## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 01/04/2024 To 31/03/2025 Charity name: The Potteries Vineyard Church**
**Charity registration number: 1200283**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The objects of the CIO are:
To advance the Christian religion for the
public benefit in accordance with the
Statement of Faith in the Schedule hereto
attached in such parts of the United
Kingdom and the world through:
●
The organisation and provision of
Christian worship;
●
The provision of such facilities and
services as are appropriate for the
Church, to enable it to fulfil its
mission to the members of the
Church, visitors to the Church and
the local community and the wider
community;
●
The provision of facilities for
Christian training and service;
●
The support and provision of
Christian evangelism and outreach;
●
The provision of assistance to the
wider Christian church in its
ministries.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The church continued to meet for Sunday
services at Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews
Academy twice a month, moving to three
times a month in January 2025, meaning
that a gathering of some sort was provided
every Sunday from this point. The provision
for children at Sunday gathering was
developed by increasing the team so that
parents and carers no longer needed to
attend with their children. The church’s
monthly outreaches - a Lego Club (Brick
Club) and an Arts and Craft club (True
Colours) continued to meet on the first
Sunday of the month in local community
venues. Weekly life groups continued in
homes. The church partnered with local|
|||charities to gather donations of food,
chocolates, and pampering gifts throughout
the year, which were passed on to local
people supported by the charities (Affordable
Food Stoke, and Whispers of Hope). The
church also began a partnership with Kids
Matter and St Paul’s CE Primary School,
with volunteers from the church providing a
parenting programme to parents from the
school community.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|
In planning the activities the Trustees have
applied the guidance on public benefit issued
by the Charity Commission.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|All activities have been organised and
delivered by volunteers. For most this has
involved a regular commitment of volunteer
time once or more per month and volunteers
have used a wide range of skills including
hospitality, music, catering, artistic, public
speaking, welcome and more. The church
began to employ one part-time staff member
(11 hours per week) from January 2025, and
all other activities are run and delivered by
volunteers.|
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|This year the church has continued to gather
a growing number of people, with around 30
people being part of the church community in
March 2024, increasing to around 40 people
by March 2025. Across monthly, seasonal
and one-off outreach events the church
connected with over 700 local people. The
church’s worship and discipleship activities
have provided opportunities for people to
explore and grow in spirituality, with 2 people
being baptised in February 2024. The church
has served the wider community by donating
items and gathering to fill ‘Bags of Kindness’
at Christmas 2024. These were donated to
women who had experienced domestic
abuse, via another local charity, ‘Whispers of
Hope’. The church was also given a donation
of 396 advent calendars and 396 Easter
eggs, which were then given out to local
children through schools, other charities, and
community groups. In December 2024 the
church organised an outreach event hosted
at a local pub which included times of|
singing, food and drink, and the opportunity to think about faith at Christmas. This was very well received by those attending and the team at the pub. All outreach activities have been offered free of charge to the local community and offered opportunities to have fun, build social connections, and explore spirituality and faith. The church also ran regular teaching and preaching workshops, and a ‘Leadership Essentials’ course, offering volunteers the chance to learn and develop their skills and leadership.
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives Para 1.41 set
The church has been successful in raising funds through donation and income has exceeded expenditure, allowing for the purchase of equipment and renting of venues needed for activities and services. The end of year reflects a surplus, which will allow for the building up of reserves and investment in future projects and growth.
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The charity’s income exceeded it’s
expenditure, with a total surplus of £6741.74
After making appropriate enquiries, the
trustees have a reasonable expectation that
the charity will have adequate resources to
continue in operational existence for the
foreseeable future and they expect to adopt
the going concern basis in the next financial
period.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|
The charity intends to hold an amount equal
to the average expenditure for 3 calendar
months in reserve, so that any planned
payments can still be made in event of a
reduction in income.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|At the end of this financial year, the charity
currently has £21,108.00 held in reserve.
