Choice Words CIO Charity No 1163536
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] January 2025
Objectives and Activities
The purpose of Choice Words CIO as detailed in its constitution is:
To run the Christian bookshop, Choice Words, in the South West of England. The CIO aims to further the Christian religion and the beneficiaries of the CIO will be those purchasing and accessing Christian books and associated resources – and these can be individuals, churches, schools and other organisations. Customers include pastors, church leaders, bible students, missionaries, youth workers and the general public. The main retail outlet is in Newton Abbot, Devon. The CIO also provides bookstalls at conferences, exhibitions, festivals and other community events.
At the date of this report, the CIO has still not fully taken over the operation of Choice Words. The planned schedule to do this was further delayed by the economic consequences of the pandemic experienced from 2020 to 2022 but also due to staff and volunteer health issues and changes during both 2023 and 2024. The long-time bookshop manager stood down due to health reasons and two new joint shop managers were appointed in her place. Bookstall events continued to be scheduled during the reporting period after ceasing altogether during the pandemic. The main Newton Abbot shop continued to open for six days per week (Monday to Saturday) during 2024, after being reduced to 4 days during 20222023. An online/telephone order and delivery service continued to be made available for customers.
As per previous public statements confirming the intention of the CIO to take over the day to day running of operations, the trustees have continued to progress planning for this transition and to encourage fundraising activities to support it, including the continuation of the Friends of Choice Words scheme throughout the year where customers and supporters donate on an annual or monthly membership subscription basis to be a Friend, the proceeds of which go directly to the charity, enabling customers to support the charity and accessing specific member benefits at the same time. The Choice Words CIO website, launched in 2019, has continued to be the main public online face of the charity. Ongoing email communications with the Friends, email communications to the local network of South Devon churches and also communications via Choice Words’ Facebook page have continued to raise the profile of Choice Words CIO and awareness of the charity’s mission and vision.
Total donations for the reporting period for Choice Words CIO were down slightly by just over 6% year over year, partly due to more outstanding HMRC gift aid being reclaimed in the previous reporting period. Net income decreased due to increased expenses required for repair work to the shop during 2024. However, the cash at bank continued to increase by over £3,000 (9%) for the reporting period.
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity is established by constitution as a Foundation CIO which was registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales on 14[th] September 2015 and was amended on 25[th] January 2024. The trustees met together once formally during the year but also remained in regular contact regarding the progress of plans towards the CIO taking over the full operation of Choice Words.
The trustees who served during the year to 31[st] January 2024 are:
Nigel Brittle (Chair); Edel Brittle; Roy Brittle; Pamela Brittle; Anne Landricombe; Fraser Nute.
Fraser Nute resigned as a trustee towards the end of this reporting period, effective 31[st] December 2024.
Confirmed on behalf of the Trustees
Nigel Brittle 29 November 2025
CHOICE WORDS CIO
Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31[st] January 2025
Income Donations Expenditure Net Income Bank balance at beginning of year Bank balance at end of year Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31st Cash at bank |
2025 £ 4,883 1,860 3,023 33,237 36,260 January 2025 36,260 |
2024 £ 5,215 60 5,155 28,022 33,237 33,237 |
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Note
The trustees confirm, in accordance with the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012, that at the year end the CIO did not have any outstanding guarantees to third parties nor any debts secured on the assets of the CIO.
Approved by the Trustees on 30 November 2024
And confirmed on their behalf by Nigel Brittle (Chair of Trustees)