2025-12-31-accounts

Stapleford Baptist Church

Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2025

STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE Albert Street Stapleford Nottingham NG9 8DB GOVERNING DOCUMENT Constitution dated 3 November 2017 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1175549 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Nicholas Dunn MANAGING THE CHARITY John Horry David Howe David Puls David Wells

BANKERS Co-operative Bank Kingdom Bank INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Nicola Harrison CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

INDEX

Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2 - 4 Trustees' Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Receipts and Payments Account Page 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Page 8 Notes to the Accounts

Page 1

STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Objects of the charity

Our primary purpose is to advance the Christian faith in accordance with our doctrinal statement.

Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements

In the expression of our purpose, we continue to meet each Sunday for public worship, as well as having a wider programme each week. Our Sunday worship includes reading scripture, prayer, singing, and Bible teaching. We also provide groups most Sundays for children to meet as part of the church family. Our Sunday morning service is recorded and available on YouTube. Our Christmas events were all well attended.

We place a high value on being a body of God’s people who live faithful lives encouraged and supported by one another, and members and regular attenders are encouraged to join one of our Lifegroups. These meet during the week, and we have just added our 5th Lifegroup.

Our work among children and young people has continued to grow. Our Sunday work is primarily with children of church families. Our Friday evening Illuminate programme draws many children from the town, and we have around 40 registered. We have supported this with additional events, such as a Lego afternoon, and the annual visit of Saltmine Theatre to present a Christmas pantomime.

As part of encouragement and growing together we held a Church residential weekend away in October. This proved to be successful, and we are now looking at repeating this in alternate years.

A significant change over the last few years has been the increasing number of people involved with us who come from different ethnic backgrounds. Some have become members, others attend our services and events. Each Tuesday we continue to hold a Conversation Club for those who want to improve their spoken English. This began with Cantonese speaking Hong Kong immigrants, but is open to all. We again held our Carols in Cantonese evening which was well attended, with a speaker from a Chinese Church.

Our contact with the town community continues, and our weekly open-house Refresh event provides a warm and safe place. One of its leaders offers monthly meetings for Brain and soul boosting, and bereavement support. Another member runs a free Pilates group. We also share in events with other local churches.

Plans are being made for a visit from members of a Baptist church in Mississippi in the summer. They will share in our ministries whilst they are here.

As a church we are committed to having a robust Safeguarding framework. We appointed a new Safeguarding Lead this year, and we continue to ensure that training is offered to everyone who holds and requires a DBS check for their role in the church. Our Safeguarding policy has been reviewed. No reports have had to be made to the Charity Commission.

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A significant amount of effort has gone into preparing for the future. Our plans for improving our building have undergone significant review and development, leading to a successful planning application. Details of structural work required have now been planned and checked, and we hope to conclude some costing prior to a formal launch of the programme in 2026, which most likely will be implemented in stages – to both help us continue to use the building whilst work is done, and to maintain cost control relative to available finance.

Our plans for adding to the church staff were agreed by members, and we have now employed a new member of staff to join us to help us in outreach and connection with our town.

In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.

Financial review and reserves policy

Our reserve policy of holding funds for a three month period has been met through the year. Our accounts show a very strong cash position as we have built up our reserves in readiness for staff and building expenditure. We are confident that this means that we shall be in a position to commence and continue our planned expenditure for 2026 and 2027. We shall however be looking for our members to significantly increase their committed giving to maintain a healthy position going forward.

During the year income increased by £10,879, to £120,268 and expenditure decreased by £679, to £99,319. As a result the cash held by the charity increased by £20,949, to £192,312, which is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose, other than £50.

The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £20,000 so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £192,262 and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.

As can be seen from our financial report for the year, we are in a satisfactory financial position. Our Treasurer actively monitors our finances and reports to the elders as trustees and to Church Members’ Meetings. Our reserves policy has been met throughout the year, and we are confident this will remain the case in 2026. A substantial sum of money is currently held on deposit for future staffing needs and some major work of our premises.