The trustees will continue to ensure that the
charity holds reserves equivalent to 3
months expenditure for the coming financial
year, monitoring income and expenditure as
the charity continues to grow and develop it’s
work.|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|
|---|---|---|
|
The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|
Para 1.47|
The charity’s principal source of funds is
donation from private persons who consider
themselves members of the church, and
some outside supporters.|
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|The charity’s governing document is a trust
deed, prepared with support from Trust
Advice.|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|The Potteries Vineyard Church is a CIO.|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|A new trustee may be appointed by a
resolution of the Trustees passed at a
meeting of Trustees at which there is a
majority of the Trustees present and such
resolution shall be recorded in the minutes
and signed by the new Trustee and by the
chairman of the meeting and such records
shall be conclusive evidence of his / her
appointment.|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|
Para 1.51|
The day-to-day management of the church
and activities are delegated to our Senior
Pastors, Jonny & Libby James, who are also
trustees.
The Potteries Vineyard Church is a member
of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland, (Charity
No. 1099748) which functions as a resource
for similar churches. In particular, they
provide significant resources, training and
pastoral oversight. Membership also allows
Jonny & Libby to be licensed accredited
pastors who have a right to use the
trademarked “Vineyard” name. The
association provides pastoral care for the
Senior Pastors and family, and an external
reference concerning church affairs and
doctrine. The Potteries Vineyard Church will
grant 5% of its annual unrestricted income to
Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland each year.|
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|The Potteries Vineyard Church|
|---|---|
|
Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1200283|
|
Charity’s principal address|8 Spratslade Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 4DZ|
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|
|---|---|---|
|**Elizabeth James**|||
|**Jonathan James**||**01/04/2024 - 01/11/2025**|
|**Ruth Jeffery**|**Chair, Treasurer**||
|**Claire Bankole**|||
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature** E A James
**Full Name** Elizabeth Amy James
**Position** Chair
**Date** 23/01/25
## Profit and Loss
## The Potteries Vineyard Church
## April 1, 2024-March 31, 2025
|DISTRIBUTION ACCOUNT|TOTAL|
|---|---|
|Income||
|Gift Aid received from HMRC|3,714.61|
|One off gift|15,221.00|
|Regular Giving|34,735.00|
|**Total for Income**|**£53,670.61**|
|**Gross Profit**|**£53,670.61**|
|Expenses||
|Bank Service Charges|4.95|
|Charitable Donations|£250.00|
|Charities giving|100.00|
|VCUKI Giving|3,153.70|
|**Total for Charitable Donations**|**£3,503.70**|
|EMPLOYMENT||
|Employers NI|0.00|
|Staff Costs|1,280.88|
|STAFF - Elizabeth James|2,607.69|
|Training|188.50|
|**Total for EMPLOYMENT**|**£4,077.07**|
|Equipment and Storage|816.55|
|Events|2,017.07|
|Licences and Insurance|1,751.66|
|Marketing and Publicity|39.45|
|Ministries|2,100.54|
|Office and Admin|£3,906.67|
|Software and Subscriptions|257.98|
|**Total for Office and Admin**|**£4,164.65**|
|Outreach|2,435.79|
|Sundays|25,715.96|
|Travel|84.60|
|WorshipExpenses|216.88|
|**Total for Expenses**|**£46,928.87**|
|**Net Operating Income**|**£6,741.74**|
|**Net Other Income**||
|**Net Income**|**£6,741.74**|
**1/1**
**Accrual Basis Wednesday, January 14, 2026 08:31 PM GMTZ**
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees** Charity Name THE POTTERIES VINEYARD CHURCH **On accounts for the year** 31[ST] MARCH 2025 **Charity no** 1200283 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** N/A I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31[st ] March 2025.
**Responsibilities and** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the **basis of report** accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’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** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
**Date:** 16/01/26 **Signed: Name:** Steve Mitchell **Relevant professional** CIMA cert BA **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 8 Harcourt Drive Earley, Reading, RG6 5TJ
**Oct 2018**
1
**IER**