Leicester Vineyard Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 March 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
LEICESTER VINEYARD CHURCH
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 29 Park Crescent Oadby Leicester LE2 5YJ GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO Constitution dated 28 November 2018 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1180879 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Thomas Bird MANAGING THE CHARITY Oliver Bennett Robert Radford Peter Sturrock Ingrid Jones Sally Pigott (appointed January 2026) BANKERS Barclays Bank UK PLC INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Legal and 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 Pages 8 - 9 Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
LEICESTER VINEYARD CHURCH 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 govemed by a constitution and is conslituled as a charitable incorporated organisation. The charity's principal objects, as set out in ils governing document, are to advance the Christian faith in the UK and elsewhere and associated compassion related activities in the service of others. Review of the charity's main activities and achievements To further the above objects and vision, the charills main activities and achievements were as follows.. We have had weekly Sunday Church services, with groups for kids and youth as well as special services such as Easter and Christmas along with Newcomer's meals lo welcome those visilinglexploring Church. Our focus in this period has been God's heart for the lost, teaching on the Kingdom of God, Stawng close to God, and Prayer. We have also been meeting weekly in small groups, earfy moming prayer groups and monthly as a women's breakfast and prayer group. And we dedicated 3 of our young members. Church events include, Men's BBQ nights, and Ladies nights out crafling or eating, but also activities bringing the whole church family together include., family walks, picnics, Sports Dayand Brunch Sundays. Members of our youth also joined with another local Vineyard to attend Dreaming the Impossible IDTII youth festival, where several of our congregation volunteered on team lo help make the festival happen. We seek to be a positive influence and blessing lo Leicester and through links with our compassion ministry, Growbaby, we have collected donations to create Christmas and Mother's day hampers as well as continuing to deliver weekly appointments giving free g(x)d quality second-hand baby clothes and equipment to families in need. We lease a space al Talbot Lane in the centre of Leister tofacilitate this venture and in this period Growbaby served ils 300° client! Page 2
We have also been out in the local area giving away chocolates and invites to our Easter and Christmas services, and hosted an Alpha course with 6 guests.
In this period, we have also wanted to help further afield and gathered non-monetary donations from the congregation to send out to those in need in Ukraine.
Unity with the other churches in the city is important to us. One of our pastors joins with other church leaders in the city to pray and we also participate in the Praying for Leicestershire events, encouraging churches to come together and pray for the county.
During this period April 2024 – March 2025, our finances have remained healthy and there has been no significant impact on net income, our Reserves policy remains the same, 3 months wages and expenses. Nonetheless the trustees continue to monitor income and expenditure closely and, if it becomes necessary, will take measures to mitigate any financial impact. The charity has not had to make any redundancies.
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission
Financial review
The accounts are drawn up on a receipts and payments basis. Income and expenditure is therefore presented according to the date that income is received and payments are made. For this current accounting period income is £78,385 compared to 2024 which was £68,207. The charity was therefore able to increase its spending on relevant activities in the current year to £106,273. From a cash perspective the cash reserves decreased by £27,889. This leaves a balance of £28,764 (£26,080 being unrestricted).
The trustees continue to monitor income and expenditure closely and, if it becomes necessary, will take measures to mitigate any financial impact. The charity has not had to make any redundancies.
Reserves policy
The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than 3 months of quarterly fixed costs (which equates to approximately £18,100) 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 £26,080 and the reserves policy was met. The trustees intend to review and amend the reserves policy for the coming year, due to some significant changes to expected expenditure.
Governance
Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. Responsibility for the day to day operation of the charity has been delegated to the senior pastors. New trustees are recruited and appointed by the existing trustees, by a majority vote.
