**Annual Report January to December 2025**
## **St Thomas’ Community Project (CIO registration 1170109)**
## **Principal Office and Trading address**
St Thomas’ church and community centre 239 Garretts Green Lane Garretts Green Birmingham B26 2SA
## **Trustees**
Revd Paul Bracher (chair) Revd Susan Larkin Revd Sue Round Jo Holyoak Graham Holyoak Phil Green Linda Nugent Debbie Green
## **Structure, governance and management**
St Thomas’ Community Project became a Charity Incorporated Organisation in October 2016 but has existed as a constituted body since 1992.
We continue to operate in St Thomas’ Church Hall and St Thomas’ Community Centre.
Two new trustees (Phil Green and Graham Holyoak) were recruited during the year, and the governing document was amended to increase clarity regarding membership. This was approved by the Charity Commission in October.
## **Financial Review**
The turnover for this year was £95,520 and at the end of the financial year we have reserves of £62,124. All expenditure has been made for the delivery of activities in line with the aims and objectives of the charity. The Statement of Financial Activities will show the funders and the balance of funds at the end of the year.
With a turnover of under £250,000 the charity does not require an audit, but the accounts have been independently examined.
## **Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others**
No funds are held on behalf of others.
## **Public benefit statement**
In planning and delivering our activities for the year the trustees kept in mind the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit. There have been some changes in the services provided and the way they are delivered, and new activities have been introduced.
## **Main activities undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.**
1. Working with local families
- Our weekly stay and playgroup runs regularly on Monday mornings between 9.00 and 11.00 a.m. Toys are rotated on a monthly basis to provide variety; we include toys for physical activity (eg climbing frame, bicycles, tunnels) items for imaginary play (kitchen, dressing up, farm yard, garage and cars), resources to aid manual dexterity (e.g. Lego, Sticklebricks), and tabletop activities (puzzles, playdough, chalk boards and books). During the year we have introduced some new toys e.g. outdoor mud kitchen. Every week there is a craft for parents to complete with their child. During the session all the children sit down together for toast and drinks and we conclude with song and story time. Children come accompanied by parents, grandparents and carers and a number of child minders come regularly. This is delivered by a team of 3 volunteers with help from parents and carers. We operate in term time only.
- Our community hall is available for private bookings and is regularly used by local families for childrens birthday parties and family events such as Eid celebrations and mehndi parties.
2. Working with local children
- Our weekly provision of two youth groups during term time runs on Monday evenings. From 4.00 till 5.30 we ran activities for 6-11 year olds and from 5.45 till 7.15 for ages 1116. The sessions include social time, organised games, crafts, activities and challenges. Some children and young people come regularly, others come for a short while and others dip in and out. The groups are representative of the local community. We suspended the older age group at the beginning of 2025 to review and evaluate the work, assess needs and to secure further funding, the group re-opened in October 2025 and is specifically for children and young people in years 6 and 7 to support them in their transition from primary to senior education; this is being kept under review. This work is delivered by two experienced part-time youth workers and one regular volunteer.
- In addition to the work we deliver directly we host Masquerade (a musical drama group for children and young people) and Rochelle Dance Academy for children and young people aged 4 to 18.
3. Working with local young adults
- A small group of up to 5/6 young adults aged 15-25 meet weekly. We provide a safe space, social interaction and support; it remains a small exclusive group. This group have become a support to us, helping with various tasks as they arise; for example, putting up the Christmas tree, preparing for school visits, giving IT advice and helping to resolve IT issues. This small group is pretty much independent and now sometimes meet off site.
4. Working with older people and vulnerable adults
- This aspect of our community work continues to flourish and has expanded. We employ two part time workers to engage with people in the 50+ age group; the purpose of this work is to keep older people active and involved in the local community and we now have two days set aside for 50+ activities. On Thursdays there is floor yoga, chair yoga, drop in coffee morning, light refreshments at lunch time e.g. soup in the winter, followed by afternoon tea and chat and social activities. We also welcome a small group of new participants who live in care and come with their carers; they particularly enjoy playing pool.
There are table puzzles and games, quizzes, raffle and a lending library for books and jigsaws. There have been trips to a local garden centre and we celebrated VE day and Christmas with a party.
Gardening continues to be a popular activity and a small courtyard area is maintained by an enthusiastic team and provides a quiet, reflective space for others to sit in and enjoy.
