Oakridge Baptist Church
Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
Tel: 01494 537478 (Answerphone) www.oakridgebaptist.church Charity Registration Number: 1197400 Registered Address: 43 Oakridge Road, High Wycombe HP11 2PH
Trustees
Mrs A Irwin (Secretary) Mr P Rackstraw (Treasurer) Mrs M A Rose (Pastoral care co-ordinator) Mr J Hollman Mrs P Hollman Mr J Morgan Mrs S Rackstraw Dr D Reynold Mr J Sinclair Mrs A Sinclair Mrs S Dodson (Life Deacon)
Property Trustees
The Baptist Union Corporation Ltd. Baptist House, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8RT
Bankers
Metro Bank, High Wycombe
Independent Examiner
Mr C Hanks
Secretary : Mrs Alison Irwin secretary@oakridgebaptist.church Treasurer : Mr Philip Rackstraw philip@dashwoods.co.uk
Registered Charity No: 1197400 and Office: 43, Oakridge Road, High Wycombe HP11 2PH Members of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, The Central Baptist Association and The Evangelical Alliance
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2024
The Trustees present their Annual Report for 2024
Structure, Governance and Management
The Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by a constitution based on the Approved Governing Document for Baptist Churches. Members of the Church are accepted in accordance with the constitution which requires them to be or to have been publicly baptised on the profession of faith in Jesus Christ or following other modes of baptism to renew their public profession of faith in Jesus Christ.
The members’ meeting normally takes place six times per year and has responsibility for the overall policy of the church. In accordance with the constitution, the members appoint Trustees, who together with the Minister (when in post), Pastoral Care Co-ordinator, Church Secretary and Treasurer (who are also appointed by the members), are responsible for the day to day running of the Church’s work and witness, and the financial and legal aspects of the charity. All members are encouraged to take an appropriate part in the spiritual and practical tasks involved in the furtherance of the charitable objective.
Relevant matters may be submitted to the Church meeting by the Trustees for guidance or may be raised by members in Church meetings for further consideration by the Trustees. Though the constitution permits decisions to be made at Church meetings by appropriate majorities, the Church seeks to work by consensus wherever possible.
Objectives and Activities
The principal purpose of the charity is the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles
of the Baptist denomination to include the advancement of education, community service and such other general charitable purposes in such parts of the United Kingdom and the world as the Church shall determine.
To achieve the principal objective, which is set out above, the Church provides a variety of activities both
to its membership and to the community generally. The aim is to show the love of Jesus Christ in both word and deed and to bring people into a closer relationship with Him as living Lord.
Central to the work and witness of the Church is the provision of regular public services of Christian worship. These services take place each Sunday at 10.30am with Communion being held one Sunday each month. There is a children’s programme during the morning services.
There are also occasional services at other times which are advertised via Church notices, email, or text. The Church also has a website www.oakridgebaptist.church
The Church continued to be blessed throughout 2024 by the weekly ministry of members and many other friends during our period of interregnum.
The Church seeks to be a friendly community, and anybody is welcome to attend any of these services.
The Church runs a series of Bible study groups for the growth of faith and discipleship; these are held at the Church and via Zoom. Further details can be obtained from the Trustees on request, or at the Sunday services of worship.
The Church holds a Boys’ Brigade/Girls’ Association which meets on the Church premises on a Thursday evening during school term times. These sessions provide opportunity for young people aged between 5 – 18 to enjoy time together and to receive Christian teaching on a regular basis.
The Church operates systems to ensure that all people working with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately vetted by the Disclosure and Barring Service.
A coffee morning is held on alternate Tuesdays, providing a time for the members and regular attenders of the Church to meet and share a time of fellowship.
The Church is an approved centre for the collection and distribution of surplus food via the Fare Share charity network. The ‘Community Friendly Fridge Project’ (CFF) runs parallel with this and is run by the Women’s Cultural Arena CIC (WCA) and hosted at the Church, providing additional surplus food to the local community. Each week food parcels and hot meals are provided to people as well as seasonal community meals throughout the year. The WCA also runs a Saturday allotment growers breakfast club/social prescribing service from the Church premises.
FoodCycle continues to be hosted at the Church and links into the Fare Share network. FoodCycle’s vision is to make food poverty, loneliness and food waste a thing of the past for every community by creating welcoming spaces for people from all walks of life to meet, eat and have conversations, which in turn supports people’s health and mental wellbeing. FoodCycle prepares, cooks and serves vegetarian 3-course meals using surplus ingredients; and in doing so promotes healthy, sustainable attitudes towards food and its impact on the environment and helps people to learn more about healthy eating options (average attendance 30+ per week).
The need for these food services continues to increase and the Church is a well-known and familiar venue for food outreach initiatives and considered a safe space to help those most in need within the community.
Other Christian groups continue to use the building on a Sunday for their services of worship namely El-Bethel Tamil Ministry and a Bulgarian Church.
The Church has read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and is satisfied that the activities outlined above clearly demonstrate that the charity is providing a benefit to the public.
