
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** 

## **From  1 January 2024 Period start date   to 31 December 2024 Period end date** 

## **Charity name: Linton Road Free Church** 

## **Charity registration number: 1194688** 

## **Objectives and Activities** 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of<br>the charity as set out in its<br>governing document|Para 1.17|**The object of the charity is for the public**<br>**benefit, the advancement of the**<br>**Christian faith in Kent and such other**<br>**parts of the United Kingdom and the**<br>**world as the Charity Trustees may from**<br>**time to time decide.**|
|Summary of the main<br>activities in relation to those<br>purposes for the public<br>benefit, in particular, the<br>activities, projects or<br>services identified in the<br>accounts.|Para 1.17 and<br>1.19|**The charity (church) provides the**<br>**following services and activities: -**<br>**Regular worship services to which all**<br>**are welcome.**<br>**Regular group meetings with prayer and**<br>**Bible studies**<br>**Carrying outreach work both in the UK**<br>**and abroad to include but not limited to-**<br>**Providing gifts to “Friends of Helper” for**<br>**children in Tanzania, providing**<br>**education for local children and family**<br>**support;**<br>**Supporting the work of Starfish Malawi**<br>**in caring and educating street children**<br>**and those in poverty in Malawi;**<br>**Supporting Viva, in Uganda, an**<br>**international Christian children’s charity**<br>**passionate about releasing children**<br>**from poverty and abuse.** <br>**Coffee Stop – Once a month for**<br>**fellowship, everyone welcome.**<br>**From December 2024, we decided to**<br>**offer a warm space for people in need,**<br>**as an extension of our coffee stop, and**<br>**on the 3rd Tuesday in the month.**|
|Statement confirming<br>whether the trustees have<br>had regard to the guidance<br>issued by the Charity<br>Commission on public<br>benefit|Para 1.18|**The Trustees of the charity have had**<br>**regards to the Charity Commission**<br>**guidance on public benefit in regard to**<br>**the activities of the Charity.**|





## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|**Not Applicable**|
|Policy on social investment<br>including program related<br>investment|Para 1.38|**Not Applicable**|
|Contribution made by<br>volunteers|Para 1.38|**Following the passing of Pastor, Andrew**<br>**Parfitt in June 2023, Garry Shoebrook**<br>**took over as Ministry Leader, elected by**<br>**the membership in 2024.  Along with his**<br>**wife Nicky, our Safeguarding Officer,**<br>**they have made the primary**<br>**contribution, supported by Sandra**<br>**Parsons the Administrator, Treasurer**<br>**and Trustee.  He has led the church**<br>**faithfully, adhering to Andrew’s hopes**<br>**and plans for the church, and ministers**<br>**to the fellowship twice a month at the**<br>**present time.  We have several visiting**<br>**speakers, which contribute highly to the**<br>**worship services which we provide each**<br>**week.  We also have two people from**<br>**outside our church who give their time**<br>**to come and lead the worship service.**<br>**The number attending is holding steady,**<br>**despite illness and disability, and our**<br>**finances reflect this. In addition,**<br>**volunteers assist in the running of the**<br>**charity and in the regular church**<br>**services, prayer meetings and Bible**<br>**studies.  We also have times of**<br>**gathering for meals and fellowship,**<br>**such as a Ladies Breakfast recently, and**<br>**a Christmas meal.  We also have a Fire**<br>**Officer, Malcolm Thwaites, and with**<br>**others help to maintain and upkeep the**<br>**property.**|
|Other||**Communion is led by various members**<br>**of the fellowship besides the minister.**|





## **Achievements and Performance** 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main<br>achievements of the charity,<br>identifying the difference the<br>charity’s work has made to<br>the circumstances of its<br>beneficiaries and any wider<br>benefits to society as a<br>whole.|Para 1.20|**The numbers attending have remained**<br>**steady following Garry’s appointment as**<br>**Ministry Leader, which is a great**<br>**comfort to all attending.  The church**<br>**has benefitted from their commitment,**<br>**and other visiting speakers in the**<br>**teaching ministry of the church.**<br>**Our services are also supported by the**<br>**presence of worship leaders, which**<br>**adds an area of interest in the methods**<br>**of worship, and which most of the**<br>**fellowship are used to.  This has led to**<br>**an improvement in the wellbeing of**<br>**members and attendees at the church**<br>**with good times of fellowship, worship**<br>**friendship and pastoral care.**<br>**Contact with those away from the**<br>**church through illness is mainly**<br>**through Nicky Shoebrook, and those**<br>**prevented from attending church are**<br>**visited weekly by Sandy and Nicky.  We**<br>**keep in touch with each other, and**<br>**assist where possible with all manner of**<br>**issues.  Sandy provides cd’s of the**<br>**services for those unable to attend.  We**<br>**are very much a small family, and our**<br>**church focus is Prayer, Care and the**<br>**Word.**<br>**In October 2024, we registered with the**<br>**Warm Welcome Space initiative, to**<br>**provide two days each month in which**<br>**to serve the community.  We are**<br>**registered with our local council and it**<br>**is mentioned on our web site.**|



## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

|Achievements against<br>objectives set|Para 1.41||
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising<br>activities against objectives<br>set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance<br>against objectives|Para 1.41||





Other 

## **Financial Review** 

|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s<br>financial position at the end<br>of the period|Para 1.21|**The charity falls under the £500,000**<br>**turnover for detailed financial**<br>**accounting being a requirement. The**<br>**financial position has improved so that**<br>**the balance in hand as at 31 December**<br>**2024 was£11,931.20.**|
|Statement explaining the<br>policy for holding reserves<br>stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**Reserves are held to enable unforeseen**<br>**payments and bills to be paid and to pay**<br>**for maintenance of the church building.**|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**£12,755.53**|
|Reasons for holding zero<br>reserves|Para 1.22|**Not applicable**|
|Details of fund materially in<br>deficit|Para 1.24|**None**|
|Explanation of any<br>uncertainties about the<br>charity continuing as a going<br>concern|Para 1.23|**None, as with our new leader the church**<br>**is now stable again, and we are always**<br>**using opportunities to advertise our**<br>**presence, and encourage members of**<br>**the public living locally around us to**<br>**attend, by posting fliers and notices**<br>**through letterboxes.  We are making**<br>**plans for our Bi-Centennial Celebration**<br>**in April 2025, and have a local MP and**<br>**her husband planning to attend.   Garry**<br>**is very committed to the church, and the**<br>**need for the Word of God to be**<br>**preached.  He also has the support of**<br>**Elders from other churches, who advise**<br>**and encourage him in his mission to**<br>**keep this church going forward for**<br>**many years to come.  He is a blessing to**<br>**this church, and his vision for our future**<br>**standing in the wider community.**|
|**Additional information (optional)**<br>You may choose to include further statements||where relevant about:|
|The charity’s principal<br>sources of funds (including<br>any fundraising)|Para 1.47|**The principal source of funds is through**<br>**members and attendees giving through**<br>**bank accounts on a regular basis and**<br>**freewill offerings at church services.  Of**<br>**course, as a charity, we now claim Gift**<br>**Aid where possible from HMRC, which**<br>**adds to our fiscal situation.**|
|Investment policy and<br>objectives including any<br>social investment policy<br>adopted|Para 1.46|**Not applicable**|





|A description of the principal<br>risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**The number of members over the age of**<br>**70 shows that this church is serving a**<br>**need within the community, for worship**<br>**within a quieter setting than most family**<br>**churches.  With the addition of the**<br>**younger Ministry Partner and his wife,**<br>**the church is aiming to expand and**<br>**develop.**|
|---|---|---|
|Other|||



## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

|Description of charity’s<br>trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document<br>(trust deed, royal charter)|<br>Para 1.25|**The Constitution of the Charitable**<br>**Incorporated Organisation.**|
|How is the charity<br>constituted?<br>(e.g unincorporated<br>association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**Charitable Incorporated Organisation.**|
|Trustee selection methods<br>including details of any<br>constitutional provisions e.g.<br>election to post or name of<br>any person or body entitled<br>to appoint one or more<br>trustees|Para 1.25|**The existing Trustees elect volunteers**<br>**who must subscribe and adhere to, in**<br>**belief and lifestyle, the Statement of**<br>**Faith.  We now have 4 Trustees of which**<br>**2 have been re-elected for a further**<br>**three-year term. The other two to re-new**<br>**their position in 2025 and 2026.**|



|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**||
|---|---|---|---|
|You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:||||
||||**The Trustees are encouraged to have**|
||||**regard to the guidance for Trustees**|
||Policies and procedures||**published by the Charity Commission**|
||adopted for the induction|Para 1.51|**and courses available for their ongoing**|
||and training of trustees||**training.  Sandy Parsons and Nicky**|
||||**Shoebrook follow the Charity**|
||||**Commission webinars, as they become**|
||||**available, in particular for Trustees,**|
||||**Financial government, cyber and local**|
||||**protection, and managing Media risks.**|



