## **NORTH LONDON PASTORAL ASSISTANTS** **ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025** **CHARITY REGISTRATION No: 1175492** Independent Examiners Ltd The Grain Store Hills Barns Appledram Lane South Chichester, West Sussex PO20 7EG 1 ## **NORTH LONDON PASTORAL ASSISTANTS** ## **CONTENTS** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Page 3 Legal and Administrative Information
Pages 4 to 5 Report of the Trustees
Page 6 Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees
Page 7 Statement of Financial Activities
Page 8 Balance Sheet
Pages 9 to 13 Notes to the Financial Statements
**----- End of picture text -----**
2 ## **NORTH LONDON PASTORAL ASSISTANTS** ## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** **CHARITY NUMBER** 1175492 **START OF FINANCIAL PERIOD** 01 September 2024 **END OF FINANCIAL PERIOD** 31 August 2025 **TRUSTEES AT 31 AUGUST 2025** Judith S Barrett - Chair Venerable J Hawkins Rev James A H Hill Judith H Powell Rev Bruce Batstone Rev Owen J Dobson - Appointed on 23.10.2024 **CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS** The Parish Office St. Pauls Church Camden Square London NW1 9XG **GOVERNING DOCUMENT** CIO - Foundation registered on 01.07.2017 **BANKERS** Co Operative Bank PO Box 250 Delf House Southway Skelmersdale WN8 6WT **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Independent Examiners Ltd The Grain Store Hills Barns Appledram Lane South Chichester, West Sussex PO20 7EG - **OBJECTS** TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH (ACCORDING TO THE FORMULARIES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND) FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE RECRUITMENT AND SUPERVISION OF FULL TIME PASTORAL ASSISTANTS, AND THE FUNDRAISING FOR THE ASSOCIATED COSTS. PASTORAL ASSISTANTS ARE MEN AND WOMEN NORMALLY BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 30 WHO ARE RECRUITED. TO TAKE PART IN A VOCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME SUPERVISED BY THE CLERGY OF PARTICIPATING CHURCH OF ENGLAND PARISHES IN NORTH LONDON FOR ONE TO TWO YEARS. APPLICATIONS ARE PARTICULARLY WELCOME FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERING A VOCATION TO ORDAINED MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. THE SCHEME ENABLES PASTORAL ASSISTANTS TO GAIN WORKING EXPERIENCE OF MINISTRY WITHIN URBAN PARISHES, AND OFFERS APPROPRIATE MENTORING AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION AND GROWTH. THE SELECTION OF PARISHES IN WHICH PASTORAL ASSISTANTS WILL BE PLACED IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TRUSTEES. PASTORAL ASSISTANTS LIVE, WORK AND PRAY TOGETHER TO SERVE THE CHURCH AND THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE SCHEME PLACES THEM. EXAMPLES OF THIS SERVICE CAN INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT RESTRICTED TO: THE ASSISTING IN LEADING OF WORSHIP, PASTORAL MINISTRY TO THE SICK AND THOSE IN NEED, CHILDREN'S WORK IN SCHOOLS AND CHURCH, HOSPITAL AND HIGHER EDUCATION CHAPLAINCY, WINTER NIGHT SHELTER CO-ORDINATION FOR THE HOMELESS AND LEADING STUDY GROUPS. 3 ## **NORTH LONDON PASTORAL ASSISTANTS** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025** During the year, NLPA received generous funding from Cleaver Ordination Candidates Fund, The Anglo Catholic Ordination Candidates Fund, and the Church of England Ministerial Experience Scheme. For those discerning a call to ordination in the Church of England through the NPLA scheme, their time with us is invaluable: _“the experience I have gained has given me a better appreciation of my strengths and weaknesses, as well as giving me examples of my calling that I can talk about at a selection conference”._ (Sam, PA at St Benet Fink). **Overview.** This year saw two 2 PAs appointed, at St Benet Kentish Town and St Benet Fink, both living in the Camden cluster. St Paul’s Camden Square and St Pancras Old Church were in interregnum during the appointment window and so were unable to appoint. St Mary’s Eversholt Street was facing possible closure due to an unstable building and was also unable to appoint. The Hornsey cluster of parishes were unable to appoint for the year due to a lack of available accommodation; it is likely that this will remain the case for 2025/26. **Second Years.