2024-12-31-accounts - Ashford Community Church

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period Period start date Period end date 1st Jan 2024 31st Dec 2024 From To

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name ASHFORD COMMUNITY CHIURCH

Other names charity is known by

Registered charity number (if any) 1165151

Charity's principal address Francis Road ASHFORD Kent TN23 7UR

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year
Gill Adsett
Ernest Bate
Brian Carter	Chair
Owen Darling		Deceased 20/08/24
Chris Hill
Maureen Hulbert
Priya Mouncher
Susan Trokhymenko	Treasurer
Afonorunsho Fatola		From 22/03/24
Oleksandr Trokhymenko		From 25/03/24

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name	Dates acted if not for whole year
None

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser	Name Address	Name Address
Accountant	Roger Hughes	Wayside, Forge Hill, ALDINGTON, Kent TN25 7DT
Solicitor	Hallett & Co	11 Bank Street, ASHFORD, Kent TN23 1DA

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

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Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution

Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Organisation How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Trustee selection methods Appointed by existing Trustees

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

We are: members of the Evangelical Alliance

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about: registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (reg. no. ZA400221) htps://ico.org.uk
policies and procedures adopted for the induction and members of Partnership UK htps://partnershipuk.org
training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational subscribers to Stewardship Consultancy Helpline
structure and any wider htps://www.stewardship.org.uk/about-us/about-us-1
network with which the charity works;

Our Pastor is a member of the Ashford Pastors’ Fellowship which forms the leadership core of Churches Together in Ashford.

relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

Our object is to advance the Christian Faith for the public benefit in accordance with our statement of beliefs (see Section F of this report).

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

The Trustees have been conscious of the need to carry out our purposes for the public benefit and have had regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.

We believe that the Christian Faith provides guidelines for living that are good for the individual and for society in general. A Living Faith in Jesus Christ provides the strength and peace of mind to follow these guidelines and to live a useful life. (‘His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness...’ 2 Peter 1 v 3a).

The numbers of those attending our Sunday morning service have

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continually been increasing. We are particularly pleased to welcome families from many different ethnicities and allowing us to provide Christian teaching to a thriving group of children.

With an updated audio visual system we reach a wider audience through broadcasting our Sunday service livestream on YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/@AshfordCommunityChurchUK/streams) and other meetings via Microsoft Teams, allowing more people to “attend”.

We are a church family who care for each other and for those around us in the community. We reach out to bring the Christian message of loving and caring to our neighbours and more widely in the town of Ashford. We proudly proclaim a large ‘Try Praying’ banner on the front of our building and distribute free booklets from this national initiative.

Members of our church serve as Street Pastors in Ashford Town Centre and as Chaplains at the Outlet Centre.

We provide the only Men’s Clothing Bank in Ashford and regularly take members donations to the Ashford Food Bank. We have a clothing recycling container outside the church and also a wall-mounted defibrillator for public use.

We support Missionary and Relief Organisations financially and give loans or one-off gifts to individuals in need.

The church buildings are widely used during the week for a wide range of church activities and by other organisations. Details of the year’s activities are recorded in Section D.

During 2024 the work on the new mezzanine floor in the church was completed with replacement lower front windows and the construction of a wall and door to the storage area. New shades have been provided for the lighting in the main hall,

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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Most of the activities held in our church use volunteers. Ashford Borough Council employees use the premises for national and local elections.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

The regular meetings that are held in our church buildings are listed below:

SUNDAY:
Between 60 and 70 people each week meeting in the Main Hall, or joining us on YouTube and TEAMS. We continue to broadcast our Sunday Services on our YouTube channel. This gives the opportunity for those to watch “live” or “after the event” who have been unable to attend the meeting in person. We know for a fact that people from around the country and abroad take delight in regularly watching our services.
WORSHIP – Praying, singing, preaching and teaching. All these are aspects of our worship on a Sunday. Our Worship Team now as a Music Leader and has been strengthened with new singers and players. Our Prayer team members are available to meet with people at the end of the service in our new Prayer Room.
TEACHING SERIES – The focus of teaching this year has been two “Visions for 2024”. The first was a call for ALL to “Step up to the mark” to embrace a calling to serve the church in any way they can – from preaching and leading to clearing up and making coffee. This was a preparation for our pastor going away for a three-month Sabbatical. The second theme was “The New Wave” – a call to return to the simplicity and purity of how the church was always meant to be – a call to follow Jesus as His disciples and to become “fishers of men”. Side by side with this theme has been the “Spiritual Disciplines” and a Christmas series entitled “Trust and Obey”.

