2025-04-05-accounts

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

Contents

• 3 Legal and Administrative Information

• 4 Report of the Trustees

• 8 Report of the Independent Examiner

• 9 Statement of Financial Activities

• 10 Balance Sheet

• 11 Notes forming part of the Financial Statements

• 14 Resources Expended

• 15 Analysis of Net Assets - Current year

• 16 Analysis of Net Assets - Prior Year

• 17 Movement in Funds - Current Year

• 18 Movement in Funds - Prior Year

• 19 Comparative Statement of Financial Activities

22 Jan 2026 Page 2 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Legal and Administrative Information

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

Charity Name:

North Road Meeting Room Trust

Registered Charity Number:

1161975

Trustees:

Mr H Melvin (Chair)

Mr N P Burtenshaw

Mr R Melvin

Mr N Keam

Mr N J Burtenshaw

Treasurer:

Mr N P Burtenshaw

Principle Address:

Brethren's Meeting Hall C/o North Road Meeting Room Trust 5 Brest Road Derriford Plymouth PL6 5XN

Independent Examiner:

Laverne Eames Oldfield Advisory 1120 Elliott Court Herald Avenue Coventry CV5 6UB

Accountant:

Oldfield Advisory LLP 1120 Elliott Court Herald Avenue Coventry CV5 6UB

Bankers:

Lloyds Bank 8 Royal Parade Plymouth PL1 1DS

22 Jan 2026 Page 3 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Report of the Trustees

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

The trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 5 April 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 11 and comply with the Trust Deed and applicable law.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The Charity is an unincorporated trust constituted by a Deed of Trust dated 28th June 1982, most recently amended by Deed of Variation dated 12th August 2014. The trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 3rd June 2015 under Charity Registration Number: 1161975

Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees

The Trustees who have served during the year and since the year end are set out on page 3. None of the Trustees, nor any person connected with them, received any remuneration from the Charity in the year ended 5 April 2025. Trustees were reimbursed for expenses during the year totalling £311 (2024: £Nil).

The Trust operates one Gospel hall and Trustees are chosen from among the regular congregation of the hall. New Trustees are nominated by the existing Trustees or by the congregation and must be appointed by unanimous resolution of the congregation. They are selected according to their skills and experience and are expected to use both in furthering the objects of the Charity. Checks are made to ensure the Trustees’ eligibility to act and incoming Trustees are made aware of their responsibilities by the existing Trustees, who ensure that new Trustees read the Trust Deed and relevant Charity Commission guidance.

Wider Network

The Trustees maintain informal links with similar Charities with a view to pooling experience considered useful in pursuing the objects of the Charity. The Charity also maintains particular links with Compton Meeting Rooms Trust with which it shares members of its congregation.

Risk Management

The Trustees have identified and reviewed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and confirm that they have established systems to manage and mitigate those risks.

Objectives and Activities

Objectives and Aims

The charitable purposes of the Charity are the advancement of the Christian religion for the public benefit, including by the carrying on of the service of God in accordance with the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible as followed by those Christians forming part of the world-wide fellowship known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (the “Brethren”) and any other charitable purposes connected with Brethren. The core doctrine of the Brethren and proper practices in furtherance of certain aspects of doctrine are summarised in two schedules to the Trust Deed.

Public Benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance to charities on public benefit.

During the year 2024-2025, North Road Meeting Room Trust has continued its support of local foodbanks with ambient food items.

22 Jan 2026 Page 4 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Report of the Trustees

Donations have been made to 4 charities in the financial year – these are to:

• Jeremiah’s Journey – a Plymouth-based charity providing compassionate bereavement support for children and families.

• Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity – a local charity which provides physical and emotional support to families in Devon and Cornwall who have a child with rare childhood cancers.

• Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity – a national charity that supports the hospital and stops at nothing to help give seriously ill children childhoods that are fuller, funner and longer.

• Dame Hannah Rogers Trust - a Devon charity that has been providing services to enrich and empower the lives of disadvantaged and disabled children and adults for nearly 260 years.

