Northern Gospel Project Report and Accounts Year ended August 2025 ## **Northern Gospel Project** ## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025** |ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE|ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE|Central Buildings| |---|---|---| |||Oldham Street| |||Manchester| |||M1 1JQ| |GOVERNING DOCUMENT||Constitution dated: 8th July 2019| |CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER||1189459| |TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR||Dr Paul Rettie| |MANAGING THE CHARITY||Rachel Senior| |||Timothy Simmonds| |||Matt Waldock| |INDEPENDENT EXAMINER||Nicola Harrison CA| |||Stewardship| |||1 Lamb's Passage| |||LONDON| |||EC1Y 8AB| |||**INDEX**| |Page 1|Legal|& 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|Notes|to the Accounts| 1 ## **Northern Gospel Project** ## **REPORT OF THE** ## **TRUSTEES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025** The trustees have the pleasure of submitting the Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025. ## **Objects of the Charity** The charity is governed by a constitution and is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation. The charity’s principal objectives, as set out in its governing document are: (1) the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Faith exclusively by facilitating the charitable activities of the Northern Gospel Project. (2) such other charitable objects as shall, in the opinion of the charity trustees, further the work of the Northern Gospel Project. A broad range of churches across the region, united in our desire to see the North transformed. We need healthier, thriving churches, so we provide Training, Funding and Care to make that happen. ## **Summary of the charity’s main activities and achievements** To further the above objects and vision, the charity’s main activities and achievements were as follows: ## **Training** Over the course of the year, we have 3 Pastors days that cover topics surrounding evangelism, theology and church / church leadership. We had David Richmon, Derek Tidball and Glen Scrivener lead on navigating congregational crises, wisdom and belief in freedom, kindness, progress and equality. Attendance from last year increased as there were 15 - 20 pastors from across tribes and denominations. The second cohort of church planters will complete the Incubator Course in autumn 2025. We have eight planters in the cohort planting in Leeds, Manchester, Warrington, Keighley, Derby and Larbert. There are three instructors: Pete Evans, Eric Duong and Andy Weatherley (seconded from Grace Church Stirchley). Andy has been training Eric and Pete this year and will step back next year. The planters are enjoying Incubator. We held our first Planter Launchpad on 27 Feb - 2 March 2025. Four church planters attended: It was a great weekend, and we received positive feedback. People particularly appreciated the use of personality tools, the session on Gospel Renewal and the session about NGP churches. Seven pastors were involved in delivering the training and it was a good event for us in galvanising our friendships. 2 ## **Funding** We had a successful application for the Church Plant Seed fund. Rock Church Denton has been granted £22,000.00 and will plant in November 2025. It's encouraging that the pastor was from within the Incubator cohort. We plan to publicise the fund again next year with applications closing in May 2026. ## **Care** Gospel Coaching was ongoing for planters enrolled in the Incubator program using coaches trained and accredited by Church Multiplication Ministries. Prayer for Church Planting was hosted by our Prayer Coordinator Duncan Bell twice in the year. It’s an opportunity to pray specifically for more churches to be planted in Manchester with church and movement leaders from across the denominational/church-style spectrum. We are currently thinking through ways to engage additional churches. The Manchester Planters Collective continued to meet in person. The Planters Collective continues to be a great source of support for the seven planters who attend. It has been running for six years now. The hope was to launch a second Collective, but we are hoping for a critical mass to be able to host a new group. Artefact hosted its launch conference on 26th October at Fabric Church. 40 creatives gathered to discuss how the gifts of the arts and faith meet. Several “scratch nights” were hosted, with a new conference scheduled for 18 October, featuring Jonny Mellor (rapper, artist, and church leader from Sputnik Arts) speaking on _“Collision: What happens when church collides with culture?”_ The Artefact podcast now has eight episodes, the latest featuring BAFTA-winning producer Jon Hancock. In planning the activities, the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. ## **Financial Review** During the year income increased by £21,715 to £48,698 and expenditure decreased by £495 to £21,112. As a result, the cash held by the charity increased by £27,586 to £101,222, of which £35,799 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose. ## **Reserves Policy** The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £3428 (which equates to about 3 months of unrestricted expenditure) 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 £35,799, and the charity is complying with its reserves policy. ## **Trustees’ Responsibilities** 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. 3 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. This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by: ## Rachel Senior Rachel Senior (Jun 18, 2026 16:49:53 GMT+2) Rachel Senior Date: Jun 18, 2026 4 ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT** ## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF** ## **Northern Gospel Project** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Northern Gospel Project ('the charity') for the year ended 31 August 2025 on pages 6 to 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: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. 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. ## Nicola Harrison Nicola Harrison (Jun 18, 2026 15:51:01 GMT+1) Nicola Harrison CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB Date: Jun 18, 2026 5 ## **Northern Gospel Project** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025** |**Net movement in funds**
