2025-08-31-accounts

Charity number: 1180123

Hope Church Rhondda (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Trustees’ report and financial statements

for the year ended 31 August 2025

Contents

Charity Information	2
Report of the Trustees	3-6
Report of the Independent Examiner	7
Statement of Financial Activities	8
Balance Sheet	9
Notes to the Accounts	10-15

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Hope Church Rhondda (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Legal and administrative information

Charity number	1180123
Registered office	Hope Church Rhondda
	Units 1-2 Dunraven Street
	Tonypandy
	CF40 1AN
Trustees	Mr Benjamin Franks
	Dr Katie Jayne Goldring (until November 2025)
	Mr Gregor Moss
	Mrs Alison Davies
	Rebecca Rigg (from 25thNovember 2024)
	Jonathan Burton (from 5thFebruary 2026)
Bankers	Barclays Bank plc
	91 Taff Street
	Pontypridd
	CF37 4SN
	CAF Bank Limited
	25 Kings Hill Avenue
	Kongs Hill
	West Malling
	Kent
	ME19 4JQ
	The Co-operative Bank plc
	PO Box 101
	Balloon Street
	Manchester
	M4 4BE
Independent Examiner	Paul Burnell ACMI
	C Mgmnt Services Ltd
	69 Velindre Road
	Cardiff
	CF14 2TF

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Hope Church Rhondda

(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] August 2025

Governance and Structure

Hope Church Rhondda was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 28 September 2018.

Hope Church Rhondda operates under the spiritual leadership of a team of elders; Mr. Benjamin Franks (lead pastor), Mr Simon Dalton and Mr Jon Burton, as well as a small team of the church family.

The names of the trustees on 31st August 2025 are:

• Mr. Benjamin Franks (chair and main point of contact)

• Dr Katie Goldring (intends to step down in November 2025)

• Mr Gregor Moss

• Mrs Alison Davies

• Mrs Rebecca Rigg (appointed on 25th November 2024)

Premises

Hope Church Rhondda operates from Units 1&2 Dunraven Street, Tonypandy, CF40 1AN. Hope Church Rhondda also meets at the Waun-wen Community Centre, Rhiwgarn Road, Trebanog, Porth, CF39 9LX, and Offices 9&7 Parc Busnes Treorci on the Abergorki Industrial Estate, Ynyswen, Treorchy, CF42 6DL.

Staffing

During this time period there have been 4 paid members of staff working for the charity:

Mr Simon Dalton was employed from August 2018 as pastor and continues in this role.

Mr Jon Burton was employed as the pastor of the Trebanog congregation from October 2023 and continues in this role.

Mrs Sally Ann Evans commenced in April 2022 as administrator and pastoral worker. She continues her role as a pastoral worker, having reduced her hours in order to drop the administrative duties.

Mrs Becky Davies was employed from July 2022 as community outreach worker (Trebanog) and women’s pastoral worker and continues in this role.

Additionally, Mr Benjamin Franks received an honorarium and continued in his non-stipendiary role as lead pastor.

Mr Daniel Rigg underwent a training placement with the church as part of a church planting residency program for the Advance Network, which started in September 2023. He continues to provide leadership support for the Upper Rhondda congregation.

Finances

Hope Church Rhondda banks with Barclays Bank (91 Taff Street, Pontypridd, CF37 4SN), CAF Bank (25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ) and the Co-operative Bank (PO Box 101, Balloon Street, Manchester, M4 4BE).

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Mr Owen Davies continued the role of Treasurer, with support from Mrs Alison Davies. Xero computer software is used to manage the church expenditure and to manage the budget.

Hope Church Rhondda is affiliated to Advance, a global movement of churches partnering together to advance the Gospel through planting and strengthening churches. The church is a member of the Evangelical Alliance.

Objectives of Hope Church Rhondda

1. THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN SUCH PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OR THE WORLD AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT INCLUDING THROUGH PROVIDING SERVICES FOR PRAYER AND WORSHIP AND PASTORAL CARE AND OUTREACH INTO THE COMMUNITY.