** We are now finding that for almost all candidates with a realistic possibility of selection for training, the process is arranged such that it cannot be completed in one year. When we are able to offer a second year to a PA, they are able to obtain an even deeper understanding of the long term nature of real pastoral work, as Sam, second year PA at St Benet Fink writes: _“The opportunity to be fully engaged and included in the ministry of a parish full time has given me a much greater understanding of the reality of parish ministry. I have found the opportunity to witness the way in which God is working in the lives of our parishioners over the longer term especially rewarding”._ **Spiritual and Theological Formation.** We place a particular emphasis on ongoing theological reflection alongside real parish experience as a key way in which candidates can develop a realistic and informed sense of their vocation. Alongside the group theological and spiritual formation programme, regular individual supervision is key, as George Wright, PA at St Benet’s Kentish Town explains: _“The scheme […] has offered me valuable insight into the practical realities of ministry—visiting care homes, working with a primary school, and participating in the daily life of the parish. The combination of hands-on experience and weekly supervision sessions has been especially insightful”._ **Outcomes for PAs.** At the time of writing: 1 PA will begin training at St Stephen’s House in September 2025; 1 PA is staying for a second year on the scheme in which he will work towards a BAP. **Next year.** Of 3 full time and 1 part-time PA places for 2025/26, 1 PA is staying for a second year and the remaining places have been filled by interview. **All NLPA policies and processes are available to view at:** https://www.north-london-pastoralassistants.org.uk/documents.php ## **Financial Review** During the year under review, expenditure exceeded income by £10,781. The charity had started the year with total reserves of over £51,105, and offered placements to three candidates. Funds of £23,840 were raised (2023/24: £74,940) in recognition of the lower overall planned costs for 2024/25, and in order to reduce the reserves to more adequately reflect the needs of the following year. Reserves are held to provide for the costs of the future year’s expected intake of Pastoral Assistants, plus a £5,000 contingency fund (see below). It is the charity’s policy only to recruit pastoral assistants for the following year to the extent that we have funds, or assurances of grants, to cover the relevant year’s costs. At August 31st 2025, NLPA held reserves of £40,324, including a contingency provision of £5,000 to cover any significant unforeseen future costs. 4 ststqrnqnt af Tryth•s' mponAlblllll•B: The Charttles Acr requlres the Board of Trustee5 to wepwe stateN￿ for eath flnanaal year whlth a tru• and f•iT vlew of the state of aff?Irs of the charity as at the end crf the ye6r 01 the Mwplu5 ￿ dendt of the thar*y. l* prepartng thDse Firtana￿ stalerr*rt5 the goard is rEqumJ lo :" - select ￿ltab￿ accountity p&l£les and then ¥t4y . make Judyements anLI estlmates that We reasonat4e and pyudent.. - prepare the flnancial sLalerT￿￿L$ on the 9oln9 corKern baws un*5$ It irwpwwate trt Fresurne that the ch•rity wll continue Opera￿9n. - rtète whether applicab￿ ac£owntin9 *andords stalefflent5 c4 re(rrtrw4ed w•¢tKe hav¢ been folb¥Aed, 9JbjeLt lo Matertil departutE5 Llis(lo*d ex¢4•ineO kn the lknond•l st*ements'. The trust￿ are al20 respon￿blE for maintainln9 odequ*e actWNlng rec•ts ¥Jhth thKlose reoscnabbe a￿VraCY Jt ony tirr the nnancilbl tsf the charlty and which are gjffloent to sh¢x aTr1 e*p131n the ch¥rty's transacbMs and enable thern to enswe the assets rtthe and thwce fur taking ftrt** and detertkn) trther itregularnies. The tnJstee5 are also reswi*bJe f¢* the rhe ttystets, re¢rt 4nd the reSp￿#￿1￿Y rf the IntJepeThJent ex•rnlnw rethtlon to the tNslees' repryl L4 Ilmked to e￿M￿￿n9 the rep*yt thrt. m l+Y f•cv of the rwt, thery4 •rB Incon￿Stende9 the figure5 d12clo￿ ¢n the fin*nd•l st•t*nitrnts. l approve the ittathed ststemeTrt ol K#¥ltye5 and &•￿r￿¥ *•rt sat ¥XLt •i p•ges 7 Ind 8 ft¢ th• y*•r ended 31 Augysi 2025, and coThflrrn t￿t I have ￿11￿blO all Inlorn￿ Prepara￿￿. Date.. siwtyjre: ..... fp PAINT N*14E.. Judv Barrelt. Ch&r of Truste ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of North London Pastoral Assistants (“the CIO”), charity number: 1175492, for the year ended 31st August 2025 set out on pages 7 to 13. 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”). ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** I report in respect of my examination of the CIO’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 examiner's 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. Zita Derbak MAAT AATQB Independent Examiners Ltd The Grain Store Hills Barns Appledram Lane South Chichester, West Sussex PO20 7EG Signed: Dated: 26.06.2026 6 ## **NORTH LONDON PASTORAL ASSISTANTS** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025** |Incorporating income and expenditure account
