## **Oakham Evangelical Church**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements For the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025**
## **_________________________________________**
## **1. Information**
## **Trustees**
Stephen Parkes (Pastor & Chair) Andrew Hayward Benjamin Knight Diane Parkes Peter Hayward Jonathan Timbrell Aimee Cains
Andrew Parkes
Leonard Timbrell
All the above trustees acted for the whole period.
## **Charity registration number** 1186709
## **Address**
Oakham Evangelical Church, City Rd, Tividale, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 1QZ.
## **2. Background**
The Church was established in 1872 and has a long history of service to our community as a source for teaching the Christian Faith, a place of prayer and worship and as a platform of activity and support for the community. The Church's work extends well beyond Sundays, providing regular Bible Studies, prayer and worship events and a programme of community activities for young people, children, families, senior citizens and the wider community.
The Church provides:
- A place to learn about and express the Christian FAITH.
- A place for people to connect with one another
- To provide opportunities for volunteering
- And as a source of pastoral care and support.
The Church is led by our Pastor, who is both a paid employee and trustee together with the other trustees who meet on a monthly basis. They are also supported by over 30 volunteers in the work of the Church.
The period covered by this report has seen the completion of two major building projects:
● Refurbishment of the Ladies toilet
● Installation of a new boundary fence
This year has also seen the further development of our youth and children's work. We have also introduced a new fortnightly Coffee Morning aimed at creating an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to meet, socialise and engage.
## **3. Public Benefit**
The Trustees confirm that we have given due consideration to and complied with the Commission’s guidelines on Public Benefit. We bear this in mind when planning and delivering activities. We have addressed identifiable needs to individuals, specific groups and the wider community.
Much of the church's work involves social contact, providing many opportunities for people to meet one another, enjoy activities, build skills and engage in volunteering. Our activities, church services and community work provide extensive opportunities to meet a variety of people from various ages and backgrounds. As a result, isolation is reduced, people connect and have opportunities to engage in volunteer and social activity. A range of support is provided throughout our activities. As a church we provide opportunities for worship, teaching, prayer and fellowship. Through this we encourage people to grow in faith. Pastoral care, mentoring and support are available for church attendees and the wider community.
A number of members of the church and its leadership are involved in supporting local organisations. Working closely with the Local Authority and Schools. The church provides not only a facility, activities and resources. It also provides a pool of local knowledge, expertise, skills and connections for the local community and the organisations within it.
## **4. Activities undertaken to achieve objectives**
The Church's objects and purposes are detailed in our constitution. Concisely they are to advance the Christian faith through teaching and experience, and to address need in order to improve the conditions of life. Our varied, flexible and often developing programme addresses both of these objects. The church is ideally located as a hub for the local community and platform of activity. Our premises are well resourced, flexible, spacious and suitable for a range of activities.
The churches programme is flexible, a core of regular activities is often added to by one off and short term projects. In the 2024 to 2025 period we were happy to be
able to see that our weekly children's club “Tuesday Kids” and Friday Youth Club have gone from strength to strength, providing a valued and consistent opportunity for children to enjoy time together, engage in activities and develop social skills.
## **Weekly activities**
## **Sunday Worship**
Each Sunday the church met together for worship, prayer, teaching and fellowship from 10.00 AM each Sunday. This session includes an informal time, refreshments are served prior to the Family Service, giving people time and space to connect, socialise and mix. Our Family Service follows, worship, prayer, sermons, communion, participation from a wide range of the congregation is a key feature that is encouraged. Various special services were held including a baptism service and a number of child dedication services. We celebrate communion once per month and in July we held a baptism service
Our Kids Church provides a popular activity for children from toddler up to 11 years of age. Stories, songs, fun and craft activities make this very popular.
In addition occasional extra activities such as Sunday countryside walks and communal meals have been added from time to time.
## **Bible Study**
A Bible based informal discussion is held each week giving an opportunity to explore the Christian faith, enhance understanding and share thoughts and insights. Most studies are based around Bible passages and have explored a variety of topics
## **Carer and Toddler group**
A popular session each week giving children a chance to interact with each other, play with new toys and for Carers to meet, chat and connect. A large area gives plenty of space to play and move around. Our range of toys and educational materials provide a useful opportunity for children to explore new and often larger toys. Carers’ often find it a useful break to meet others and chat over coffee and biscuits. Following its relaunch this group has worked on or near its capacity .
## **Worship Team**
A weekly practice session for musicians to develop their skills, arrange music and blend as a team. New musicians are welcomed and support given. We have a long
history of training, supporting and encouraging musicians to develop their skills. New musicians have been added to this team over this year and regularly make a valued contribution.
