2025 has increased due to a new 2025/26 weekly booking. The increased interest received, mainly in February 2025, is a result of high interest rates at that time. ## _General Payments_ We continued to support our partner Missions/Missionaries with grants as agreed in the budget. Our cost of electricity significantly increased in 2025 as we had reached the end of a three year contract. One of the electrical consumer units was replaced in 2024 but associated work was not completed until 2025. The payment was made in 2025 and is the main reason for the increase of expenditure in repairs/maintenance. ## **Reserves Policy** It is the policy of the charity to maintain a minimum level of unrestricted funds, which are the available reserves of the charity, at a level that equates to three months’ of unrestricted expenditure. It is felt that this would be sufficient to continue the activities of the charity in the event of a significant loss of income. Unrestricted reserves at 31 December 2025 were sufficient to adhere to the policy. ## **Volunteers** We continue to be grateful to Church members and all those who volunteer and work so hard to make United Church Ferndown such a welcoming and active community. We would not be able to run so many activities without their support. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The method of appointing Trustees is set out in the Church Governing Document and Church Rules. Whilst legally the Trustees are empowered to make binding decisions the traditional practice is that the ultimate decision-maker is the Church Members meeting. Day to day running of Church affairs is delegated to the elected Deacons (maximum 8) who, together with the appointed Minister(s) of the day, form the Charity Trustees, who meet as required, usually monthly except August or more frequently if occasion demands. The Trustees may also appoint no more than two Co-opted Trustees. ## **Administrative Information** The United Church Ferndown is situated at 505 Wimborne Road East, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9NF. Charity Registration number is 1159971. The Trustees during the calendar year 2025 were: Ministers: Rev. Darren Pike Rev. Melanie Pike Deacons: Arthur Ansell (until March 2025) Alan Ball (from March 2025 to September 2025) Natalie Butler Eunice Clayton-Paine (until February 2025) Jill Corcoran Angela Jameson (Treasurer) Janet Latham Kim Thomas (from March 2025) Peter Vincent (Secretary) ## **UNITED CHURCH FERNDOWN - Registered Charity Number: 1159971 FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** ## **GENERAL RECEIPTS & PAYMENT ACCOUNT** |**_Note_**
**Receipts**
Monthly/Weekly Offering
Donations and other income
2
Income tax recovered on gifts
Next Generation Ministries Income
Interest (Bank & HMRC)
Rents and contributions for use of premises
**Payments**
Ministry
3
Children, Youth & Families Work
4
Mission
5
Upkeep of Church premises
6
Administration
7
Church other expenses
8
Manse loan repayment - capital element
**Surplus (deficit) for the year**
**Balance brought forward**
**Transfer from Restricted Funds**
**Balance carried forward**
**DESIGNATED FUNDS MOVEMENT**
**2024**
**Transfer In**
**Transfer Out**
**B/Fwd**
Manse improvements
6,000.00
£
-
£
-
£
6,000.00
£
-
£
-
£
**RESTRICTED FUNDS MOVEMENT**
**2024**
**B/Fwd**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
Mission
9
5,040.06
£
1,790.48
£
1,747.33
£
Manse Loan Repayment
-
£
-
£
-
£
Youth & Childrens work
1,108.23
£
-
£
252.00
£
Tiddlers Equipment
-
£
-
£
-
£
Defibrillator
-
£
1,875.00
£
1,504.80
£
Hall Sound System
200.00
£
-
£
-
£
URC Event
-
£
-
£
-
£
Choir Funds
320.96
£
-
£
-
£
Table Tennis
1,150.00
£
-
£
100.00
£
Flower Fund
-
£
365.55
£
365.55
£
Pastoral Worker
1,000.00
£
-
£
-
£
8,819.25
£
4,031.03
£
3,969.68
£|**_Note_**
**Receipts**
Monthly/Weekly Offering
Donations and other income
2
Income tax recovered on gifts
Next Generation Ministries Income
Interest (Bank & HMRC)
Rents and contributions for use of premises
**Payments**
Ministry
