lightwave Annual Report 2025 qry Ag¢ Oung THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SUFFOLK
A year of transition
It is a joy and a privilege to welcome you to this year’s report and to share something of what God is doing through the Lightwave Community in Suffolk. As you read these pages, my prayer is that you will sense both the honesty and the hope that shape our life together.
Lightwave is a Bishop’s Mission Order (BMO)—a recognised ecclesial community under the oversight of the Diocesan Bishop. We are defined not by geography but by mission: intentional, outward‑facing, and committed to shining the light of Christ in the everyday places of life. We are also a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), governed by the Lightwave Community Council, which includes a Bishop’s Visitor, a licensed minister as leader, Bishop’s appointees and elected representatives
Our vision is simple and bold: a wave of God’s light and love bringing hope across Suffolk.
Lightwave continues to offer safe, welcoming spaces where people of all ages can explore faith and experience God’s love. Rural ministry brings some challenges: ageing congregations, rapid development, and growing isolation, but it also opens remarkable opportunities for creativity, courage, and Spirit‑led renewal.
Over the past year, we’ve seen God gently stirring hearts, opening doors, and drawing people toward Himself. Churches across villages and traditions have grown in confidence, taking fresh risks for the sake of the Gospel. Our team has sought God’s direction through prayer, listening, and faithfully responding to the people before us.
This has been a season of walking by faith, supported by the sacrificial service of many lay and ordained, staff and volunteers, who have served with generosity and love. Though challenges have come, God has remained faithful.
What began as small mission groups - simple, accessible places of belonging, has grown into larger worshipping communities as people move closer to faith.
Thank you for journeying with us. May this report strengthen your faith and inspire fresh hope for what God can do in even the smallest rural communities.
Diane Grano - Leader Designate of the Lightwave Community
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Lightwave Hub Churches
Bungay and Beyond
In 2025, Lightwave Bungay continued to pursue its mission of making disciples and sharing the light, life, and hope of Jesus with children, young people, and families across the town. A significant highlight was the Easter baptisms of two adults, one young adult, and four children. We ran Alpha with the three adults in the lead up to their baptism and two of them have continued in a small group and are very much a part of our Lightwave Hub community. The adults story of faith began by connecting with us at Spud Club..
Youth discipleship grew through the Lent Alpha Youth Series,
“I like learning more about Jesus and being with other Christians” - member of Youth group
which brought together ten young people who formed strong relationships and engaged deeply with questions of faith. An awayday focused on the Holy Spirit was a particularly meaningful experience.
Schools Work
We have continued to do monthly assemblies at Bungay Primary School, we have also hosted them at Holy Trinity church for special seasonal services throughout the year (Harvest, Christmas and Easter). The children are always so eager to participate and have some brilliant questions and insights about faith.
We go into Bungay High School weekly, to support the work of the Chaplaincy, through doing ‘Lightwave Challenge’ on the playground and supporting the
weekly CU – we often get 15 – 20 students coming along. The link from the playground to CU has meant that we have got to know lots more students. A challenge is that we have not seen any of these young people come to our Thursday night youth group or worship nights.
Music, Mission and Discipleship
The Soul Children Choir experienced both encouragement and difficulty. After a slow start we finally
got going in March using our Hub in the centre of town and welcomed six children. Despite these small numbers, the children had a great time each week learning songs, improving their singing, learning microphone technique, playing games and getting to know each other. We also had some great ‘pause for thought’ moments where we discussed the meaning of the lyrics we were singing, over a snack and a drink, before finishing in prayer. The children performed at the Lightwave end of year Celebration service and did an amazing job! After the Summer break we changed the timing of the choir hoping to attract more members but numbers remained low. Despite this disappointment, the choir has clearly been enjoyed and valued by the youngsters and their parents, and there was a real buzz in the lead up to our Christmas performance at our Christingle service, with eight children involved.
Youth Band has continued to meet weekly throughout 2025, and maintained a committed core group and provided
“Youth band is very fun and helps me connect with God” – young person
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leadership opportunities through worship services and events, though attracting new members and managing staffing changes proved difficult.
Light in our communities
Spud Club (a weekly after school club with a healthy meal) has met weekly at Bungay Community Centre. On average we have 25 adults and children come along each week; we have made some great connections with families in the town. The children have loved the fun, food, craft, prayer station and the weekly Lightwave challenge. We would like to find more ways to help those who attend to engage with the Christian faith, perhaps through connecting with other activities we provide.
Sports Holiday Club ran over two rather wet but fun days at the Maltings Pavilion in July. It was great to connect with children and families we know through Spud Club, the Primary School
and Lightwave. “Lightwave has awakened We used my faith” – adult some of
the Scripture Union
‘Half Time’ material to talk about faith with the young people.
We had a great time at the Bungay Christmas Market this year – we connected
with the community through serving refreshments, singing carols and having a joyful presence outside the Hub with our ‘Nativity Photo Booth’, which many connected Community engagement
flourished through Spud Club, which regularly welcomed 25 adults and children each week. Sports Holiday Club and involvement in the Bungay Christmas Market strengthened relationships and created accessible opportunities to share faith. These initiatives remain vital bridges between church and community.
Leadership development
This was another area of growth, with young people actively involved in worship nights and service planning.
Sustainability
2025 saw a positive increase in working alongside and with the parish church in mission. We have worked more closely with the new Rector and have begun identifying how we could work together more in the future – which involves a shared missional outlook, resourcing and sustainability.
We are feeling a bit depleted as a team at the end of the year as our Children’s and Youth worker stepped down from the role after one year and our administrator moved on to another role – we hope to replace both in 2026.
Overall, “It is an Lightwave encouragement to me Bungay’s work to be a small part of a in 2025 vibrant community of fostered believers which spiritual includes children and growth, young people, as well community as those of my belonging, and generation.” – emerging lld l leadership.
Despite ongoing challenges, testimonies from young people and adults reflect deepening faith and appreciation for being part of a vibrant, intergenerational Christian community.
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Emerge Hub (Playford)
Emerge Sundays
At Christmas we had ‘Carols on the Green’ with Playford WI helping to serve refreshments. Many people heard the music outside and decided to
come along, including a family with young children who were so grateful for our Christmas giveaways. “The butterflies that you kindly gifted us for Christmas have been decorated and the crosses are the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Truly we thank you so much for them.”
We meet at Playford Village Hall on Sunday mornings and are currently planning a Mothering Sunday Seed Swap and a Good Friday community event and Easter egg hunt with St Mary’s Church, Playford.
Small groups
‘The Chosen’ men’s group meets in a pub on Monday afternoons, exploring episodes from the series about Jesus and his disciples. Gather meets on Wednesday evenings for adults, designed to deepen faith through Bible study, prayer, and discussion. Chat, cuppa & prayer meet monthly on Friday mornings and Open house provides a social time with games and a meal monthly on Friday evenings.
Emerge Youth
In 2025, we were delighted to receive a grant for Playford Youth group from our local County Councillor’s Enabling Communities budget. We have bought games equipment and blenders to make smoothies (see photo).
Alongside all the usual active games, board games, food and hot chocolate bar, the young people have enjoyed making
festive pizzas and cooking them in the pizza ovens, making snowflake decorations, planting daffodil bulbs to brighten up the playing field and had a demonstration in how a defibrillator works!
Average attendance is 14 young people (aged 10-16). We meet once a month on Fridays after school and another adult from the village has joined our team. We also had a donation from a kind
lady in the village, which allowed us to buy us a badminton set. She said, "I remember what it was like being young and needing somewhere to go and something to do with friends."