**Cash funds at this year end**
Notes
Donations
Gift aid receipts
Bank Interest
Income from courses, events and training
Income from Churches US
Income from Churches UK and Europe
Transfer from Partner Church
Payments in relation to charitable activities
undertaken directly
2
Net of receipts / (payments) before transfers
Transfers between funds
Cash funds as at last year end
A
**_Income receipts_**
**_Total receipts_**
**_Payments_**
**_Total payments_**
-
-||Unrestricted Funds
General
Designated
Funds
Funds
£
£|Unrestricted Funds
General
Designated
Funds
Funds
£
£|Restricted
Funds
£|2025
£|2024
£| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||General
Funds
£||||| ||(
(
(
(
(
(
(|1,987
18
-
634
-
11,000
-
19,120
(5,482)
-
(5,482)
21,177
13,638
19,120
15,695
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)|78
-
-
2,100
3,818
-
-
1,992
4,005
-
4,005
16,099
5,997
1,992
20,103
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)|-
-
1,263
-
-
27,800
-
-
29,063
-
29,063
36,361
29,063
-
65,424
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)|2,065
18
1,263
2,734
3,818
38,800
-
21,112
27,586
-
27,586
73,636
48,698
21,112
101,222
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)|144
325
361
1,166
2,316
15,686
6,986
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)| ||(|||||26,983
(
)| ||(|||||21,607
(
)| ||(|||||21,607
(
)| ||(
(
(
(|||||5,376
-
5,376
68,260
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)| ||(|||||73,636
(
)| The notes on pages 8 form part of these accounts. 6 ## **Northern Gospel Project** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025** |**A**
**Cash funds**
**B**
**Liabilities**
**Falling due within one year**
**Total**
Notes
Cash at bank with immediate access
Taxes due
Fee for Independent Examination||**927**
**-**
**15,695**
**20,103**
Unrestricted Funds
General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
15,695
20,103
207
-
720
-
927
-
)
(
)
)
(
)
)
(
)
)
(
)
**)**
**(**
**)**
**)**
**(**
**)**|**-**
**65,424**
Restricted
funds
£
65,424
-
-
-
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
**(**
**)**
**(**
**)**|**927**
**101,222**
2025
£
101,222
207
720
927
(
)
(
)
(
)
(
)
**(**
**)**
**(**
**)**|2024
£| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||**927**
**15,695**
General
funds
£
15,695
207
720
927
)
)
)
)
**)**
**)**|||| ||(||||73,636
(
)| ||**(**||||**73,636**
**(**
**)**| ||(
(||||180
690
(
)
(
)| ||**(**||||**870**
**(**
**)**| ||(||||870
(
)| ## **C 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 by: ## Rachel Senior ___________________________________Rachel SeniorRachel Senior (Jun 18, 2026 16:49:53 GMT+2) Jun 18, 2026 Date:_______________________ The notes on pages 8 form part of these accounts. 7 ## **Northern Gospel Project** ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 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. |||||Unrestricted Funds|Unrestricted Funds|Unrestricted Funds|Unrestricted Funds|||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||General|||Designated|||Restricted|||Total|||Total|| ||||||funds|||funds|||Funds|||2025|||2024|| ||||||£|||£|||£|||£|||£|| |**-**|**2**|**-**|**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**|||||||||||||||| ||||Employment costs|(|6,398|)|(|-|)|(|-|)|(|6,398|)|(|5,493|)| ||||Secondment to City Church|(|-|)|(|-|)|(|-|)|(|-|)|(|9,087|)| ||||Legal and Professional Fees|(|2,020|)|(|-|)|(|-|)|(|2,020|)|(|1,740|)| ||||Staff and Volunteers Hospitality|(|1,732|)|(|242|)|(|-|)|(|1,974|)|(|799|)| ||||Speakers Fees|(|480|)|(|1,750|)|(|-|)|(|2,230|)|(|2,600|)| ||||Administrative Costs|(|954|)|(|-|)|(|-|)|(|954|)|(|851|)| ||||Accommodation and Travel Expenses|(|2,041|)|(|-|)|(|-|)|(|2,041|)|(|623|)| ||||Advertising and Promotional|(|826|)|(|-|)|(|-|)|(|826|)|(|14|)| ||||Event Costs|(|4,648|)|(|-|)|(|-|)|(|4,648|)|(|400|)| ||||Misc. Expenses|(|21|)|(|-|)|(|-|)|(|21|)|(|-|)| |||||(|19,120|)|(|1,992|)|(|-|)|(|21,112|)|(|21,607|)| ## **3 Movement of funds** |**vement of funds**||||||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||Opening|||||||||||Closing|| |||balance|||Receipts|||Payments|Transfers||||balance|| |||£|||£|||£||£|||£|| |General funds|(|21,177|)|(|13,638|)|(|(19,120)|(|-|)|(|15,695|)| |Designated funds||||||||||||||| |Artefact|(|-|)|(|78|)|(|-
)|(|-|)|(|78|)| |Incubator Fund|(|6,297|)|(|2,100|)|(|(1,992)|(|-|)|(|6,404|)| |Conference Fund|(|-|)|(|-|)|(|-
)|(|-|)|(|-|)| |Director Fund|(|9,802|)|(|3,818|)|(|-
)|(|-|)|(|13,621|)| ||(|16,099|)|(|5,997|)|(|(1,992)|(|-|)|(|20,103|)| |Restricted funds||||||||||||||| |City Renewal Fund|(|36,361|)|(|29,063|)|(|-
)|(|-|)|(|65,424|)| ||(|36,361|)|(|29,063|)|(|-
)|(|-|)|(|65,424|)| |Total funds|(|73,636|)|(|48,698|)|(|(21,112)
|(|-|)|(|101,222|)| ## Designated Funds Incubator Fund - expenses related to Incubator training course Conference Fund - expenses related to annual conferences Director Fund - expenses related to Director Role and general payroll Artefact Fund - expenses related to Artefact cohort ## Restricted Funds City Renewal Fund - restricted to funds for new church plants 8