GOOD NEWS FELLOWSHIP UK
Charitable Incorporated Organisation 1167287
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] OCTOBER 2025
GOOD NEWS FELLOWSHIP UK
Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation No. 1167287
ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING 31[st] OCTOBER 2025
The work of producing and distributing the Good News newspaper, our main ministry, continued through the year and we thank God for His leading and provision.
Our priorities for 2025 were:
-
Promotion of Good News, especially through emails, social media and our newsletter to existing customers and supporters, some selected Christian conventions and exhibitions, speaking at churches, limited advertising in Christian publications. (A £12,000 budget was set and reviewed throughout the year.)
-
Maintaining our current customers, and looking to extend personal outreach with new customers, to support them in personal evangelism.
-
Continued work in cooperation with Outreach UK and Pocket Testament League on the Casting Your Nets programme.
-
Continue to promote the ‘Jesus Unmasked’ booklet and the ‘Good News for Everyone’ tract.
-
Contact the minority of UK prisons who currently do not take the paper each month and offer to send to chaplains freely, particularly newly opened prisons.
-
Ensuring the monthly publication of the Good News paper meets the needs of those using the paper as well as those reading about the Christian faith.
Activities
The Good News newspaper was produced each month and sold to missions, churches and individuals as a means of helping them in Christian witness, testimony and outreach. Sales of the newspaper were similar to 2024 at around 53,000 per month, with the Christmas, Easter and Harvest editions being stronger than other months. Other editions focussed on the national/international events and saw a good take up. It has been thrilling to receive many encouraging reports of lives being changed by God as people receive the paper and talk about articles it contained. The paper continues to be widely used as an aid to personal evangelism.
We had a stand at the New Wine Leadership Conference in February, manned by Phillip Bounds and Andrew Halloway. We were disappointed at the low volume of ‘traffic’ and decided not to attend next year, though it was not an expensive event in comparison with the costs of other exhibitions. We also had a stand at the Christian Resources Exhibitions at Sandown Park in Esher and were encouraged by many new people asking about the paper and positive feedback from customers, so we will return next year. Andrew Halloway and Mark Perkins represented Good News. Mark also attended an Edinburgh evangelism conference for us.
We continued to advertise in a few publications where we previously have had a good response: the CRE Handbook and CRE News, the Baptist Union’s Faith and Society Update (free entry) and the Baptists Together magazine.
The gospel leaflet we produce, ‘Good News For Everyone’ (not to be confused with the new name for Gideons UK using the same title), continued to be well received, and sales of copies were higher with around 800 in the year. We will continue to promote this leaflet by e-campaigns and in the newsletter going forward.
We continued to work in co-operation with two other Christian charities, Outreach UK (OUK) and Pocket Testament League (PTL), on a programme titled ‘Casting Your Nets’, which aims to train and encourage Christians and churches in personal evangelism for all. OUK lead this, with the training involving the use of the Good News paper and a PTL edition of the Gospel of John.
The monthly video review of the Good News newspaper continued to be produced by two evangelists from Outreach UK. These have been well received with very encouraging viewing figures.
One of the actions from our strategic review was to look at ways we can draw in younger people to Good News. To support this, we introduced a QR code link on every edition of Good News newspaper, which goes to a Good News YouTube channel with various testimonies of people who have come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. We also introduced a trial giveaway card with the QR code for youth workers to share with those they are responsible for – currently under review. We are grateful to Colin Johnson of OUK for his support in drawing together video testimonies.
We see our presence on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube as a means of outreach and raising awareness of the paper. Postings were strong throughout 2025 with a good number of followers, “likes” and “shares”. Our media writer, Sheila Johnson, “retired” during the year and Abbi Halloway, who has a 1[st] class honours degree in media studies, took over the role.
The paper continued to be printed by Newsquest until March 2025. Newsquest gave notification of a change in newsprint paper size which didn’t suit Good News, being smaller and thus restricting content. After quotations from other printers and a visit to Iliffe (Cambs), we moved the business from the April edition at a more competitive rate. The move went smoothly with good quality of print and good service, although our designer experienced some difficulties with transferring files to print. We continued to use Parcel Hub for packing and mailing to customers.
On the first Sunday in March, we again held a National Day of Prayer we call Good News Sunday, when Christians were involving their churches to report on our ministry and to take time to pray. The latest promotional video was made available to show in meetings and a Power Point presentation.
