## Freeschool Court Church Trustees’ Report and Statement of Accounts Financial year ended 31 March 2025 ## Contents |Contents|| |---|---| ||Page| |Trustees’ annual report|2| |Independent examination certifcate|6| |Financial statements|7| |Notes|9| 1 | P a g e ## Trustees' Report the financial year ended 31 March 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 9 and in compliance with the church's constitution, rules and applicable law. ## Structure, governance and management The Church is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The registered charity number is 1191312. The managing trustees of the church are the church elders. In June 2024 the Church appointed two additional elders to meet the growing needs of the church. Elders are appointed in line with the process set out in the church handbook. Elders are elected by the church members. of accounts were: |
of accounts were:|||| |---|---|---|---| |**Trustee**|**Position**|**Appointed**|**Retired/Resigned**| |**Arfon Ieuan Davies**|Elder/Treasurer|16/09/2020|-| |**Iwan Rhys Jones**|Elder/Secretary|16/09/2020|-| |**Mark Pickett**|Elder|16/09/2020|-| |**James Sibley**|Pastor|01/11/2021|07/02/2025| |**Mark Gilmore**|Elder|30/06/2024|-| |**Trevor White**|Elder|30/06/2024|-| The elders meet together on a regular basis during the year to discuss and administer the affairs of the church. Reports on church activities are made to the church at quarterly members’ meetings. The trustees are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance including deciding on how the funds of the Church are to be spent. This is subject to church member approval of expenditure over limits set in the church constitution. From 02 July 2025 the role of Treasurer has been undertaken by one of the Church Deacons. ## Charity objects The purposes of the church, as set out in paragraph 3 of the constitution are twofold: - 1) the advancement of the Christian faith, in accordance with the basis of faith, primarily, but not exclusively within Bridgend and the surrounding neighbourhood; - 2) such other charitable purposes as shall, in the opinion of the charity trustees, put into practice the Christian faith in accordance with the Basis of Faith, including, but not limited to: the prevention and relief of need, - hardship and sickness; the advancement of education; and the provision of 2 | P a g e facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity, or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances, with the object of improving their conditions of life. ## Trustees responsibilities Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the church’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and - inappropriate to presume that the church will continue to operate. The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the church and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the church and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## Review of activities The Trustees are committed to enabling all to worship at the Church and to be a part of the community in Bridgend. The Trustees maintain an overview of church activities. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer, the reading of scripture and preaching the word of God. When planning activities throughout the year, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we seek to enable ordinary people to live out their faith through: - Worship and prayer; learning about the Gospel and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus - Provision of pastoral care - Missionary and outreach work To facilitate this work, we maintain the fabric of the church and hall on Freeschool Court in Bridgend. 3 | P a g e ## Worship and prayer the life of the church, namely, weekly Sunday worship services and a mid-week prayer meeting. Additional meetings are held at specific times during the year e.g. as we celebrate Easter and Christmas. Periodically, we focus our Sunday morning service on families and welcome visitors to these services. ## Pastoral care In addition to pastoral care offered to individuals the church has continued to run various activities and ministries having a wider public benefit. The mother and toddler group runs two well attended sessions during the week. The church also continues to run a children’s ‘club’ for primary aged children and one for secondary age children During the year we commenced operating a community café. At our Community Café in Freeschool Court, our friendly volunteers care about people and serve the community by building relationships. Following an approach from Bridgend County Borough Council, we offered the Monday morning café fixture for the Council’s Warm Spaces programme. ## Missionary and outreach work Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. We provide regular support for a number of mission agencies working in various parts of the world. Locally, we hold open air meetings on a regular basis and various events in the church hall where visitors are invited to join us for fellowship and to listen to the Christian message in an informal setting. ## Future developments The trustees keep the activities of the Church under review. At present, there are no future developments planned. ## Financial summary The Church's core income is from gifts and donations given by the Church's members and adherents. In the 2024-25 financial year, these totalled £105,932 (2023-24 £111,643. In addition, the church received donations of £1,300 to its restricted Welfare fund. including earmarked gifts and payments from the welfare fund. 4 | P a g e ## Reserves policy The Church’s reserves policy is to maintain an appropriate level of unrestricted funds to ensure the continuity of its activities and to safeguard against unexpected financial pressures. The Church aims, over time, to hold general reserves equivalent to between 25% and 50% of annual expenditure, which the trustees consider sufficient to provide financial stability and to meet unforeseen costs. In addition to general reserves, the Church may hold designated or earmarked reserves where funds have been set aside by the trustees for specific future purposes in support of the Church’s mission and charitable activities. planning process. This review considers the Church’s financial risks, future commitments, and the sustainability of its ongoing work. The trustees assess whether the level of general reserves remains appropriate in light of changing circumstances and will adjust the reserves policy or target levels if required. Any designated or earmarked reserves are also reviewed to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with the Church’s priorities. At 31 March 2025, the Church held £73,145 (2023-24 £74,445) in general reserves. ## Risk management The trustees have put in place a number of policies and procedures relating to areas of risk in connection with various aspects of the church’s activities. These are periodically reviewed. The church adopted a new data protection policy in August 2024 and registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. The church has a fire safety officer who is responsible for ensuring compliance with fire safety requirements. Evacuation drills are held on a regular basis. The church’s Safeguarding policy was updated during 2024-25. The church also has a current Food Hygiene policy. ## Administrative information The church’s correspondence address is: Freeschool Court Church, 5 Freeschool Court, Bridgend, CF31 3AG ## Trustees approval of accounts The 2024-25 accounts and report were approved by the Trustees on 15 January 2026 and signed on their behalf by Dr AI Davies. 