Main activities and achievements

The Trust provides and maintains one Gospel hall where religious meetings are held by the local Brethren community. Details of the origins, teachings and way of life of the Brethren can be found on the website - www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org and in the schedules to the Trust Deed.

During the year, the Trust continued to invest in the upkeep and improvement of the City Gospel Hall and its grounds. In addition, during 2025 the Trustees undertook preparatory work for a major refurbishment project, as detailed below, including securing funding and obtaining the necessary approvals.

Plans for future periods

Despite the increased cost of energy, the trustees feel that these increased costs are not significantly impacting on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern

The Trust plans to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment of the City Gospel Hall, focused primarily on internal improvements, such as upgraded audio systems. The Trustees anticipate that the refurbishment will commence in the first quarter of 2026.

Meetings

Meetings held at the Gospel halls include the Lord's Supper (Communion), Gospel preachings, Bible readings and Bible addresses. There is a structured weekly schedule of meetings and, depending on the particular meeting, between 100 and 250 people normally attend these occasions.

The meetings are attended by the regular congregation and most are open to other properly disposed visitors. The notice board outside the Hall welcomes visitors and displays the times of Gospel preachings, along with a telephone number for those seeking further information or help. Gospel tracts, which are distributed by street preachers, also display this information.

Bibles and an extensive range of other Christian reading material are on display at the halls and visitors are free to help themselves.

22 Jan 2026 Page 5 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Report of the Trustees

Spreading the Gospel message and the life of a Christian

The Gospel halls are a base from which the regular congregation and others who attend the meetings are encouraged to spread the Christian Gospel, in word and deed.

Members of the congregation participate in a programme of street preaching where Gospel tracts are provided free of charge by the Charity to such preachers to be handed out to interested members of the public.

In carrying out this work, the congregation considers itself to be living out its faith in practice, as particularly exemplified in the following extract from the schedule to the Trust Deed on living a Christian life:

• We seek and are encouraged to live exemplary lives in all our relationships with others in the wider community (including former Brethren), in accordance with the teachings of Holy Scripture (1 Tim 2:2).

• We regularly go out from our homes to preach on the streets, to distribute Christian literature and engage with the wider community (including former Brethren) in order to present eternal salvation, available to all men by faith in Jesus Christ. (2 Tim 4:2).

• We seek as members of the public to lead Christian lives as husbands and wives, parents, children, employers, employees and neighbours. (Col 3:22-25, Col 4:1).

• The preservation and protection of the family unit is fundamental and children are prized as a blessing from God. (Psalm 127:3-5). The elderly are valued members of the community, for whom both their family and the wider community are expected to care.

• Holy Scripture commands us to be good neighbours to others, and deal with all other people (including former Brethren) openly, honestly and fairly and consistent with these principles, we should give our time, talents and money to assist those in need in the wider community, in so far as reasonable given our abilities and our available resources. (Matt 7:12, Matt 22:39, Eph 4:28).

Funding

Funding is sought through gifts from the congregation and Gift Aid is claimed on eligible donations. Funding is sometimes received from other charitable trusts with complementary objectives.

Financial Review

In the year ended 5 April 2025 the Trust had a surplus of incoming resources over resources expended.

Total voluntary income received this year was £66,234 compared to £58,635 in the previous year.

All funds held were unrestricted funds.

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity’s needs, based on its size and the level of its financial commitments. The Trust has no employees and its regular outgoings are minimal. The Charity is holding a suitable level of free reserves to fund the refurbishment of one of the Gospel Halls, as mentioned in the Plans for Future Periods section of the Report of the Trustees. The Trustees have also decided to maintain a minimum balance of £50,000 in a current account to ensure the Charity has sufficient flexibility to meet any future needs it may face. The congregation is kept regularly informed of particular funding needs and other relevant matters, and the Trustees aim to ensure that the Charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives, even in the event of a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure, by raising a fundraising appeal to the congregation.

Free Reserves at the year end were £117,046 (2024: £101,879)

22 Jan 2026 Page 6 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Report of the Trustees

Statement of Trustees Responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Trust Deed require the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the Charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP (FRS 102);

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. All transactions have been reviewed and approved by two trustees.

