Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year From 1st January 2025 To 31st December 2025
Section A Reference and administration details ~~ee~~
Charity name Risley Independent Methodist Church Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) ~~Po~~ 1168358 Charity's principal address Risley Independent Methodist Church Fearnhead Lane Fearnhead Postcode WA2 0BY
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for full year[Name of person (or body) entitled ] to appoint trustee (if any) ~~es ee~~ 1 Barbara Ellam Church members ~~es es en~~ 2 Leslie Hughes Church members ~~ee~~ 3 Judie Leah Church members ~~es es en~~ 4 Shona Low Church members ~~ee~~ 5 Christopher Mayes President Church members ~~es es en~~ 6 Alison Speakman Treasurer Church members ~~ee~~ 7 James Tobiasen Vice President Church members ~~es es en~~ 8 Kathleen Tobiasen 1st Jan-8th April Church members ~~ee er re~~ 9 Suzanne Walker Church members ~~es ees~~ 10 ~~ee er~~ 11 ~~es es es~~ 12 ~~ee er~~ 13 ~~es es es~~ 14 ~~ee er~~ 15 ~~es es es~~ 16 ~~ee er~~ 17 ~~es es es~~ 18
~~PP~~ Section B Structure, governance, and management
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Description of the charity’s trusts
Constitution dated July 2016 Type of governing document
e.g. trust deed, constitution) How the charity is constituted
Charitable Incorporated Organisation How the charity is constituted e.g. trust, association, company) Trustees are appointed by the church members. Trustee selection methods
e.g. trust, association, company)
e.g. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
All member Churches constitute the Connexion of Independent Methodist Churches. Groups of Churches are associated in Circuits.
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
The trustees are legally responsible for the management and policies and procedures administration of the church. Trustees give their time freely and receive no remuneration or other financial benefits. Trustees are also members of the adopted for the induction and church and regular attenders at services, church meetings and functions. training of trustees. Trustees’ meetings are called as necessary and chaired by the President. the charity’s organisational We do not have formal policies and procedures for the induction and structure and any wider training of trustees. network with which the charity works;
The day to day running of the church, including the allocation of resources, is the responsibility of the church members who will give due regard to the Statements of Faith and Practice of the Independent Methodist Connexion and our own Church rules. Our church is affiliated to the Independent Methodist Connexion, cooperating with like churches for the spread of our faith, but in points of Government, Discipline and Finances the church is independent and its decisions final. Our church pays £35 per member each year to the Connexion. The church members meetings are held once every two months and chaired by the President.
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relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
The trustees are satisfied that strategies are in place to assess and manage risks: Comprehensive insurance cover is in place.
Appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are carried out for all those working with children in the church. A Safeguarding policy for children and vulnerable adults, from thirty one: eight (formerly CCPAS) is available in church. The parent/guardian of all children who attend Boomerang will be asked to fill in a registration form. Risk assessments are carried out as and when necessary.
Section C Objectives and activities
The principal object of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Statements of Faith and Practice of Summary of the objects of the the Independent Methodist Connexion. The charity may also carry out charity set out in its governing other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the document world. Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public Risley I.M. Church has been registered as a charity since July 2016. benefit in relation to these
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objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit) Services
In pursuit of our objectives undertaken for the public benefit the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and its supplementary public guidance on the advancement of religion. Church activities are summarised below.
Our church services are held each Sunday, alternating between 10:45am and 6pm. The services are for the praise and worship of God, prayers, and the preaching and teaching of God’s word (The Bible). A free-will offering and gift aid donations are collected during the service. Services to commemorate the Lord’s Supper (Sacramental services) take place on the second and third Sunday in each month after the service. All are welcome to all our services. Children leave the morning service part way through and take part in their own bible learning and activities in the Sunday school (called Boomerang). Children participate in Bible Crafts once a month for the whole service duration.
Special Services
We have services in commemoration of important dates in the Christian calendar: Easter, Harvest and Christmas and to mark Remembrance Day.
Prayer meeting
Each Wednesday evening, there is a prayer meeting to which all are welcome. Prayer requests (for individuals, groups, situations) are brought by those in attendance or attached to the Prayer Tree by anyone visiting the church. Everyone is welcome to pray aloud or inwardly as they see fit.