There is a youth band and a core of young leaders who are serving on Sundays, leading Bible story dramas, worship and short talks (including an
evangelistic message at our Good Friday community event). We will be taking a group again to New Day festival in the Summer, joining with other churches from Ipswich.
Ben Wale
Lightwave Emerge Hub Leader
www.weareemerge.org
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Red Lodge (Forest Heath) Hub, Red Lodge, Suffolk (
Highlights, Struggles, and Ministry Story
2025 has been a year marked by growth, deepening discipleship, and widening community impact across every age group. Our focus on making disciples has borne visible fruit. The autumn Alpha course welcomed 21 participants , leading to two new commitments to faith , with a follow-up discipleship pathway planned for 2026.
The Young Adult group , now meeting in
the church and strengthened by the presence of our new Youth Leader, has grown from 4 to 15 connected members , with an average of 8 attending regularly weekly.
Our Ladies’ Group continues to be a gentle, welcoming space for those exploring faith, with four women baptised this year .
The Golden Girls group has become a place of confidence-building and spiritual renewal for women over 60—several now serving in children’s ministry, reading Scripture at Sunday services, and offering hospitality.
Among primary-aged children , we
have seen remarkable engagement. Trail Blazers now welcomes around 10 KS1 children weekly , all of whom are now part of a Sunday fresh expression of church.
The Light & Lyrics lunchtime club continues to inspire creativity and biblical engagement for around 20 children each week .
Our annual Summer Holiday Club reached an extraordinary 108 children over three days, supported by 40 volunteers , including 15 young people volunteering . The Children and volunteers learnt that God’s love is bigger than it all. God is bigger than big, Stronger than strong, and mightier than mighty.
Our presence in local schools through Open the Book has expanded to 1,800 children across six schools , with a seventh joining in 2026. This ministry is sparking curiosity, with children bringing parents to church to learn more.
Youth ministry has experienced both challenges and encouragement. Rooted Youth , our discipleship group for 11–18s, maintains a strong average of 14 weekly attendees , all of whom also attend Sunday Fresh Expression of Church. Many are stepping into leadership, with 8 volunteering at the Holiday Club and 12 attending the diocesan Gather weekend .
Friday Youth , relaunched at the church, has seen numbers settle at
around 12 , almost all from unchurched families. While this is a numerical drop, it represents a deepening of missional reach. Encouragingly, two young people have since joined Rooted Youth
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to learn more about Jesus, and four volunteered at the Holiday Club.
For preschoolers and their families, 2025 has been a year of expansion. The long-standing Red Lodge Toddler Group continues to serve around 25 families weekly , and the launch of Bubble Church in September has already drawn six families from toddler groups. Two new toddler groups in Kentford and Moulton have begun forming relationships and early faith conversations, with families starting to connect into wider church life. Strengthened links with the Beck Row toddler group have enabled faith content to be introduced, and a new parent group now meets fortnightly. The Holiday Brunch Club continues to provide a warm, relational space for families connected through the Beck Row After School Club .
A joyful highlight of the year was the Big Church Festival , where 23 people attended together—an intergenerational mix of mature Christians, new believers, young adults, youth, and children. This gathering strengthened relationships, deepened faith, and created shared memories that continue to shape community life.
Alongside all this, we have continued to
shine a light in our communities through our newly formed Hope Community Choir , with 24 members ranging from 8 to 60+ in age. 10 adults and 4 children are unchurched. The great blessing is that they are singing the Gospel and performing in church and community over Easter and Christmas. The Christmas Singing Train gathered 80 people at the church to celebrate Christmas together.
Encounter Worship at 6 pm has seen gradual growth with 41 members and an average attendance of 23 people at each service.
Helping Hands ministry continues to strengthen community partnerships and grant-funded initiatives.
Leadership development has continued through Elder training , Preaching course , and SMDP . These investments are essential as we look toward long-term sustainability.
Impact of the Work in 2025
The number of people attending and food bags distributed has reduced, as a more targeted approach has been adopted in this area.
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Sustainability and the Future
The clearest measure of impact this year has been the number of people taking steps of faith, culminating in a remarkable series of baptisms. In 2025, we celebrated 6 adult baptisms, 3 baptisms of young people and 6 of children.
Voices of Impact
“I joined Lightwave as a young person and was employed for my first job five years ago. I went to Youth Alpha, started going to the Young Adults games group, sometimes go to Encounter services, went to adult Alpha, and have now got engaged! I have learned to love.” — Callum
“Volunteering at Lightwave has given me purpose and a church where I belong.” — Chloe
“Our group is a supportive space. What we all have in common is that we are growing in faith, and we support one another along the journey. I have learned so much during our Bible studies and made a lovely group of friends.” — Charlotte M
Looking ahead, sustainability will depend
on continuing to grow leaders and deepen discipleship pathways.
The grants received this year have been vital in enabling new groups, staffing, and community outreach across rural villages.
Strengthening volunteer teams, investing in training, and nurturing the next generation of leaders—particularly through our youth and young adult ministries—remain key priorities.
With growing engagement across all ages and a strong foundation of relational ministry, we are well placed to continue building a vibrant, mission-shaped church that serves and transforms our communities.
6 Adult Baptisms: These stories represent lives transformed, families reached, and the ongoing work of God through Lightwave and the local church.
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The Place by the Water,
During 2025, our life together was shaped by a growing sense of God’s presence, purpose, and provision. The year began with Sunday Suppers and The Well exploring the wonder of creation, encouraging people of all ages to reflect on God as Creator and Sustainer. This spirit of curiosity and faith was deepened through The Chronicles of Narnia by The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, which became the foundation of a major outreach project in the spring. Through shared reading, creative events, and thoughtful discussion, over 300 people engaged with the Christian story in fresh ways. The transformation of the Rectory garden into “Narnia” for a family celebration became a powerful expression of welcome, imagination, and gospel storytelling, and opened new connections with schools and churches.
Throughout the year, God’s faithfulness was also evident in the practical
strengthening of our ministry. Successful grant applications enabled us to invest both in mission and in our facilities. Over the summer, improvements to
the Rectory garden and the installation of French windows created safer, more accessible spaces, ensuring that everyone could fully participate in our gatherings. Alongside this, the teaching series on the Names of God brought reassurance and spiritual grounding, reminding us that in every season God is our provider,
protector, healer, and comforter.
As autumn approached, our focus turned to identity and discipleship, particularly for our young people preparing to leave for university. Building on the work of Thea Muir, we explored biblical truths about being loved, chosen, and called by God. These sessions helped root participants more deeply in their faith, equipping them to live confidently as followers of Christ in new contexts.
The year concluded with a joyful season of outreach through the Nativity Trail, made possible by diocesan support. From late November to Epiphany, the Rectory garden was transformed into a journey of light and storytelling, welcoming around 250 visitors. Families encountered the Christmas story through creativity, hospitality, and generosity, with books, crafts, and shared refreshments offering space for conversation and reflection. As we look back on 2025, we give thanks for God’s guidance, provision, and blessing, and for the many ways He has used our community to share His love with others.
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Bridge Communities
During 2025 we have felt God closely with us and have enjoyed seeing members of all our communities recognise and develop their gifts and learn new leadership skills, using them to welcome others and to offer relationships where faith can be shared gently and appropriately. A particular highlight was when we enjoyed celebrating 4 baptisms and 3 confirmations together.
Bridge Wellbeing Café (1[st] and 3[rd] Friday mornings each month, 10:30-12)
regularly takes referrals from Ipswich GP’s Social Referrals Team.
We have seen attendance grow over the last year and heard many stories of how the café has felt important for our guests, one telling us “This café has honestly saved my life”.
