## River of Life Community Church Langney
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2025
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 7 Offham Close Eastbourne BN23 8LU GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO - FOUNDATION Registered 12 Nov 2018 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1180649 TRUSTEES Kathy Long Mark Hayllar Kevin Ashby Barbara Ashby Faxin Dong (from 20th November 2024) BANKERS Barclays Bank PLC Bexhill-on Sea East Sussex INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB **INDEX** Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-3 Trustees' Report Page 4 Independent Examiner's Report Page 5 Receipts and Payments Account Page 6 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Pages 7-8 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the year to 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:
a) the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Faith; and b) the relief of poverty
## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements**
To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
At the River of Life Community Church Langney, we reach out into our Community through being the hands and feet of Jesus.
## **Church Life**
As well as our Sunday service we also have regular prayer meetings, house groups, youth work, discipleship courses, men's breakfasts and chaplaincy work.
## **Langney Chaplaincy**
Each Tuesday and Friday morning at the Langney Shopping Centre you will be greeted with a warm welcome and smiles. We have been able to run a second morning (Fridays), since April 2024 and continue our Tuesdays. The volunteer team has seen a slight increase in numbers and some mornings we are able to have 3 on a shift. When this happens it means one person can walk around the shop units, check in with the shopkeepers and be a presence in the shopping centre away from the table.
The number of people who stop to chat has increased over the last year with some asking for prayer. As we saw last year, we have again had fewer requests for advice about agencies over this last year, but still have the information available on the table to signpost people if needed.
## **Poppy Sales**
In November 2024 we again spent a week selling poppies with the Royal British Legion in the Langney Shopping Centre. During the week members of the church ran the stall from 10am-4pm each day. We gave away various Christian booklets and encouragement literature as well as copies of St John's gospel with each sale.
We received the following message from the local Royal British Legion office after last year's Poppy sales: _"I can confirm that Langney raised £3,899.57 over the 2 weeks. I think it was £100 more than last year. A brilliant effort by you all, we greatly appreciate your input."_
We are doing this again in November 2025, and have been approached to organise two weeks rather than just one.
## **Afternoon Teas**
We held 6 afternoon teas from March 2024. We averaged about 45 guests at each tea, with many not connected to the church family. We held a beetle-drive, a quiz, had an entertainer, as well as a Christmas sing-a-long. Each time we have a 5 minute focus giving a thought, prayer and encouragement. These will continue in 2025.
## **Make Lunch @ St B's**
In February 2025 we held the last Make Lunch @ St B's. The project had been running for nearly 7 years and we saw a decline in new families coming along and it was becoming difficult to recruit enough volunteers to run the project. We had a core of 4 or 5 families who came to every session, and as their children grew their needs changed and it was much more challenging to meet these needs, whereas in the early days food and a simple craft had been enough. We consider this project to have been a huge success and are confident that this was the right time to finish.
## **Local Advertising**
We have continued to produce a joint newsletter with St Barnabas Church which is distributed to the surrounding houses every 3 months. We give information about what is going on in the churches, but also about hiring the rooms and other projects we are involved with such as the Langney Shopping Centre Chaplaincy and Men's Breakfasts that we run monthly.
We also have a daily electronic advert in the Langney Shopping Centre display board, which is updated with the upcoming events.
## **Mortain Place Care Home**
We held a service once a month at this local care home. A number of residents attended the services and commented on how much they appreciated them.
## **Carol Singing @ Langney Shopping Centre**
In December 2024 we again had 7 churches at the event, including ourselves. We sang carols to the community of shoppers and shopkeepers, while handing out invitations to local Church Christmas Services and individually wrapped sweets and chocolates. Shoppers and shopkeepers joined in with the singing and were uplifted by the smiles, laughter and warm greeting. Some folks came along to our Christmas events following the invitations at the Carol singing. We had feedback from a number of families walking through the shopping centre, commenting how their children loved hearing 'proper' Christmas songs and how the children of the families wanted to stop and listen.
Page 2
We are doing this again in December 2025.
## **Christmas Events**
We opened the church for a craft fayre in December. We had 8 stall holders selling various items, there was a raffle, face painter and craft activity for the children. We cooked pizza and hot dogs and offered the opportunity for people to receive prayer too. All those who came were invited to the Carols by Candlelight service, which was a huge success again. Our youth group entertained us with their nativity story on another Sunday as well. We had visitors at each of the services and made good connections with them.
## **Alpha Course**
We ran our first daytime Alpha course in January 2025. We had 9 people start the course and 8 followed it through to completion. Each week we had a cooked meal together, watched the relevant video and then facilitated a group discussion. All the attendees have continued with a monthly meeting to ask more questions and have further discussions and 5 are coming to church on a weekly basis.
## **Men's Breakfast**
We started a monthly men's breakfast in November 2023 and continued through 2024, taking a month off in August. The idea for the breakfast is for men to get together early on a Saturday morning, (so that the day is not lost!) there is no speaker, instead we come together to build relationships, chat, eat, do life, in an atmosphere of honour, authenticity and love for one another. During 2024 we have provided and consumed 131 cooked breakfasts, on average a quarter of those that come along do not attend church at present. The largest single gathering numbered 17 in November 2024. We are continuing breakfasts in 2025 and have already seen an increase in people attending so far.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
## **Financial review**
During the year the charity received £60,376 in regular income. The charity made payments of £52,247 in relation to its charitable activities, resulting in cash held by the charity of £89,078 at 31 March 2025 of which £3,955 is restricted.