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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:
Peter Sturrock
Peter Sturrock (Jan 27, 2026 21:03:51 GMT)
Peter Sturrock
Date: Jan 27, 2026
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
LEICESTER VINEYARD CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Leicester Vineyard Church ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2025 on pages 6 - 9 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 28, 2026 09:22:00 GMT)
Sarah Crispin ACA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Jan 28, 2026
Page 5
LEICESTER VINEYARD CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| Unrestricted | Funds | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Restricted | Total | Total | ||||||||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||||
| Income receipts | ||||||||||||
| Donations | 51,599 | - | 4,857 | 56,456 | 68,158 | |||||||
| Gift aid receipts | 19,735 | - | 2,154 | 21,889 | - | |||||||
| Other | 40 | - | - | 40 | 49 | |||||||
| Total receipts | 71,374 | - | 7,011 | 78,385 | 68,207 | |||||||
| Payments | ||||||||||||
| Payments in relation to activities undertaken directly |
charitable | 2 | 94,096 | - | 8,173 | 102,269 | 101,495 | |||||
| Grants paid in relation to activities undertaken by others |
charitable | 3 | 3,704 | - | 300 | 4,004 | 4,438 | |||||
| Total payments | 97,800 | - | 8,473 | 106,273 | 105,933 | |||||||
| Net of receipts / transfers |
(payments) | before | (26,426) | - | (1,462) | (27,888) | (37,726) | |||||
| Transfers between funds | 5 | 795 | - | (795) | - | - | ||||||
| Net movement in funds | (25,631) | - | (2,257) | (27,888) | (37,726) | |||||||
| Cash funds as at | last | year | end | 51,711 | - | 4,941 | 56,652 | 94,378 | ||||
| Cash funds at this year end | A | 26,080 | - | 2,684 | 28,764 | 56,652 |
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
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LEICESTER VINEYARD CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access Prepaid cards B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Other debtors and prepayments C Liabilities Falling due within one year: Pension due Rent due on Talbot Lane Fee for Independent Examination Accrued expenses D Assets retained for charity's own use Contents, equipment and stock |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 25,750 - 329 - 26,080 - 8,901 - 2,700 - 11,601 - 83 - - - 1,164 - 101 - 1,348 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ 2,684 - 2,684 509 - 509 - - - - - |
Total 2025 £ 28,435 329 28,764 9,410 2,700 12,110 83 - 1,164 101 1,348 Value 2025 £ 26,293 26,293 |
Total 2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56,087 565 |
||||
| 56,652 | ||||
| 19,875 - |
||||
| 19,875 | ||||
| 490 2,700 1,110 391 |
||||
| 4,691 | ||||
| Value 2024 £ |
||||
| 32,211 | ||||
| 32,211 |
The trustees have used insurance values for contents and equipment as the trustees are unable to reliably estimate current values; insurance values may differ materially from 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
Peter Sturrock by Peter Sturrock (Jan 27, 2026 21:03:51 GMT) date Jan 27, 2026 Peter Sturrock
The notes on pages 8 - 9 form part of these accounts.
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LEICESTER VINEYARD CHURCH
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.
| 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Employment Note 4 Leadership expenses and training Note 4 Growbaby ministry: Rent and other building costs Growbaby ministry expenses (inc.utilities) Church rent Other church ministry expenses Worship Admin and support costs, including IT and equipment Insurance (inc. Growbaby) Governance Other costs 3 Grants and gifts paid to others Organisations: VCUKI Individuals |
Unrestrict | Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ed Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - 8,173 - - - - - - - - 8,173 - 300 300 |
Total 2025 £ 51,684 1,487 15,185 3,264 18,093 6,003 160 3,000 2,236 1,156 - 102,269 2,880 1,124 4,004 |
Total 2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 51,684 1,487 7,012 3,264 18,093 6,003 160 3,000 2,236 1,156 - 94,096 2,880 824 3,704 |
||||||
| 44,089 2,060 11,947 1,553 19,938 7,981 440 3,795 5,082 1,120 612 |
||||||
| 98,615 | ||||||
| 4,680 2,638 |
||||||
| 7,318 |
4 Transactions with related parties
The spouse of trustee Thomas Bird, was paid £24,163 plus £725 in pension contributions [2024: £22,528 and £709 in pension contributions] in her capacity as Senior Pastor; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document. In addition to this, £826 [2024: £1,182] was paid for cleaning part of their property which was used for charitable purposes.
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LEICESTER VINEYARD CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 5 Movement of funds General funds Restricted funds Missionary support Uganda DTI Growbaby ministry Total funds |
Opening balance £ 51,711 51,711 893 - 4,048 4,941 56,652 |
Receipts £ 71,374 71,374 2,488 399 4,125 7,011 78,385 |
Payments £ (97,800) (97,800) (300) - (8,173) (8,473) (106,273) |
Transfers £ 795 795 (640) (155) - (795) (0) |
Closing balance £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26,080 | |||||
| 26,080 | |||||
| 2,441 244 - |
|||||
| 2,684 | |||||
| 28,764 |
Growbaby ministry gives free good quality second-hand baby clothes and equipment to families in need.
Missionary support Uganda provides financial support to missionaries from the church, who help run a medical facility in Uganda. The transfer to general funds corrects unidentified restricted payments that were made in the financial year 2022/23.
DTI (Dreaming the Impossible) is a youth festival open to all churches run by Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland. During the financial year 2023/24, £155.01 in gift aid was paid over to DTI from general funds, in anticipation of the receipt of gift aid on the restricted donations. This was not received until 2024/25 and totalled £398.75. The transfer from the restricted DTI fund to general funds is to account for the previous advance payment from general funds to cover anticipated gift aid.
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