Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From: 1[st] January 2024 To: 31[st] December 2024 Charity name: Affirm: Baptists Together for LGBT+ Inclusion
Charity registration number: 1183976
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The promotion of equality and diversity for the public benefit by: (a) supporting and affirming people identifying as LGBT+ and those questioning their sexuality or gender identity within churches in Great Britain, particularly those in membership of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Baptist Union of Wales or the Baptist Union of Scotland or which refer to themselves as Baptist (“the churches”) by giving pastoral support (b) working for the acceptance of loving same- sex relationships as one of a number of ways of living faithfully, through engaging in constructive discussions in the churches; (c) promoting knowledge and mutual understanding of human sexuality and gender identity in the churches through discussion, study and the sharing of people’s stories; (d) supporting and standing in solidarity with those churches that include and affirm LGBT+ Christians by providing theological resources and networking opportunities |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Attending events as speakers/advisers Continuing to invite members to transfer their subscriptions to the new bank account, and encouraging new memberships and donations. Continuing to expand our reach to support Baptist ministers, and LGBT+ Baptists through challenging conversations in the life of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Preparing educational and promotional material. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
|---|---|---|
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Seeking new volunteers and trustees and including them in developing the charity. Management of bank account, overall strategy and direction of the charity. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | In 2024 the new model of membership and supporters continued to be developed and implemented, which included co-organising an event for Baptist ministers and leaders in Britain to engage with Affirm’s work and how to continue progressive Baptist ministry in Great Britain. We have seen growth in both members and supporters thanks to the new model. We continued to engage with the national leadership of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, which included opportunities to speak and contribute to Baptist Council’s decision-making process regarding the ministerial rules. Revd Andy Fitchet and Luke Dowding spoke to Council about their experiences of being excluded from Baptist ministry due to the ministerial rules prohibiting people in same-sex relationships from becoming or remaining accredited Baptist ministers. |
We continued to engage at the grassroots level with local churches, ministers, and individuals; supporting them in their theological and practical understanding of LGBT+ inclusion in the life of the Baptist church. Affirm continued to be sought out for pastoral responses to LGBT+ Christians, and our expertise in affirming theology and inclusion in churches.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | At the end of the period the charity held £2,022 of unencumbered funds. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Funds are held in preparation for events and activities. As there are no paid staff at present, there are no ongoing liabilities. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | As above |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | As above |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | Nil |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | None |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Donations and subscription fees. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Founding Trustees and then Election or Co-option |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Affirm: Baptists Together for LGBT+Inclusion |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1183976 |
| Charity’s principal address | c/o 26 Farthing Drive Letchworth Garden City SG6 2TR |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revd Dawn Cole- Savidge |
Co-Director | |||
| Luke Dowding | Chair | |||
| Revd Andrew Fitchet | Co-Director | |||
| Martin Stears- Handscomb |
Treasurer | |||
| Esther Ruddle | Trustee | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets None held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| adviser |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
||
|---|---|---|
| Luke Dowding | Andy Fitchet | |
Chair |
Co-Director | |
| 29thAugust 2025 | ||
| 29thAugust 2025 |
| Affirm: Baptists Together for LGBT+ Inclusion | Affirm: Baptists Together for LGBT+ Inclusion | Affirm: Baptists Together for LGBT+ Inclusion | 1183976 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | |||
| For the period from |
01/01/2024 | To | 31/12/2024 |
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 1,021 1,546 - - - - - - 2,567 - - - 2,567 345 - 200 - - - - - - 545 - - - 545 2,022 - - 2,022 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 1,021 1,546 - - - - - - 2,567 - - - 2,567 345 - 200 - - - - - - 545 - - - 545 2,022 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 1,021 1,546 - - - - - - 2,567 - - - 2,567 345 - 200 - - - - - - 545 - - - 545 2,022 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brought forward | 1,021 | 518 | ||||
| Subscripions and donations | 1,546 | 878 | ||||
| HMRC Gift Aid | - | 8 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
2,567 | 1,404 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 1,404 | ||||||
| Trustees Travel | 345 | 213 | ||||
| Trustees Acccomodation | - | 100 | ||||
| Website and IT | 200 | 70 | ||||
| Stall Hire | - | - | ||||
| PublicityMaterials | - | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 545 | 383 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| 383 | ||||||
| 2,022 | - | - | 2,022 | 1,021 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2,022 | - | - | 2,022 | 1,021 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
16/06/2025
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Held at Bank Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 2,022 - - - - - 2,022 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name Luke Dowding Andy Fitchet |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
| Luke Dowding | 16/06/2025 | ||
| Andy Fitchet | 16/06/2025 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
16/06/2025
2