5 | P a g e ## Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Freeschool Court Church I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Freeschool Court Church (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2025 as set out on pages . ## Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the 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 attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. 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. Signed: 16 Plas y Llan, Cardiff CF14 2AF Date: 21 January 2026 6 | P a g e ## Statement of receipts and payments |Note
**Receipts**
Gifts and donations
Gift Aid rebate
Rental income
Misc
Bank interest
Total receipts
**Payments**
**Direct charitable payments**
Ministry
3
Mission
4
Events and outreach
5
Maintenance and running costs
6
Welfare
Total
**Other expenditure**
16 Brackla Street
Assets
Management and admin
7
Total
Total payments
Net receipts/(payments)|General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
105,932
1,300
107,232
111,643
0
0
0
36,849
8,295
0
8,295
7,950
402
0
402
351
1,240
0
1,240
842| |---|---| ||115,869
1,300
117,169
157,635| ||45,378
0
45,378
42,648
39,026
0
39,026
47,983
7,090
0
7,090
7,722
12,472
0
12,472
13,551
0
3,065
3,065
5,262| ||103,966
3,065
107,031
117,166| ||2,335
0
2,335
2,053
1,052
0
1,052
2,176
8,051
0
8,051
3,012| ||11,438
0
11,438
7,241| ||| ||115,404
3,065
118,469
124,407| ||| ||465
(1,765)
(1,300)
33,228| ## Statement of balances |Note
Balance brought forward
Total receipts
Total payments
Transfers between funds
Balance carried forward|General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
74,445
0
74,445
41,217
115,869
1,300
117,169
157,635
(115,404)
(3,065) (118,469) (124,407)
(1,765)
1,765
0
0| |---|---| ||73,145
0
73,145
74,445| 7 | P a g e ## Statement of assets and liabilities ## Cash funds |Cash funds|| |---|---| |Not
e
Current account
Deposit accounts
Cash in hand
Total
Other monetary assets
Gift Aid Rebate due|General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
11,856
0
11,856
4,413
61,241
0
61,241
70,001
48
0
48
31| ||73,145
0
73,145
74,445| ||General
Fund
Welfare
Fund
Total
Last year
£
£
£
£
32,542
525
33,067
14,381| ## Other monetary assets ## Liabilities ## Investment assets The Church owns a property at 16 Brackla Street, Bridgend. The property is let on a commercial basis for an annual rental of £8,295. ## Assets retained for the church’s own use The church holds the following assets for use in its various activities: |Description|Valuation basis|Valuation(£’000)| |---|---|---| |Church and hall|Historic|£1,135| |2 – 5 Freeschool Court, Bridgend|cost/valuation|| Assets recognised but not valued in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities include: - Moveable church furnishings and media/IT equipment. Approved by the trustees on 15 January 2026 and signed on their behalf by Dr AI Davies. 8 | P a g e ## Notes to the accounts ## 1. Basis of accounts The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis under the historical cost convention and are in accordance with the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2005 and guidance issued by the Charity Commission. ## 2. Fund accounting Under the Church’s governing document, the trustees of the Church are free to apply the unrestricted general funds for any of the Church’s charitable purposes set out in the governing document. Except for donations specifically for the restricted funds set out below, all funds held by the Church are unrestricted. The Church operates a restricted welfare fund. The Welfare Fund is used to provide support for individuals in need as identified by the trustees. ## 3. Ministry The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: |he Church operates a restricted welfare fund. The Welfare Fund
upport for individuals in need as identifed by the trustees.
.
Ministry
he church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities:|is used to provide| |---|---| |Pastor salary and oncosts
Guest speakers|2024-25
Last year
£
£
37,212
38,411
8,166
4,237| ||45,378
42,648| ## 4. Mission The church incurred the following costs in supporting mission including overseas mission: |mission:|| |---|---| |SIM
Other|2024-25
Last year
£
£
24,720
24,680
14,306
23,303| ||39,026
47,983| ## 5. Events and outreach The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: |SIM
Other
.
Events and outreach
he church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities:|24,720
24,680
14,306
23,303
39,026
47,983| |---|---| |Children and Young People
General outreach|2024-25
Last year
£
£
4,633
4,773
2,457
2,949| ||7,090
7,722| 9 | P a g e ## 6. Running costs and maintenance The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: |.
Running costs and maintenance
he church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities:|| |---|---| |Utilities
Cleaning and supplies
Repairs and maintenance|2024-25
Last year
£
£
7,307
8,796
3,900
3,739
1,265
1,016| ||12,472
13,551| ## 7. Management and administration The church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities: |Cleaning and supplies
Repairs and maintenance
.
Management and administration
he church incurred the following costs in its ministry activities:|3,900
3,739
1,265
1,016
12,472
13,551| |---|---| |Legal and accounting
Licences
Miscellaneous|2024-25
Last year
£
£
4,564
170
1,482
1,435
2,005
1,407| ||8,051
3,012| ## 8. Employee remuneration The church employed Rev. James Sibley as its pastor: |Licences
Miscellaneous
.
Employee remuneration
he church employed Rev. James Sibley as its pastor:|1,482
1,435
2,005
1,407
8,051
3,012| |---|---| |Pastor salary
Employer’s National insurance and pension contributions|2024-25
Last year
£
£
34,997
36,424
1,275
1,093| ||36,272
37,517| ## 9. Related party transactions Except as stated in Note 9 Employee remuneration, no trustees were employed by the church. As is custom and practice within churches, contributions towards costs are paid to guest speakers to cover any absence of the church’s pastor. This includes contributions to trustees. welfare need. Related trustees are not involved in decisions made regarding such gifts. Mr M Pickett received welfare donations of £300, earmarked gifts of £875 and £1,600 for Christian ministry work including services preaching at the church to cover the pastor’s absence. No other trustees received any payments. 10 | P a g e