## **Reserves policy**
For the year ended 31 March 2025 the trustees determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £37,435 (which equates to about 12 months' of unrestricted essential expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. Essential expenditure includes operating costs, such as those relating to employment, as well as those required by law, such as the annual Independent Examination. At the period-end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £85,123 and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.
## **Governance**
Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. New trustees are recruited and appointed by the existing trustees, with input from the leadership team, by a majority vote.
## **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:
K Long K Long (Sep 11, 2025 12:05:58 GMT+1)
Kathy Long Date: Sep 11, 2025
Page 3
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of River of Life Community Church Langney ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2025 on pages 5 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 2. 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.
## Archie McDowall
Archie McDowall (Sep 12, 2025 11:29:04 GMT+1)
Archie McDowall BA CA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Sep 12, 2025
Page 4
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Donations
Grants
Gift aid receipts
Other income
Interest
Total receipts
**Payments**
2
3
**_Total payments_**
Transfers between funds
**Net movement in funds**
**Cash funds at this period end**
A
Cash funds brought forward
Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers
Grants paid in relation to charitable activities
undertaken by others
Payments in relation to charitable activities
undertaken directly|Unrestricted
Funds
£
49,258
-
7,191
998
1,116
58,564
44,701
5,400
50,101
8,462
-
8,462
76,661
85,123|Restricted
Funds
£
1,812
-
-
-
-
1,812
2,146
-
2,146
(333)
-
(333)
4,289
3,955|Total
2025
£
51,071
-
7,191
998
1,116
60,376
46,847
5,400
52,247
8,129
-
8,129
80,949
89,078|Total
2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||41,769
1,110
4,727
969
902|
|||||49,477|
|||||48,828
7,732|
|||||56,560|
|||||(7,083)
-|
|||||(7,083)
88,032|
|||||80,949|
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 5
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**A Cash funds**
Bank operating accounts
Bank deposits
Petty cash
**B Other monetary assets**
Gift aid due to charity
**C Liabilities**
Unbilled fee for Independent Examination
PAYE due
Unpaid expenses at period end
Pension deductions due to be paid over
**D Assets retained for charity's own use**
Equipment|Unrestricted
funds
£
8,815
76,305
3
**85,123**
9,089
**9,089**
576
281
162
129
**1,148**|Restricted
funds
£
3,955
-
-
**3,955**
36
**36**
-
-
-
-
**-**|Total
2025
£
12,770
76,305
3
**89,078**
9,125
**9,125**
576
281
162
129
**1,148**
Value
2025
£
10,612
10,612|Total
2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||5,757
75,189
3|
|||||**80,949**|
|||||7,191|
|||||**7,191**
|
|||||570
303
271
129|
|||||**1,273**
|
|||||Value
2024
£|
|||||10,612|
|||||10,612|
The trustees have used insurance values as an approximation for current values.
## **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:
Date: Sep 11, 2025
The notes on pages 7 - 8 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **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 and grants which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors and funders; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
|General
funds
£
**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
Employment costs (Note 4)
32,892
Premises hire
2,205
Church activities / ministry expenses
4,091
Teaching, training & conferences
1,093
Subscriptions
1,038
Travel
353
Repairs & maintenance incl. equipment
485
Administration costs
1,430
Insurance
545
Accounts and examination
570
'Make Lunch' costs
-
44,701
**3**
**Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others**
Grants for:
Overseas mission
5,400
Local mission
-
5,400|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
583
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,563
2,146
-
-
-|Total
2025
£
32,892
2,205
4,674
1,093
1,038
353
485
1,430
545
570
1,563
46,847
5,400
-
5,400|Total
2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|
||||32,892
3,025
5,016
728
763
525
818
1,312
564
960
2,226|
||||48,828|
||||7,732
-|
||||7,732|
## **4 Transactions with related parties**
The charity had two part time employees during the year. Its activities are generally carried out by volunteers.
Kathy Long, a trustee, received a sum of £960 (2024 : £960) for her role as Treasurer as permitted by the governing document.
No amounts were paid to any other trustee or to any person connected to them other than reimbursement of expenditure incurred on behalf of the church.
Page 7
## **RIVER OF LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH LANGNEY**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **5 Movement on funds**
|Opening
Balance
£
**Restricted funds**
Alpha
-
Worship
-
Langney Chaplaincy
443
'Make Lunch' project
3,846
Youth
-
**Total Restricted**
4,289
**_General Funds_**
76,661
**Unrestricted, general funds**
76,661
**Total Funds**
80,950|Receipts
£
583
400
10
579
240
1,812
58,564
58,564
60,376|Payments
£
(583)
-
-
(1,563)
-
(2,146)
(50,101)
(50,101)
(52,247)|Transfers
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Closing
Balance
£
-
400
453
2,862
240|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||3,955
85,123|
|||||85,123|
|||||89,078|
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