2024-12-31-accounts - New Growth Ministry

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Ell250 £4.372 £1.551 RegulaiGtthg Oonations £4,135 £1.488 AMN CMDGrant SupeThtslon Splfftual DiTectlon Preachine cyo £1,045 E265 GiftAyJ Make lunch Tibtallncome £467 £1.064 £32.414 £34.320 Slipend Pension E24.670 RenURatesfw*er E5.901 £237 Insurance ,160 £186 TraininyJSupeThision BUGB donation £520 E61 Bankcharges Forestchurch resources E157 Make Lunch ÉL382 Totsl Expendliyre -£706 1.174 Current assets Cash in bank Creditors £4,203 £2.371 £1.832 Debitors Net assets £1.358 £3.190 Opening Balance Movementin ¢urrentYear É3.1 £706 £4. £1.174 Closin

Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts

Report to the Trustees of New Growth Ministry – Charity No. 1172546

Accounts for Year Ended December 2024

Responsibilities and basis of report:

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2024.

As the charity's trustees, 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent Examiners Statement:

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities 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 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.

Independent examiner:

Signed: Date: 5 August 2025

New Growth Ministry (Charity no. 1172546) – Trustees’ Annual Report for 2024 Charity Address: 27 Peto Avenue, Colchester, Essex

Trustees as of December 2024

Michael Baker, Lesley Walder, Lynsey Heslegrave, Jon Jarratt, Pauline Heron

Board and Membership

The New Growth Ministry (NGM) board consists of 4-5 trustees. Trustees are active Christians who have an interest in or are involved with the ministry of NGM. A balance is sought of different skills and professional or voluntary experience related to the work of NGM or governance of an organisation, such as finance, pastoral ministry and education. NGM has a small membership who, along with the trustees, make decisions by consensus about the everyday activities of the ministry as well as issues such as finance and safeguarding. NGM members are all practising Christians who are a regular attenders at NGM activities. Membership is reviewed each year. Lesley Walder is the Church Secretary, Pauline Heron became Treasurer in 2024, taking over from Mike Baker, and Lynsey Heslegrave is NGM’s minister.

Gatherings for worship, prayer and discipleship

NGM is a small Christian Church and a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. It aims to enable people to explore faith and grow as Christian disciples, particularly through alternative ways of worship – meeting in homes, local community spaces and nearby woodland. NGM uses contemplative approaches to spirituality and is interested in styles of prayer, worship and discipleship that support each person’s day-to-day emotional well-being as well as their spiritual development. It also provides opportunities for those interested in finding out more about the Christian faith to do so in a welcoming and non-judgmental environment. Gatherings are facilitated so that all can share, ensuring that worship, prayer and study is multi-voiced. Throughout 2024 NGM has met weekly as a small home-based Christian community, exploring faith and the Bible through books, videos and other media, and using Christian meditative and mindful prayer practices. Most notably in 2024, the group used the TV series The Chosen to provoke discussion and exploration of the stories of Jesus in the Gospels.

Forest Church

NGM has continued to run monthly Forest Church sessions for families and individuals, exploring themes from the Bible and the Christian faith through different activities in the woods. Forest Retreat sessions were also launched in the autumn of 2024, encouraging Christian contemplation in the natural world. There have also been Forest Fun sessions for families from the local community, run as a free holiday activity with lunch provided to particularly support families on a low income.

Drop-in, Warm Space and Community Pantry

Throughout 2024 NGM has been running a weekly warm space drop-in and a fortnightly community pantry in partnership with and hosted at The Well Methodist Church. The pantry and warm space are open to all members of the community and the purpose is to both save surplus food from going to waste and to support people struggling with the cost of living. It also provides friendship, food and a place to find support in life’s challenges. One family who visits has a child who is home-schooled and so we have provided informal baking sessions for them, as well as a chance to play games and do puzzles and experience social engagement with others. Other families have received support in various ways, such as clothes and equipment that are

passed on or advice from those who have had similar experiences. Often we simply provide a listening ear at difficult times. The weekly drop-in also allows visitors to ask any questions about faith or to ask for prayer for situations in their life. Some visitors to the pantry have begun to attend NGM activities and/or the Well Methodist Church services.

MakeLunch

MakeLunch ran through school holidays up until the summer of 2024, when we decided to finish running this club. Instead of hot meals over the summer, we experimented with our first holiday Forest Fun event, providing free packed lunches during each of the sessions which run three times over the holidays. The Methodist church was also open once a week for free packed lunches. The Forest Fun sessions were well received and are going to continue into 2025. Another Forest Fun session was run in the autumn half term holidays. As well as providing free activities and food for families on a low income, these session are introducing families to the concept of Forest Church, to which they have been invited.

School Chaplaincy and Mentoring

Lynsey and another member of NGM have continued to provide chaplaincy and mentoring in a local secondary school. Between them they have provided a one-to-one listening space for four students each week, usually for about 6-12 sessions per student. Lynsey has also been connecting with staff members in the school. In Spring 2024, Lynsey organised a Prayer Space in the school for all year 8 students with volunteers from NGM and CYO, NGM’s partner organisation for school chaplaincy. Students were able to engage with thoughtful, interactive prayer stations and learn about what prayer means to people of faith. In the earlier part of 2024 Lynsey joined a member of pastoral staff to run an after-school club called Soul Space, giving students time to relax, play games and discuss life issues. Lynsey also volunteers in a local primary school each week, helping with their Forest School group. Through this connection she was invited to run Christingle sessions for the two Year 3 classes in the school. Here she shared the Christmas story and the Christian values which are expressed through the Christingle service.

Connections in the neighbourhood and with other churches

Sometimes members of NGM are approached by neighbours and others in the community for support and conversations about faith and prayer. Our vision is to be available to anyone we meet in the neighbourhood. We have also been seeking to build relationships with the other churches in the area. Lynsey attends the regular meeting of Churches Together for the area and members of NGM regularly engage with activities and worship in the other churches to strengthen relationships and give support. NGM members also participated in the annual gathering for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Lynsey spoke at the Palm Sunday service at the local Catholic Church, to which all the churches in the area are invited.

Funding

NGM was funded in 2024 through grants (particularly Baptist Home Mission) as well as regular and one-off donations from individuals, organisations and churches. In 2024 Lynsey provided ministry support to two charities, the Anabaptist Mennonite Network and Christian Youth Outreach, Colchester. These charities in turn have given funding to NGM’s work.