Roots, a post Alpha discipleship microchurch is also thriving and looking at expanding. We are looking at the possibility of running another Alpha course in 2026.
In August 2025, our leader Reverend Andy Buttress left Bridge Communities to take on his new role. Six months later we are now eagerly anticipating welcoming a new leader who will help lead us to new ventures.
www.bridgecommunities.org.uk
“This café has honestly saved my life” – member of Bridge Wellbeing Café
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Other Lightwave Groups
Rising Hope – Little Cornard
Rising Hope community has had a year of hosting WWOOF[1] volunteers from all over the world, involving them in our daily spiritual and farming life and being inspired by them in turn.
"This week taught me a lot, looking after vegetables and food but mostly compassion, love, joy and PEACE."
They always enjoy the stimulation of our monthly fire gatherings where the stories and theological thoughts flow thick and fast.
“The community you have created has breathed life back into my lungs, light back into my eyes and joy back into my smile”
1 WWOOF stands for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms and links visitors with organic farmers, promotes an educational and cultural
Pilgrims Together
Pilgrims Together continues its pioneering ministry across the Benefices of Alde Sandlings and Leiston cum Sizewell. Our calling to go where people gather has remained strong throughout 2025 and into 2026: the pub, the local care home, the High Street, outside the village cafes, on the beach to name but a few places where you will find us sharing Jesus in ways contextually right for those we meet. 2025 has also seen us connect with Clive, the chaplain at Sizewell C and begin to discern together ways that we might be a welcoming presence and voice to those who come to work on the construction of the power plant and live among us. We give much thanks for all that God has done over the past 12 months in us, through us and around us.
Four Rivers “The Bridge”
This group continued in 2025 under the leadership of Revd Chrissie Smart (now incumbent of the benefice) and Sheila Pipe.
exchange and builds a global community conscious of ecological farming practices. https://wwoof.net/
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Associate Lightwave Groups
Associate Lightwave Groups are part of our community, but come under the governance of their local PCC.
Chadbrook Lightwave Groups
Connect Baby and Toddler group
This summer we said goodbye to a number of parents and their children who are starting school or nursery and have been coming since they were born. It was such a bitter sweet moment for all concerned. One very shy mum joined us eight years ago with her first child. It has been a privilege to see her confidence grow as well as that of her offspring. Luckily, I am able to still see the children when I visit the local school for Diddy Disciples, workshops and assemblies and some of our other church events.
With our oldies gone, we were left with a group of new young babies. It seems nearly impossible that most of those are now walking and interacting with one another.
There is such a friendly atmosphere created by our great team of volunteers.
The requests for prayer are still gratefully received and all of the helpers will now suggest names to pray for after the
discussions they’ve had. This is a very
positive step.
All in all, 2025 has been a calmer year at Connect but a most valuable one in forging positive relationships and crossing the borders between church and our group.
“ if you’re sitting comfortably, I’ll begin’
Message from a parent after a much longed for outcome: “I think your prayer was received tonight!”
4 O’Clock Community:
4 o’clock literally brought our autumn’s ‘Light’ theme to our community with our well received light gazebo on an estate’s central play area with crafts and refreshments for passing trick or treaters and their families – provoking conversations in the village shop half a mile away - many guests asked us to do it again next year! This was a real delight as it has been a dream for some time to be able to do something with this particular community on the recreation ground. The idea and its implementation was led by some of our new leaders. We hope to develop this emerging prayer and outreach team further next year by participating in Envoy. More highlights have been seeing our ‘Shine’ informal service gradually growing, with encouraging testimonies from participants every time we meet, and a desire from young adults at a successful pub Alpha over autumn to continue and become a monthly pub gathering. Our ‘Wild church’
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team are also starting to develop ideas for eco projects. Earlier in the year we had a theme of ‘Hope’ and gave out ‘Hope boxes’ devised by one of our new leaders to wider community members in
need. Men’s breakfast has been a source of friendship and encouragement for a diverse bunch of church and non-church participants.
A visiting Dinosaur at our Halloween Light Gazebo !
Photo by guest Samantha Greenwood (Used with permission)
We have graduated from Growing New which has particularly helped with team development, safeguarding (helped by our new safeguarding administrator) and are starting to strengthen our governance. Our Lay pioneer has been receiving a GiG grant from the diocese, and is in ministerial training, for a planned pioneer curacy including 4o’clock in 2026. Struggles have included major health issues and bereavement in our core team earlier this year, so we are very grateful for wider team members who have stepped in and helped (and hopefully grown in their gifts and confidence as they’ve done so!). Our Café church has now paused while we support a new monthly 4pm family service at Lawshall which is building links with the adjacent school with a children’s choir – but we hope that it will restart in more neutral community spaces such as village halls when appropriate.
Needham Market Messy Church
A member of the team writes:
“The growth in numbers is very evident and the way the parents are now joining in with their children is lovely. The parents/grandparents are also interacting more with each other and are also having some personal conversations with the helpers.
The children listen well to the story and are making good links to the activities.
I have found that I often bump into parents/grandparents around the lake or town and they are so open to chatting. It helps them to see that we are ordinary people but who shine God’s love us in the way we speak, behave and care about what we do.
I loved reading the story.
The helpers are able to cover when there is illness which makes the session sustainable and not dependent.
One or two children are beginning to come to family service and a year 6 child who comes and wants to be looked at as a helper.”
Coffee, Cakes and Conversation, Sutton
All Saints Sutton has 2 services per month, one is a Communion Service attended by an average of 6 people and the other is our popular Café Sunday which attracts a group of around 15-20 each week, largely made up from nonchurch goers. Sutton is a small parish and struggles every year to pay the Parish Share of around £16000. As yet we haven’t applied for any grants but will probably be doing this in the near future
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as we have to find money for roof and window repairs.
The main impact has been to keep Café Church going as the people who attend clearly enjoy the informal discussions about life and the Church, largely lead by myself. One of our group is about to start her Elder training and already assists with services when she can.
One new member said as she left: “ I will come again, even though I am not a Church goer, as it was friendly and relaxed.”
Sometimes, just being there is enough, I think.
Bredfield Lightwave Group
This group was formed in 2023 and continues to engage in missional listening, focussing on reaching out with
God’s love in the small village of Bredfield. Throughout 2025 we have continued to
try to build relationships in the village beyond our church congregation and to deepen discipleship.
The group has increased from 9 to 12 and meets weekly for worship, bible study and outreach planning. In 2025, we organised a number of special events.
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New Year’s Day walk
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Traditional epiphany house blessings throughout the village
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Candlemass party with craft activities such as making candles and Christingles
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Pancake making, decorating and tossing prior to Shrove Tuesday
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• Mothering Sunday weekend posy making in the village hall car park
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A Maundy Thursday meal
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An Easter Experience event involving installations in the church and churchyard
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A Songs of Praise with Cream Tea in June (pictured)
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Harvest Festival breakfast with activities and an agricultural implement display
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Christmas Choir
These events helped us to build relationships and brought more people into church. Our average weekly church attendance has grown substantially in 2025 from around 15 at the beginning of 2024 to nearer 30 by the end of 2025. It continues to grow.
Our challenge is still to connect with more young families with children.
South Hartismere Connect
Our seed sowing continues through Gislingham Toddler group and the school families. We held another House of Light in October, and this enabled several church members to grow in their roles.
In another village a couple organised a village advent window calendar. This is new shoots of discipleship and seed sowing.
CONNECT has been laid down. In this process Emma and I have been waiting on God to discern our next steps. A new expression in Wetheringsett ‘Welcome to ...Advent’ was held. This is a worship space for families. We gather, explore a bible story, worship and have interactive prayer and themed craft. ‘Welcome to…Worship’ will start on Sunday mornings in 2026.