|**Additional information (optional)**<br>You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**<br>You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**<br>You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|
|---|---|---|
|Policies and procedures<br>adopted for the induction<br>and training of trustees|Para 1.51|**The Trustees are encouraged to have**<br>**regard to the guidance for Trustees**<br>**published by the Charity Commission**<br>**and courses available for their ongoing**<br>**training.  Sandy Parsons and Nicky**<br>**Shoebrook follow the Charity**<br>**Commission webinars, as they become**<br>**available, in particular for Trustees,**<br>**Financial government, cyber and local**<br>**protection, and managing Media risks.**|
|The charity’s organisational<br>structure and any wider<br>network with which the<br>charity works|Para 1.51|**The church is an independent Free**<br>**Church and is a member of the**<br>**Evangelical Alliance.**|
|Relationship with any<br>related parties|Para 1.51|**It has an established relationship with**<br>**the Staplehurst Free Church for mutual**<br>**support and 2 of our Trustees are**<br>**members of the Staplehurst Free**<br>**Church.**<br>**We partner Holy Trinity Church,**<br>**Coxheath in the Annual World Day of**|





**Prayer service, and host the programme alternate years.** 

Other 

## **Reference and Administrative details** 

|Charity name|Linton Road Free Church|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1194688|
|Charity’s principal address|157 Linton Road, Loose, Maidstone, Kent ME15 0AL|
|||



**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** 

|1<br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>9<br>10<br>11<br>12<br>13<br>14<br>15<br>16<br>17<br>18<br>19<br>20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**<br>**whole year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**<br>**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Sandra Rose<br>Parsons|Treasurer/Administrator||Trustees of Linton Road Free<br>Church|
||Terence Robert<br>Hawgood|Chairman||Ditto|
||Clive Jones|||Ditto|
||Nicky Shoebrook|Safeguarding and<br>Policies officer|From 30/03/23|Ditto|
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved 

**Director name** 



Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity 

**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** 

## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** 

Description of the assets held in this capacity 

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this fall within the custodian charity’s objects 

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets 

## **Additional information (optional)** 

## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** 

|**Type of**<br>**adviser**<br>**Name**<br>**Address**|**Type of**<br>**adviser**<br>**Name**<br>**Address**|**Type of**<br>**adviser**<br>**Name**<br>**Address**|
|---|---|---|
||||
||||
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|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**|||
||||



## **Exemptions from disclosure** 

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details 



Other o
tional information

## Linton Road Free Church Annual Accounts for 2024 

## **SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS** 

|**General Fund**|**2024**|**P/Cash**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Bank balance at 01/01/2024|£13,574.34|£1.12|£11,175.96|
|Net Income 2024|£27,516.48||£33,806.88|
|Dec money paid in Jan 24|£1,326.95||**£44,982.84**|
|**Income for 2024**|**£42,417.77**|||
|Expenditure 2024|£30,486.57||£30,081.55|
|**Book Balance at 31/12/2024**|**£11,931.20**||**£14,901.29**|
|Dec 23 money paid in Jan 24|||£1,326.95|
|**Bank Balance  at 31/12/2024**|**£11,931.20**|**£1.12**|**£13,574.34**|
|**Business Money Manager A/C**|**2024**||**2023**|
|Bank balance at 01/01/2024|£6,552.04||£1,501.62|
|Income 2024|£6,203.49||£5,150.42|
|Total assets for 2024|£12,755.53||£6,652.04|
|Expenditure 2024|£0.00||£100.00|
|**Balance  at 31/12/2024**|**£12,755.53**||**£6,552.04**|



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

## **INCOME** 

|**Analysis**|||
|---|---|---|
|In dark red - Gasds|**2024**|**2023**|
|**General**|||
|Donations from Coffee Stop|£293.60|£285.03|
|Donations from cards|£216.55|£219.80|
|Donations for meal|£140.00|£22.00|
|Gasds offerings (Bag)|£4,410.30|£6,155.70|
|Gift Aid (Electronic and hand)|£16,203.00|£16,512.00|
|Other Income HMRC|£5,533.03|£6,687.65|
|Donation from P Ledger|£250.00|£250.00|
|Donation from M Gladwin||£50.00|
|Donation from GNFE (Gideons)||£245.00|
|Donation for new door||£1,512.00|
|Donations from Thanksgiving|£420.00||
|Donation from BM & S Lloyd|£30.00||
|Donation to Sponsorship|£20.00||