On Behalf of the board:

..................................................................................

Mr N Burtenshaw (Trustee)

22/01/2026 ..............................................................

Date

22 Jan 2026 Page 7 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Report of the Independent Examiner

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the North Road Meeting Room Trust for the year ended 5 April 2025.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

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

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’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 Act.

Basis of Independent Examiner's Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 of explanations from you as 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 statements below.

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 respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. The accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. 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 ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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

...................................................................................................

Laverne Eames Oldfield Advisory 1120 Elliott Court Herald Avenue Coventry CV5 6UB

22 January 2026

22 Jan 2026 Page 8 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Statement of Financial Activities

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

Statement of Financial Activities North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025	Statement of Financial Activities North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS DESIGNATED FUNDS RESTRICTED FUNDS TOTAL FUNDS 2025 TOTAL FUNDS 2024
Income and endowments:
	Donations and Legacies:
	Contributions from the Congregation 41,078 - - 41,078 29,535
	Gift Aid Donations 18,725 - - 18,725 22,320
	Income Tax refunds 4,681 - - 4,681 5,580
	Other Donations 1,750 - - 1,750 1,200 Investments
	Interest Received 987 - - 987 922
Total Income and endowments: 67,221 - - 67,221 59,557 Expenditure:
Running Meeting Rooms (note 8) 44,234 - - 44,234 46,461
Cost of donated services (note 4) 16,114 - - 16,114 33,193
Total Expenditure: 60,348 - - 60,348 79,654
Net Income/(Expenditure) 6,874 - - 6,874 (20,096)
Net Movement In Funds 6,874 - - 6,874 (20,096) UNRESTRICTED FUNDS DESIGNATED FUNDS RESTRICTED FUNDS TOTAL FUNDS 2025 TOTAL FUNDS 2024
Reconciliation of funds (note 10)
Total Funds bought forward 747,858 - - 747,858 767,955
Net movement in funds 6,874 - - 6,874 (20,096)
Total Funds carried forward 754,732 - - 754,732 747,858

The notes on page 11 - 19 form part of these financial statements.

22 Jan 2026 Page 9 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Balance Sheet

North Road Meeting Room Trust As at 5 April 2025

Balance Sheet North Road Meeting Room Trust As at 5 April 2025
	2025	2024
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets (note 5)	637,686	645,979
Total Fixed Assets	637,686	645,979
Current assets
Prepayments and accrued income	2,860	4,043
Cash at bank and in hand	116,471	101,227
Total Current assets	119,331	105,271
Creditors: amounts falling due withinone year
Accruals and deferred income	2,284	3,392
Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	2,284	3,392
Net current assets/(liabilities)	117,046	101,879
Total assets less current liabilities	754,732	747,858
Net Assets	754,732	747,858
Funds (note 9)
Unrestricted funds	754,732	747,858
Total Funds	754,732	747,858

The unaudited financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees of North Road Meeting Room Trust on .........................................and were signed on its behalf by:

.............................................................................................

Mr N Burtenshaw (Trustee)

The notes on pages 11 - 19 form part of these financial statements.

22 Jan 2026 Page 10 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Notes forming part of the Financial Statements

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 Basis of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014, and incorporating update bulletins 1 and 2, and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The functional currency of the charity is sterling (£).

The Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

1.2 Income

Donations are recognised in the year in which there is entitlement and probability of receipt and the amount can be measured with reasonable certainty. Income is only deferred when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future year. Gift aid is added to the value of the donation to which it relates.

Donated services are recognised as income and expenditure in the financial statements when organisations or individuals offer their services and support pro bono. The value of these donated services to North Road Meeting Room Trust is considered to be equal to market value which would be paid were the service formally procured. This includes services paid for by other trusts.

Investment income is accounted for on a receivable basis.

1.3 Expenditure

Expenditure is included on an accruals basis. Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.

Charitable activities comprise those costs directly attributable to the fulfilment of the charitable objects.

1.4 Governance and support costs

Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other support costs. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and costs related to statutory requirements. Governance and support costs are allocated to charitable activities on the basis of capacity used.