## **Wednesday Coffee Morning**
A new project launched this year was a fortnightly coffee morning. This provides an opportunity for people of all ages to meet up over coffee and refreshments. To meet people and chat. The group is intergenerational, children and young people often pop in during the holidays. Numbers vary between 12 and over 30 depending on the time of year.
## **Youth Club**
Activities, mentoring and games for a large group of young people 10 years and above. The safe, friendly environment it provides continues to provide a popular weekly meeting point for young people and this group continues to grow.
## **Tuesday Kids**
This group provides a range of games and activities for 7 to 10 year olds on Tuesday evenings. Children enjoy the activities, the chance to meet school friends, make new ones and do something different . This group runs at full capacity and has a waiting list. The staff team is supported by two young people who volunteer each week and gain both skills and experience.
## **Special Events and Community Activities**
A range of special and community events provide an opportunity for people to meet with others, reduce isolation, develop interests and enjoy engaging in activities . Special events are arranged on a regular basis and are aimed at connecting people. Providing positive activities for a wide age range. This year we have organised for example.
An intergenerational Easter tea party providing a popular family fun event
Big screen showing of The Eurovision Song Contest and then a big screen community screening of England football games
In the autumn we took part in the Tear Fund Big Quiz Night
## **Golf Ball**
Twice this year a group of a dozen have organised a Golf Ball tournament. This has proven to be very popular and a great opportunity for getting together and building friendships.
## **Church Tidy Up**
Our annual deep clean focused on two things: First, a deep clean of everything and a rigorous tidy up. Second, a general tidy up of the church's front garden.
## **Harvest Festival & Food Bank**
Our Harvest Festival collected a large number of food donations which were then passed on to our local Food Bank. The Church continues to collect donations of food and toiletries each week which we then deliver to our local Food Bank.
## **The Big Feed**
Working in partnership with the Grace Mary to Lion Farm Partnership our team of 22 volunteers assembled and distributed Christmas food hampers to local families who had registered a need.This marks the fourth time we have taken part in the project. It has proven to be a very popular and much needed help to local families
## **Christmas activities**
The Christmas season kicked off with a Pantomime performed by our children and youth group. New skills were learned and confidence developed through this popular community event. Our Christmas Carol Service again took the form of “Carols on the Car Park” which included traditional carols, drama and a chance to celebrate the season together. Christmas was marked by a Midnight Service and a Christmas morning service
A Saturday afternoon/evening pre Christmas event for families showing Christmas films and providing seasonal refreshments. Young families enjoyed watching films together and a range of snacks.
## **Note**
Our connection with the community, individuals in the community and our partners continues to be strong and positive. The church is continuing to be a place to volunteer, receive help, discover new things to do and be involved in. We also have a close working relationship with Grace Mary Primary School and Sandwell Council.
We have continued to provide pastoral support, our trustees performed several funerals and developed a social media presence. People regularly view our online services and listen to our podcasts. This online presence and service live streaming will continue to be developed to meet local needs.
Our programme of activity, community connections and soft presence in the community for many years has been a very real support to both individuals and the community. We have reached many people and given them the opportunity to find faith, grow and express their faith. To develop skills, connections, develop
friendships, express themselves and try new things. The Church is often active in signposting people to any services, help or support they need. We also act as an advocate for local needs.
## **This year's major project**
Each year we identify a major project that will improve our premises and enable the church to be better used. This year the ladies toilets were thoroughly refurbished. We also installed a new fence which looks much better, provides better access and enhances the sites security
## **5. Governance and Management**
**Constitution -** The Church's governing document is our CIO constitution.
**Appointment of Trustees -** Trustees are appointed in line with the specific guidelines given in our constitution.
**Structure and decision making -** The Church employs a Pastor who contributes significantly to the churches teaching programme, provides pastoral care and shares with the trustees, the responsibility for the leadership and development of the Church and its work. The Trustees meet monthly to oversee the work, decision making and direction of the Church.
## **6. Plans for the future**
Moving into the future we continue to assess the types of activity we need to be rolling out in the future. In doing so we are bearing in mind our objects, our resources and the needs of the church, community and individuals around us.
We continue to listen to our community and service users and talk to our partners, in particular our local Authority, local schools, other churches and voluntary organisations.
Over the coming year we aim to:
- Further strengthen our core youth and children's activities.
- Recruit and train additional volunteers
- Develop a new community based activity aiming at providing an opportunity for people to get together in a friendly positive activity. To establish a regular Games Café.
## **7. Financial Review**
The main source of our income is from regular donations by bank standing orders and cash donations in the offerings box from those who attend and support the Church at our
Sunday meetings. Our major projects this year were the construction of a replacement perimeter fence & gate and the refurbishment of the ladies toilet. These were funded from our reserves and grants from Grace Mary to Lion Farm Big Local. As part of our Christmas community activities we raised £115 for The Children's Society.