2. TO FULFIL SUCH OTHER PURPOSES WHICH ARE EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF ENGLAND AND WALES AND ARE CONNECTED TO THE CHARITABLE WORK OF THE CHARITY AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT.

These objectives are met by the activities undertaken by Hope Church Rhondda. These are divided into two main areas which are detailed below.

Activities of Hope Church Rhondda

1. THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN FAITH IN THE RHONDDA VALLEYS, SOUTH WALES AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

Religious Activities

• Sunday Meetings - In January 2024, Hope Church Rhondda became one church in three locations; Tonypandy, Trebanog and the Upper Rhondda. It continues in this way, with Sunday services happening in Trebanog on Sunday mornings, and Tonypandy and the Upper Rhondda meeting in the afternoons. All three locations provide a kid’s club for under 11s during these meetings.

• Men’s and Women’s ministries - During the year, specific sessions were held to build relationships and faith in the life of the church. These include monthly evening meals for the women of the church and a monthly ‘Men’s Breakfast’.

• Community Christmas events - Hope Church Rhondda ran a number of Christmas events for the community, including a family carol service and a traditional carol service in Tonypandy, a community carol service in collaboration with another local church (St. Matthew’s) in Treorchy, and an all-age Christmas service and music quiz in Trebanog.

• Outreach in the local estate , Trebanog - Over the last year, Hope Church Rhondda has continued to build strong links with the council team working with the Waun-wen Community Centre in Trebanog. Mrs Becky Davies has continued in her work, supporting the running of community events, kids clubs and quiz nights, as well as establishing a new weekly event in September 2024 for women on the estate called ‘Chips n Church’, where a group of women gather for chips and explore Christianity together.

Children’s, Youth and Families Work

We take safeguarding seriously and recognise it is an essential component to our work with children, young people and vulnerable adults. All our children and youth workers have undertaken a DBS check. We follow a safeguarding policy informed by thirtyone:eight (formerly Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service) and often seek their advice about safeguarding concerns. We hold regular safeguarding training. The Safeguarding Officer continues to provide a report to the trustees twice a year.

• Children’s programmes and a youth group run during Sunday services with age specific children’s activities.

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• ‘Hope Toddlers’ is the weekly, free baby and toddler group run in the Hope Church building in Tonypandy. It is regularly attended by 20+ families.

• Hope Church Rhondda hosted a ‘Light Party’ at the Waun Wen Centre for families as an alternative to Halloween celebrations.

• Children’s Holiday Club (for primary school aged children) ran in Trebanog in the first week of summer holidays, as well as a number of other events for families throughout the valley, including games in Treorchy park, an outdoor “paint and plant” event in Treherbert in collaboration with a local gardening project, and a family fun afternoon in the church building in Tonypandy.

• We have provided pastoral care to a number of families with a range of support needs, including families with new babies and those facing bereavement, relationship breakdown or other challenging circumstances.

2. THE ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY IN THE RHONDDA VALLEYS, SOUTH WALES AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

• Foodbank Hope Church Rhondda operates a weekly food collection point as part of the Rhondda Foodbank for users in the local area. This is run by a group of staff and volunteers from Hope Church Rhondda and other churches in the local area who organise food donations, put together parcels of food for families in crisis and signpost to other local services where appropriate. Tea and coffee is provided and volunteers are available to be a listening ear for families in crisis. The foodbank is based on the church premises but administration is the responsibility of the Trussell Trust.

• Rhondda Baby Bank continues in Trebanog, providing essential items for parents such as nappies, wipes and clothing in our ‘Bags of Hope’.

• Hope Church Rhondda continues to support individuals to access support for substance misuse through collaboration with ‘Challenge Valleys’ substance misuse charity.

• The free, weekly drop-in Lunch Club in the Tonypandy building has continued and is well attended and openly accessible to the local community.