1.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets (costing more than £100) are stated at cost less depreciation. Freehold land is not depreciated. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset over its expected useful life as follows:

Freehold Property	3% straight line
Fixtures & Fittings	25% reducing balance

22 Jan 2026 Page 11 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Notes forming part of the Financial Statements

1.6 Taxation

The Trust is a registered charity and is not liable to United Kingdom income or corporation tax on charitable activities, provided income falls within the charitable exemptions and is spent on charitable purposes.

1.7 Funds

The general unrestricted fund is free for the Trustees to use for any purposes in furtherance of the trust’s charitable objects.

Restricted funds arise from donations to the trust, which are made for a specific purpose. Restricted funds can only be used for the purpose for which funds were given.

1.8 Preparation of consolidated financial statements

The Charity does not have a trading subsidiary.

1.9 Going Concern

The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

1.10 Significant estimates and judgements

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

None of the Trustees, nor any person connected with them, received any remuneration from the Charity in the year ended 5 April 2025. Trustees were reimbursed for expenses during the year totalling £311 (2024: £Nil).

3. WAGES AND SALARIES

There are no employees (2024: none)

4. Donated Services

2025 2024	2025 2024
Donated Services
	Donated To:
	Donated Services to Compton Meeting Rooms Trust 16,114 33,193
	Total Donated Services: 16,114 33,193

22 Jan 2026 Page 12 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements

North Road Meeting Room Trust

Notes forming part of the Financial Statements

5. Tangible Fixed Assets

Cost	Freehold Property - Brest Road	Fixtures & Fittings	Totals
At 6 April2024	763,528	90,243	853,771
Additions	10,843	1,087	11,930
Disposals	-	-	-
At 5 April 2025	774,371	91,330	865,701
Depreciation
At 6 April2024	135,174	72,617	207,792
Current Year Depreciation	15,617	4,607	20,224
Eliminated on disposals	-	-	-
At 5 April 2025	150,791	77,225	228,016
Net Book Value
At 5 April 2025	623,580	14,106	637,686
At 5 April 2024	628,354	17,626	645,979

Land registry titles of the above property held are DN226860.

6. TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

During the financial year, aggregated donations of £3,240 (2024: £11,160) were received. The trust made reimbursements to trustees, totalling £311 (2024: £Nil). The trust also incurred expenses totalling £397 (2024: £3,177) from Protective Wear Supplies Ltd, of which Neil Burtenshaw (a tustee) is a director of, relating to general expenses for the Trust such as washroom supplies.

7. VOLUNTEERS

North Road Meeting Room Trust relies entirely on volunteers to carry out the management, administration and general maintenance work. The Trust has no paid staff or paid Trustees.

22 Jan 2026 Page 13 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Resources Expended

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

8. Resources Expended

	RUNNING MEETING ROOMS	OTHER CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES	TOTAL COSTS 2025	TOTAL COSTS 2024
Direct Costs
Premises costs - repairs and maintenance	7,762	-	7,762	8,336
Premises costs - heat, light and power	6,014	-	6,014	8,177
Telephone	1,178	-	1,178	1,218
Health and Safety	82	-	82	400
Legal and professional	2,232	-	2,232	788
Public outreach expenses	-	620	620	557
Special meeting costs	2,024	-	2,024	85
Depreciation	20,224	-	20,224	18,400
Insurance	1,955	-	1,955	1,893
Other Expenses	991	-	991	5,510
Governance	1,152	-	1,152	1,098
Total Direct Costs	43,613	620	44,234	46,461

Governance costs include £180 (prior year: £180) in respect of independent examiners fees.