Walking day
This annual event takes place on a Saturday at the end of June. Local churches (of all denominations), schools, scout and guide groups join in a procession through the local streets accompanied by marching bands. Hundreds of people show their support by lining the streets to watch the parade. After the walk we have tea together at church, and the children are presented with an envelope containing a small amount of money to spend as they wish (traditionally at the funfair).
Overseas missions
The Overseas Missions section of the Connexion is concerned with the spreading of the gospel to people of other lands. There is no Independent Methodist missionary society, but missionaries from Independent Methodist churches work with other missionary societies and receive support from the Connexion.
Christenings, marriages, and funerals
These ordinances shall take place by mutual agreement between those concerned and the Minister or President. Marriage is intended to be a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman; our church rules do not permit same-sex marriages or blessings.
Prayer support and financial contribution to other charities
Our church has links to other charities which we support in prayer, practically and financially:
Warrington Food Bank, a project run by the Trussell Trust, working to
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provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people in crisis who are referred by professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, and police.
Room at the Inn, which provides daytime services to homeless and vulnerable people and a 22-bed emergency accommodation unit in Museum Street, Warrington.
Warrington Youth for Christ, part of an international organisation which takes the Gospel to young people through schools’ work, youth groups, academies, and mission trips.
Open Doors works in over 60 countries, supplying Bibles, training church leaders, providing practical support and emergency relief, and supporting Christians who suffer for their faith. In the UK and Ireland Open Doors works to raise awareness of global persecution, mobilising prayer, support, and action among Christians.
We support worldwide charities and disaster funds as needs arise.
Warrington Youth for Christ worker at Padgate Academy
Our church has applied for and been given a grant from the Independent Connexion to support a worker, employed by Warrington Youth for Christ, for Padgate Academy, our local high school. The worker is been involved with assemblies, Religious Education lessons, and many other aspects of school life.
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
You may choose to include All those who are trustees and members of the church perform their duties further statements, where on a voluntary basis. There are those who regularly attend church relevant, about: services and mid-week meetings and who perform vital jobs in our fellowship, but who do not wish to become church members. Such policy on grant making. members of the congregation are valued by the church and welcome to policy programme related attend member’s meetings though they are not permitted to vote or move investment. proposals.
- contribution made by volunteers.
Our ministers render their services without financial reward, in accordance with the apostolic practise of an unpaid ministry. We do offer expenses to ministers, as some of them travel from outside the area to preach in our church. If a minister has come as a representative of another charitable organisation, then a separate contribution to that organisation may be made.
The church would also like to recognise the contribution made by those who voluntarily maintain our building and grounds, put out our bins, weed the garden, prune trees and replace broken fences. We also appreciate those who spend time baking and making sandwiches etc. for the occasions when we have refreshments after the service or at social events.
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Once a month we serve tea, coffee, and biscuits after the morning service, provided by members of the congregation on a voluntary rota. There is a coffee morning, followed by lunch, each Thursday to which everyone is welcome, again provided by volunteers.
Section D Achievements and performance
Our church services were held each Sunday, at 10:45 in the morning and Summary of the main 6:00 in the evening on alternate weeks. achievements of the charity during the year We continued to support our usual charities, Warrington Youth for Christ, Open Doors, and Room at the Inn financially. A collection of non-perishable food for Warrington Food Bank was made at our Harvest services. The Annual General Meeting was held on 24[th] February following independent examination of our accounts. At the AGM, the election of church officers took place, and the Balance Sheet was presented and accepted by the members.
We continued our monthly gathering for tea, coffee and biscuits in the schoolroom following the morning service. Refreshments are provided and served by volunteers and donations are made to church funds.
The Thursday Coffee morning, staffed by volunteers and open to everyone, continued to be well attended. After the coffee morning a lunch consisting of soup and a roll, and a sweet treat are provided. There is no charge for the coffee morning or lunch, but donations are welcome, and these are now selffunding.
