Registered charity number: 1195960
St Leonard’s Community Church
ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the year ended 31 December 2024
St Leonard’s Community Church
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Annual report | 1 – 4 |
| Independent examiner’s report | 5 |
| Receipts and payments account | 6 |
| Statement of assets and liabilities | 7 |
| Notes to the accounts | 8 - 9 |
St Leonard’s Community Church
Annual report
For the year ended 31 December 2024
Trustees
Rev Lucy Sablan Rev Christopher Stebbing Stephen Adams Caroline Clifford Rev Mike Rutter Guido Ngando
Appointed 21 April 2024
Principal Address
St Leonard’s Church 331 Arbourthorne Rd Sheffield S2 2FH
Accountants
Seven Hills Accountants Limited 57 Burton Street Sheffield S6 2HH
Objectives and activities
The Objects of The CIO are the advancement of the Christian faith, for the benefit of the public especially within the Arbourthorne and Norfolk park areas of Sheffield and in such parts of the united kingdom, or the world, as the trustees of the charity may from time to time think fit and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales and connected with the charitable work of the charity.
Background
St Leonard’s Community Church was set up as a CIO on 29 September 2021, to support the work of the church and community space, based in a converted public house – 331 Arbourthorne Road, S2 2FH.
This history of this church, formally known as “The Beacon”, is somewhat complicated:
The assets and liabilities of the former parish of Arbourthorne and Norfolk Park were held in the name of registered charity number 1145963, legally called “St Paul & St Leonard’s church”, but known as “The Beacon”.
By virtue of a Pastoral Scheme, the parishes of ‘Heeley’ and of ‘Arbourthorne and Norfolk Park’ merged into a single parish on 1 August 2021. The new parish is known as the ‘Parish of Heeley with Arbourthorne and Norfolk Park’. The parish was registered with the Charity Commission on 5 November 2021, charity number 1196414, with the legal name “The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Christ Church Heeley with Arbourthorne and Norfolk Park”.
A transfer in of assets and liabilities from “St Paul & St Leonard’s church” to “The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Christ Church Heeley with Arbourthorne and Norfolk Park” took place as at 1 August 2021.
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St Leonard’s Community Church
Annual report - continued For the year ended 31 December 2024
This charity was set up to receive the cash assets and any liabilities relating to St Leonard's Church once a Bishop’s Mission Order had been granted. Following the granting of a lease to St Leonard’s and transfer of funds to St Leonard’s, the Bishops Mission Order has operated independently since 1 January 2023.
Mission at St Leonard’s Community Church is led by Revd Lucy Sablan who was licensed to the Bishop’s Mission Order at its creation in 2022.
Achievements and performance
More information on activities can be found here: https://www.saintleonards.co.uk/
When planning our activities for the year, the trustees have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.
Worship Services and Discipleship
Services:
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Our Wednesday morning prayer service ‘REFRESH’ has built a stable congregation of 8-13 attendees each week. This has continued to provide a space for those who either can’t make Sunday or for who Sundays may not be a good fit.
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Our pattern of Sunday worship is well established with more and more of the community and ‘services and discipleship task group’ taking on areas of responsibility leading, preaching and serving at them. Weekly attendance numbers in 2024 continued to be hugely varied with attendance of 12-26 being within a normal range. Having a stable core continues to be a difficulty, but notably our fringe is growing. Engagement with our Christmas services was fantastic, with the best attendance across services we have seen of any year since we began and we were privileged to lead a carol service for Sheffield City Knights.
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We held a ‘forget me not’ service on All Saints Day which was received well by the community and many who have not attended a service with us before joined in.
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A huge thank you to our services team and to Our Children’s worker and Curate who have all given so much to our services this year.
Discipleship:
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The wellbeing group (A group combining discussing wellbeing and mental health with prayer and faith discussions) has been a real highlight of church life this year. With a growing and committed group of people it has in turn enriched the spiritual life of the wider community using the church building through the prayer cards (and more recently prayer book) they have created. This group is beginning to be replicated elsewhere in the Diocese. Huge thanks to Rachel and Britt for their leadership of this group. A version of the Wellbeing group is also being run after the youth group and is being enthusiastically engaged with.
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2 bible study/small groups have been meeting this year including a new one led by Kim which has been exploring women in the bible. Thanks to all who have hosted and led these groups.
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St Leonard’s Community Church
Annual report - continued For the year ended 31 December 2024
Mission and Evangelism
This has continued to be a focus for our operations as we establish ourselves in the community and try to serve it well.
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We ran ‘Alive’, a course exploring some of the main themes of faith, after the café on a Wednesday. This has led to engagement with other areas of church life from a couple of people who joined
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Thoko and Britt have been regularly prayer walking in the area and inviting others to join them.
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Our Pub Tea Nights continue to be a regular highlight with many local families joining in. +Pete joined our November pub night and had a Q&A with the kids in the kids group. We have also secured council funding for the food so that we can ensure we have enough budget to cook healthy and wholesome meals for the families who join. Again, thank you to all who have helped cook, lead activities and run the kids group.