• Grace Fund - Hope Church Rhondda has a fund set up to be able to support individual church members who are experiencing financial hardship. This is usually to fund individual items and is provided confidentially at the discretion of the church leaders. During this time the church has funded individuals to receive counselling. A record is kept of this spending and large expenditure is approved by the trustees.

Additionally Hope Church Rhondda supports the following charities:

• Tearfund - an international charity focused on the global relief of poverty.

• Open Doors - a charity that supports the persecuted church worldwide.

• Advance - an international network for planting and strengthening churches.

Public Events

Whilst many of our activities are provided for our members and therefore advertised internally, the following public events were publicised through leaflets and social media:

1. All Sunday Services

2. Carol Services

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3. Alpha Course - a course introducing people to the Christian religion

Looking to the Future

In the year ahead we plan to:

• Consider ways to expand the work started in the Upper Rhondda. Leadership capacity in the Upper Rhondda remains relatively limited; however, this year has seen an increase in outreach events compared to previous years, particularly during the summer holiday week. An Alpha course is planned for the autumn term of 2025, and the team continues to explore how best to engage with the local community.

• Continue to build links with the local community and community centre in Trebanog. There have already been many opportunities for collaboration with the local council, who recognise the benefit of having Hope Church Rhondda integrated into the community in Trebanog. We will continue to explore opportunities to expand this, including building on the successes of previous events such as the quiz nights and ‘Chips and Church’.

• Continue to strengthen the work established in Tonypandy including exploring new opportunities for outreach into the local community, utilising the Tonypandy building more during the week and growing current volunteer teams and leadership capacity. The trustees continue to explore the prospect of acquiring the property adjacent to the current building, which could be utilised for community projects such as a dropin youth space or community pantry.

The senior leadership team and trustees recognise that in order to continue to develop in the areas stated above the leadership capacity of the church will need to increase , most likely by recruitment of additional leaders. It is planned that Mr Daniel Rigg, who has been undertaking the church planting residency programme in the Upper Rhondda congregation, will join the staff team part time as the pastor of that congregation from September 2026. This is particularly timely as the trustees and elders are prayerfully considering how Mr Benjamin Franks’ role might evolve in the future, including how responsibilities might be adjusted over time to ensure a sustainable and healthy pattern of leadership.

Financial Review

Net incoming resources for the year amounted to a shortfall of £5,827 (2024: £12,951). Total funds carried forward at the year-end were £193,099 (2004: £198,926).

C Mgmnt Services Ltd conducted an independent examination, but it is noted they have been involved in the payroll administration, and therefore an independent chartered qualified accountant was appointed to verify the gross figures of payroll.

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

Jonathan Burton Chair of Trustees

Date: 20[th] May 2026

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Hope Church Rhondda (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Independent Examiner’s Report

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the Accounts of Hope Church Rhondda (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 August 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Charity Trustees of Hope Church Rhondda, 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 s. 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under s. 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 give me cause to believe that in any material respect:

• accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

• the Accounts did not accord with those records;

• the Accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and contents 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.

Signed

Paul Burnell

Paul Burnell ACMI C Mgmnt Services Ltd 69 Velindre Road Cardif CF14 2TF

Date: 20[th] May 2026

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Hope Church Rhondda (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Statement of financial activities For the year ending 31 August 2025

Note Income from: Donations, legacies and grants 3 Other income 3 Total income Expenditure Charitable activities 4 Total expenditure Net movement in funds for the year Total funds brought forward (restated) Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted Funds Restricted funds Year ended 31 August 2025 Year ended 31 August 2024 £ £ £ £ 93,393 13,451 106,844 133,660 12,704 - 12,704 1,465
	106,097 13,451 119,548 135,125
	111,668 13,707 125,375 124,345
	111,668 13,707 125,375 124,345
	(5,571) (256) (5,827) 10,780 198,554 372 198,926 188,146 192,983 116 193,099 198,926

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The notes on pages 10 to 15 form part of these financial statements.