The main impact of our work is to disciple and grow the leaders within the existing body to create new spaces to encounter Jesus.
At our Toddler group the impact is seen as they show the fruits of the kingdom to each other. There is a sense of unity, and
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the leader often speaks of how God always brings the women who need to meet him at the well. She is also joining the bible course and has become bold in her sharing of her faith.
In 2026 our focus is to create opportunity or worship and encounter through ‘welcome to’ and ‘God and Play’ ‘The Bible course’ and TKC prayer spaces. As the small shoots grow there will then be space to pray and discern long term plans and sustainability.
cook@church
In last year’s annual report on cook@church we wrote:
“So what is the vision for 2025? I would like to ask the Lord if we can grow the number of children who attend a cook@church session regularly from 8 to 15, with the maximum number of children at any one session being 12 (for manageability and safeguarding).”
The good news is, we have been blessed with growth. At the close of the year we had 19 children (aged 10-15) that had attended a cook@church session. We had 10 newbies join through our special summer event and all but one of those came again to one of our 8 regular session. These children represent 13 families. We had 8 adults who helped out on a rota basis. Together these people have formed the core of the multigenerational cook@church
community. We give thanks to God for each one that has shared in our cooking and eating together. The highlight of the year was no doubt our summer woodfire cooking event which saw us partnering with local provider Fire and Feast and Lightwave associate, Sara, of Rising Hope near Sudbury. Community around food and faith is central to cook@church and we have continued each year to join with others in the wider community to cook, eat and share together. We have encouraged and supported one of our young cooks to step into the role of peer leader and our team of volunteers have grown in confidence as they support and facilitate the cooking.
Cook@church is currently looking for a new leader so is not meeting at present – there are two on-off events planned for 2026. Enthusiasm for cook@church is high (as can be seen from selected data from our recent participants’ survey attached) so we pray that God will prompt someone to step forward to lead it.
“I enjoyed meeting up with friends and new friends and learning how to cook together. I also enjoyed praying and learning how important it is to be thankful to God for our food”
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Safeguarding
The care and protection of children, young people, and vulnerable
adults involved in church activities is the responsibility of the whole church. Everyone who participates in the life of the church has a role to play in promoting a safer church for all.
Safeguarding is an integral part of the mission and ministry of Lightwave, and it is everyone’s responsibility.
Our Policy
It is our policy to:
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Promote a safe environment and culture.
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Safely recruit and support all those with any responsibility for working with groups who may be at increased risk of harm or abuse within the church.
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Respond promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
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Care pastorally for victims and survivors of abuse and others who may be affected.
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Care pastorally for those who are the subject of safeguarding concerns or allegations , along with others affected by the situation.
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Respond appropriately to those who may pose a present risk to others.
To fulfil this policy, we work with the Diocese to ensure that facilities are available to complete online DBS applications and that appropriate
safeguarding training is provided. This helps raise awareness and create an atmosphere of “informed vigilance.”
Each Lightwave Group has an appointed safeguarding lead, and all leaders are DBS‑checked and trained in accordance with the Lightwave Safeguarding Policy. Kirk Matthews is the new Safeguarding Lead for Lightwave and leads the Lightwave Safeguarding Team, which is responsible for implementing Lightwave’s safeguarding policy across the network.
Email:
safeguarding@lightwave.community
Safeguarding Activity During the Year
Throughout the year, we have completed DBS checks as necessary and have sought to ensure that safeguarding training for all relevant individuals remained up to date.
We have received a small number of safeguarding questions and concerns over the past year. Each has been handled appropriately, often with the guidance of Karen Galloway, Diocesan Safeguarding Officer.
Access to Policies and Reporting Information
There is a Lightwave Safeguarding group which regularly reviews the Safeguarding policy in line with the most recent diocesan guidance.
Our latest safeguarding policy is available on the Lightwave website, along with additional resources and the contact details needed for reporting any safeguarding concerns.
https://www.lightwave.community/safeguardi ng
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The year in numbers
New Disciples
New disciples has always been our key measure for Lightwave – people who are now attending some form of worship regularly in the year we measure who were not previously attending any form of church.
We continue to see New Disciples joining our Lightwave Hubs and Groups with an additional 59 new disciples in 2025 (42% children and young people), bringing the total
since the community started to 716 of which 47% were under the age of 18.
Stats for Mission
These are collected for the groups under the governance of the BMO. A key measure for the Church of England is average weekly attendance (AWA) measured through collecting detailed attendance in October. This has issues for Lightwave as this is always half term, and groups may meet one year, and then not the next so year on comparisons are difficult. However, growth in children and young people is very encouraging, up by 60%
A more accurate picture is given by worshipping community numbers which have increased by 19%.
Other statistics
Reported contacts across all groups have increased by 27% to 3,256, and we now have almost 200 volunteers working across our groups.
We have also seen 54 baptisms since the start of Lightwave.
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Financial Review
The work of the Lightwave Community is supported both by grants and giving shown in this report, and some direct funding from the Diocese for clergy and lay leaders for which we are immensely grateful. Emerge, The Place by the Water and Bridge Communities were fully funded through the Lightwave Community directly in 2025. Red Lodge/Forest Heath and Bungay and Beyond continued to receive diocesan support, and plans are being developed to reach sustainability by end of 2027 when this funding will largely cease.
We are seeing an expected deficit in 2025. This breaks down as follows (after any fund transfers):
| Area | Fund Balance at 1 Jan 2025 Surplus / (Deficit) Transfers Fund Balance at 31 Dec 25 Commentary |
|---|---|
| General Funds Bridge Communities The Place by the Water Safe Harbour (Transfer) Agricultural Chaplaincy Red Lodge Emerge Bungay |
14,771 2,680 (1,000) 16,451 37,366 6,552 1,000 44,918 76,406 (14,386) - 62,020 15,522 4,227 - 19,749 128,335 (26,959) - 101,376 12,276 3,384 - 15,660 10,752 (10,739) - 13 182 (174) - 8 295,610 (35,415) 260,195 Some staff costs directly funded Now funding some parish share from reserves Some staff costs directly funded Now funding parish share partly from reserves Now funding leader from grant funding Governance and funds transfer to Ipswich, St Helen's Governance transferred to Diocese |
Place by the Water received an award of grants for retreats and ongoing ministry of almost £100,000 over 3 years. This has enabled the CIO to employ the leader Revd Kathy Wilson for 2 days per week. Overall grants received in 2025 totalled £120,776 for which we are immensely grateful. Full details can be found in note 12 in the Annual Accounts.
We are grateful to all our donors across our Lightwave Community Churches. Regular giving has reduced by 4%, reflecting one or two larger donors who have left. At the end of 2025 58 donors were giving £6,722 per month, averaging £116 per donor.
----- Start of picture text -----
Bridge was not part of the Lightwave
Community until 2024 and hence is
shown separately.