During Holy Week we held an Easter Service at Padgate House which the residents were welcome to attend. A service was held at church on Good Friday morning to commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. On Easter Sunday we held morning and evening services to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The church was decorated with flowers and a large cross, purpose made by a member of the congregation, was installed outside the church entrance to be decorated with flowers by the congregation as they arrived. During the morning service the children received prizes for their attendance at Boomerang throughout the year. Refreshments were served in the Schoolroom after the evening service. In April there was a collection of unwanted clothes etc which raised £39 for church funds. In May we began an 8-week bible study on the book of Romans by Dr Andrew Ollerton. The course was accompanied by a handbook. Each session was interactive, with sections of teaching, discussion time and personal reflection. Between sessions there were daily readings to prepare for the following week. In May Christian Aid Week took place and our church raised donations of £290 for this charity. Our Walking Day took place at the end of June. Following the walk we returned to church for refreshments, paid for from church funds but provided and served by volunteers.
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In September, we held a coffee morning in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support. This included a sale of goods and £525 was raised for the support of people, and their families, affected by cancer.
Our Harvest festival thanksgiving services took place on the first Sunday of October, in the morning and evening. There was a display of flowers, fruit, vegetables, and non-perishable food items, distributed to the sick and elderly after the evening service. Non-perishable goods were donated to Warrington food bank. The church windows were decorated, and refreshments were served following the service. Donations to Room at the Inn, a local charity for the homeless, amounted to £150.
In October we held a series of bible studies taken by Paul Wheeler, each study being a stand-alone study on a particular subject.
The I.M. Church in Lymm has, for many years, sent Christmas gifts, provided by local churches, to a children’s charity in Romania. This year a monetary collection was made to which our church contributed £115.
In November we held a Christmas Fair, with stalls (bring and buy, baked goods and food, Christmas decorations) and refreshments. This raised £515.94 for church funds.
There was Carol Service at Halliwell Jones Stadium on 10[th] December, organised by Church Warrington. Our church contributed financially to this event and several of our congregation were in the choir.
On 18th December we visited Padgate House to hold a Carol Service for the residents.
Our church carol services were held on 21st December. A family service in the morning included a retelling of the Nativity events by the Boomerang children. A Candlelit Carol Service was held in the evening, followed by refreshments in the schoolroom.
A Christmas Praise service was held on Christmas Day morning.
Our church website https://risleyimc.com. provides useful information: service times, visiting preachers, links to our partner charities, photo galleries and much more.
Section E Financial review
Financial Reserves Policy
Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves
This Financial Reserves Policy outlines the principles and practices for managing and maintaining financial reserves at Risley Independent Methodist Church. As a registered UK charity, it is essential to ensure the stability and sustainability of our church's finances to support our ongoing activities, maintenance, and services.
Financial reserves:
Provide a financial cushion to manage unexpected expenses or fluctuations in income.
Ensure the continuity of church operations and activities. Support the church's long-term financial stability and sustainability.
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| Fund occasional significant maintenance or repair work that |
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| exceeds regular maintenance costs. |
| The church aims to hold financial reserves equivalent to six months of |
| operating costs. This target includes: |
| Regular maintenance and service costs. |
| Staff salaries and benefits. |
| Utility bills and other operational expenses. |
| |
| The target reserve level will be reviewed annually by the trustees to |
| ensure it remains adequate and appropriate. |
| Reserves will only be used in the following circumstances: |
| To cover unexpected expenses that cannot be met from regular |
| income. |
| To address temporary shortfalls in income to ensure the |
| continuation of essential services and activities. |
| To fund significant maintenance or repair projects that are not part |
| of routine maintenance. |
| Any use of reserves must be approved by the trustees and reported to |
| the church members meeting. |
| If reserves are used, the church will implement a plan to replenish the |
| reserves to the target level. This may include: |
| Fundraising activities and campaigns. |
| Reviewing and adjusting expenditure. |
| Exploring additional sources of income. |
| The trustees will monitor the reserves on an annual basis and report the |
| status to the church members meeting. The report will include: |
| The current level of reserves. |
| Any use of reserves and the reasons for it. |
| The plan and progress for replenishing reserves, if applicable. |
| This policy will be reviewed annually by the trustees and changes will be |
| presented to the church members meeting. The review will consider: |
| Changes in the church's financial situation. |
| Changes in the external environment that may impact the |
| church's finances. |
| Best practices for financial management in similar organisations. |
| Maintaining financial reserves is a crucial aspect of ensuring the stability |
| and sustainability of Risley IM Church. This policy provides a framework |
| for managing reserves responsibly, supporting the church's mission and |
| activities, and safeguarding its future. |
Details of any funds materially in deficit
We have no funds in deficit.