3
Children, Youth & Families Work
4
Mission
5
Upkeep of Church premises
6
Administration
7
Church other expenses
8
Manse loan repayment - capital element
**Surplus (deficit) for the year**
**Balance brought forward**
**Transfer from Restricted Funds**
**Balance carried forward**
**DESIGNATED FUNDS MOVEMENT**
**2024**
**Transfer In**
**Transfer Out**
**B/Fwd**
Manse improvements
6,000.00
£
-
£
-
£
6,000.00
£
-
£
-
£
**RESTRICTED FUNDS MOVEMENT**
**2024**
**B/Fwd**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
Mission
9
5,040.06
£
1,790.48
£
1,747.33
£
Manse Loan Repayment
-
£
-
£
-
£
Youth & Childrens work
1,108.23
£
-
£
252.00
£
Tiddlers Equipment
-
£
-
£
-
£
Defibrillator
-
£
1,875.00
£
1,504.80
£
Hall Sound System
200.00
£
-
£
-
£
URC Event
-
£
-
£
-
£
Choir Funds
320.96
£
-
£
-
£
Table Tennis
1,150.00
£
-
£
100.00
£
Flower Fund
-
£
365.55
£
365.55
£
Pastoral Worker
1,000.00
£
-
£
-
£
8,819.25
£
4,031.03
£
3,969.68
£|**2025**
**2024**
58,039.25
£
60,184.62
£
3,991.98
£
3,430.72
£
12,766.28
£
11,779.26
£
1,790.36
£
3,144.58
£
2,454.38
£
2,353.18
£
6,389.00
£
5,184.00
£| |---|---|---| |||85,431.25
£
86,076.36
£| |||64,966.18
£
63,031.29
£
-
£
438.17
£
7,317.55
£
6,900.00
£
12,518.26
£
10,498.15
£
921.39
£
835.49
£
8,782.87
£
6,742.73
£
1,352.04
£| |||94,506.25
£
89,797.87
£| |||9,075.00
-£
3,721.51
-£
61,520.13
£
65,241.64
£
1,000.00
£
-
£
53,445.13
£
61,520.13
£
**Payments**
**2025**
**C/Fwd**
834.00
£
5,166.00
£| ||6,000.00
£
-
£
-
£|834.00
£
5,166.00
£| ||**2024**
**B/Fwd**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
5,040.06
£
1,790.48
£
1,747.33
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
1,108.23
£
-
£
252.00
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
1,875.00
£
1,504.80
£
200.00
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
320.96
£
-
£
-
£
1,150.00
£
-
£
100.00
£
-
£
365.55
£
365.55
£
1,000.00
£
-
£
-
£|**Trf to**
**2025**
**Gen. fund**
**C/Fwd**
-
£
5,083.21
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
856.23
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
370.20
£
-
£
200.00
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
320.96
£
-
£
1,050.00
£
-
£
-
£
1,000.00
£
-
£| ||8,819.25
£
4,031.03
£
3,969.68
£|1,000.00
£
7,880.60
£| Page 1 of 4 ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025** |**_Note_**
**ASSETS**
Bank and other cash balances
**REPRESENTING BALANCE ON THE FOLLOWING ACCOUNTS:**
General Fund
Designated Funds
Restricted - Mission fund
Restricted - Table Tennis Club
Restricted - Choir
Restricted - Youth & childrens work
Restricted - Defibrillator
Restricted - Pastoral Worker
Restricted - Hall Sound System|**2025**
**2024**
66,491.73
£
76,339.38
£| |---|---| ||53,445.13
£
61,520.13
£
5,166.00
£
6,000.00
£
5,083.21
£
5,040.06
£
1,050.00
£
1,150.00
£
320.96
£
320.96
£
856.23
£
1,108.23
£
370.20
£
-
£
-
£
1,000.00
£
200.00
£
200.00
£| ||66,491.73
£
76,339.38
£| ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** **1 Basis of accounts:** These accounts have been prepared on a 'receipts and payments' basis and accord with Section 133 Charities Act 2011 |**2 Donations and other income:**
Donations
Lunch Club
Church Events
100 Year Celebration Income
Funeral Fees
Other items
**3 Ministry:**
Ministers' stipend & pension contribution
Ministers' expenses
Ministers' conferences
Ministers' Training
Pension deficit contributions
Manse expenses
Manse maintenance
Manse loan interest
Pulpit Supply|**2025**
**2024**
264.15
£
1,172.83
£
1,702.39
£
1,183.89
£
492.44
£
468.20
£
1,233.00
£
-
£
300.00
£
550.00
£
-
£
55.80
£| |---|---| ||3,991.98
£
3,430.72
£| ||56,621.28
£
54,775.92
£
1,723.27
£
1,560.21
£
902.00
£
1,191.15
£
187.88
£
332.00
£
-
£
10.00
£
4,816.95
£
4,548.55
£
300.00
£
108.00
£
-
£
447.96
£
414.80
£
57.50
£| ||64,966.18
£
63,031.29
£| Page 2 of 4 |**4 Children, Youth & Families Work**
CY&F Pastor pay & pension contribution
CY&F Pastor expenses
Youth Workers Retreat
CY&FW expenses
**5 Mission:**
SCBA Home Mission
URC M & M Fund
Hope Now
Laura Weeds (W.E.C.)