22 Jan 2026 Page 14 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Analysis of Net Assets - Current year

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

9. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

9.1 Current Year
	UNRESTRICTED	DESIGNATED	RESTRICTED	TOTAL FUNDS
	FUNDS	FUNDS	FUNDS	2025
Funds
Tangible Fixed Assets	637,686	-	-	637,686
Current Assets	119,331	-	-	119,331
Current Liabilities	(2,284)	-	-	(2,284)
Total Funds	754,732	-	-	754,732

22 Jan 2026 Page 15 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Analysis of Net Assets - Prior Year

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

9.2 Prior Year

	UNRESTRICTED	DESIGNATED	RESTRICTED	TOTAL FUNDS
	FUNDS	FUNDS	FUNDS	2024
Funds
Tangible Fixed Assets	645,979	-	-	645,979
Current Assets	105,271	-	-	105,271
Current Liabilities	(3,392)	-	-	(3,392)
Total Funds	747,858	-	-	747,858

22 Jan 2026 Page 16 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Movement in Funds - Current Year

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

10. Movement in Funds

10.1 Movement in funds - current year

	UNRESTRICTED	DESIGNATED	RESTRICTED	TOTAL FUNDS
	FUNDS	FUNDS	FUNDS	2025
Movement in Funds
Total funds bought forward	747,858	-	-	747,858
Incoming resources	67,221	-	-	67,221
Resources expended	(60,348)	-	-	(60,348)
Total funds carried forward	754,732	-	-	754,732

22 Jan 2026 Page 17 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Movement in Funds - Prior Year

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

10. Movement in Funds

10.2 Movement in funds - Prior year

	UNRESTRICTED	DESIGNATED	RESTRICTED	TOTAL FUNDS
	FUNDS	FUNDS	FUNDS	2024
Movement in Funds
Total funds bought forward	767,955	-	-	767,955
Incoming resources	59,557	-	-	59,557
Resources expended	(79,654)	-	-	(79,654)
Total funds carried forward	747,858	-	-	747,858

22 Jan 2026 Page 18 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

Comparative Statement of Financial Activities

North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025

Comparative Statement of Financial Activities North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025	Comparative Statement of Financial Activities North Road Meeting Room Trust For the year ended 5 April 2025
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS DESIGNATED FUNDS RESTRICTED FUNDS TOTAL FUNDS 2024
Income and endowments:
	Donations and Legacies:
	Contributions from the Congregation 29,535 - - 29,535
	Gift Aid Donations 22,320 - - 22,320
	Income Tax refunds 5,580 - - 5,580
	Other Donations 1,200 - - 1,200 Investments
	Interest Received 922 - - 922
Total Income and endowments: 59,557 - - 59,557 Expenditure:
Running Meeting Rooms (note 8) 46,461 - - 46,461
Cost of donated services (note 4) 33,193 - - 33,193
Total Expenditure: 79,654 - - 79,654
Net Income/(Expenditure) (20,096) - - (20,096)
Net Movement In Funds (20,096) - - (20,096) UNRESTRICTED FUNDS DESIGNATED FUNDS RESTRICTED FUNDS TOTAL FUNDS 2024
Reconciliation of funds (note 10)
Total Funds bought forward 767,955 - - 767,955
Net movement in funds (20,096) - - (20,096)
Total Funds carried forward 747,858 - - 747,858

22 Jan 2026 Page 19 of 19

Trustees Report & Unaudited Financial Statements North Road Meeting Room Trust

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

North Road Meeting Room Trust - Public Benefit

This report showcases the ways in which the North Road Meeting Room Trust and its congregation participate and engage in work of public benefit, connecting with the wider community in various ways.

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church was established around 200 years ago and was founded by John Nelson Darby, one of the most influential Protestant thinkers of the 19th century.

Mr Darby broke with the established church in Ireland in 1827 and broke bread with those close to him following deep spiritual exercise. This was the start of the Plymouth Brethren movement and today we are a community of over 55,000 members who live, work and worship around the world.

Around 1830 Mr Darby came to Plymouth where the congregation grew rapidly. Early publications were produced in Plymouth and distributed to other congregations of followers throughout the globe.

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

Introduction

Over 18,000 members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church reside in the UK and gather in 86 congregations spread across the country. The PBCC UK website displays these locations: PBCC UK Locations

Ever since the establishment of the Church there have been Brethren gospel halls or meeting halls in the city of Plymouth – this is for approximately 190 years.

The North Road Meeting Trust was created in Plymouth for the purpose of acquisition and construction of gospel halls for the advancement of the Christian religion for the public benefit; including by the carrying on of the service of God in accordance with the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible.