Further financial review details (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:
- the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
At most of our services there is a collection of free will offerings, including those made by Gift Aid. These offerings constitute the principal source of the church’s funds.
From time to time, we have fundraising events, such as the Christmas Shop, to raise funds but also to encourage social interaction with those from church and the wider community.
how expenditure has The church also receives funds through bequests and donations in supported the key objectives memory of loved ones. The church has no set fee for Christenings,
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of the charity;
- investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
Marriages, and Funerals, but will often receive a donation.
Bag2School collections of used clothing and textiles also raise funds for church.
Our expenditure enables the maintenance of the church building for the worship of God and the advancement of the Christian faith. We are also able to support other charities, as previously described.
Section F Other optional information
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|Charity Name|No (if any)|
|Risley I.M. Church|1168358|
|Receipts and payments accounts|CC16a|
|For the period|Period start date|Period end date|
|To|
|from|1/1/2025|12/31/2025|
|es|ee|ee|
|Section A Receipts and payments|
|Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment|
|Total funds|Last year|
|funds|funds|funds|
|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|
|A1 Receipts|
|Offerings|2,979|-|-|2,979|-|
|Donations|1,830|-|-|1,830|-|
|Gift Aid|6,581|-|-|6,581|-|
|Social Events/Fundraising|555|-|-|555|-|
|Grants from Connexion|31,175|-|-|31,175|-|
|Inland Revenue Gift Aid tax return|1,436|-|-|1,436|-|
|Interest on Deposit Account|386|-|-|386|-|
|Credit for Bills overpaid|27|-|-|27|-|
|44,969|-|-|44,969|-|
|=|Sub total|(Gross income for AR)|===|
|A2 Asset and investment sales,|
|(see table).|
|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|[ - ]|-|-|-|-|
|Total receipts|——|44,969|-|-|44,969|-|
|A3 Payments|
|Utility Bills|7,800|-|-|7,800|-|
|Cleaner's Wages|1,145|-|-|1,145|-|
|Donations to other charities|26,320|-|-|26,320|-|
|Insurance|1,752|-|-|1,752|-|
|Maintenance|1,032|-|-|1,032|-|
|Connexional Dues/Subscriptions|1,050|-|-|1,050|-|
|Miscellaneous|2,343|-|-|2,343|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|41,442|-|-|41,442|-|
|A4 Asset and investment|
|purchases,|(see table)|
|-|-|-|-|
|-|-|-|-|
|Sub total|-|-|-|-|-|
|—|Total payments|—————|41,442|-|-|41,442|-|
|Net of receipts/(payments)|3,527|-|-|3,527|-|
|A5 Transfers between funds|-|-|-|-|-|
|A6 Cash funds last year end|15,448|-|-|15,448|-|
|Cash funds this year end|18,975|-|-|18,975|-|
|SSS SS|
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details Deposit Fund Bank Cash in Hand Details Details Details Church building and land Furniture, Fixtures and Fittings Computer, projector and P.A. equipment Television and DVD player Telephone Photocopier Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ 14,264 6,072 - 1,361 18,975 OK to nearest £ - - - - - - Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates |
to nearest £ - - - - OK to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Restricted funds Restricted funds Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| Current value (optional) |
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trustees Risley l.m. Churth On accounts for the year ended 31" Decanber 2025 Charfty no (rf any) 1168358 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trusf) for the year ended 3111212025. Responsibilities and basis of report As the tharitws trustees, you a spOnsible for the preparation of the accounts in aCttlrdan with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the ACV). 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 14515)Ib) of the Act Independent I have completed my examination. l ¢onfim that no material matters have examinerfs statement come to my attention in connection with the examination {6)tk ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the actsjunting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charilies Act.. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in th8 Charities (Accounts and R8FQrts) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and faif view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be aChed. Signed: Date: IoLIIoL Name: P£<LLi Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: *5 (Evj noAg IER Oct 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidan forexaminers). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018