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Connect Café is thriving, with great volunteers and its own community. Many of the community are joining in other areas of church life and we are well established in the area as a warm space and a meeting spot.
Youth, Children and Families Work
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Roots after school club has gone from strength to strength, regularly seeing around 20 kids joining. The council recently identified provision for young people of primary age as a gap in the area, and so it is wonderful that we have been able to serve in this way. A huge thanks to Lynne and the team for their work in this area
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A new SEN Toddler group ‘Little Bees’ began, led by Lynne, and was really well received by those who came along. Through trying out the format it has been discerned that a slight shift in direction may be the best thing, and the group will be restarting later in 2025 as an SEN parents/carers drop in with toddler group.
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A new youth community started this year and has quickly grown a solid group of around 12 young people. The group have informal activities and eat together. Thanks to Britt and the volunteers who help make this happen.
Ecumenical
- J:10:10, a Monday evening service in collaboration with the Salvation Army and Church Army has continued but is in the process of being reviewed.
Future plans
- In the next year we are looking to start an after school church to reach out to offer a church service to the families we work with.
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St Leonard’s Community Church
Annual report - continued For the year ended 31 December 2024
Financial review
It has again been an encouraging year with giving from the congregation exceeding the initial budgeted figures. This along with the success in securing a number of grants to fund positions such as the Admin Assistant and various projects such as ‘Little Bees’ SEND group has meant that the work and ministry of the church has been able to continue and develop through the year.
As ever challenges have remained not least in keeping a check on the utility costs. Long term contracts with gas and electric companies have provided the church with some security in knowing the monthly outgoings. The fabric of the building has also raised some concerns and repairs and maintenance have been ongoing. A fuller inspection was completed in April 2024, to enable a repair and maintenance schedule to be complied and costed. The major issue raised by the report was the state of the roof. Whilst the flat areas of the roof were known to be in need of significant work, the report also found that the main pitched roof was also nearing the end of its life. Estimates for the replacement of the work were secured ranging from £70k to £120k. Grants applications were also looked into but these then hit a snag due to the length of time left on the lease of the building. Discussions were had by Heeley PCC who agreed to extend the lease by a further 25 years to allow for grant applications to be made. The lease extension has yet to be progressed by the Diocesan Registrar.
The church committed to paying £1,000 to the Diocese as its share of the Common Fund and this was paid in full. Trustees also agreed that from 2025 the church would tithe its giving income and this would be the basis for future Common Fund contributions. In 2025 the contribution is expected to be around £1650.
The trustees agreed a formal reserves policy in 2024 reserves to cover ongoing costs along with covering unforeseen circumstances.. For 2025 this target was £6,500. Free reserves (general fund cash reserves) as at 31 December 2024 were £24,520. The trustees consider this balance sufficient when considering cash flow needs and the 2025 budget.
The trustees declare that they have approved the annual report on 27 April 2025.
Signed on their behalf by:
Rev Lucy Sablan Chair
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Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of St Leonard’s Community Church (“the CIO”)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Charity 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 CIO’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
01 May 2025
Sarah Lightfoot, FCA, DChA Seven Hills Accountants Limited 57 Burton Street Sheffield S6 2HH
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St Leonard's Community Church Receipts and payments account For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Notes Receipts from: Voluntary Giving Planned giving Collections at services Other giving Grants Fundraising activities Church activities Event income Rent from Hall Other income Arbourthourne Pond Salary contributions Other income Investment income Transfer in from Christ Church Heeley Total receipts Payments from: Church activities Common fund Clergy and staff expenses Salaries, wages and honoraria Mission and evangelism costs Café costs Other mission and evangelism costs Church running expenses Upkeep of services Building maintenance costs Building utilities Insurance Garden costs Accountancy and Independent examination fees Other running expenses Arbourthourne Pond costs Net receipts/(payments) Transfers Net movement in funds Total cash funds brought forward Total cash funds carried forward |
General funds £ 16,252 10 275 - - 752 26,875 - 4,233 407 29 - 48,833 1,000 1,519 7,822 1,592 1,976 2,049 12,858 12,472 810 86 540 857 - 43,641 5,192 1,224 6,416 18,104 24,520 |
Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 538 1,353 - 1,788 63 - - - - - 9 - 3,760 (3,760) - (3,760) 3,760 - |
Restricted funds £ - - - 11,888 1,576 - - - - - - - 13,464 - 246 6,158 - 705 - - - 196 68 - - 955 8,328 5,136 (1,224) 3,912 3,363 7,275 |
Endowment funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
2024 Total £ 16,252 10 275 11,888 1,576 752 26,875 - 4,233 407 29 - 62,297 1,000 2,303 15,333 1,592 4,469 2,112 12,858 12,472 1,006 154 540 866 955 55,729 6,568 - 6,568 25,227 31,795 |
2023 Total £ 12,754 173 286 7,558 213 578 16,135 2,602 1,753 1,256 8 16,335 59,651 1,000 446 9,209 1,043 4,801 437 3,800 8,311 867 2,158 210 1,611 531 34,424 25,227 - 25,227 - 25,227 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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St Leonard's Community Church Statement of Assets and Liabilities As at 31 December 2024
| Notes Cash funds Bank current accounts Total cash funds Investment and property assets CCLA investment fund - income shares 4 Total investment and property assets |
General funds £ 24,520 24,520 - - |
Designated funds £ - - - - |
Restricted funds £ 7,275 7,275 - - |
Endowment funds £ - - 19,354 19,354 |
Total 2024 £ 31,795 31,795 19,354 19,354 |
Total 2023 £ 25,227 25,227 18,921 18,921 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Leonard's Church is a converted pub that is licenced to carry out religious activities, rather than being consecrated property, therefore it is appropriate to recognise ownership and valuation.