Dave & Michele Mahon (B.M.S.)
Helen & Adrian Harrod (O.M.)
Arab World Ministries
Link to Hope
CAP
Local Outreach
**6 Upkeep of Church premises:**
Lighting & Heat
Water & Sewage
Cleaning (incl. wages)
Insurance
Repairs/maintenance & improvements
**7 Administration:**
Printing & Stationery
Telephone
Office Equipment
Accounts Examiniation
**8 Church other expenses:**
CCL Licence
Coffee/Catering
Subscriptions
Training
Flowers
100 Year Celebration Expenditure
Next Generation Ministries Expenditure
Church Website (Hubb Church)
Other|**2025**
**2024**
-
£
438.17
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£
-
£| |---|---| ||-
£
438.17
£| ||1,044.00
£
999.96
£
1,044.00
£
999.96
£
750.00
£
750.00
£
750.00
£
750.00
£
953.96
£
750.00
£
750.00
£
750.00
£
750.00
£
750.00
£
-
£
19.50
£
375.00
£
750.00
£
900.59
£
380.58
£| ||7,317.55
£
6,900.00
£| ||4,952.60
£
4,181.43
£
136.98
£
118.26
£
3,495.90
£
3,333.79
£
1,312.85
£
1,102.98
£
2,619.93
£
1,761.69
£| ||12,518.26
£
10,498.15
£| ||224.65
£
254.82
£
576.84
£
495.67
£
29.90
£
-
£
90.00
£
85.00
£| ||921.39
£
835.49
£| ||964.69
£
929.37
£
511.60
£
884.96
£
302.40
£
275.00
£
-
£
30.00
£
137.36
£
276.44
£
1,199.19
£
-
£
2,186.92
£
2,402.51
£
719.16
£
539.52
£
2,761.55
£
1,404.93
£| ||8,782.87
£
6,742.73
£| Page 3 of 4 |**9 Restricted Mission/Charity Payments**
Helen & Adrian Harrod (O.M.)
Dave & Michele Mahon (B.M.S.)
Hope Now
Brian Tumour Research
Operation Agri
Link to Hope - Shoe Boxes
Laura Weeds (W.E.C.)
BMS Birthdays
Arab World Ministries|**2025**
**2024**
200.00
£
-
£
200.00
£
-
£
200.00
£
1,033.36
£
-
£
489.66
£
424.98
£
518.23
£
217.35
£
130.50
£
200.00
£
-
£
105.00
£
110.00
£
200.00
£
-
£| |---|---| ||1,747.33
£
2,281.75
£| ## **10 Non-monetary assets:** The Church also owns fixtures, furniture & equipment with an insurance value of £125,771 The accounts and statement of assets and liabilities set out on pages 1 & 2 relating to the year ending 31 December 2025 are as approved by the Deacons. Angela Jameson - Church Treasurer Page 4 of 4 Report of the Independent Examiner(sl to the Trustees of United Church Ferndown On the accounts for the year ended 315t December 2025 Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner The Church's Trustees are responsible for the preparation ofthe accounts_ The church's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Chaniies Aci, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Chanty Commission {under section 14515){b} ofthe Charrties Act. and . to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examinerfs 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 Ghurch 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 Gon￿rnIng any such rnatters. 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 presenl a 'true and fair. view and the ieport is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examinerfs statement In connection with my examination. no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect. accounting records were not kept in accordan￿ with section 130 of the Charities Act or . the accounts do not accord with the accounting records the accounts do 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 ttrue and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have come across no other matters in connection with the examinalion to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding ofthe accounts to be reached. Signed by or on behalf of the Examiner Date Name.. John Berridge Address: 12. Stonechat Close, Femdown. Dorset BH22 9QH