Notes
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and Legacies
2a
**TOTAL**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising Funds
3a
Charitable Activities
3b
Other
3c
**TOTAL**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) BEFORE**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
Transfers between funds
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:**
Total Funds Brought Forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
**TOTAL**
**TOTAL**
Funds
Funds
Funds
**2025**
**2024**
£
£
£
**£**
**£**
23,840
0
0
23,840
74,940
**23,840**
**0**
**0**
**23,840**
**74,940**
0
0
0
0
0
23,042
0
0
23,042
57,222
11,579
0
0
11,579
36,641
**34,621**
**0**
**0**
**34,621**
**93,863**
**-10,781**
**0**
**0**
**-10,781**
**-18,923**
**-10,781**
**0**
**0**
**-10,781**
**-18,923**
-5,000
5,000
0
0
0
**-15,781**
**5,000**
**0**
**-10,781**
**-18,923**
51,105
0
0
51,105
70,028
**35,324**
**5,000**
**0**
**40,324**
**51,105**| |---|---| Movements on all reserves and all recognised gains and losses are shown above. All of the organisation's operations are classed as continuing. The notes on pages 9 to 13 form part of these financial statements. 7 S AT JX AUGUST X125 (knreslrl£t& DE5w4t￿tCd Restrlrted 31-Aug.25 Jl.Aug"24 Fun¥5 Fund5 TDngible a5$ets Current A•••ts 1,467 34,997 1,467 39,997 41.464 3,098 59.746 62,844 C&*h ar bank and In hwd s,ooo Cr•dlt¢x•: Que wlithin one year 1,140 1.140 1.739 NIT CURRENT ASSETS 35.324 40.324 si.los TOTAL ASSITS less current 35.314 411.324 51,10 Cl•d￿0r¥i due In morÈ thin ane ye 14eT ASSETS th• Ch•ilty General Funds De5IgD•ted Funds Re5trtrted Fun05 35,324 35.324 5,oori SI.IOS io Totsl Fund8 J5J14 Slqn•d by oh• •r Yw• •n b•h•ll ot •ll lh• Ir¥•l•• Slgnoture.. Prfnt 14arne: ofvj 006JoKI t)•te of approval.. ## **NORTH LONDON PASTORAL ASSISTANTS** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025** ## **Basis of preparation:** These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with: the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and with the Charities Act 2011. The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. ## **Changes to accounting estimates** No changes to accounting estimates have occurred in the reporting period ## **Material prior period errors** No material prior year error have been identified in the reporting period ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** The particular accounting policies adopted are set out below. ## **INCOME** ## _**Recognition of Income**_ These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when: - the charity becomes entitled to the income; - it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources; and - the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. ## _**Offsetting**_ There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102. ## _**Grants and Donations**_ Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met (5.10 to 5.12 FRS 102 SORP). 9 ## **NORTH LONDON PASTORAL ASSISTANTS** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025** ## _**Volunteer Help**_ The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts. ## _**Insurance claims**_ Insurance claims are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met (5.10 to 5.12 FRS 102 SORP) and are included as an item of other income in the SoFA. ## **Expenditure and liabilities** The charity has opted to prepare its accounts using natural categories. ## _**Liability Recognition**_ Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty. ## _**Governance and Support Costs**_ Support costs represent the cost of central functions, for example governance costs, payroll administration, information technology. Governance costs are those support costs which relate to public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. ## _**Grants with Performance Conditions**_ Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SOFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output. ## _**Deferred income**_ No material item of deferred income has been included in the accounts. ## _**Creditors**_ The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts. ## _**Provisions for liabilities**_ A liability is measured on recognition at its historical cost and then subsequently measured at the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the reporting date ## _**Debtors**_ Debtors (including trade debtors and loans receivable) are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity. Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received. 10 ## **NORTH LONDON PASTORAL ASSISTANTS** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025** |**2. ANALYSIS OF INCOME**
**a) Donations and Legacies**
Cleaver Ordination Candidates Funds