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Hope Church Rhondda (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Balance sheet as at 31 August 2025

Note Fixed Assets 11 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Debtors Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 7 Net current assets Creditors: amounts falling due after one year Net Assets Funds Unrestricted Funds 8 Restricted Funds 9 Total Funds	31 August 2025 £ £ 97,259 107,444 0 107,444 11,604 95,840 0 193,099 192,983 116 193,099	31 August 2025 £ £ 97,259 107,444 0 107,444 11,604 95,840 0 193,099 192,983 116 193,099	31 August 2024 £ £ 92,779 110,333 336 110,669 4,522 106,147 0 198,926 198,554 372 198,926	31 August 2024 £ £ 92,779 110,333 336 110,669 4,522 106,147 0 198,926 198,554 372 198,926
	107,444 11,604		110,669 4,522
		193,099		198,926
		192,983 116 193,099		198,554 372 198,926

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Jonathan Burton Chair of Trustees

Date: 20[th] May 2026

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Hope Church Rhondda (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Notes to financial statements for the year ending 31 August 2025

1 Charity status

Hope Church Rhondda is a charitable incorporated organisation registered in England and Wales, number 1180123. The registered office is Hope Church Rhondda, Units 1-2 Dunraven Street, Tonypandy CF40 1AN.

None of the Trustees is liable to contribute any amount towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

2 Accounting policies

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with ”Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective January 2019)” and the Charities Act 2011.

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements

The preparation of the financial statements requires the Trustees to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. Although these estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other relevant factors, they are merely estimations and could therefore differ from actual outcomes.

Basis of preparation

Hope Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

Income Recognition

• Regular giving, collections and donations are recognised when the funds have been received.

• Income Tax recoverable on Gift Aided donations is recognised only when it has been received from HMRC.

• Grants (from whatever source) are recognised only when they have been received.

• Rent, room hire and other similar fees are recognised on a receivable basis, when an invoice has been raised.

Expenditure Recognition

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis, recognised when an invoice is received or when a legal obligation to meet that liability is created.

Tangible Fixed Assets

Assets, including buildings, are valued at cost. Assets costing more than £200 are capitalised.

Depreciation is charged on a straight-line basis at the following rates:

• Buildings – 33 years

• Office & AV/PA equipment – 6 years

• Furniture, fixtures & fittings – 10 years.

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Hope Church Rhondda (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Notes to financial statements for the year ending 31 August 2025

Going concern

The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.

Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement

The charity has adopted the exemption available in FRS 102 not to include a cash flow statement in these financial statements.

Governance costs

These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and Trustees’ meetings and reimbursed expenses.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the Trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

3 Donations and legacies

Gift Aid donations Other donations Tax recovered Grant Income Other income Conferences and events Hire of rooms Other income Interest Total	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 £ £ £ £ 55,160 - 55,160 35,089 20,018 - 20,018 34,651 - - - 44,662 18,215 13,451 31,666 19,258
	93,393 13,451 106,844 133,660
	11,694 - 11,694 - 770 - 770 1,434 220 - 220 - 20 - 20 31
	12,704 - 12,704 1,465
	106,097 13,451 119,548 135,125

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Hope Church Rhondda (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Notes to financial statements for the year ending 31 August 2025

4 Charitable Activities

Salaries, pensions and expenses Foodbank Baby Bank Warm Space Advance Movement Children & Youth Ministry costs Event costs Church Weekend Away Grants & donations b. Support and Administration Printing, postage, stationery & equipment Building costs, inc. utilities IT & Telecoms Administration costs Catering Insurance Advertising & Marketing Travel Miscellaneous expenses Depreciation Total	Unrestricted Funds Restricted funds Total 2025 Total 2024 £ £ £ £ 61,613 - 61,613 63,713 - - - 550 97 - 97 200 - 143 143 737 2,630 - 2,630 2,600 713 - 713 702 1,460 113 1,573 8,081 10,644 - 10,644 4,307 1,300 - 1,300 729 2,188 - 2,188 7,330
	80,645 256 80,901 88,949
	2,226 - 2,226 1,048 12,829 13,451 26,280 13,475 1,179 - 1,179 1,402 9,112 - 9,112 12,073 2,171 - 2,171 2,804 1,911 - 1,911 1,497 49 - 49 466 625 - 625 962 139 - 139 700 782 - 782 969
	31,023 13,451 44,474 35,396
	111,668 13,707 125,375 124,345

