Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/04/204 Period start date To Period end date
31/03/2025
Charity name: Access Church
Charity registration number: 1177661
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The objects of the Church are, for the benefit of the public :- (a) to advance the Christian faith in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees from time to time may think fit; (b) to relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind, including through the provision of counselling and support in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees from time to time may think fit; |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit when planning and delivering the church’s activities. The church’s purpose is to proclaim the Christian faith and to support the spiritual, social, and emotional well-being of its congregants and the wider community. Throughout the year, this purpose has been advanced through a range of activities designed to be accessible, inclusive, and beneficial to people of all ages and backgrounds. Worship and Spiritual Development The church’s primary activity continues to be its weekly Sunday services, held at the local community centre. These gatherings are free of charge and open to all members of the public. They |
| provide opportunities for worship, |
|---|
| teaching, prayer, pastoral support, and |
| community connection. Children are |
| able to participate in age-appropriate |
| activities during the services under the |
| supervision of their parents, ensuring |
| that families can engage fully in the life |
| of the church. |
| In addition to Sunday services, the |
| church offers several weekly and |
| monthly activities that contribute to the |
| spiritual and social development of |
| participants: |
| • Weekly music group – Meeting |
| every Friday, this group provides a |
| space for individuals to develop musical |
| skills, participate in worship |
| preparation, and build supportive |
| relationships through shared creative |
| expression. |
| • Men’s and women’s groups – |
| These groups meet on a weekly basis to |
| offer mutual support, encourage |
| personal growth, and strengthen |
| networks within the community. |
| Members also attend conferences and |
| events that help deepen their faith and |
| broaden their connections with others. |
| The church places strong emphasis on |
| building community cohesion and |
| providing opportunities for people to |
| connect beyond formal worship |
| settings. During the year: |
| • Members of the community |
| participated in trips to Wales and |
| Bournemouth, both of which were open |
| to all and designed to foster friendship, |
| relaxation, and shared experiences. |
| • The church collaborated closely |
| with other local organisations to |
| support young people and vulnerable |
| groups within the community. These |
| partnerships help extend the church’s |
| reach and ensure that its work |
| contributes positively to the wider social |
| environment. |
| Young people remain an important |
| focus of the church’s mission. During |
| the year, a group of young people |
| attended a residential camp that enabled |
| them to explore their faith more deeply, |
| build confidence, and form meaningful |
| relationships with peers from Sheffield, |
| Coventry, Swindon, and other areas. |
| This experience provided significant |
| developmental benefits, including |
| leadership opportunities, teamwork, and |
| exposure to diverse perspectives. |
| The trustees continue to review the church’s activities to ensure that they remain accessible, effective, and aligned with the church’s aims. They are committed to ensuring that the church’s resources are used responsibly to deliver clear and demonstrable public benefit. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | I can confirm the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance
SORP reference
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit when planning and delivering the church’s activities. The church’s purpose is to proclaim the Christian faith and to support the spiritual, social, and emotional well-being of its congregants and the wider community. Throughout the year, this purpose has been advanced through a range of activities designed to be accessible, inclusive, and beneficial to people of all ages and backgrounds. Worship and Spiritual Development The church’s primary activity continues to be its weekly Sunday services, held at the local community centre. These gatherings are free of charge and open to all members of the public. They provide opportunities for worship, teaching, prayer, pastoral support, and community connection. Children are able to participate in age-appropriate activities during the services under the supervision of their parents, ensuring that families can engage fully in the life of the church. In addition to Sunday services, the church offers several weekly and monthly activities that contribute to the spiritual and social development of participants: • Weekly music group – Meeting every Friday, this group provides a space for individuals to develop musical skills, participate in worship preparation, and build supportive relationships through shared creative expression. • Men’s and women’s groups – These groups meet on a weekly basis to offer mutual support, encourage personal growth, and strengthen networks within the community. Members also attend conferences and events that help deepen their faith and broaden their connections with others. The church places strong emphasis on building community cohesion and providing opportunities for people to connect beyond formal worship settings. During the year: • Members of the community participated in trips to Wales and Bournemouth, both of which were open to all and designed to foster friendship, |
|---|---|---|
----- Start of picture text -----
|||
|---|---|
|relaxation, and shared experiences.|
|•|The church collaborated closely|
|with other local organisations to|
|support young people and vulnerable|
|groups within the community. These|
|partnerships help extend the church’s|
|reach and ensure that its work|
|contributes positively to the wider social|
|environment.|
|Young people remain an important|
|focus of the church’s mission. During|
|the year, a group of young people|
|attended a residential camp that enabled|
|them to explore their faith more deeply,|
|build confidence, and form meaningful|
|relationships with peers from Sheffield,|
|Coventry, Swindon, and other areas.|
|This experience provided significant|
|developmental benefits, including|
|leadership opportunities, teamwork, and|
|exposure to diverse perspectives.|
|The trustees continue to review the|
|church’s activities to ensure that they|
|remain accessible, effective, and aligned|
|with the church’s aims. They are|
|committed to ensuring that the church’s|
|resources are used responsibly to|
|deliver clear and demonstrable public|
|benefit.|
----- End of picture text -----
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
----- Start of picture text -----
|||
|---|---|
|Achievements against|Para 1.41|
|objectives set|
|Performance of fundraising|
|activities against objectives|Para 1.41|
|set|
|Investment performance|Para 1.41|
|against objectives|
|Other|
----- End of picture text -----
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | No current policy at the moment but it is anticipated that a policy will be developed in due course. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
CIO – Foundaton registered 22 March 2018 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | CIO – Foundaton registered 22 March 2018 |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | All trustees are members of the charity and are appointed in accordance with Charity’s governing document. |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | CIO – Foundaton registered 22 March 2018 |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
|
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname | Access Church |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charitynumber | 1177661 |
| Charity’s principal address | 134 Kestrel Crescent |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gitau Gakuo | ||||
| Rachel Wainaina- Walton |
||||
| Janet Law | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Gitau Gakuo Full name(s) Gitau Gakuo
Position (eg Secretary, Church Pastor Chair, etc)
Date
31 Jan. 26