----- End of picture text -----
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
18
Breakdown of Income and Expenditure
| Income | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grants | £ 120,776 | |
| Donations - Regular Giving | £ 91,401 | |
| Charitable Activities | £ 25,425 | |
| Gift Aid Recovered | £ 22,110 | |
| Donations - Other | £ 21,301 | |
| Other Income | £ 14,822 | |
| Investments | £ 5,593 | |
| Trading Activities | £ 2,017 | |
| Total Income | £ 303,447 | |
| Expenditure | ||
| Diocesan Parish Contributions | £ 105,981 | |
| Staff Employment and similar costs | £ 77,941 | |
| Event Costs | £ 29,833 | |
| Premises incl Rental Costs | £ 29,475 | |
| Mission and Ministry Expenses | £ 28,553 | |
| Support Costs | £ 24,460 | |
| Equipment | £ 11,867 | |
| Transfer of Funds (Safe Harbour and Chaplaincy) | £ 11,460 | |
| Training and other | £ 6,387 | |
| Mission Giving and Relief Grants | £ 5,788 | |
| Top-up Shop, Foodbank, Café Expenses | £ 4,131 | |
| Clergy and Staff Expenses | £ 2,986 | |
| Total Expenditure | £ 338,861 |
Breakdown by Hub (before fund transfers)
| e fund transfers) | |
|---|---|
| Income by major hub/group | |
| General | £ 37,335 |
| Red Lodge | £ 103,757 |
| Emerge | £ 26,307 |
| Bungay | £ 36,027 |
| Place by the Water | £ 63,475 |
| Bridge Communities | £ 35,442 |
| Other | £ 1,104 |
| Total Income by Hub/Group | £ 303,447 |
| Expenditure by major hub/group | |
| General | £ 34,655 |
| Red Lodge | £ 97,205 |
| Emerge | £ 40,693 |
| Bungay | £ 31,800 |
| Place by the Water | £ 60,090 |
| Bridge Communities | £ 62,401 |
| Other | £ 12,017 |
| Total Income by Hub/Group | £ 338,861 |
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
19
Where is God leading us? A vision for the future
What started as gentle, small lights of relational outreach is becoming a network of gathered young Lightwave worshipping Community Churches.
As we look to the year ahead, our focus is clear: to guide these emerging worshipping communities toward sustainability .
This means growing deeper in discipleship, investing in disciples who make disciples while continuing to nurture the missional DNA that has shaped Lightwave from the beginning.
Small, focused groups will remain at the heart of our model, creating space for authentic relationships, spiritual growth, and Spirit‑led mission.
We believe God is calling us to build on the foundations He has already laid: to strengthen what is growing, to invest in what is bearing fruit, and to continue stepping out in faith as He leads us into the next chapter of His mission in rural Suffolk.
For the complete Annual Report and Accounts for 2025 go to
-
- https://www.lightwave.community/resources/lightwave community council
The Lightwave Community CIO. A Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales. Charity no. 1193242.
Registered Office St Nicholas Centre, 4 Cutler Street, Ipswich IP1 1UQ
Lightwave Governance, Structures and Management 2025
Financial Governance
Investments Policy
Funds not needed for day to day use are invested in two interest bearing accounts with CAF Bank (CAF Gold Account) at an interest rate at year end of 1.75% gross/1.76% AER (variable)
Reserves Policy
Because the operation of the charity consists of a number of Lightwave Groups and Hubs across Suffolk, the large majority of cash held by the charity is restricted to each Group or Hub. It is the policy of the CIO to maintain a balance across all funds equivalent to 2 months operating costs of individual Hubs/Groups, plus an additional one month’s direct salary costs and the amounts of any external commitments. This excludes funded items from the GiGitC project.
Legal and Administrative Information
| Registered Charity Name | The Lightwave Community CIO |
|---|---|
| Charity Number | 1193242 |
| Principal Address and Main Correspondence | St Nicholas Centre, 4 Cutler Street, Ipswich IP1 |
| Address | 1UQ |
| Independent Examiner | Nick Farr, Moore Green Accountants, 22 Friars |
| Street, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2AA |
The Lightwave Community is a Bishop's Mission Order under the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich in the Church of England. Lightwave is also a public benefit entity and Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity No 1193242) registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales. We have a Board of Trustees known as the Lightwave Community Council which works in a similar way to a PCC in the Church of England and is accountable to the Bishop. Bishop’s Visitor and Chair make sure that there is expertise on the Lightwave Community Council in key areas – finance, fundraising, digital communications and safeguarding. We have set up expert working teams in the following centralised functions: finance and fundraising, safeguarding, operations (including governance and HR) and communications.
Leadership
The Leader of the Lightwave Community for the period of this report was Archdeacon Sally Gaze. Revd Diane Grano was the Associate Leader of the Lightwave Community and chaired the council in 2025 working closely with Sally to ensure a smooth handover of leadership when Sally’s term ended at the end of 2025. Diane’s central role is 0.5 and she is supported by a lead for operations who was recruited in 2025. Diane has remained the leader of the Lightwave Hub in Forest Heath alongside this role. These posts are funded by SDF and/or Strategic Ministry and Mission Investment Board Funding, until the end of 2027.
Operations
Many of the central functions of the Lightwave community were largely undertaken by staff of the Growing in God in the Countryside Project until the end of 2024. In 2025 most of the support roles, and some ministry roles transitioned to volunteers while Andrew Gosden continues to serve as project manager and Lightwave Treasurer for 2 days per week until the middle of 2026 when all the funding from the initial Growing in God in the Countryside project comes to an end.
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025 - Governance
21
The Lightwave Community Council (Trustees of the charity)
The Lightwave Community, (formerly the Suffolk Fresh Expressions Community) was started through a nationally funded project called “Growing in God in the Countryside” (GiGitC). £2.3m of Church Commissioner’s Strategic Development Funding [SDF] and c.£700k of Diocesan funding was allocated to support the 6-year project (2019-2024).
The CIO was established in January 2021 and operates in association with a Bishops Mission Order across the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, which was established in December 2018. Much of the operation of the CIO is like that of a PCC.
The CIO is supported by a Community Council of Trustees. Those who have served on the CIO during 2025 as shown below, including their date of appointment or resignation where relevant.
----- Start of picture text -----
Name Location Position/Appointment Appointed Left
/Lightwave Group Dates as CIO
where applicable Trustee
Revd Canon Sharron Head of Mission Bishop’s Visitor 27-Jan-25
Coburn and Ministry
Trevor Reeve Bishop’s Appointee - 16-May-23
Ecumenical Representative
Revd Katie de Bourcier Mission and Bishop’s Appointee 26-Jun-24
Ministry, Mission
Enabler
Mr Damien Chew Bishop’s ApBishop's A p ointee pointee 01-Nov-25
Tony Ciorra Beyton, Elected Representative 16-May-23
Rougham,
Hessett
Mrs Emma Morris South Hartismere Co-opted Oct 2022, 18-Oct-22
Elected May 2023,
appointed Secretary in
2024
Revd Diane Grano Red Lodge Co-opted Oct 2022, 18-Oct-22
Elected May 2023.
Appointed Vice Chair and
leader designate in Jan
2025
Mr Gordon Kerr Bridge Elected at AGM 29-Apr-24
Communities
- -
Ms Ros Armstrong Bungay Elected Representative 29 Apr 24
Rt Revd Dr Michael Bishop of Bishop’s Visitor 25-Jan-21 27-Jan-25
Robert Harrison Dunwich
Ven Canon Sally Ann Archdeacon for Leader of Lightwave and 25-Jan-21 31-Dec-25
Gaze Rural Mission Chair
Revd Sarah DuBoulay Alde Sandlings Co-opted to casual 01-Jul-24 18-Apr-25
benefice vacancy
' - - - -
Revd Gemma Fraser Oulton Broad Bishop s Appointee 16 May 23 18 Apr 25
----- End of picture text -----*
NOTES:
*Those appointed at 25-Jan-2021 were previously BMO Council members and became CIO Trustees on the creation of the CIO on 25-Jan-2021
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025 - Governance
22
**Rt Revd Dr Mike Harrison was appointed Bishop of Exeter in Autumn 2024 but continued as Bishop’s Visitor until a new Bishop’s Visitor, Revd Sharron Coburn, Director of Mission and Ministry for the Diocese was appointed early in 2025.