Assets retained for church use
The PCC own a variety of furniture and equipment for use in church activities. No valuation is put on these items.
| Debtors Gift aid recoverable Salary contributions Other income - student placement Total debtors Liabilities Building utilities Accountancy and Independent examination fees Total liabilities |
1,361 4,095 5,456 - 648 648 |
- - - - - - |
- - - - - - |
- - - - - - |
1,361 4,095 5,456 - 648 648 |
- - - 1,231 540 1,771 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Approved by the trustees on 27 April 2025.
Signed on their behalf by:
Rev Lucy Sablan Chair
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St Leonard's Community Church Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
1 Accounting policies Basis of preparation
The account are prepared in line with the Charity Commission guidance on Receipts and payment" accounts and the Church Accounting Regulation 2016.
Receipts and payments accounts are statements that summarise the movement of cash into and out of the organisation during the financial year. In this context "cash" includes cash equivalents, for example, bank accounts where cash can be readily withdrawn to pay for debts as they become due.
Funds
General funds are donations and other income receivable or generated for the objects of the organisation without further specified purpose.
Designated funds are set aside at the discretion of the PCC.
Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor.
Endowment funds arise from specific gifts left to the church and are held as investments. The investment income generated from these investments can be used towards the same purposes that the investments are held for.
2 Designated funds
| Note CPW |
Cash funds brought forward £ 3,760 3,760 |
Income £ - - |
Expenditure £ (3,760) (3,760) |
Transfers £ - - |
Cash funds carried forward £ - - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CPW
Monies set aside towards a Centenary Project worker.
- 3 Restricted funds
| Ward pot 2023 Friends of Arbourthorne Pond Admin worker grant Building Ward pot 2024 Salon Little Bees Retreat |
Cash funds brought forward £ 1,292 2,071 - - - - - - 3,363 |
Income £ - - 6,158 790 680 4,586 1,000 250 13,464 |
Expenditure £ (68) (1,151) (6,158) - - - (705) (246) (8,328) |
Transfers £ (1,224) - - - - - - - (1,224) |
Cash funds carried forward £ - 920 - 790 680 4,586 295 4 7,275 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ward pot 2023
Monies given for various items including the community garden, christmas tree, kitchen equipment and the food bank. £1,224 expenditure in the preivous year has been identified as coming from this pot - represented by the transfer.
Friends of Arbourthorne Pond
The Church is acting as agent for this community group who do not have their own bank account - the vicar Lucy Sablan sits on their board. The funds are spent as set out by the group.
Admin worker grant
A grant to cover a part time admin post shared with Christ Church Heeley. Building
Fundraising towards the cost of bulding maintenance, especially roof work. Ward pot 2024
A ward pot grant towards Pub Nights.
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St Leonard's Community Church Notes to the financial statements - continued For the year ended 31 December 2024
3 Restricted funds - continued Salon
A grant to support the set up of a locally rooted salon space that offers employment support and free and affordable self care for those who are least able to access it.
Retreat
A grant to support a church day away.
4 Endowment funds
| Cash funds brought forward £ Endowment fund - - |
Income £ - - |
Expenditure £ - - |
Cash funds carried Transfers forward £ £ - - - - |
|---|---|---|---|
Endowment fund
This endowment fund is held as CCLA income shares. The investment valuation at the year end was £19,354.
During the year the associated investment dividends of £517 were paid directly into the Sheffield Diocese Board of Finance bank account and allocated to the common fund to support clergy stipends in the year.
5 Related party transactions
Trustees and their close relatives donated £3,800 in addition to any amounts given within the collection, during the year (2023: £3,060).
Trustees received no remuneration for their role as trustees during the year. Clergy and staff expenses primarily comprise costs to allow the clergy and staff to fulfil their roles, for example telephone recharges and mileage contributions, as well as vicarage water costs. Clergy who were also trustees received travel and phone benefits of £85 in the year (2023: £149).
S Adams is a trustee of the below charities - these connections exist so that the activities within the extended parish can be managed.
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Christ Church Heeley with Arbourthorne and Norfolk Park (Christ Church Heeley) (registered charity 1196414)
The church building (331 Arbourthorne Road) is being leased to the community church for their use as a worship and community centre, for a peppercorn rent.
A shared admin worker was appointed, with costs being split betwteen Christ Church Heeley and St Leonard's - payments were made between the two to share the costs. £4,250 was received by St Leonard's in the year.
St Paul & St Leonard's Church (registered charity 1145963) S Adams
There were no transactions during the year. The charity is dormant and needs to be closed with the Charity Commission.
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