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Section D Achievements and performance

 Although our pastor led most of the teaching, we have been blessed by many internal and outside guest speakers this year as well – allowing the church to continue to grow during the Sabbatical months.  SUNDAY CLUB AND CHILDREN’S WORK – It has been wonderful to see the Sunday Club growing further this year. We have a rota of willing and able helpers to teach and guide our increasing band of children both in the middle and the larger rear hall. The year ended with their wonderful Nativity Presentation.

	to see the Sunday Club growing further this year. We have a rota of willing and able helpers to teach and guide our increasing band of children both in the middle and the larger rear hall. The year ended with their wonderful Natvity Presentaton.	to see the Sunday Club growing further this year. We have a rota of willing and able helpers to teach and guide our increasing band of children both in the middle and the larger rear hall. The year ended with their wonderful Natvity Presentaton.
	MONDAY:
		U3A – have been using the church for play reading once a
		month.
	TUESDAY:
		OPEN ARMS – this organisaton has grown almost weekly in
		their outreach to the homeless and vulnerable this year – we
		are privileged to work alongside them in the church. From the
		last quarter of the year they have closed down their work as
		they prepare for a new season of service – we hope again to be
		in our church building.
		For most of 2024 the Music Team rehearsed in the building on
		a Tuesday. This has now been transferred to a Sunday morning
		– far more efectve in preparing for the service.
	WEDNESDAY:
		WEIGHT-WATCHERS – contnue to use our building on a
		Wednesday morning.
		SUPACOOKS – In co-operaton with Ashford Together and
		Pneuma Church, we set up a basic cooking course for the needy
		in the community. Courses, running for 6 weeks at a tme, were
		supported using the church premises untl July.
		U3A have been using the main hall for “Modern Jive” dancing
		every week in six week blocks.
		HOUSEGROUPS AND MONTHLY SUPERGROUP – We now have 3
		groups – known as “Early Birds”, “Night Owls” and “Ardent
		Doves” that meet in person and online. The last Wednesday of
		each month has been set aside for our “Supergroup” in the
		church building studying the “Grace Course” from Freedom in
		Christ.
	THURSDAY:
		BIBLE STUDY – A commited group meet fortnightly face-to-face
		and have enjoyed a number of studies as well as social tme
		together.
		The “Ukrainian Singers” have used the church on a Thursday to
		rehearse their wonderful music. This has now changed to a
		Wednesday in the rear hall.
		East Kent Chorus practce in our building on a Thursday. Small
		sectons of the EKC have been using the building to rehearse on
		a Wednesday as well.

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Section D Achievements and performance

FRIDAY:  REVIVAL PRAYER - Our belief in the power of prayer to bring revival to this area. Driven by “Prayer Points” we meet both in person (in the church) and on TEAMS.
U3A – sing their hearts out on a Friday
LADIES’ FELLOWSHIP – meet fortnightly for a time of great joy and challenge for our ladies.
PIZZA AND HOT TOPICS – The young adults in our church meet together at Church House on alternate Fridays. They completed the “Disciple” course this year and have moved on to looking at Hot Topics, talking openly together while enjoying pizza.
MASH – A joint meeting of teenagers of ACC and Pneuma church exploring their faith
Increasingly the Ukrainian community have been using our church building for socials on a Friday evening.

 SATURDAY:

 KHARIS CHURCH – We are delighted to now have Kharis Church – a national movement – meeting in our rear hall on a weekly basis. They work hard to bring the Gospel to the unchurched through their street evangelism.

The church has also sponsored events held in the church for various charities:  Coffee morning for Pro-Life movement

Coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Care
Big Quiz night for Tearfund
Christmas Shoeboxes for Samaritans’ Purse

Section E Financial review

Our policy is to retain sufficient reserves:

Brief statement of the  To ensure that the Church has sufficient funds to meet its charity’s policy on reserves financial commitments;  To ensure that the Church is able to manage future unforeseen financial difficulties;  To ensure that excessive funds are not held without an identifiable reason or purpose.  We hold a reserve of £25,000 to cover six months wages and salaries and major unexpected items up to £10,000. Details of any funds materially None in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include Most of our funds come from members’ donations. We received two additional information, where grants towards specific projects aimed at helping the local community. relevant about: Our regular income has been increasing throughout the year. The large

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the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;

legacy, earmarked for projects the church family feel would be in line with the donors’ wishes, has now been spent on them.

We are actively planning to use our finances to improve the church’s facilities, including upgrading the carpark.

investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

As part of our church’s constitution, we affirm the Evangelical Alliance statement of faith:

1 The one true God who lives eternally in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

2 The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world.

3 The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God - fully trustworthy for faith and conduct.

4 The dignity of all people, made male and female in God's image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judgement.

5 The incarnation of God's eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ - born of the Virgin Mary; truly divine and truly human, yet without sin.

6 The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross: dying in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating evil, so reconciling us with God.

7 The bodily resurrection of Christ, the first-fruits of our resurrection; His ascension to the Father, and His reign and mediation as the only Saviour of the world.

8 The justification of sinners solely by the grace of God and faith in Jesus Christ.

9 The ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who leads us to repentance, unites us with Christ through new birth, empowers our discipleship and enables our witness.

10 The Church, the body of Christ both local and universal, the priesthood of all believers given life by the Spirit and endowed with the Spirit's gifts to worship God and proclaim the gospel, promoting justice and love.

11 The personal and visible return of Jesus Christ to fulfill the purposes of God who will raise all people to judgement, bring eternal life to the redeemed and eternal condemnation to the lost, and establish a new heaven and a new earth.

