## **The Bury Project Charity Number 1183543** ## **Trustees Annual Report for the period ended 31 December 2025** The Bury Project is an Incorporated Charitable Organisation set up for the relief of poverty for persons living in and around Bury and its surrounding districts, within a Christian ethos. It has particular links to ‘Churches Together in Bury’, as well as Christian churches in Prestwich, Whitefield and Ramsbottom of all major denominations. |**Registered Office :**Bolton Road Methodist Church|**Registered Office :**Bolton Road Methodist Church|**Registered Office :**Bolton Road Methodist Church| |---|---|---| ||Bolton Road|| ||Bury|| ||BL8 2NZ|| |**Trustees :**|Mr G Joyce|(Re-appointed 27thMarch 2025)| ||Mr T Boaden|(Re-appointed 27thMarch 2025)| ||Mr G Smith|(Appointed 6thNovember 2022)| ||Mr K R Grant|(Appointed 27thMarch 2025)| |**Contact :**|Gordon Joyce|| |**Bankers :**|The Cooperative|Bank plc| ||PO Box 101|| ||1 Balloon Street|| ||Manchester|| ||M60 4EP|| ## **Trustees Report** Ross Grant (Mr K R Grant) was appointed as trustee in March 2025. Throughout the year the trustees continued to oversee and manage the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Debt Centre in Bury. Funding for the project is dependent on individual donors complemented by various successful grant applications, as well as generous donations from churches within Bury. The majority of grant opportunities however exclude contributions towards salaries, and so the trustees continue to encourage individual donations and church support. The charity has continued to have sufficient funds to employ our Debt Centre Manager, as well as a trainee Debt Coach who started in September 2025. Both work part-time. ## **CAP Debt Centre Achievements and performance** During 2025 the Debt Centre welcomed 26 new clients, and continued to work with clients who had registered in previous years. At any one time we are generally working with between 15 and 25 different clients. We would love to help more people, but we have to be realistic and manage the caseload wisely to provide good and appropriate ongoing support for each client. Cases are becoming more complex, and our local observations have been confirmed by the experience of Christians Against Poverty nationally. During 2025, one trainee Debt Coach left the charity, and a new trainee was appointed. The training programme for a Debt Coach is extensive, and this year it has become more complicated due to the introduction of a new computer system at CAP’s support hub in Bradford. The aim is that the new system, once bedded in, will allow CAP nationally and our Debt Centre locally to increase capacity and help more people. Referrals continue to be received from helping agencies in Bury due to the good reputation we have built in the town. These agencies often refer vulnerable people to us, for whom debt is one of many challenges. Many of our new clients in 2025 have experienced multiple challenges including serious illnesses, bereavements, relationship breakdowns, and abuse in different forms (financial, domestic and sexual). We work with our clients in a holistic way, and complement our debt support with other practical support, drawing on the generosity and skills of the Christians Against Poverty national charity, as well as the desire and willingness of many local churches to support in various ways. Meetings with clients can take place in their homes, or in one of the several church hubs around the town. Some clients prefer to meet us in a ‘neutral’ venue, and we can often arrange this in one of the many brilliant support hubs provided by the church network in Bury. It is a great help to some clients to be able to combine a debt counselling session with obtaining food and groceries support from a food club or food pantry run by a church. Two of these church hubs also welcome other advice agencies to their drop-ins, and clients often also make use of these. Those clients who are able to commit to working with us, often see their financial circumstances transformed by the support and mentoring they receive. During 2025, the trustees and Debt Centre Manager continued to develop partnerships with local churches. Six (2024 : eleven) church visits were undertaken by the Debt Centre manager, to explain the work undertaken, and the challenges encountered. One expression of support is for churches to provide volunteers to accompany the Debt Centre manager when meeting with clients. In 2025, ten (2024: twelve) volunteers supported in this way, provided by 6 churches. This expression of church unity is pleasing to the charity. Support received from the ‘Churches Together in Bury’ network has been particularly pleasing and greatly appreciated. During 2025, we received funding from a variety of sources, including churches, individuals, and grants or donations from other organisations. Where possible, gift aid is reclaimed on personal donations. For this work to grow, further regular funding is required. The trustees will continue to be proactive in looking for opportunities to improve the sustainability and effectiveness of the charity. The trustees are very grateful to every individual, church, and grant provider who has donated to the work in 2025. ## • **Key highlights from 2025** - 26 new clients registered for debt help (2024: 23) - 10 volunteers supported the Debt Coach at meetings with clients. - The geographical distribution of new clients from across the borough changed a little from 2024, with more from Radcliffe and fewer from Prestwich and Ramsbottom. - Bury 11 (2024: 10) - • Prestwich 1 (2024: 3) • Radcliffe 10 (2024: 6) • Whitefield 2 (2024: 2) • Ramsbottom 0 (2024: 2) • Bacup 2 (2024: 0) Note : Bacup is outside our area, but we gave advice to two clients there due to the Rossendale CAP Debt Centre temporarily not being able to provide debt coaching. By the end of 2025 it was back functioning again. Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Bury Project {a Charitable Incorporated Organisation- Charity Number 1183543) I report on the accounts of The Bury Project for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on the following page. Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner. The organisation's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144121 of the Charities Att 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions 8iven by the Charity Commission lunder section 145151{bl of the Charities Act), and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of the Independent examlnerfs report and examlnerfs statement. I have examined the accounts with regard to section 145 of the Charities Act and the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. I confirm that no matter has come to my attention (in connection with the examination) which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect: The accounting records We￿ not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or The actounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or The accounts did not comply wlth the applicable requirements concerningthe forni and content 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 orderto enable a proper understanding of the account5 to be reached. Signed.. E o Date: 2 ity- Bernie O'Donnell 46 Chelsea Avenue Radcliffe, M26 3NF. Fonner Treasurer, Bridge Methodist Church. Radcliffe (from 2{￿ to 20141. Iiiiiiiiip!I iiiriiii 11 Ii