The new Friday provision started at the end of 2024 is now established and provides craft activities, knit and natter, gardening and line dancing. Tea and Toast is available.
A social worker from the adult care team was available once a month and other relevant organisations are invited to share useful information for this age group.
The work with people aged 50+ is delivered by two part time workers funded through the Body Mind and Spirit Partnership. We rely on a small group of enablers (volunteers) who are members of the group but also help to make things happen. This work was recommissioned for a further three years from October 2023 and will have a further 2 year extension till 2028.
- More specialist activities have continued on other days of the week; Xpress Yourself Dance on Monday mornings, Focus group for people with sight loss, a well established weekly men’s group (Brothers Union)is on Tuesday morning, an art and craft group also runs on Tuesday mornings and a local Art Club on Wednesday mornings.
5. Relief of Poverty
- The local community can access other provisions on site e.g. shower and laundry facilities, use of telephone and internet and help with completing applications continues on an ad-hoc basis.
- Our independent Food Bank has remained open every week on Wednesday mornings throughout 2025 and clients serve themselves to hot drinks, toast and biscuits. Usage has doubles in terms of the number of parcels issued, many of our clients are single people living in hostel or HMO accommodation. We are also able provide household items such as bed linen, towels, kitchen equipment and winter clothing. Donations from the local community, schools, churches, businesses and other organisations have also increased. A team of seven local volunteers manage the incoming donations, purchases, storage and distribution.
- In December we held a Christmas Bazaar which was well received and well attended. And there have been periodic social events such as quiz nights which have raised money for various charities.
## **Achievements and performance .**
- During 2025 we engaged with 86 families and 108 children at our Stay and Play group and we delivered 36 sessions.
- A total of 53 children have attended our children’s club during 2025, over a period of 36 sessions giving an average attendance of 12 children
- We only ran 13 sessions from September to December 2025, attendance at the new group was steady averaging around 12 per week; this provides a good base to build on for 2026.
- Over 200 people aged 50+ (excluding foodbank clients) have accessed 341 Body, Mind and Spirit sessions during 2025 providing opportunities to meet, socialise, interact and support each other.
- We have supported other independent groups to provide opportunities for adults; these are :
Express yourself dance – 40 sessions, 20 members, average weekly attendance 12 Mens group – 50 sessions, 13 members, average weekly attendance 9 Art Club – 40 sessions, 10 members average weekly attendance 6
- 1204 food parcels were issued to 155 clients representing 321individuals.
- We currently have 10 volunteers plus our 8 volunteer trustees. We have 5 part time .
- paid workers and 1 paid cleaner and a part time administrator
## **Public Benefits**
Our provision for families provides resources and opportunities for parents and carers to play with their children and meet other families.
The focus of our children’s and youth work is the delivery of a varied programme of activities and events to stimulate and develop them physically, mentally and emotionally. This benefits the children and young people by developing their self-confidence, self-esteem, social skills, increased resilience and raises aspirations. We welcome all children and young people and we believe the experiences and opportunities they have enriches their personal lives which then impacts on their family, their school life and the wider community.
Our provision for older and more vulnerable people aims to maintain their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being and reduce social isolation. We encourage and enable older people to continue to use their skills, experience and hobbies and interests to benefit others.
Our work to address and combat poverty contributes towards physical and social well-being helping people towards more independent living.
Our work with volunteers and enablers of all ages utilises skills from within the local community and further develops and equips people.
## **Signed by:**
## **Rev Paul Bracher Chair of Trustees**
Charity registration number: 1170109
**ST.THOMAS COMMUNITY PROJECT TRUSTEE'S REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
R.J.Taylor Limited
## **St.Thomas Community Project Contents**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustee's Report|1-2|
|Independent Examiner's Report|3|
|Statement of Financial Activities|4|
|Comparative Statement of Financial Activities|5|
|Statement of Financial Position|6|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|7-10|
|The following pages do not form part of thestatutoryaccounts:||
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|11-12|
**St.Thomas Community Project Trustee's Report For The Year Ended 31 December 2025**
The trustee presents his report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.
## **Objectives and Activities**
## **Aims and Objectives**
## **Public Benefit**
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
## **Charity Number**
1170109
## **Principal Address**
239 Garretts Green Lane Birmingham B26 2SA
## **Independent Examiner**
R.Taylor FCA R.J.Taylor Limited Chartered Accountants
Page 1
**St.Thomas Community Project Trustee's Report ( continued) For The Year Ended 31 December 2025**
The trustee's report was approved by the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by:
## **Rev Paul Bracher**
**Chair of Trustees**
**Date: 14[th] August 2026**
Page 2
**St.Thomas Community Project Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of St.Thomas Community Project For The Year Ended 31 December 2025**
I report to the trustee on my examination of the accounts of St.Thomas Community Project (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2025.
