2025-03-31-accounts - Trinity Church Littlehampton

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Trinity Church Littlehampton

Report and Accounts Year ended 31st March 2025

TRINITY CHURCH LITTLEHAMPTON

LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 16 Kent Road Littlehampton West Sussex BN17 6LG GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO Constitution dated 30 April 2018 CIO Charity registered 27 June 2018 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1178966 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Philip BROWN MANAGING THE CHARITY Carolyn SAUNDERS (resigned 27 August 2024) Mark THORNETT Ann WALDEN Elizabeth (Gill) PECKHAM (appointed 20 October 2024) Perry AMEDOME - (appointed 17 June 2025)

BANKERS CafBank 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Page 2 Legal & Administrative Details 3-4 Trustees' Report 5 Independent Examiner's Report 6 Receipts and Payments Account 7 Statement of Assets & Liabilities 8 Notes to the Accounts

Page 2

TRINITY CHURCH LITTLEHAMPTON

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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

Objects of the charity

The charity, which is a church, is governed by a constitution and is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation. The charity's principal objects, as set out in its governing document, are:

To advance the Christian faith by such means as the charity shall determine from time to time.
To relieve persons who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress as a result of local or international disaster or by reason of their social, medical or economic circumstances.
To educate and assist young persons through their leisure time activities so as to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capacity that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society and that their conditions of life may be improved.
To advance education in family life, in marriage and family relationships, in particular but not exclusively by the organization of courses for the teaching of the skills of parenthood.
To advance Christian religious education and training.

Most the charity's activities are undertaken by volunteers and the charity could not operate effectively without their efforts.

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

Review of the Years' Activities

The main activities of the charity are in relation to Christian worship and outreach. The charity aims to serve the local community and wider, to relieve hardship and distress whilst preserving good health and social welfare.

The church has continued to meet on Sundays which has included provision for children and young people. It has set up a weekly English Conversation Class for adults who have English as an additional language and a bi weekly craft group attended by members of the church and others from the community.

In January 2025 we launched a Youth Club for young people linked to thechurch and ran our first Alpha Course a an Introduction to Christianity,

During the period the Church has maintained regular gifts to the following charities: -

Regions Beyond

The church has also supported:

Church leaders in the Phillipines who are linked to us.
Local initiatives run corporately by the churches in Littlehampton,

The Church receives contributions from numerous church members and supporters and from some of the voluntary Trustees, plus one employed member of staff, many of whom have donated countless hours of time without charge serving the church, the local and wider communities.

The church has taken a significant role in supporting the other churches in the town. We organised both the Good Friday celebrations. The Church Leader chaired the Churches Together group until January 2025.

A significant development this year was our move to new premises. After 6 years based at River Beach Primary School, we moved to a church building on the High Street in January 2025. The local United Reformed Church have welcomed us warmly and through a Licence agreement we have use of their premises along with themselves and other community users. This has enabled us to have a more visible presence in the town which is already resulting in more activity within the church.

Financial review

During the year income received totalled £73,541 (2024:£59,444) and expenditure totalled £60,607 (2024: £60,279). As a result the cash held by the charity at the period end increased by £12,934 to £128,437, of which £127,626 is unrestricted.

There were no payments made to Trustees other than the reimbursement of expenses.

Reserves policy

The Trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £15,000 (which equates to about 3 months of unrestricted expenditure) 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 £127,626, complying with its reserves policy and holding additional funds for a potential building in due course.

Funds in deficit

No funds were in deficit at year end

Governance

Trinity Church Littlehampton has a Constitution and a Basis of Faith as its governing documents. This was accepted on 27th June 2018.

New trustees are appointed by the charity’s current trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skill, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.

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.

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:

Mark Thornett

Mark Thornett (Dec 8, 2025 10:42:20 GMT)

M Thornett

Date: Dec 8, 2025

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

TRINITY CHURCH LITTLEHAMPTON

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Trinity Church Littlehampton ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 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:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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.

Sarah Crispin

Sarah Crispin (Jan 8, 2026 09:01:04 GMT)

Sarah Crispin ACA

Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB

Jan 8, 2026 Date:

TRINITY CHURCH LITTLEHAMPTON

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes 2 3 3 *Income receipts* Donations, legacies and grants Gift aid receipts Bank interest Sundry income Charitable Activities *Total receipts* *Payments* Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Grants made *Total payments* Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end	General Funds £ 56,003 13,299 2,399 761 92 72,553 57,020 2,900 59,920 12,633 (310) 12,323 115,303 127,626 Unrestricted	Restricted Funds £ 820 3 - - 165 988 687 687 301 310 611 200 810	2025 £ 56,823 13,301 2,399 761 257 73,541 57,706 2,900 60,607 12,934 - 12,934 115,503 128,437	2024 £
				43,510 14,964 970
				59,444
				60,279
				60,279
				(835) -
				(835) 116,338
				115,503

The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.

TRINITY CHURCH LITTLEHAMPTON

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Notice deposits - 90 day B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity C Liabilities Trade creditors Fee for Independent Examination	Unrestricted General funds £ 76,346 51,281 127,627 36 36 126 750 876	Restricted funds £ 810 - 810 - - - - -	2025 £ 77,156 51,281 128,437 36 36 126 750 876	2024 £
				65,503 50,000
				115,503
				700
				700
				230 720
				950

D Assets retained for charity's own use

Music and PA equipment	Cost £
	6,517
	6,517

Includes equipment donated by Jubilee Church Worthing at cost.

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

Mark Thornett Dec 8, 2025 by Mark Thornett (Dec 8, 2025 10:42:20 GMT) date M Thornett

The notes on page 8 form part of these accounts.

TRINITY CHURCH LITTLEHAMPTON

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 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.

Unrestricted funds £ 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Charitable Grant 1,648 Staff costs 38,825 Training & development 150 Ministry costs 5,995 Support costs 6,612 Property costs 2,845 Minor equipment 945 57,020 Regions Beyond UK 2,900 Regions Beyond Global - Redeemer church Worthing - Individual 2,900 Grants were made during the year as follows:	Restricted Funds £ - - - 687 - - - 687 - - - -	Total 2025 £ 1,649 38,825 150 6,682 6,612 2,845 945 57,707 2,900 - - 2,900	Total 2024 £
			2,847 36,769 - 6,435 4,283 2,908 1,026
			54,267
			1,200 3,813 1,000 2,846
			8,859

3 Movement of funds

ement of funds
General funds Restrictedfunds Gather 2024 Kim & Smile Town Chaplains Total funds	Opening balance £ 115,303 200 - - 200 115,503	Receipts £ 72,553 165 13 810 988 73,541	Payments £ (59,920) (675) (13) - (688) (60,607)	Transfers £ (310) 310 - - - -	Closing balance £ 127,626 - - 810
					810
					128,437

Restricted Funds

Gather 2024 - this is a fund set up to accept the income and costs related to the annual church Gathering. Kim & Smile - this is a fund set up to hold donations and grants relating to our support of a mission couple overseas. Town Chaplains - this is a fund set up to hold the shared funds for the Town Chaplains