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Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date

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									2024
Fixed Assets
Church and Buildingts								478,135	478,135		478,135		478,	135
Tanqible	assets
Plant and	Equipment
Brought	forward							13,180			13,180
Additions
								13,180
Depreciation brought				forward				13,180			11,862
Depreciation charged				in the		year					1,318
Carried forward
Fixtures	and fittinqs
Brought	forward							10,288
Additions
								10,288			21	,424
Less
Depreciation brought				forward
Depreciation charged				in the		year		5 661
Carried	forward							4 627	4.627		10	288	10	288
									482,762				488,423
Current	assets
Business	Reserve		Account					1 ,020				1005
Current	account	-	Closed		in	the	year	584			26,414
Current	account	-	Opened		in the		year	18,705			14263
								40,971
Pastor Emergency				Imprest				200				200
Restricted	funds							(356)				(356)
								611124	91.124		41	526	41.52@
									543	886			40	521
									543	886			529	949
Represented		bv
Balance	brought		forward						531	,094			531,094
Less special fund									1	145
									529,949
Add excess of		income			over	expenditure(Loss)			13	939			-1.145
Balance	carried		forward						543	888			529	949

						2024		2023
Receipts
Tithes					60881		59909
Gift aid					10485		11747
Rent					6778		2504
Other income					925		396
Interest					9ßß	80057	9	74565
Less Expenditure
Salaries					30332		29267
Ministerial	expenses				797		1450
Accountancy/proffessinal				fees	1105		480
Utilities					5411		5158
PPS					37		54
Insurance					826		1450
Licence fees					1282		1274
Activities					1159		880
Telephone					422		461
Overseas	Mission				1454		5567
Home Mission					1730		2878
Church family					760		500
Speakers	gifts				100		89
Church Maintenance					8991		10531
"Other expenditure"					3380		3725
Subscriptions					289	58075	150	63914
						21982		10651
Church House		Costs
Maintenance					300		96
Utilities including			rates		1832		1741
Insurance					250		252
					2382	2382	2089	2089
Excess of	income		over	expenditure		19600		8562
Less
Depreciation		of	assets			5661		7902
Balance	carried		forward			13939		660

ASHFORD COMMUNITY CHURCH INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT. I report on the accounts of the Trustees of Ashford Community Church for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on attached pages. RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER. As the Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts, you consider that the audit requirements of sections 43(7)(b) does not apply. It is my responsibility to state based on procedures specified in the General Direction given bythe Charity Commlssioners under section 43(7)(b) of the Art, whether particular matters have come to my attention. BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT. My examination was conducted in accordance with the General Direction given by the Charity Commissioner. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Trustees and a comparison of the accounts presented with these records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the account and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT. In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act, and to prepare accounts, which accord with the accounting records, and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Art have not been met. 2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Roger A. Hughes 14th May 2025

									2024
Fixed Assets
Church and Buildingts								478,135	478,135		478,135		478,	135
Tanqible	assets
Plant and	Equipment
Brought	forward							13,180			13,180
Additions
								13,180
Depreciation brought				forward				13,180			11,862
Depreciation charged				in the		year					1,318
Carried forward
Fixtures	and fittinqs
Brought	forward							10,288
Additions
								10,288			21	,424
Less
Depreciation brought				forward
Depreciation charged				in the		year		5 661
Carried	forward							4 627	4.627		10	288	10	288
									482,762				488,423
Current	assets
Business	Reserve		Account					1 ,020				1005
Current	account	-	Closed		in	the	year	584			26,414
Current	account	-	Opened		in the		year	18,705			14263
								40,971
Pastor Emergency				Imprest				200				200
Restricted	funds							(356)				(356)
								611124	91.124		41	526	41.52@
									543	886			40	521
									543	886			529	949
Represented		bv
Balance	brought		forward						531	,094			531,094
Less special fund									1	145
									529,949
Add excess of		income			over	expenditure(Loss)			13	939			-1.145
Balance	carried		forward						543	888			529	949

						2024		2023
Receipts
Tithes					60881		59909
Gift aid					10485		11747
Rent					6778		2504
Other income					925		396
Interest					9ßß	80057	9	74565
Less Expenditure
Salaries					30332		29267
Ministerial	expenses				797		1450
Accountancy/proffessinal				fees	1105		480
Utilities					5411		5158
PPS					37		54
Insurance					826		1450
Licence fees					1282		1274
Activities					1159		880
Telephone					422		461
Overseas	Mission				1454		5567
Home Mission					1730		2878
Church family					760		500
Speakers	gifts				100		89
Church Maintenance					8991		10531
"Other expenditure"					3380		3725
Subscriptions					289	58075	150	63914
						21982		10651
Church House		Costs
Maintenance					300		96
Utilities including			rates		1832		1741
Insurance					250		252
					2382	2382	2089	2089
Excess of	income		over	expenditure		19600		8562
Less
Depreciation		of	assets			5661		7902
Balance	carried		forward			13939		660