## Free Christian Fellowship ## Trustees’ Annual Report 2024 This Report provides a statement of activity for Free Christian Fellowship (FCF), also known as Fiskerton Revival Centre (FRC), for the year from 1 January to 31 December 2024. FCF is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with income below the threshold, accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and have been independently examined by an accountant in accordance with the Charities Commission requirements. The Statement of Account and Independent Examiner’s Statement are appended to this report. The report will comprise key points only. More specific information will be provided on request. FCF continues to fulfil it’s stated aims and objectives. ## **Key points** ## _Ministry_ - The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ continues to be preached with signs following: - Weekly meetings have continued to take place, also breaking of bread on a monthly basis, this year there has been no break for the Christmas period as in past years; - Eight people have been baptised in water and a number have been baptised in the Holy Spirit; - Healing and deliverance are common place in the meetings and we thank God for it; - The demonstration and power of Christ’s teachings continue to be promoted and published through the FRC website and social media streams in the publishing of a daily scripture, testimonies and Bible based teaching; - Prayer requests are taken by the FRC Prayer Group and we have reports of God’s power in healing and resolution of difficult situations as a result of prayer; - Discipleship meetings have started to help Christians develop their walk with the Lord. ## _Income_ - The number of people attending the meetings has increased from an average of 23 in 2023 to 29 in 2024. This despite a number of people not being able to attend regularly because of personal circumstances or having left the fellowship owing to doctrinal differences. - Income is mainly generated through the generosity of those attending the meetings through free will offerings. The rise in the cost of living has not affected the level of offerings as much as expected. The table below provides an overview of income by the main categories. Gross income is the total income including any specified donations that do not directly benefit FCF. Schoolroom hire is included in the gross income but is identified to indicate ‘earned’ income that is fully used by FCF to fulfil its aims and objectives. The final row is the like for like actual annual income directly benefitting FCF. There was one funeral fee for the year of £125, Page of 1 3 included in gross income (£203 in 2023). Gross income for 2024 increased by £1,094 from 2023; average attendance increased by 21%, income by 15%. ||**2024**|**2023**| |---|---|---| |Gross income|£7,397|£9,687| |Schoolroom hire|£520|£190| |Utilities refunds/subsidies|£230|£201| |Less specifed donations|£0|-£3,384| |**Total FCF income**|**7,397**|**£6,303**| - The Schoolroom has been used as a polling station for some years. However, refurbishment of the building has attracted other external local organisations to hire the Schoolroom, generating an additional £140 this year. There were two elections in 2024 at a fee of £190 each; - This initiative is also starting to fulfil our objectives of having an active presence in the local community and to provide affordable facilities for use by the community; - We have also continued to support those in need, financially, in practical terms and in pastoral care. Transport, living expenses and accommodation have been provided for Polish refugees and appropriate care for the homeless and substance addicts in the form of Christian ministry and food. ## _Expenditure_ - Total expenditure for the year was £13,325 (£34,311, 2023). - Capital expenditure significantly reduced as the refurbishment of the building is nearing completion. Repairs and renewals increased by £489 over 2023, the focus turning to renewal of existing facilities to enhance visitor experience and reduce costs; - A portable baptismal pool was purchased and so far eight candidates have made the witness of water baptism, more requests are being received for 2025; - Despite continuing increases in utilities costs, expenditure for 2024 has reduced by £1903 over 2023 costs. This is the result of somewhat warmer weather and more efficient insulation through replacement of doors and roof repairs. However, there has been additional consumption owing to Schoolroom hire. The change of supplier to Octopus and regular, accurate bills, has enabled us to focus on cost reduction. Monthly payments have consistently been greater than costs and we have claimed refunds of £230 during the year as well as Octopus reducing our monthly payments twice during the year, resulting in a reduction from £172.87 per month on 1 January to £80 per month from 28 December. This has marginally been helped by changing to a cheaper new fixed tariff. There is a credit balance of +£715 on 6 January 2025. Refund claims cannot be made when the account is in review for costs reductions or change of tariff and this has hampered refund claims. Further refunds will be sought in 2025 to achieve an account credit aligned to trend variations in actual monthly usage. Significantly, the estimated annual cost was forecast at £2,055 on 1 January 2024 but has been reduced to £1,181 on 6 January 2025. Page of 2 3 - The five year Long Term Undertaking with Integra Insurance, building, contents and business insurance, terminated this year. Negotiations were successful in lowering the sum insured for the building which had been falsely inflated by Integra increasing market values and rebuilding costs by 6% per annum despite ongoing reductions in value and costs before Covid. It was agreed that we can challenge future indexation on an annual basis to reflect actual market fluctuations. Subsequently the annual premium has been adjusted from a renewal figure of £621 to £462, a reduction of £159. Integra were the cheapest quote and another long term undertaking was agreed, which will maintain premiums at a competitive level for the next five years, but will need careful monitoring. ## _Forecast_ - Costs have significantly reduced as refurbishment of the building is completed. Forecast costs indicate that income will exceed expenditure in 2025 if current performance trends continue. - However FCF is non-profit making charity with the primary objective of ministering the gospel and providing aid and assistance to those in need. Without wishing to make a political statement, it is anticipated that Government decision making will impact the more vulnerable and future needs may well increase, impacting expenditure levels. Page of 3 3 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES No lrfony> 1196466 FREE GHRISTIAN FUOWSHIP Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe pertod from P￿10a s(att date Period end To l Jarway 2024 31 Decefflber 2024 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricte tunds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total fund Lasiyear lolheneamt£ fDthenearest£ the neare5t£ trjthe ne￿estE Recelpts ¢dI￿h0n5 Donal￿S re 018choolroom (Wsr 6.647 S20 Sub totalfGmss income forAR) A2 Asset and Investment 8ales. (see table). 7.3 7.38T 9,687 Sub totsl Totalrecelpts 7m7 7,397 9,687 Paymènts LlohtÉnd Heel Lea￿ In￿rance 664 •paloqnd RIN￿￿¥ oudbank onEryqnd 040 T-. 17,212 Sub total 13A25 14325 34311 A4 Asset and Inv•stm•nt purchase8.18ee table) Sub total Totslpayments 13A25 13.325 34,311 Net of r¢ceipts/(payments) - nsfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds Ihis yearend 6,928 0?28 24,624 24,006 18.078 24￿06 181178 48,630 24006 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period UnrestriGled funds Ro$lri¢ted funds Endowmenl funds Categotles Detalls n•aresEÉ B1 Cash funds 18,078 CCXX R1 accounts {SS) 0910112025 rolalcash lunLIs 14078 eLw*)) Unre5trfthd nds Rèstrfcw fund$ Endowment funds Details ton8arest£ toneat95t£ to noar8Stt B2 Other monetary assets tow*l¢h a¥set Currentv4lue Detalls costloptrar B3 Investment a¥sets C￿t10P￿D￿l1> rrontva lopuonall Detalls B4 Assets retalned forth• charlty'8 own use Fund towttl¢h AmDuntdu• lopNon•ll ndU• D•lails 85 Uablllties Slgned by ortwotsustses C￿ bEhel olgwlhe tsustees Slgnalu Prinl N8me Date of approval Susan Copoman 1,4- h)c Mld)ael W Copeman CCXX R2 ao)xJnts {SS) 0910112025