In attendance as non-voting members are: Andrew Gosden – Treasurer and Stewardship officer Kirk Matthews – Operations lead
Staff and volunteers
During the year the Lightwave Community employed
----- Start of picture text -----
Name Position (FTE) Start Date End Date Funding Source
if in 2025 if in 2025
James Beckett Red Lodge Youth 31-Jan-25 Growing in God (GIG) Fund
Leader (1.0) grant
Miriam Gee Red Lodge Youth 18-Aug-25 Earmarked funded from the
Leader (1.0) Diocesan Investment
programme.
Angela Finn Red Lodge Diocesan Youth Beacon Area
Children and grant
Families worker
(0.4)
Janice Gee Red Lodge 01-Feb-25 Diocesan Youth Beacon Area
Children and grant
Families worker
(0.8)
Tamisha Hunt- Bridge Donations
Pickering Communities
Administrator
(0.2) and
ChurchSuite
Manager (0.2)
Hazel Bray Lightwave Book- GiGitC project
keeper
Revd Kathy Leader of The 01-Jul-25 Grant from Rural Ministries
Wilson Place by the
Water (0.4)
Nathan Thomas Bungay Children 18-Dec-25 GiG Fund grant
and Youth
Leader
----- End of picture text -----
The average number of employees during the year was 5
Revd Andy Buttress was funded from July 2024 through the Lightwave Community and donations to the Bridge Communities Hub, having previously been funded by the Inspiring Ipswich Project
The “Growing in God in the Countryside” Project Core Team includes staff and volunteers who are serving the set-up of the Lightwave Community. Staff paid by the SDU funding are Andrew Gosden (Project Manager)
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025 - Governance
23
In addition, in 2025 the following were employed for various periods by the DBF or engaged on Clergy Terms, funded from central church GiGitC and other funding.
-
Alison Earl (Associate Leader for Lightwave Red Lodge, also funded by local fund raising)
-
James Aggett (Red Lodge Café Manager, also funded through fund-raising)
-
Will Barber Rural outreach Pioneer, Emerge – until June 2025
-
Clare Ayers Rural Outreach Pioneer, Bungay
-
Lightwave Rural Hub leaders engaged on clergy terms
-
Revd Diane Grano – Red Lodge/Forest Heath
-
Ben Wale - Emerge
-
Revd Edward Land – Bungay and Beyond
-
Bungay Community Choir Director Heather Land
-
Lightwave curate Revd Debbie Nicholls (Appointed Rector S. Hartismere Benefice 13-Feb-25)
The GiGitC Project Board was chaired by the Archdeacon of Suffolk, the Ven Rich Henderson until it was wound up in June 2025 and responsibilities transferred to other bodies in the Diocese.
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025 - Governance
24
Trustees Responsibilities Statement
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The 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 state of affairs of the charity and of application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period.
-
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102)
-
make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent
-
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
-
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis, unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose, with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2018 and the provisions of the CIO Constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Annual Report was approved on 27[th] April 2026
Signed on behalf of the Trustees by
The Revd Diane Grano, Chair of the Lightwave Community Council, Leader designate of Lightwave
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025 - Governance
25
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Lightwave Community CIO
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of the Lightwave Community CIO (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's Trustees 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 charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 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
Since the charity's gross income exceeded £250,000, your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
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:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act;
-
the accounts do not accord with those records;
-
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent 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.
Signed:
Nicholas Farr FCA Independent Examiner ICAEW
22 Friars Street Sudbury Suffolk CO10 2AA
Dated:
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025 - Governance
26
Glossary/Definitions
----- Start of picture text -----
BMO Bishop’s Mission Order, the order made under which the Lightwave
Community is formed as a formal mission initiative of the Church of England,
under part 7 of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011.
CIO Charitable Incorporated Organisation
DBF Diocesan Board of Finance of the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich,
(the charity which administers the work of the Diocese)
Fresh A Fresh Expression of Church is a form of church for our changing culture,
Expression established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any
of Church church, which will come into being through principles of listening, service,
(fxC) incarnational mission and making disciples. It will have the potential to become
a mature expression of church shaped by the gospel and the enduring marks of
the church and for its cultural context.
–
GiGitC Growing in God in the Countryside the name of the project funded by the
-
DBF and the SDF from 2019 26 which established Lightwave as a Community.
Lightwave Lightwave groups each have identified the mission to which they are called
Groups locally. They usually come under the governance of the CIO and are supported
by their local Hub and/or partner benefice. They often require limited financial
resource or investment, or have a more localised base of supporters to make
them sustainable. Associate Lightwave groups are groups which associate
with the Lightwave vision and training but come under the governance of a local
PCC.
Lightwave Hubs have responsibility of overseeing mission and development of Lightwave
Hubs groups in a specified geographic location under the CIO. The Hub has its own
bank account and employs a Lead Worker (or workers) to deliver activities,
develop vision and plans for delivery to meet the needs identified in the area of
benefit.
Lightwave Benefices who collaborate with Lightwave’s vision on a day-to-day basis in a
Partner specific local geographical context (e.g. Bungay, Chadbrook, 4 Rivers, S.
Benefices Hartismere)
SFXC Suffolk Fresh Expressions Community - The alternative name for the Lightwave
Community. May be found in some older documentation but now largely no
longer used.
SDF Strategic Development Fund of the Church of England from which funds
have been granted for the GiGitC project – this has now been replaced by the
SMMIB (see below)
SDU Strategic Development Unit which administered the SDF – this has now
been replaced by the Vision and Strategy Unit
New The term New Disciple is used by the GiGitC as a measurement of the fruit of
Disciple the project. When used in this way it denotes people who have begun to
participate in some form of church at least monthly.
SMMIB The Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board of the Church
Commissioners/Archbishops Council which replaces the Strategic Development
Unit Board which funded the original GiGitC project.
SCoM Suffolk Centre of Mission is a Diocese-wide hub for Evangelism and Pioneering,
working with the Diocese and the Church Army, and led by Gail Southgate
----- End of picture text -----
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025 - Governance
27
THE LIGHTWAVE COMMUNITY CIO
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Notes | Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Funds Funds Funds 2025 2025 2025 £ £ £ |
TOTAL Funds 2024 £ |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming Resources | ||
| Donations & Legacies 2 |
9,495 246,094 255,589 |
234,375 |
| Charitable Activities 3 Investments 4 Trading Activities 5 Other 6 Total incoming resources Resources Used Charitable Activities 7 Raising Funds 8 Support 9 Total resources used Net Incoming / Outgoing Resources (before transfers) Fund Transfers In Fund Transfers Out Net Movement of Funds Total Funds Brought Forward Total Funds Carried Forward |
18,817 6,608 25,425 386 5,207 5,593 - 2,017 2,017 10,137 4,685 14,822 38,835 264,612 303,447 37,293 275,633 312,925 - 1,476 1,476 5,326 19,134 24,460 42,618 296,243 338,861 (3,784) (31,631) (35,415) - 11,683 11,683 6,535 5,148 11,683 (10,318) (25,096) (35,415) 28,269 267,340 295,610 17,951 242,244 260,195 |
5,137 4,588 14,008 120,310 378,419 201,380 12,055 7,490 220,925 157,494 13,845 13,845 157,494 138,115 295,610 |
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
THE LIGHTWAVE COMMUNITY CIO
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
Notes Unrestricted Restricted Total Prior Year
2025 2025 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Non-Current Assets
Fixed Assets - - - -
Investments - - - -
- - - -
Current Assets
Accounts Receivable 13 4,147 10,533 14,681 4,144
Short term Deposits (Investments) 14 9,917 216,256 226,174 317,068
Cash 4,017 19,128 23,145 38,720
- -
Prepayments 1,142 1,142
19,224 245,918 265,142 359,932
Current Liabilities 15
Accounts Payable 1,273 3,674 4,947 2,573
Deferred Income - - - 61,750
Total Assets less current liabilities 17,951 242,244 260,195 295,610
Non-Current Liabilities
- - - -
Long Term Loan / Mortgage
Net Assets 17,951 242,244 260,195 295,610
Capital Funds
Endowment Funds General - - -
-
Income Funds -
Restricted Funds 17 242,244 242,244 267,340
Unrestricted Funds 18 17,951 17,951 28,269
17,951 242,244 260,195 295,610
- - - -
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 27th April 2026
Chair of Trustees
----- End of picture text -----
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
For the year ended 31 December 2025
THE LIGHTWAVE COMMUNITY CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. Accounting Policies
Charity information
The Lightwave Community CIO is a public benefit entity and a registered charitable incorporated organisation registered with the charity commission of England and Wales. The address of the principal office is St Nicholas Centre, 4 Cutler Street, Ipswich IP1 1UQ
1.1 Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" ("FRS 102") and the second edition of the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" issued in October 2019. The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. The departure has involved following the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
Where relevant, the financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revalutions of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
1.2 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existance for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
In addition to regular donations/giving, where posts are supported by grant funding, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation of that funding continuing until the end of 2027. As with any organisation reliant on short to medium term funding for part of its operations certain activities would need to be curtailed should that funding not be ongoing.