Fellowship of St John
CoE Ministry Experience Scheme
Greig Trust
Grants received:|Unrestricted
Restricted
**TOTAL**
**TOTAL**
Funds
Funds
**2025**
**2024**
£
£
**£**
**£**
11,200
0
11,200
7,000
8,800
0
8,800
36,500
3,840
0
3,840
13,440
0
0
0
18,000
**23,840**
**0**
**23,840**
**74,940**| |---|---| |**3. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE**
**a) Raising Funds**
N/A
**b) Charitable Activities**
Expense Allowances
Formation and Training Costs:
Formation Visits
Other
Travel costs
**c) Other**
Accommodation Costs:
Council Tax
Utility Costs
Repairs and Maintenance
Furniture and White Goods
Sundry
Recruitment Costs
Independent Examiner cost
General Administration
Legal Fees
Contingency provision
**Total Expenditure**|Unrestricted
Restricted
**TOTAL**
**TOTAL**
Funds
Funds
**2025**
**2024**
£
£
**£**
**£**
0
0
0
0
**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**
15,300
0
15,300
42,475
4,304
0
4,304
8,077
2,158
0
2,158
5,450
1,280
0
1,280
1,220
**23,042**
**0**
**23,042**
**57,222**
5,021
0
5,021
5,651
6,766
0
6,766
7,984
1,927
0
1,927
8,006
778
0
778
472
534
0
534
2,246
207
0
207
996
640
0
640
1,647
706
0
706
1,115
0
0
0
3,524
-5,000
0
-5,000
5,000
**11,579**
**0**
**11,579**
**36,641**
**34,621**
**0**
**34,621**
**93,863**| |---|---| 11 ## **NORTH LONDON PASTORAL ASSISTANTS** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025** ## **4. TRUSTEES AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES** No payments were made to trustees or any persons connected with them during this financial period. No material transaction took place between the organisation and a trustee or any person connected with them. (2024: Nil) ## **5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** The charity owned no fixed asset during the financial period. (2024:Nil) |**6. DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS**
Other debtor
Prepayments
**7. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND**
Cash at bank and on hand
Accruals
Independent Examiners Fees
Contingency provision
Other Creditors
**8. CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS: AMOUNTS**
**FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
**9. CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS: AMOUNTS**
**FALLING DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR**|Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Fund
Fund
**31-Aug-25**
**31-Aug-24**
£
£
**£**
**£**
0
0
0
3,098
1,467
0
0
0
1,467
0
**0**
**3,098**
Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Fund
Fund
Fund
**31-Aug-25**
**31-Aug-24**
£
£
£
**£**
**£**
34,997
5,000
0
39,997
59,746
34,997
5,000
0
**39,997**
**59,746**
Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Fund
Fund
**31-Aug-25**
**31-Aug-24**
£
£
**£**
**£**
0
0
0
5,599
1,140
0
1,140
1,140
0
0
0
5,000
1,140
0
**1,140**
**11,739**
Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Fund
Fund
**31-Aug-25**
**31-Aug-24**
£
£
**£**
**£**
0
0
0
0
0
0
**0**
**0**| |---|---| 12 **NORTH LONDON PASTORAL ASSISTANTS** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025** ## **10. DESIGNATED AND RESTRICTED FUNDS** The Charity reserves £5,000 contingency fund to cover any unexpected costs. This amount was transferred from General fund as a designated fund. The charity held no restricted funds in the financial period. (2024: Nil) ## **11. RISK ASSESSMENT** The trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated, combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on an annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks. ## **12. RESERVES POLICY** The trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity's needs. This is based on the charity's size and the level of financial commitments held. The trustees aim to ensure the charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure. The trustees will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily. ## **13. PUBLIC BENEFIT** The charity acknowledges its requirement to demonstrate clearly that it must have charitable purposes or ‘aims’ that are for the public benefit. Details of how the charity has achieved this are provided in the Trustees report. The trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities the charity should undertake. 13