North Church CIO
TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1. Structure, Governance and Management
The company is supervised by the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of Articles of Association. New Trustees are advised of their obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association as well as the structure and decision making process of the charity. Trustees generally meet three times a year but will also meet more frequently if the need arises. Meetings are minuted.
Trustees are put forward by the membership for consideration. New suggested appointments are voted on at a members meeting in all instances.
The Chairman of Trustees oversees the day to day operations of the charity or appoints appropriate officers to whom this responsibility is delegated.
2. Reference and Administration
Trustees
Mr Peter James Petra (Chair)
Dr Jonathan Woodrow
Mr Andrew Snart
Mr Oliver Timothy Allmand-Smith
Company Registered Number CE019663
Charity Registered Number 1186452
3. Objectives and Activities
The Objects of the Trust are as follows:
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(A) The advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the basis of faith primarily but not exclusively within Leicester and the surrounding towns and villages;
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(B) The relief of financial hardship among persons either generally or individually through the provision of grants, goods or services as the Trustees from time to time think fit; and
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(C) To advance the Christian faith for the benefit of the public in such charitable ways as the Trustees think fit from time to time.
The Trustees, recognise that it is their legal obligation to ensure that the Trust's activities are in line with its objectives and activities and are satisfied that this is the case for the period in question. The Trustees also confirm that they have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.
4. Achievements and Performance
Key Events
The following activities have been conducted by the charity in the reporting period.
North Church CIO which was formed as an independent charity on 19[th] November 2019.
The full time paid Pastor is Chairman of Trustees and an Elder of the church. This individual has overall responsibility for the day to day operation of the charity and ensuring that it meets its objectives through promoting the Christian faith directly himself through pastoral duties of preaching and leading public worship, prayer, pastoral meetings, evangelism, as well as equipping and training others to do the same in support of the charity’s activities.
North Church does not own any buildings but it does rent the local community centre for regular Sunday services and other activities. It also used a local school gymnasium for its annual carol service.
Open Sunday worship services have continued in the community centre with members and visitors attending.
In the same community centre the weekly Sunday afternoon children group, which was started early in 2022, has continued and is attended by children of church members and attendees and those of local residents. The group has activities and teaching centred on the Bible. The monthly over 60’s group has continued providing social support to the more elderly people who live in the area. As well as a regular thought for the day the sessions have included quizzes, craft work and games.
There is a weekly open Bible study meeting and a weekly prayer meeting for members.
During the summer a Fun Day was held which was well attended by the local community and door to door visits were made to a number of homes to discuss resident’s beliefs.
As mentioned previously a Carol service was held in the local school hall with over 80 people attending. As well as worship and preaching a Christingle craft took place for the children.
A Christmas outreach event/party was also held for members of the local community. A special Easter event was also held with games, craft and a Christian talk.
The Church is a member of the Association of Confessional Baptist Churches of the UK and representatives from the Church have attended the regular meetings of the Association during the year. Members have also joined with other local churches at the annual East Midlands Churches Day. Other Support has also been provided by members to local churches in support of their outreach work.
The Trust has paid money to CCLI and the DBS, has purchased insurance to enable it to legally and safely operate and has become a partner with the International Reformed Baptist Seminary.
The charity is on a sound footing in the Beaumont Leys/Leicester North area by the formulation and regular review of key policies including those related to safeguarding, health and safety, conflicts of interest and expense control and reporting.
The Trustees are satisfied that all these activities fall within the Trust’s objectives.
5. Financial Review
The Trust had an income this financial year of £51,018 all of which was unrestricted and total expenditure of £48,698 all of which was unrestricted leading to an excess of income over expenditure of £2,320.
An amount of £28,906 (£28,595 unrestricted, £311 restricted) was bought forward from the previous year.
The funds at the end of the year amounted to £31,226 (£30,960 unrestricted, £266 restricted).
The Trust considers that it is in a strong position making it able to pursue its charitable aims in the future.
To protect the finances against unwanted cyber activity password and pins are changed on a regular basis.
Finances are reviewed in detail each month by the Chairman of Trustees and by the Trustees at its regular meetings.
6. Reserves Policy
The reserves policy of the company requires the reserves to be reported to the Chairman of Trustees each month and at each Trustee meeting. The reserves are assessed against previous income and expenditure and categorised as either green (the reserves will last for month than 12 months of normal operations), amber (the reserves will last for less than 12 months but more than 5 months or red (less than 5 months). Appropriate actions are assigned to each category.
Peter J Petra Chairman of Trustees 5[th] September 2025
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM: 1st April 2024 to 3
| Donatons | 2023/2024 | 2024/2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | Giving | 28457 | 34702 | |
| Oversea | s Gifs Received | 6022 | 7344 | |
| HMRC - | Gif Aid | 3646 | 4737 | |
| One of | Giving+ Gif Days | 4727 | 3422 | |
| Interest | 0 | 484 | ||
| Other s | ources | 243 | 328 | |
| Total Inco | me | 43095 | 51018 | |
| EXPENDIT | URE ON: | |||
| Charitable | actvites | |||
| Wages | ,salaries andpensio | 37026 | 39222 | |
| Trainin | gCosts | 1134 | 2494 | |
| Event e | xpenses | 1315 | 1551 | |
| Grants | to institutions | 1200 | 1393 | |
| Premis | es costs | 892 | 1186 | |
| Service | s(exc. Accountanc | y 696 |
887 | |
| Preachingand othergifts | 0 | 630 | ||
| Admin | istration costs | 879 | 482 | |
| Ministr | yexpenses | 337 | 377 | |
| Refunds | 0 | |||
| Outrea | ch expenses | 883 | 324 | |
| Accou | ntancyfees | 145 | 152 | |
| Deprec | iation | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE 44507 48698 Income / expenditure -1,412.19 2,320.32 |
51st March 2025
STAFF COSTS
Wages and salaries Pension Contributions Total
Average number of employees
The following trustees received remuneration during the year. Peter James Petra
Peter Petra received remuneration for his role as a pastor to the Church, not for his role as a trustee.
2023/2024)
Analysis of Restricted Funds
Leicester City Council
AV Equipment
The donation from Leicester City Council was for Covid related expenditure. Donations were received for the purchase of audio visual equipment for use by the church
Fixed Assets
At 31st March 2024 At 31st March 2025
2024/2025
£ 38,091 £ 1,130 £ 39,222
1 1 £ 38,091.00
| C/Fwd as | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| at 31st | |||||
| 2024/2025 | 2024/2025 | March | |||
| B/Fwd. | Income | Expenditure | 2025 | ||
| 74 | 0 | 0 | 74 | ||
| 236 | 0 | 44 | 192 | ||
| 310 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 266 |
0 0
North Church CIO Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2025
| Fixed Assets Current Assets Debtors Nat West Current Ac Kingdom Bank Savings Liabilites Balance b/f Made up of funds Unrestricted Restricted Excess of income /expenditure |
31st March 2025 0 0 15742 15484 31226 0 28906 2,320.32 31226.32 30960 266 31226 |
31st March 2024 0 0 13906 15000 |
|---|---|---|
| 28906 | ||
| 0 | ||
| 30318 | ||
| -1412 | ||
| 28906 | ||
| 28595 310 |
||
| 28906 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name North Church CIO Leics members of On accounts for the year 31[st] March 2025 Charity no 1186452 ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2025 Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report 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 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 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 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. . Date: 6[th] August 2025 Signed: Name: Colin Wood Relevant professional Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 16 Wordsworth Rd Loughborough Leicestershire LE11 4LQ
Oct 2018
1
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
Oct 2018
2
IER