## **Responsibilities and Basis of Report**
As the charity trustee of the Trust you 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **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 contents 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.
R.Taylor FCA
22/04/2026
Page 3
## **St.Thomas Community Project Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 31 December 2025**
|**Notes**
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
**3**
Charitableactivities:
Income from charitable activities
Other
**4**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitableactivities:
**5**
General admin
Other
**NETINCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:**
Total funds brought forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
**11**|**2025**
**2024**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
£
£
£
£
7,746
25,000
32,746
14,550
11,538
11,538
8,218
29,142
22,094
51,236
45,035|
|---|---|
||48,426
47,094
95,520
67,803|
||(39,756)
(4,020)
(43,776)
(59,036)
(22,803)
(22,803)
(17,200)|
||(39,756)
(26,823)
(66,579)
(76,236)|
||8,670
20,271
28,941
(8,433)|
||8,670
20,271
28,941
(8,433)
21,979
11,204
33,183
41,616|
||30,649
31,475
62,124
33,183|
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
Page 4
## **St.Thomas Community Project Comparative Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 31 December 2025**
|**Notes**
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
**3**
Charitableactivities:
Income from charitable activities
Other
**4**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitableactivities:
**5**
General admin
Other
**NET EXPENDITURE**
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:**
Total funds brought forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
**11**|**2024**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
£
£
£
14,550
14,550
8,218
8,218
26,777
18,258
45,035|
|---|---|
||49,545
18,258
67,803|
||(52,466)
(6,570)
(59,036)
(17,200)
(17,200)|
||(52,466)
(23,770)
(76,236)|
||(2,921)
(5,512)
(8,433)|
||(2,921)
(5,512)
(8,433)
24,900
16,716
41,616|
||21,979
11,204
33,183|
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
Page 5
## **St.Thomas Community Project Statement of Financial Position As At 31 December 2025**
|**Notes**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year**
**`10`**
**NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILITIES)**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS OF THE CHARITY**
Restricted Funds
Unrestricted Funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**11**
On behalf of the board|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
£
£
31,399
31,475|**`2025`**
**`2024`**
**Total**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
£
£
62,874
33,902|
|---|---|---|
||31,399
31,475
(750)|62,874
33,902
(750)
(719)|
||30,649
31,475|62,124
33,183|
||30,649
31,475|62,124
33,183|
||30,649
31,475|62,124
33,183|
|||31,475
11,204
30,649
21,979|
|||62,124
33,183|
||||
## 22/04/2026
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
Page 6
**St.Thomas Community Project Notes to the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 December 2025**
## 1. **General Information**
St.Thomas Community Project is an unincorporated charity registered with the Charity Commission, registered charity number 1170109. The principal address is 239 Garretts Green Lane, Birmingham, B26 2SA.
## 2. **Accounting Policies**
## 2.1. **Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)", Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities Act 2011.
The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
## 2.2. **Incoming Resources**
## 2.3. **Resources Expended**
## 2.4. **Cash and Cash Equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and are readily convertible to a known amount of cash with insignificant risk of change in value, and bank overdrafts.
## 3. **Income from Donations and Legacies**
|.
**Income from Donations and Legacies**||
|---|---|
|Donations and gifts
Grants
Donations and gifts
Grants
.**Other Income**
Rental and other income from property
Admin/Office
Children/VP
Refunds and misc
BMSP|**`2025`**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
£
£
£
7,746
7,746
25,000
25,000|
||7,746
25,000
32,746|
||**`2024`**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
£
£
£
14,550
14,550|
||14,550
14,550|
||**`2025`**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total funds**
£
£
£
17,908
17,908
10,571
10,571
663
663
22,094
22,094|
||29,142
22,094
51,236|
## 4. **Other Income**
Page 7
## **St.Thomas Community Project**
|Rental and other income from property
Admin/Office
Children/VP
Refunds and misc
BMSP
5.**Analysis of Expenditure**
General admin
General admin
6.**Support Costs**
Employee costs
Premises expenses
General administration
Employee costs
Premises expenses
General administration|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
£
£
19,832
565
983
5,397
18,258|**`2024`**
**Total funds**
£
19,832
565
983
5,397
18,258|
|---|---|---|
||26,777
18,258|45,035|
||**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**Support**
**costs**
(see note 6)
£
£
8,567
35,209|**`2025`**
**Total**
£
43,776|
||**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**Support**
**costs**
(see note 6)
£
£
11,820
47,216|**`2024`**
**Total**
£
59,036|
|||**`2025`**
**General**
**admin**
£
6,878
6,996
21,335|
|||35,209|
|||**`2024`**
**General**
**admin**
£
9,062
7,579
30,575|
|||47,216|
Page 8
**St.Thomas Community Project Notes to the Financial Statements ( continued) For The Year Ended 31 December 2025**
## 7. **Independent Examiner's Remuneration**
|Independent examination of the financial statements
8.