1.3 Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
1.4 Income
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amounts is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
Income from donated goods is measured at fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers.
Income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classifed as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent of a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
1.5 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset's use.
Expenditure on generating funds includes the cost of all fundraising activities, events, non-charitable trading activities and the sale of donated goods.
Expenditure on charitable activities include all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitiable activities.
Other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.
All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.
1.6 Financial instruments
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitues a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Finanical assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
Basic financial liabilities
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Derecognition of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
1.7 Employees benefits
The costs of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee's services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
THE LIGHTWAVE COMMUNITY CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
2 Donations & Legacies
Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL
Funds Funds Funds Funds
2025 2025 2025 2024 2024 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Grants 1,500 119,276 120,776 - 76,009 76,009
Donations - Regular Giving 5,666 85,735 91,401 5,964 90,018 95,982
Donations - Other 839 20,462 21,301 8,258 29,749 38,006
Gift Aid Recovered 1,490 20,621 22,110 1,491 22,887 24,378
9,495 246,094 255,589 15,713 218,663 234,375
- - - - -
3 Charitable Activities Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL
Funds Funds Funds Funds
2025 2025 2025 2024 2024 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Other 6,307 850 7,157 468 3,539 4,007
Top-up Shop - - - 1,050 80 1,130
18,817 6,608 25,425 1,518 3,619 5,137
- - - -
4 Investments Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL
Funds Funds Funds Funds
2025 2025 2025 ` 2024 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Bank Interest 386 5,207 5,593 154 4,434 4,588
386 5,207 5,593 154 4,434 4,588
- - - -
5 Trading Activities Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL
Funds Funds Funds Funds
2025 2025 2025 2024 2024 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Cafe - 2,017 2,017 14,008 - 14,008
Other - 2,017 2,017 14,008 - 14,008
- 2,017 - -
6 Other Income Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL
Funds Funds Funds Funds
2025 2025 2025 2024 2024 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Transfer of funds from St Matthews PCC Ipswich for - - - - 117,224 117,224
Bridge Communities
Other Income 10,137 4,685 14,822 - 3,086 3,086
10,137 4,685 14,822 - 120,310 120,310
10,137 - - -
----- End of picture text -----
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
THE LIGHTWAVE COMMUNITY CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| 7 Charitable Activities |
||
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Funds Funds 2025 2025 2025 £ £ £ |
Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Funds Funds 2024 2024 2024 £ £ £ |
|
| Staff Employment Costs Parish Share and related DBF payments Premises incl Rental Costs Grants to Individuals and Relief Payments Resources and Expenses for Mission and Ministry Event Costs Top-up Shop and Foodbank Expenses Equipment Clergy and Staff Expenses Mission Giving Training Printing. Stationery and Postage Licence Expenses (CCLI etc) Other Expenditure 8 Raising Funds Cafe Expenses 9 Support Costs Running Expenses Insurance IT and Website Expenses Bank Charges, Fees and Finance Costs Utility Bills Governance Costs |
9,526 63,615 73,141 - 105,981 105,981 - 29,475 29,475 - 6,465 6,465 6 28,547 28,553 19,436 10,397 29,833 - 2,654 2,654 - 11,867 11,867 154 2,832 2,986 - 4,122 4,122 - 2,512 2,512 - 2,448 2,448 207 1,220 1,427 7,964 3,496 11,460 37,293 275,633 312,925 - - - - 1,476 1,476 - 1,476 1,476 - - - - 15,484 15,484 1,447 - 1,447 1,972 1,501 3,473 625 621 1,246 - 1,528 1,528 1,281 - 1,281 5,326 19,134 24,460 - - - |
758 42,979 43,737 5,700 29,550 35,250 3,180 29,346 32,526 - 29,924 29,924 297 18,680 18,978 363 12,011 12,374 7 6,244 6,252 786 5,266 6,052 1,086 4,950 6,036 - 4,958 4,958 - 3,026 3,026 - 1,664 1,664 190 413 603 - - - 12,368 189,011 201,380 - 11,958 98 12,055 11,958 98 12,055 - 11 2,768 2,779 2,454 - 2,454 - 1,140 1,140 474 642 1,116 - - - - - - 2,940 4,550 7,490 - |
10 Trustees
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any renumeration or benefits from the charity during the year
11 Employees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was
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2025 2024
Number Number
6 3
Employment costs
2025 £ 2024 £
Wages and Salaries 73,141 43,737
There were no employees whose annual renumeration was more than £60,000
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Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
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Funds 2025 £ 33,200 17,145 1,800 3,963 1,500 1,489 1,834 1,000 2,700 4,000 100 1,200 594 18,747 1,200 12,000 17,100 1,000 205 120,776
Restricted Cash Rcvd
Unrestricted Funds Cash Rcvd 2025 £
)
Payment 1/3)
Payment 1/3
Description Forest Heath Beacon Grant ( Diocesan Growing in God (GiG) Fund Surviving Winter Grant West Suffolk Council grant - for equipment Cadent grant for CAS Warm Centres West Suffolk Council grant - for Foodbank hall rental District Counsellor locality grant - youth room Holiday Club (Red Lodge Parish Council) Simon Gibson grant - for youth work Simon Gibson grant - for youth work VE Day Celebration (Red Lodge Parish Council) East Suffolk Council Enabling Communities grant Diocesan Growing in God (GiG) Fund Rural Ministries grant Place by the Water Growth Fund grant (Diocesan) - for nativity trail lights Henry Smith grant Diocesan Growing in God (GiG) Fund ( Tesco Stronger Starts grant Suffolk County Council Locality Budget Grant (4th payment)
Analysis of Grants Received by Fund and Grant Making Body Fund Red Lodge - Beacon Red Lodge - Youth Leader Red Lodge - SCF Surviving Winter Red Lodge - West Suffolk Captial Grant Red Lodge - CAS Warm Centres Red Lodge - West Suffolk Thriving Communities Red Lodge - Youth & Children Red Lodge - Youth & Children Red Lodge - Youth & Children Red Lodge - New Building Red Lodge - Outreach Emerge - Enabling Communities Budget Emerge - Youth Growth Fund Place by the Water Place by the Water Place by the Water - Henry Smith Clergy Retreat Bungay - Children’s & Youth Leader Bungay - Spud Club Bungay - Spud Club
