## Ridley Community Church Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2024 1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk ## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH** ## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 94 Upton Lane Forest Gate London E7 9LW GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO Constitution dated 5 November 2021 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1196428 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Nigel Parrington MANAGING THE CHARITY Alexander Craig Alastair Steven Martin Oriakhi Kenneth Brownell BANKERS Metro Bank INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB ## **INDEX** Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Pages 2-3 Trustees' Report Page 4 Independent Examiner's Report Page 5 Receipts and Payments Account Page 6 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Page 7 Notes to the Accounts Page 1 ## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** The Trustees have pleasure in submitting the Report and Accounts for the period ended 31 December 2024. ## **Objects of the charity** The charity, which is a church, is governed by a constitution and is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation. The charity's principal object, as set out in its governing document, is, for the public benefit, to advance the Christian faith in such ways as the Trustees may from time to time decide. ## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements** To further the above objects and vision, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows: Our principal aim as a Church and a gathered group of individuals is to “know Christ, live Christ and make Christ known”. In all things with prayer, supplication and thanksgiving we continue to make our request known to God who we trust for our provision from day to day and year to year. We are acutely aware of the community needs of the locality in which we are based which includes the highest concentration of Muslims in London; a concentration on people on low incomes and a concentration of child poverty. Yet we believe we are placed in this area for a purpose and we seek to honour God for placing us here to be His witnesses. Our primary aim is to “know Christ, live Christ and make Christ known”. We have a regular Sunday morning service; a mid-week bible study, a Friday drop in (where We have during the year continued with our regular Sunday morning service; our mid-week bible study and our Friday drop in (where we provide help, support and advice to local community – including sign posting to statutory services) as well as outreach work including a book stall on Wednesday evenings at Forest Gate station; door to door evangelism, lunch gatherings and occasionally breakfasts as well as one off event such as our street carol services.we provide help, support and advice to local community – including sign posting to statutory services) as well as outreach work including a book stall on Wednesday evenings at Forest Gate station; door to door evangelism, lunch gatherings and occasionally breakfast as well as one off event such as our street carol services. We rely significantly upon our Pastor Martin Oriakhi who as our only employee is responsible for all the activities that take place at RCC although he is ably supported by the members of the Church who themselves volunteer to ensure we continue to “know Christ, live Christ and make Christ known”. We are also amazed by Gods provision of additional volunteers from overseas who have felt led to witness in East London and who have made a significant impact in the life of the Church and of witness to the local community - including leading Muslim outreach. We are grateful for the support we have received from the London City Mission who have provided us with use of the building over the past 3 years. During this year we have negotiated a formal lease arrangement with LCM for the next 3 years where we will seek to demonstrate our ability to be an independent Church serving the local community. We will seek to maintain our relationship with LCM ELT, FIEC and other Churches who have provided visiting speakers, prayer and financial support to Ridley Community Church - without which we could not function as a Church. We are also grateful for the support and help from Stewardship who have provided assistance especially in terms of the construction and organisation of our accounts. Page 2 Our Trustees and members have been crucial in ensuring we maintain our charitable obligations and remain financially viable. During the year the Trustees have spent a lot of time focusing on our financial position to ensure we maintain a financially viable position – with a particular focus on cash reserves which need to be a minimum of three months expenditure. This year the Trustees have received more detailed reporting to ensure an ongoing awareness of the Church’s financial position. During the year we have also continued to seek to raise capital funds to enable us to purchase the building where we are based. We are grateful for the initial conversations we have had with organisations and individuals that are considering providing donations during future years trusting in God for all things whatever the future direction of the Church. We know who holds the future and we will seek to trust in God knowing that our time is in His hands. In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. ## **Financial review** During the year income was £29,043 (2023: £30,028) and expenditure was £36,927 (2023: £32,373) As a result the cash held by the charity at the end of the period was £7,368 (2023: £15,252), of which £5,577 is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose. ## **Reserves policy** The trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £7,500 (which equates to about 3 months' of unrestricted expenditure) so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £5,577 (2023: £15,252) and the charity is close to complying with its reserves policy. ## **Governance** Responsibility for setting policy and for making operating decisions rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. New trustees are recruited and appointed by the existing trustees, by a majority vote. ## **Risk statement** The charity is exposed to various risks - be they operational, financial or reputational. The trustees review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks. ## **Responsibilities of trustees** Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year. We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities. ## **Approval** This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: ## N G Parrington N G Parrington (Nov 7, 2025 10:00:02 GMT) ___________________________ Nigel Parrington (CHAIR OF TRUSTEES) Date:_______________________ Nov 7, 2025 Page 3 ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT** ## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF** ## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Ridley Community Church ('the charity') for the period ended 31 December 2024 on pages 5 to 7 following. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ## Archie McDowall Archie McDowall (Nov 11, 2025 16:11:53 GMT) Archie McDowall BA CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB Date: Nov 11, 2025 Page 4 ## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** |Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Donations
Other grants
**_Total receipts_**
**_Payments_**
2
**_Total payments_**
**Net movement in funds**
Cash funds as at last year end
**Cash funds at this year end**
A
Payments
in
relation
to
charitable
activities undertaken directly|Unrestricted Funds
General
Restricted
Funds
Funds
£
£
19,252
1,791
8,000
-
27,252
1,791
36,927
-
36,927
-
9,675
-
1,791
15,252
-
5,577
1,791|2024
£
21,043
8,000
29,043
36,927
36,927
7,884
-
15,252
7,368|2023
£
17,028
13,000
30,028
32,373
32,373
2,345
-
17,597
15,252| |---|---|---|---| The notes on page 7 form part of these accounts. Page 5 ## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** |Notes
**A**
**Cash funds**
Cash at bank with immediate access
**B**
**Liabilities**
**Falling due within one year**
Fee for Independent Examination
Accrued expenses
**Total**|Unrestricted Funds
General
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
5,577
1,791
**5,577**
**1,791**
840
-
217
-
**1,057**
**-**|2024
£
7,368
**7,368**
840
217
**1,057**|2023
£
15,252
**15,252**
-
67
**67**| |---|---|---|---| The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: N G Parrington N G Parrington (Nov 7, 2025 10:00:02 GMT) ___________________________________ Nigel Parrington Nov 7, 2025 Date:_______________________ Page 6 ## **RIDLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH** ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** ## **1 Accounting policies** The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs. General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects. |**2**
**Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly**
Employment costs (see note 4)
Ministry expenses
Gifts and Hospitality
IT costs
Utilities
Bank charges
Insurance
Office costs
Building rental
Other costs|Unrestricted Fun
General
funds
£
31,031
301
490
126
360
391
168
3,500
560
36,927|ds
Designated
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Total
2024
£
31,031
-
301
490
126
360
391
168
3,500
560
36,927|Total
2023
£
29,922
-
329
1,046
109
360
377
32
-
198
32,373| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ## **3 Transactions with related parties** Martin Oriakhi served as a church leader and received total employment benefits of £31,031 (2023: £29,922) in the year for serving in that capacity, not for serving as a trustee; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document. ## **4 Non-monetary resources** The church uses property for its services and other ministries owned by London City Mission (charity number 247186), for which no rent or other reimbursement of expenses was required in the prior year. ## **5 Movement of funds** |General funds
Restricted funds
Building Fund
Total funds|Opening
balance
£
15,252
-
-
15,252|Receipts
£
27,252
1,791
1,791
29,043|Payments
£
36,927
-
-
-
36,927
-|Transfers
£
-
-
-
-|Closing
balance
£
5,577
1,791
1,791
7,368| |---|---|---|---|---|---| Page 7