Achievements and Performance
The Church does not measure the success of its programmes in numbers, including financial numbers, but in less tangible areas like fellowship, encouragement and participation. The Trustees recognise that these are difficult to measure but believe that 2024 was a positive year in the life of the Church, and that it will be able to continue its mission purposes in 2025.
At the beginning of the year the membership number was 35, at the end of the year the number was 34, 2 having died and 1 new member having been received into the fellowship.
Average attendance at worship services declined slightly during the year due to ill health and mobility issues. Attendance at the Bible study group held at the church increased. There are still spaces in some sections of the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association and active advertising is still taking place to try and fill these.
The Church has been encouraged by comments made by members of the community about the positive part the church plays in their lives and particularly in relation to the food provision programmes that run. The church is also seen as a reassuring beacon of light to many in the community in a very multicultural, multi- ethnic and multifaith area.
Financial Review
The Church continues to raise the funds which it needs to carry on its activities from within its members and congregation. No wider public appeal was made for funds during the year. The basic income for 2024 was £40391.33.
The Church continued its financial commitment to the life of the wider church by making gifts of approximately £7500 to national and international organisations, societies and individuals, with Christian aims and objectives compatible with the Church’s own charitable purposes.
The Church is heavily dependent on its members and congregation working as volunteers and providing resources in all aspects of its activities, many of which run with little or no impact on Church expenditure but, nevertheless contribute substantially to the achievement of the objectives.
The increase in utility costs continued and the church reviewed the situation on a regular basis to ensure we were signed up to the best tariffs; essential repairs to the Church were carried out mindful of the proposed plans for the site.
The full financial situation for the year is set out in annual accounts and balance sheets for the year.
Future: The Church’s plans to redevelop the site - update
Following the initial pre-planning application phase of the proposed re-development project, and despite the fact that the project was much needed and lauded; it was clear from Buckinghamshire Council planning department that a further set of plans was required for any future planning application to be successful.
A revised scheme was drafted, agreed and approved by the Church Members; and the full planning application process was started.
Most issues surrounding the project moving forward related to lack of funding and a 'vision' document was drafted for use as a discussion document for potential funders and other interested parties.
In a spirit of neighbourliness, the Leadership Team met with members of the Jubilee Road Mosque committee to share the Church’s vision which was well received and appreciated by them.
Many meetings and discussions have taken place during 2024 not least with Homes England (the redevelopment project’s primary funder) and the Local Authority; however, a previous commitment to funding from Buckinghamshire Council was withdrawn due to budget constraints on long-term projects such as this which was disappointing.
The Church’s position regarding the redevelopment project moving forward was therefore reviewed and, as funding still remained the biggest hurdle, it was decided by the Development/Leadership Teams, and agreed by the Church Members, to put the project on hold until capital funding streams
could be identified and secured in order to render the scheme viable in terms of being able to move forward with the planning application process.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees have established a Reserves Policy to enable the Church to function effectively and meet its obligations in the event of a decline in our income or a major cost, however this may be set aside if the planned rebuild goes ahead. At present having considered the relevant risks of changes in income and expenditure the Trustees have determined that the appropriate level of reserves should be around £10,000. At the end of December 2024, the church had a working balance of approximately £4,000 none of which is restricted or designated.
The Church has on deposit with the Baptist Union £700,000 (£500,000 being from the sale of the manse in 2022 held against the new build). The balance is from interest accrued and from a previous legacy. The legacy has no restrictions as to its use and some has been used to offset initial expenses related to the new build, mainly surveys and professional fees and to augment the income of the Church.
OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO CHARITY NUMBER 1197400 ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO CHARITY NUMBER 1197400 INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS ACCOUNTANTS, REPORT TO THE PROPRIETOR ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO I report on the aCcots of Oakrtdge Beptlst Church CIO for thè year ended 31 December 2024. on ofT an ml AS the church's trustses you are sponsIble for the preparatlon of the a¢¢ounts. You ¢on8lder that the audit requirements of Section 43121 of th8 Charities Act 1993 (the Act) as amendeil by ¥.28 of the Charitie$ Act 20 do rsot apply. 11 1$ my responsibility lo state whether particular matters have come lo my attention. th My examination was carried OLrt in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charities Commlssion. An examination indudes a review ol the accounting records kept by the Church and a comparison of the accounts presented vlth th08è records. It also includes con8Ideratlon of any unusual Items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explan8tron from trusl8es ¢onceming suth matters. The pr0cethJS uThYgrtaken do not rxovide all the 8vidence that would be required in 8n audlt and consequently I do not expre8s an audit Dpinion on the view given In the accounts. In connedon my examination. no matter has come to my attention. ich gives me reasonable cause lo believe that any material respect the requirements ID keep ac¢ounting records in accordance with Section 41 of the Act, 8.$ amended.. lo prepare 8¢¢ounts which ac¢ord wlth the accountiNJ records and to comply with the ac¢ounting requiramenis of Act.. have been mel or To which. in my oplnion, attenOn Should be drawn In order to enable a proper understsnding of the ac¢ounl8 to b& ftach8d. Calvln Hanks
OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO CHARITY NUMBER 1197400 DETAILED TRADING AND PROFIT AND LOSSACCOUNT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 2024 2023 Income Offertories Donations Hall hire Gift re¢laim Fo1 bank donalknn 20,875 5,840 21.111 770 8.380 5,586 200 5,712 Cost of salos Resource material Ichen purchase8 40,392 36.047 45 235 235 143 12351 11431 Gross profft 99.42% 40,157 99.60% 35,904 Expon8fjS Tralning Ral&s and watsr Preaching expen¥e8 In8urance Light and heat Cl8aning Repairs aThJ maintenance Prfnting. postago and $tation8ry Telephone Computer Nnning costs Equipment purchased bsite maIntenar Misslonary 8UPPOrt Tr8velling expenses Legal and prof fees - allowable Bad and doubtful debts CCLI Licence CBA donation BMS Sundry expenses Other donations Subscriptions 40 454 eoo 2.621 6,860 2,981 4,304 232 301 324 57 886 910 2.706 6,412 4.534 3,539 21 180 682 228 2,520 2.560 58 1,520 400 778 1,800 2,200 247 880 231 52,864 826 1,800 2.200 130 980 503 (82,280} (29,648) SurpluslDefiGIt 142,103) 6,256 Other Income Bank intergst rocelv8d 45,755 8.787 Ngt DèficltlSUrpl for the year 9.04% 3,652 15,043
OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO CHARITY NUMBER 1197400 BALANCE SHEET ASAT31 DECEM8ER 2024 2024 Not•s 2023 Cunent ass•ts CurrenlAccount Baptist Uryon deposf( 4.178 700,092 18,281 684,337 Net currant assets 704.270 700.818 Capltsl account At 1 January2024 SurpluslDefiat 700.618 3,652 685.575 15,043 704,270 700,618
OAKRIDGE ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CIO CHARITY NUMBER 1197400 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 Tanglble fixed a¥sets Flxture4 flttlngs & equipment Cost At 1 January 2024 & at 31 December 2024 Dgpre¢latlon At 1 JUary 2024 & at 31 December 2024 Not book value At 31 December 2024 68,963 68,963
CHARITY COMMIS510N FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Oakrldge Baptlst Church CIO 119740 Recei ts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe from IMIO112024 3111212024 To Section A Receipts and payment Unrestrl¢tsd fund8 Restrfctsd fund¥ Endowm•nt funds Totsl lund5 Last ygar tothp ngorn•t£ to tho n•ar•8t£ tothe n•HroBt£ A1 Recel 20,875 Rogm Hi Oonati(YLS Fund R8isln Inlere8t RaL¥¥ed CIftAid [edrn 20.875 7T0 45.755 81,147 88.147 A2 A¥set and Inv6•tment ¥ale8. 18e• tsblel. Sub total 81,147 5,000 86.14T A3Pa TTrinln Rate5 and water Pr8tstrhr¥J8 Insurgr LkJM and HJt 910 2,708 6A12 4534 3.539 21 341 910 2,Y06 12 iro Maintena os anLI gtab'on8 2,981 4.204 232 301 Printi 21 341 180 Computer Nnnin equlptnenf Mission Trnvèl Leupl and Bad debt CCLI CBAdonation BMS donatn Otherdonabiy Subs¢riplions Sundry 2xpensas 182 2.520 su 57 Z.560 2.52 51864 51864 1,520 778 2,200 503 J91 02.495 231 Sub total 82,495 29.791 A4 Asset and Inv•tmènt see table Sub total 01495 25.791 Not of recelptslpaym•ntsJ - A5 Transfern bètween fvnd• A6 Cash fund• last year end Cash funds thls year end . 5.000 3.652 15.04J CCXX R1 accounts ISSI 2410&2025
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the perio Unrestrlcted fund8 to £ Restrictea funds Enuowmeni ld8 to no•r08t £ B1 Cash funds thnk 4171 B#ptsst un d•yit8 6B5092 Total cash fiinds Unrestrlctsd R•s¢tod funds Endowment funds fo n•ar•rt ts rwavqst E FLThI to whb Co8t lopdonall ¢uwr8ntvalu• onal B3 Investment a$5ets Fund ta Tthlch &Jrrentvalyp tlon0 B4 A888ts r•talnod for thg charlty's own u8• towthl¢h elatss AmountduB BS Llablliti•8 tSona Total assots1080 Ilabilttl 69927U I00 D1 Capltal account 7C#1611 A8 intrtsJutd lu$ Iyar 699,270 5.OOD CCKX R2 accounts ISSI 24103ri025
Syned by one or trustoeB on bBhaW Df81 tho trust•OS Slgnalure Print Name Dale of roval ison Imin 2+.3. Phili Rackstraw 1¥131 1115 CCXX R3 a(£ounts {SSI 24103r2025