This includes the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, Gospel Preachings, Bible Readings and addresses on the Word of God and other meetings of a Christian religious character according to the teachings of the Holy Bible and the practices of those Christians forming a global fellowship known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.

The North Road congregation currently has 119 members, living in the Plymouth and Yelverton areas in Devon. With members from the neighbouring congregation in St Austell, attending services up to twice a week along with other visitors, numbers can reach 280 persons, ranging from young to old.

The PBCC website gives more details on our way of life – follow https://www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org/

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

Street Preaching and Tract Distribution

In cities and towns where there are Brethren congregations, public gospel preaching takes place on many weekdays in the middle of the day.

The aim is not to recruit more members for the Brethren but to present eternal salvation, available to all men and women by faith in Jesus Christ, through His blood and His work of atonement.

‘God our Saviour, who will have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth’

1 Timothy 2: 3-4

In Plymouth the street preachings are currently held at midday on weekdays at the top of New George Street in the city centre.

Gospel tracts are handed out to passers-by – and these include phone numbers so that a contact is available for anyone seeking help, guidance, reassurance or solace.

Bibles and gospel tracts/booklets are available on the below website:

https://christiandoctrineandgospelpublishing.org/publications/outreach

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

Outreach and Public Benefit

There is a strong and generous charitable spirit amongst the Brethren community with many actively devoting time to volunteer and contribute financially to causes close to home and right across the globe.

Members of the Plymouth congregation volunteer with the Plymouth branch of the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) (a separate charity to North Road Meeting Room Trust) which is the global church’s charitable arm.

As well as this financial donations are made to a range of charitable causes. During the year 2024-2025 these included:

• ❖ 4 charities supported with financial donations

• ❖ 15 active volunteers with Rapid Relief Team

• ❖ 4 donations to foodbanks of ambient food and household items

Donations were made to:

• Jeremiah’s Journey – a Plymouth-based charity providing

compassionate bereavement support for children and families.

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

• Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity – a local charity which provides physical and emotional support to families in Devon and Cornwall who have a child with rare childhood cancers.

• Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity – a national charity that supports the hospital and stops at nothing to help give seriously ill children childhoods that are fuller, ‘funner’ and longer.

• Dame Hannah Rogers Trust - a Devon charity that has been providing services to enrich and empower the lives of disadvantaged and disabled children and adults for nearly 260 years.

The trust continued its support of local foodbanks in the city of Plymouth with ambient food and household items, regularly throughout the year.

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

Rapid Relief Team

There is a strong and generous charitable spirit among the Brethren, with many of us actively devoting our time to volunteer and contribute financially to causes close to home and right across the globe.

In 2013, the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) was established to help put our care and compassion into action for the benefit of people in need. Fast forward to today, and RRT is active in 14 countries and is operated by 14,500 volunteers from our Community.

RRT volunteers lend a helping hand to first responders and those impacted by disaster as well as providing specific support for young people, people facing health and disability challenges and the homeless or people impacted by poverty and hardship.

Our Mission

To serve people with care & compassion in their time of need.

Our Vision

For the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church to express Christian principles of care and compassion, by way of benevolent relief to people in need.

Our Values

Global Team | Community Care | Compassion | Consistency

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

❖ 4 events supported by Plymouth RRT

• ❖ 27 RRT Snack Packs donated to Devon & Cornwall Police

❖ 1500 bottles of water donated

Throughout the year, RRT in Plymouth supported St Luke’s Hospice, a local charity delivering palliative care and support by donating a pallet of bottled water to contribute fundraising events such as the Midnight Walk and Men’s Day Out sponsored walks, and the Tour de Moor cycle ride

The volunteer work of the members of the congregation is of great importance to the community in which we serve.

The trust is pleased for its external facilities at the local gospel halls to be used as a meeting/gathering point for RRT volunteers to start from prior to deployment. Equipment and trailers are stored in the secure grounds and a dedicated storage facility at one of the halls for the volunteers to access 24/7 whenever called upon.