## **8. Declaration**
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Peter Hayward 10th December 2025
Andrew Parkes 10th December 2025
||**Charity Name**
**Oakham Evangelical Church**
|**Charity Name**
**Oakham Evangelical Church**
|**Charity Name**
**Oakham Evangelical Church**
|**Charity Name**
**Oakham Evangelical Church**
|**Charity Name**
**Oakham Evangelical Church**
|**CC16a**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**For the period**
**from**||Period start date
1 April 2024|**To**|||
||||||||
|**Section A Receipts and payments**|||||||
|**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**||**Restricted funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
|Regular Donations|**21,490**||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**5,000**
**2,000**
**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**21,490**
**9,621**
**575**
**-**
**5,000**
**2,000**
**1,491**
**-**|**20,980**|
|Offering Box|**9,621**|||||**9,282**|
|Community Activities|**575**|||||**451**|
|Tax Reclaim|**-**|||||**-**|
|Perimeter fence & gate|**-**|||||**-**|
|Games Cafe|**-**|||||**1,448**|
|Other|**1,491**|||||**207**|
||**-**|||||**-**|
|**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**
**33,177**
**_Sub total_**
_(Gross income for AR)_|**33,177**||**7,000**|**-**|**40,177**|**32,368**|
||||||||
|**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**|||||||
||**-**||**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**|**-**|
||**-**|||||**-**|
|**33,177**
**A3 Payments**
**-**
**_Sub total_**
**_Total receipts_**|**-**||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||||||
||**33,177**||**7,000**|**-**|**40,177**|**32,368**|
||||||||
|Payroll|**27,331**||**-**|**-**
**-**|**27,331**
**3,988**|**24,960**|
|Utilities & Internet|**3,988**|||||**4,141**|
|Consumables|**355**||**-**|**-**|**355**|**1,583**|
|Insurance & Admin|**2,428**||**-**|**-**|**2,428**|**2,271**|
|Perimeter fence & gate|**-**||**5,000**
**-**
**941**
**6,200**
**36**
**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**5,000**
**2,302**
**941**
**6,200**
**36**
**115**|**-**|
|Property Maintenance|**2,302**|||||**2,654**|
|Media Plus Fund|**-**|||||**723**|
|Toilet Refurb Fund|**-**|||||**-**|
|Garden Equipment Fund|**-**|||||**6,975**|
|Other|**115**|||||**-**|
|**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**
**36,519**
**_Sub total_**|**36,519**||**12,177**|**-**|**48,696**|**43,307**|
||||||||
|**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**|||||||
||**-**||**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**||
||**-**||||||
|**36,519**
**-**
**3,342**
**22,447**
**19,105**
**A6 Vested funds**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**-**
**_Sub total_**
**_Total payments_**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**
**_Cash funds this year end_**|**-**||**-**|**-**|**-**||
||||||||
||**36,519**||**12,177**|**-**|**48,696**|**43,307**|
||||||||
||**-**
**3,342**||**-**
**5,177**|**-**|**-**
**8,519**|**-**
**10,939**|
||||**11,577**|**-**
**-**|**34,024**
**-**|**-**|
||**22,447**|||||**44,963**|
||**19,105**||**6,400**|**-**|**25,505**|**34,024**|
||||||||
|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**|||||||
|**Categories**
**B1 Cash funds**|CAF Bank
**Details**|||**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**19,105**
**-**
**-**|**Restricted funds**
**to nearest £**
**6,400**
**-**
**-**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
|||||||**-**|
||**_Total cash funds_**|||**19,105**|**6,400**|**-**|
||(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))|||OK|OK|OK|
||||||||
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
||||||**Unrestricted**|||**Restricted funds**|||**Endowment**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Categories**|**Details**|||**funds**||||||**funds**||
||||||**to nearest £**|||**to nearest £**|||**to nearest £**||
|**B1**|**Cash funds**|CAF Bank|||**19,105**|||**6,400**|||**-**||
||||||**-**|||**-**|||**-**||
||||||**-**|||**-**|||**-**||
|||**_Total cash funds_**|||**19,105**|||**6,400**|||**-**||
|||(agree balances with receipts and payments|||||||||||
|||account(s))|||OK|||OK|||OK||
CCXX R accounts (SS)
|**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B5 Liabilities**
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf
of all the trustees|**Details**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Restricted funds**
**to nearest £**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**When due**
**(optional)**|
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
|||||Date of approval|
|||||10/01/2026|
|||||10/01/2026|
CCXX R accounts (SS)