1 



|EDF Refund Gas||£1,390.05|
|---|---|---|
|EDF Refund Elec||357.65|
|Test Bmm a/c||£100.00|
|**Total General**|**£27,516.48**|**£33,786.88**|
|**Missions**|||
|MCWS||£20.00|
|**Total Missions**||**£20.00**|
|**Outreach**|**£0.00**|**£0.00**|
|**Total Income**|**£27,516.48**|**£33,806.88**|
|Gain/Loss|£6,290.40|£8,835.62|
|~ ~ ~|~ ~ ~ ~||
|**EXPENDITURE**|||
|**General**|**2024**|**2023**|
|Advert - Find a Church|£22.00|£22.00|
|Account Charges|£115.96|£132.63|
|Catering/Commodities|£797.19|£1,185.89|
|CCLI Fees & Licences|£395.72|£377.30|
|DBS checks/Membership|£181.75|£181.75|
|EE Broadband|£248.72|£217.28|
|EA Membership|£90.00|£90.00|
|Garage Rent|£803.34|£705.78|
|Insurances Bldg & Contents)|£1,141.45|£1,006.06|
|Land Registry|£100.00||
|Ministry Gifts|£2,595.00|£1,575.00|
|Sponsorship|£480.00|£80.00|
|Stationery|£313.11|£147.05|
|Tfr to Bmmm Account|£6,000.00|£5,100.00|
|Utilities/Elec/gas/water|£5,120.55|£5,588.16|
|Unpaid cheques|£40.00||
|Wix Website costs|£208.68|£172.68|
||**£18,653.47**|**£16,581.58**|
|**Fellowship**|||
|Various love gifts to fellowship|**£1,302.71**|**£734.09**|
|**Miscellaneous**|||
|**Missions**|||
|**Total Missions (See page 3)**|**£4,160.00**|**£4,910.00**|
|**Outreach**|||
|Christmas fliers/invites etc|**£122.27**|**£66.01**|





2 

## **Property** 

|**Assets**|||
|---|---|---|
|Various small purchases|£676.74|£603.69|
|Tables, chairs/desk|£3,291.78|£1,512.00|
||**£3,968.52**|**£2,115.69**|
|**Maintenance**|||
|Big Mow (Garden)|£720.00|£720.00|
|County Fire Check|£54.60|£76.20|
|Domestic Services|£980.00|£920.00|
|Gas Alliance (Gas service)|£195.00|£185.00|
|Mike Oliver (Hydroboil)|£80.00|£80.00|
|J Bashford (Pat Testing)|£100.00|**£1,981.20**|
||**£2,129.60**||
|**Repairs**|||
|James Bashford (Elec)|||
|A Hopper (Refurbishment)|||
|Avaio (Pc)||£60.00|
|Big Mow (Fence panel)|£150.00|£100.00|
|Front elevation Refurbishment||£3,510.00|
|Front door repair||£22.98|
||**£150.00**|**£3,692.98**|
|**Petty Cash Payments**|**NIL**|**NIL**|
|**Total Expenditure**|**£30,486.57**|**£30,081.55**|
|Gain/Loss|£405.02||
||~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~||
||**MISSION FUNDS**||
|**INCOME**|**2024**|**2023**|
|MCWS||**£20.00**|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||
|British Red Cross||£100.00|
|Cancer Research UK|£40.00||
|Crisis at Christmas||£300.00|
|Church Army|£250.00||
|Family Trust||£250.00|
|Friends of Helper|£500.00|£750.00|
|Good News for Everyone||£60.00|
|Kenward Trust|£250.00||
|MADM||£250.00|
|Maidstone CWS|£250.00|£550.00|





|Maidstone Street Pastors||£250.00|£250.00|
|---|---|---|---|
||3|||
|Mission Aviation Fellowship||£250.00||
|Miriam Friday (Africa)||£1,250.00|£250.00|
|Premier Radio|||£250.00|
|Royal British Legion||£40.00||
|Salvation Army||£60.00|£650.00|
|Starfish Malawi||£520.00|£750.00|
|Tearfund Turkey|||£500.00|
|Win Int||£500.00||
|**Total Missions**||**£4,160.00**|**£4,910.00**|



Compiled by Sandy Parsons Treasurer 28/01/2025 

4 



Linton Road Free Church
HSBC
ACCOUNTS SUMMARY 2024
GENERAL FUND
Petty Cash Balance at OIJOI/2024
Bank Balance at 0110112024
Tot31 Balance at 0110112024
£1.12
£13.575.46
Net Income from 2024
Dec 23 cash paid to bank In Jan 2024
Inujme for 2024
E27,516.48
£28,843.43
Totsl Assets
£42,418.89 Z
Expendlture for 2024 ex bank
ex cash
£30,486.57 2
£30,486.57 /
Balance at 3111212024
£11.93132
Total balance at 3111212024
of whlch - cash
of which - bank
£11,932.32
£11,931.20 -
Bpnk St¥temeTrt B•l•nce at 3111212024
£11,931.20
Money Man•oer A¢¢ount
Balan￿ at 0110112024
Income for 2024
£6,552.04 -
£12,755.53-
Expendlture for 2024
Balance at 3111212024
£ll755.53.
UOICO
JIJC.