A national supporters’ online Zoom evening was held on October 20th with around 46 delegates attending, with a variety of contributions from team members. Rev David Cole from Exeter spoke with various team members taking part. This was a great encouragement and is now an annual event with varying formats.
At the start of January, we wrote again to around 48 prisons where they were not taking advantage of our offer of free Good News newspapers each month. The response this year was again very encouraging and within days several more enthusiastically requested papers. We now supply 107 prisons, three half-way houses and two Christian rehab centres each month totalling 3,100 copies. Free-will gifts, both regular and occasional, make this ministry possible and we thank donors and God, for providing the funds to carry out this work.
The gifts for the ministry, including interest and gift aid, during the year came to £6,810, a slight increase from 2024 (£6,331). Gifts designated for the prison ministry are ring fenced so they will only be used for this work and as a charity, we are able to reclaim gift aid tax on gifts from donors who have signed a declaration. We never fundraise or approach people to ask for gifts. 100% of all such gifts are used 100% for the cost of the prison papers and postage out. We are grateful to a team of volunteers from a church in north-east England, who faithfully pack and post the papers each month.
Follow-up correspondence was carried out by Rolf Burnie with prisoners (Rolf is a member of the Prison Fellowship) and Sheila Johnson, a Christian writer, with the general public. The bi-monthly newsletter was distributed to customers and prayer supporters by email or hard copy to keep them updated with the work.
A strategic review of Good News Fellowship UK by the Trustees and wider team was carried out, to ensure we were meeting the purpose of the work and to consider any changes needed to meet a changing world. Proposals included integrating our systems, taking card payments through the website or possibly over the phone, and new publications. After investigating and costing several programmes, it was decided to implement Xero across all relevant members of the Good News team commencing in November 2025. Implementation will be phased according to priority. Xero offered a cloud-based integrated system capable of handling customer orders, finance and banking with add-on systems for card payments. Teresa Jackman is project managing Xero.
People
The trustees throughout the year were: Mr Phillip Bounds (Prison ministry lead) * Mr Andrew Halloway (Editor) Mr Paul Olise * Mr Stephen Leedham Mr Ian White Mr Keith Tripp Mr Paul Taylor
The trustees and team met three times through the year in March, June and November, either face to face or by Zoom. Any interim decisions are made by email or telephone. Rev Trevor Dickerson took on the role of chairing meetings whilst the Trustees continue to look to appoint another chair as soon as possible.
Teresa Jackman continued as administrator which involved responsibilities for email campaigns and communications with supporters.
Julie Reeves, continued as Finance Officer, attending meetings and reporting on the finances.
Rev Trevor Dickerson *, Area Field Manager for Outreach UK, acted as an adviser for the work, is consulted on articles proposed for publication until September 2025, chairs team meetings and is on the remuneration committee. Mark Perkins, National Field Director for Outreach UK, took on the adviser role for content in the newspaper in October 2025. Mark is also supporting the promotion of Good News newspaper through monthly reviews with an evangelist, Colin Johnson, and also by supporting the Editor at exhibitions. He is reimbursed for his time and expenses on an ad hoc basis.
- Members of the remuneration committee (2 trustees, 1 independent adviser, none paid)
Other committed people actively involved in the Good News ministry but who aren’t required to attend meetings are:
Mr Rolf Burnie – prison correspondence counsellor
Mrs Sheila Johnson – general correspondence counsellor David & Cath Thompson and Dorothy Yeates – pack and post the prison papers Abbi Halloway – social media Heather Tomlinson – proofreader
Kevin Raddy – designer (to be replaced by Richard Blaikie in 2026)
The following people continue to be on the Council of Reference: Rev David Cole, Rev Dr Sam Gordon, Mr Terry Puttick
Finance and Governance
The financial statement for the year ending 31[st] October 2025 is attached. The accounts were examined and approved by Mr Neil Towers, an accountant with vast experience with charity accounts.
Designated income for the prison ministry was £6,214 plus £596 tax reclaimed and for the general operation was £130,172. There was a small deficit for the year of £1,811, whereas we had budgeted a deficit of £12,446, for which we thank God. We were able to keep the price per copy at 20p in spite of mailing price increases. Reserves at the year-end were £72,637 (£19 prison ministry, £72,618 general funds). We are thankful to God and several churches and individuals who gave specific gifts for the ongoing work of Good News, totalling £1,203 in the year.