Affiliations

The church has renewed its affiliation to FIEC, and is a member of the Midlands Gospel Partnership. Our membership of The Stapleford Churches Forum (participating on the basis of the Evangelical Alliance Statement of Faith) continues too, and this enables us to share with other local churches in gospel witness in the town including local schools, and to be mutually encouraging.

Governance

Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity and also serve as elders of the Church.

Members of the church are members of the CIO, and appoint the elders. Elders’ meetings are chaired by David Wells, and Members’ meetings by the pastor or another of the trustees.

Risk statement

The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. The trustees review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks.

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Responsibilities of trustees

Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.

We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.

We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.

Approval

This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

D R Wells

_____D R Wells (Jun 12, 2026 10:01:03 GMT+1) DAVID WELLS Jun 12, 2026 Date:___

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Stapleford Baptist Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2025 on pages 6 to 8 following.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 2011 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 accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

1. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Nicola Harrison CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Date:

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STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Notes Income receipts Donations Gift aid receipts Legacies Interest Other Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Transfers between funds 5 Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net of receipts / (payments) before Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly	Unrestricted General Funds £ 90,999 17,779 - 2,928 8,451 120,158 90,344 8,915 99,259 20,899 - 20,899 171,363 192,262	Restricted Funds £ 110 - - - - 110 - 60 60 50 - 50 - 50	2025 £ 91,109 17,779 - 2,928 8,451 120,268 90,344 8,975 99,319 20,949 - 20,949 171,363 192,312	2024 £ 81,473 14,842 5,000 4,933 3,141 109,389 91,403 8,595 99,999 9,390 - 9,390 161,973 171,363

The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.

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STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Notes A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Notice deposits B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Prepayments Accrued income C Liabilities Falling due within one year Trade creditors Accruals Taxes due Fee for Independent Examination Pension obligations	Unrestricted General funds £ 108,485 83,777 192,262 9,303 - 703 10,006 840 2,051 573 900 66 4,430	Restricted funds £ 50 - 50 - - - - - - - - - -	2025 £ 108,535 83,777 192,312 9,303 - 703 10,006 840 2,051 573 900 66 4,430	2024 £ 34,792 136,571 171,363 8,525 1,470 - 9,995 - 1,189 517 900 57 2,663

D Assets retained for charity's own use

Land and buildings on Albert Street, Nottingham Furniture, fittings and equipment	Fund to which asset belongs General General	Insurance value £ 1,747,797 121,909 1,869,706

Current values have not been quoted because reliable valuations are not available and current insurance values utilised instead.

E Guarantees and secured debts

The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.

The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

D R Wells _____D R Wells (Jun 12, 2026 10:01:03 GMT+1) DAVID WELLS Jun 12, 2026 Date:_____

The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.

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STAPLEFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

1 Accounting policies

The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.

2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment costs (see note 4) Printing, stationery and advertising Youth and groups Memberships, conferences and training Small equipment Utilities Building maintenance Building project Insurance Hospitality and catering Annual church weekend Independent examination Other costs 3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Grants for: Organisations Individuals	Unrestricted General funds £ 48,400 4,424 1,120 4,573 - 10,529 2,495 890 1,597 1,974 8,156 900 5,287 90,344 5,915 3,000 8,915	Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 60 - 60	Total 2025 £ 48,400 4,424 1,120 4,573 - 10,529 2,495 890 1,597 1,974 8,156 900 5,287 90,344 5,975 3,000 8,975	Total 2024 £ 47,736 4,351 1,315 5,228 2,668 5,904 12,904 - 1,524 1,955 2,286 900 4,634 91,403 6,095 2,500 8,595

4 Transactions with related parties

David Howe served as a church leader and was received total employment benefits of £39,173 (2024: £38,482) for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.

Joanna Dunn, who is closely related to Nicholas Dunn, who is a trustee, received total employment benefits of £9,293 (2024: £8,908) as an administrator of the charity; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.

5 Movement of funds

General funds Restricted funds: Church Family Charitable Organisations Total funds	Opening balance £ 171,363 - - - 171,363	Receipts £ 120,158 - 110 110 120,268	Payments £ (99,259) - (60) (60) (99,319)	Transfers £ - - - - -	Closing balance £ 192,262 - 50 50 192,312

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