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

Case Studies

May 2024

A quiet Cornish village was rocked by an explosion on 12[th] May with the bomb squad called to the scene of what was suspected to be a gas explosion. A 46-year-old man who sustained life-changing injuries in the explosion was pulled from the wreckage of a caravan

In the days following the incident, police remained in attendance at the property near Gunnislake while investigations continued. A 100-metre police cordon was established and maintained after officers discovered a quantity of suspected explosive materials and chemicals at the property.

Explosives experts from the Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team worked alongside the fire service and the police to make the substances safe.

During the extended emergency response congregation members volunteered with the RRT to support the emergency services working at the scene. They prepared and served breakfast and lunch to the responders in attendance. This support was provided over several hours with approximately 70 meals being served.

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

RRT serve hot food to police teams at the Gunnislake incident

Below are links to local new reports of the explosion:

Plymouth Herald: Suspect materials found and injured man arrested as bomb squad investigate caravan explosion

• Cornwall Live: Cornwall caravan explosion leaves man with life changing injuries

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

August 2024

In August 2024, Plymouth experienced significant civil unrest as part of a wider series of riots across the United Kingdom. These disturbances were sparked by the tragic murders of young children in Southport which led to heightened tensions and outbreaks of disorder in several cities.

The city centre in Plymouth was among the locations affected requiring a substantial police presence to maintain public safety and restore order during the period of unrest.

On the evening of 6th August 2024 members of the congregation volunteered with Plymouth RRT to provide support to police personnel responding to the riots. The team served snacks and hot drinks throughout the evening and into the night helping to sustain officers during their physically and mentally demanding shifts.

This support was delivered within a secure compound where police responders were able to take short breaks from active duty. The initiative was warmly received and demonstrated a strong spirit of community cooperation and solidarity with emergency services during a challenging time.

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

RRT serve the riot response teams during the night

Below is a link to a LinkedIn post from the Rapid Relief Team showing a video of the RRT at the event. It also included a heartfelt response from Temporary Inspector Mark Ruston, MBE of Devon & Cornwall Police.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rapid-relief-team-rrt-united- - - kingdom_rrtcares ugcPost 7226673827018104833 OzOE

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

RRT recognition in Plymouth

Devon and Cornwall Force Awards

The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) was awarded the Superintendent Certificate at the annual Devon and Cornwall Force Awards in recognition of the charity’s ‘unwavering support’ for the local police force.

The awards ceremony was held on November 13[th] 2024, honouring volunteers and community members for their bravery and selflessness demonstrated in their support for the police.

Chief Superintendent Scott Bradley expressed his gratitude about RRT saying, “We want to thank the RRT for their invaluable support to our forces throughout the year. The provision of hot food and refreshments during spontaneous operations is an especially welcome sight to those who have been working long and challenging hours.

“As a volunteer charity, we appreciate their hard work organising and offering catering support at such a short notice. This award especially commends the RRT and its volunteers for their selflessness and dedication in times of need.”

Celebrating Service: RRT Awarded at Plymouth Police Ceremony

The awards ceremony was captured in local and national news reports:

BBC: Police and public awarded for Plymouth safety

Plymouth Herald: Little known Plymouth response team giving vital support to police in major incidents

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

Operation Foster awards ceremony

Further to this, a few weeks later on 17[th] December 2024, the RRT in Plymouth were again honoured at an awards ceremony at the Life Centre. This was a ‘thank you’ event to recognise all the agencies that supported the emergency services in Operation Foster in February 2024.

Operation Foster was a major emergency response to safely remove a 500kg World War II bomb discovered in a residential garden in Keyham, Plymouth. It involved evacuating over 10,000 residents, coordinated by local emergency services, the Armed Forces, and REACT Disaster Response.

Plymouth RRT supported personnel working at the scene and at numerous cordons over the course of several days. They provided food and hot drinks to bomb disposal teams and to some of the thousands of residents who had to be evacuated.

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

North Road Meeting Room Trust Charity number 1161975

Huge appreciation was expressed by all the emergency services for RRT’s support and contribution to this extended deployment.

Registered address: 5 Brest Road, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5XN Contact: Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]