**Staff Costs**
Staff costs were as follows:
Wages and salaries|**`2025`**
£
780
**`2025`**
£
6,878|**`2024`**
£
720|
|---|---|---|
|||**`2024`**
£
9,062|
No employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) for the reporting period of more than £60,000.
## 9. **Average Number of Employees**
Average number of employees during the year was: 2 (2024: 2)
10. **Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year**
|Accruals and deferred income
11.**Movement in Funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
General:
General unrestricted fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted Grants
Restricted Thrive
**Total restricted funds**
**Total funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
General:
General unrestricted fund
**Restricted funds**|**As at 1**
**January**
**`2025`**
£
21,979
5,256
5,948|**Income**
£
48,426
25,000
22,094
47,094||**`2025`**
£
750
**Expenditure**
£
(39,756)
(4,020)
(22,803)
(26,823)|**`2024`**
£
719
**As at 31**
**December**
**`2025`**
£
30,649
26,236
5,239
31,475
62,124
**As at 31**
**December**
**`2024`**
£
21,979
...CONTINUED|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||11,204|||||
|||||||
||33,183|95,520||(66,579)||
||**As at 1**
**January**
**`2024`**
£
24,900|**Income**
£
49,545||**Expenditure**
£
(52,466)||
## 11. **Movement in Funds**
Page 9
## **St.Thomas Community Project**
|Restricted Grants
Restricted Thrive
**Total restricted funds**
**Total funds**|11,826
4,890|18,258|(6,570)
(17,200)|5,256
5,948|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||16,716|18,258|(23,770)|11,204|
||||||
||41,616|67,803|(76,236)|33,183|
## 12. **Transactions with Trustees**
None of the trustees received any remuneration or any other benefits from an employment with the charity or a related entity during the current or previous year.
No trustee expenses have been incurred.
## 13. **Related Party Disclosures**
There have been no related party transactions in the reporting period that require disclosure.
Page
**St.Thomas Community Project Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 31 December 2025**
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations and gifts
Grants
**Charitable Activities:**
**Income from charitable activities**
50+
Little Angels
**Other**
Rental and other income from property
Admin/Office
Children/YP
Refunds and misc
BMSP
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
**Charitable Activities:**
**General admin**
Seeking grants
Little angels costs
Children/YP costs
50+ resources
Wages and salaries
Rent
Repairs, renewals and maintenance
Insurance
Telecommunications
Independent examiner's fees
Bank charges
Administration
Cleaning costs
Refreshments
Expenses
Training expense|**2025**
**2024**
**Total**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
£
£
7,746
14,550
25,000
32,746
14,550
10,484
6,718
1,054
1,500
11,538
8,218
17,908
19,832
10,571
565
663
983
5,397
22,094
18,258
51,236
45,035
95,520
67,803
(385)
(2,250)
(237)
(892)
(1,271)
(664)
(6,674)
(8,014)
(6,878)
(9,062)
(6,996)
(7,579)
(1,009)
(1,445)
(877)
(831)
(565)
(561)
(780)
(720)
(277)
(210)
(12,057)
(21,295)
(5,670)
(5,447)
(7)
(59)
(100)
(43,776)
(59,036)
...CONTINUED|
|---|---|
Page
## **St.Thomas Community Project**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities** ( **continued) For The Year Ended 31 December 2025**
## **Other**
BMSP cost
## **NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
|(22,803)|(17,200)|
|---|---|
|(22,803)|(17,200)|
|(66,579)|(76,236)|
|28,941|(8,433)|
Page