The trustees are mindful of continued cost pressure with raw materials, energy and transport/delivery. The proposed 2026 budget is based on a circulation of 53,000 average per month (although we are working for some growth) and plans for a deficit of £7,112 for the year ending 31[st] October 2026, which will be met from the reserves, or an increase in sales, or a price increase. We believe this to be a wise course of action given the uncertainties around price rises. The actions and finances will be reviewed monthly, and changes made as needed.
The Good News Fellowship UK is accepted by HMRC for reclaiming gift aid tax from donors completing a declaration. Such gifts were received throughout the year.
The Trustees continued to ensure compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations.
Looking forward
The Trustees are aware that the ministry of Good News is God’s work under His guidance. The plans for 2026 major on:
-
Promotion of Good News, especially through emails, social media and our newsletter to existing customers and supporters, some selected Christian conventions and exhibitions, speaking at churches, limited advertising in Christian publications. (A £12,000 budget has again been set and will be reviewed throughout the year.)
-
Maintaining our current customers, and looking to extend personal outreach with new customers, to support them in personal evangelism.
-
Implement a new business management system (Xero) to improve interpersonal communication and data between team members, enable better reports for review and decision making and to enable card payments through the website
-
Continued work in cooperation with Outreach UK and Pocket Testament League on the Casting Your Nets programme.
-
Continue to promote the ‘Jesus Unmasked’ booklet and the ‘Good News for Everyone’ tract.
-
Contact the minority of UK prisons who currently do not take the paper each month and offer to send to chaplains freely, particularly newly opened prisons and look to expand cooperation with other Christian organisations working in prisons.
-
Ensuring the monthly publication of the Good News paper meets the needs of those using the paper as well as those reading about the Christian faith.
Phillip Bounds
…………………………………………………. Phillip Bounds Chairman on behalf of the Trustees
6[th] November 2025
GOOD NEWS FELLOWSHIP UK Omrlty No IL6rn7 Receipt and Payment accounts for ar ended 31st October 2025 Sales of Gr1 Nows pa S•les of trarts É126.496.71 £B94.35 £136,97450 £W.45 ÉOL £25QCQ £1.576 £65J5 Eya.74 flA59.$0 In¥estmentpieral irKthxe £1Sn55 £1725 Tax refund Oe98nated GStrflh Fur É1203.tX) f136,982.78 El47m7.S9 £6U6L.52 £L.Tr) £3.779. 4.664.59 £23.(5.26 £11795.46 £2242.1 £o.crf) £7M).rA) É247.7B £Y.02&40 £L857. £1674.70 £2(1.99 £29559.87 £14A31.97 24.62 £0. £11,754.48 £96.79 Honararia IAd¥iyN5. Ordw51 Dlstribuikn costs Mlnistry L%stribkJn Costs IParc?l Htrt>. Potl Printin8 Costs (P1vand Iliftel EtsitCKial Costs IcontriiMrtNdesn. BanktharRt5 commissH and Gift5wrNI Roluf#ts C4UnsellllCV# UP Totsl EIX7Y27 £145.47L52 5urplu5ldEfthl -£UII.49 £LK&07 nt ofAs SèntanderOFOfi¢w Icurrentl ntsndwopwatioftal (.)•£19.15PWMInkny Klnldom Bank Bond dom Bank 120&v El432 ÉU95LZO £19.118. £11,991.27 E33339.06 £72.637.64 £74A49.13 Jlst Ocrokn 1025 basÈd cffithe bank sta1 rÈttlptsand NellToYr5 Indepervjent ErtIr Jul Rev•S f.12.J
Independent Examinerfs Report on the Accounts Charlty Name: ......... Good News Fellowship UK Charlty No. ............... 1167287 Accounts for year endi ......31" October 2025 I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity above l-the Trusf) for the year stated above. Responsibilltles and basis of rewt As charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (-the Acf). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusys accounts carried out under sertion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Dirertions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5) (b) of the Act. Independent Examlnerfs Ststement The charities gross income did not exceed £2SO,000. I can meet the criteria for Independent examination being an accountant and having experience as a tharity treasurer and accounts examiner. I have completed my examination. This tnvolved examination of bank statements, computer records, Invol, receipts. cheque and payin8 to bank stubs together with explanation5. 1 confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connertion with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respert= l. The 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 I have no concems and have come across no matter5 in connertion with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be ached. The accounts are presented, as pemiitted by the Act. as simple receipts, and payments accounts. Signed............. q_i.b Name .........Neil Towers...-..............-.............. Address......63 Spring Meadow, leyland, Lancashire.......... . ..- Post Code.... ..PR25 SUR