5 Trustees’ remuneration and expenses

The charity has four part-time employed staff: its activities are generally carried out by volunteers.

Whilst no salary is paid to Ben Franks, the pastor and a Trustee, he received an honorarium of £3,000 per year paid directly to his pension fund.

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Hope Church Rhondda (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Notes to financial statements for the year ending 31 August 2025

6 Employees

Employment Costs

Wages & salaries Social security & Pension costs	Year ended 31 August 2025 Year ended 31August 2024 £ £ 55,065 56,074 6,548 7,639 61,613 63,713

No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year.

The charity is managed on a day-to-day basis by the Trustees who are unpaid apart from the pastor, Ben Franks, for whom regular payments are made into his pension scheme as an honorarium. The total honorarium of the key management personnel of the charity was £3,000 (2024: £3,000).

Number of employees

The average monthly number of employees during the period, calculated on the basis of full-time equivalents, was as follows:

Charity staff	Year ending 31 August 2025 Year ending 31 August 2024 2.3 2.3

7 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors Taxes, social security and pensions	Year ending 31 August 2025 Year ending 31 August 2024 £ £ 6,630 1,848 4,974 2,674 11,604 4,522

8 Unrestricted Funds

The Trustees have determined that all grants received are to be treated as Unrestricted apart from any specifically classified as Restricted.

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Hope Church Rhondda (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Notes to financial statements for the year ending 31 August 2025

8 Unrestricted Funds (Continued)

General Fund Total	Balance at 1 Sept 2024 Incoming Resources Resources Expended Balance at 31 Aug 2025 198,554 106,097 111,668 192,983 198,554 106,097 111,668 192,983

Unrestricted Funds

The following Unrestricted grants were received and expended in the year ending 31 August 2025:

Lauderdale Trust James Williams Trust	£ 16,315 1,900 £18,215

9 Restricted Funds

RCTCBC Winter Hardship Fund Churches Trust Total	Balance at 1 Sept 2024 Incoming Resources Resources Expended Balance at 31 Aug 2025 £ £ £ £ 372 - 256 116 - 13,451 13,451 -
	372 13,451 13,707 116

The following Restricted grant was received in the year ending 31 August 2025:

Churches Trust (for the Tonypandy Roof £13,451

£13,451

10 Analysis of net assets between Funds

Fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities	Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2025 Total Funds 2024 Total Funds £ £ £ £ 97,259 - 97,259 92,779 107,328 116 107,444 110,669 (11,604) - (11,604) (4,522) 192,983 116 193,099 198,926

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Hope Church Rhondda (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Notes to financial statements for the year ending 31 August 2025

11 Fixed Assets - Tangible

Cost At 1 Sept 2024 Additions At 31 Aug 2025 Depreciation At 1 Sept 2024 Charge for the year At 31 Aug 2025 Net Book Value: At 31 Aug 2025 At 31 Aug 2024	Land and Buildings Freehold Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment Total Assets £ £ £ 97,574 17,906 115,480 0 5,263 5,263
	97,574 23,169 120,743 6,161 16,540 22,701 719 64 783
	6,880 16,604 23,484
	90,694 6,565 97,259
	91,413 1,366 92,779

12 Taxation

Hope Church Rhondda is a registered charity and is, therefore, exempt from taxation.

13 Payments to Connected Persons

The pastor, Ben Franks, who is a Trustee, received an honorarium of £3,000 (2024: £3,000) paid into his pension scheme.

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