12
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
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THE LIGHTWAVE COMMUNITY CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
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13 Accounts Receivable 2025 2024
Amounts falling due within one year: £ £
Trade Debtors 729 135
Other Debtors 13,952 4,009
14,681 4,144
-
15 Current asset investments 2025 2024
£ £
Short-term deposits 226,174 317,068
15 Current Liabilities 2025 2024
£ £
-
Accounts Payable 2,573
Deferred Income - 61,750
-
64,323
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16 Retirement benefit schemes
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 |
17 Restricted Funds Balance at 1 Jan 2024 incoming Resources Resources Expended Fund Transfers Balance at 1 Jan 2025 Balance at 1 Jan 2025 incoming Resources Resources Expended Fund Transfers Balance at 31 Dec 2025 Red Lodge - General 2,353 22,446 (15,662) (4,614) 4,523 4,523 29,565 (30,285) 9,108 12,911 Red Lodge - Youth & Children - 2,408 1,944 284 749 749 8,746 (6,902) - 2,593 Red Lodge - Youth Leader 18,256 13,550 (31,487) (284) 35 35 17,270 (17,304) - - Red Lodge - Helping Hands - 5,037 (4,836) - 201 201 575 (1,040) 1,000 736 Red Lodge - New Building 4,049 2,282 (570) - 5,761 5,761 4,700 (7) - 10,454 Red Lodge - SCF Breakthrough Grant 3,382 1,655 (4,288) - 748 748 - (748) - - Red Lodge - SCF Foodbank Grant - 2,000 - - 2,000 2,000 - (2,000) - - Red Lodge - Beacon - 3,117 (3,099) - 19 19 33,200 (31,760) - 1,458 Red Lodge - Forrester Family Trust - 10,000 - - 10,000 10,000 - - - 10,000 Red Lodge - Warm Space Grant 1,000 1,400 (1,186) - 1,214 1,214 850 (1,375) - 689 Red Lodge - Andrew Underwood Grant - 3,800 (791) - 3,010 3,010 - (1,578) - 1,432 Red Lodge - West Suffolk Capital Grant - - - - - - 3,963 (3,187) - 776 Red Lodge-West Suffolk Thriving Communities - - - - - - 1,489 (920) - 569 Red Lodge - SCF Surviving Winter - - - - - - 1,800 - - 1,800 Red Lodge - Outreach - - (1,408) 1,408 - - 100 (100) - - Red Lodge - West Suffolk Community Chest 3,570 5,000 (5,000) - 3,570 3,570 - - (3,570) - Safe Harbour - Other Restricted 2,300 5,500 (11,190) 5,000 1,610 1,610 - (1,610) - - Emerge 43,545 30,653 (26) - 74,172 74,172 24,513 (39,849) - 58,836 Emerge - Enabling Communities Budget - - - - - - 1,200 (272) - 928 Emerge - Singing Ducklings 562 - (234) - 328 328 - (328) - - Emerge - East Suffolk Grant 140 250 (261) - 129 129 - (118) - 12 Bungay 11,794 14,382 (11,465) - 14,711 14,711 16,657 (16,087) - 15,280 Place by the Water 377 25,039 (15,140) - 10,276 10,276 51,475 (56,890) 1,575 6,435 Place by the Water-Henry Smith Clergy Retreat - - - - - - 12,000 (1,200) (1,575) 9,225 Place by the Water - Covid Grant 2,000 - - - 2,000 2,000 - (2,000) - - Safe Harbour 4,693 3,875 (5,010) (2,381) 1,178 1,178 373 (1,538) - 13 Pilgrims Together 408 - (408) - - - - - - - Emerge - Youth Growth Fund - 2,886 (1,109) - 1,777 1,777 594 (126) - 2,244 Movement in Funds 2025 Movement in Funds 2024 |
|---|---|
| Balance at 31 Dec 2025 |
Balance at 31 Dec 2025 |
885 | 3,584 | 8 | 101,376 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 242,244 | Balance at 31 Dec 2025 16,451 1,500 - - |
17,951 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movement in Funds 2025 | incoming Resources Fund |
Resources Expended Transfers |
2,270 (2,146) - |
17,100 (13,566) - |
731 (905) - |
35,047 (61,757) - |
396 (644) - |
- - (3) |
- - - |
- - - |
- - - |
- - - |
- - - |
- - - |
- - - |
- - - |
- - - |
- - - |
- - - |
- - - |
264,612 (296,243) 6,535 |
incoming Resources Resources Expended Fund Transfers 37,335 (34,655) (1,000) 1,500 - - - - (5,535) - (7,964) - Movement in Funds 2025 |
38,835 (42,618) (6,535) |
| Balance at 1 | Jan 2025 | 761 | 50 | 182 | 128,086 | 249 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 267,340 | Balance at 1 Jan 2025 14,771 - 5,535 7,964 |
28,269 | |
| Balance at 1 | Jan 2025 | 761 | 50 | 182 | 128,086 | 249 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 267,340 | Balance at 1 Jan 2025 14,771 - 5,535 7,964 |
28,269 | |
| Movement in Funds 2024 | incoming Resources Fund |
Resources Expended Transfers |
2,750 (2,398) - |
355 (305) - |
1,360 (1,247) - |
174,030 (46,024) - |
3,000 (2,751) - |
- (2,901) 2,904 |
3,296 (4,003) (5,000) |
- - (137) |
- - (85) |
- - 9 |
600 (600) - |
300 (5,300) - |
1,493 (1,815) 301 |
- - - |
- (332) - |
560 (3,809) 3,415 |
- (3,061) - |
4,000 (4,000) - |
347,026 (189,771) 821 |
incoming Resources Resources Expended Fund Transfers 12,879 (5,482) 213 - - - 14,008 (18,081) - 4,683 (3,703) (1,034) Movement in Funds 2024 |
31,570 (27,266) (821) |
| Balance at | 1 Jan 2024 | 409 | - | 68 | 80 | - | - | 5,707 | 137 | 85 | (9) | - | 5,000 | 21 | - | 332 | (166) | 3,061 | - | 113,153 | Balance at 1 Jan 2024 7,160 - 9,607 8,017 |
24,785 | |
| Bungay - Spud Club | Bungay - Children’s & Youth Leader | Agricultural Chaplaincy | Bridge Communities | Bridge Communities Ukrainian-Wellbeing Cafe | Red Lodge - Discipleship | Safe Harbour - Top-up Shop Manager | Launchpad | New Day | New Wine | Missional Youth Church Network - MYCN | Red Lodge - Suffolk Household Support Fund | Red Lodge - Spring Harvest | Red Lodge - Winter Response | Safe Harbour - Suffolk Community Foundation | Safe Harbour - Spring Harvest | Agricultural Chaplaincy PCF | Red Lodge - Surviving Winter | Unrestricted Funds General Red Lodge - CAS Warm Centres Red Lodge - Café Safe Harbour - SHOP |
|||||
| 18 |
THE LIGHTWAVE COMMUNITY CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
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20 Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds
2025 2025 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Fund balances at 31 December 2025
are represented by
Current assets/(Liabilities) 17,951 242,244 260,195 295,610
17,951 242,244 260,195 295,610
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Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025
THE LIGHTWAVE COMMUNITY CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
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20 Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds
2025 2025 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Fund balances at 31 December 2025
are represented by
Current assets/(Liabilities) 17,951 242,244 260,195 295,610
17,951 242,244 260,195 295,610
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Lightwave Community Annual Report 2025