WATERWAYS CHAPLAINCY
TRUSTEE’S REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Registered Charity number: 1200492
Waterways Chaplaincy Contents Year ended 31 March 2025
| Reference and administrative details of the charity, its Trustees and advisers | 1 |
|---|---|
| Trustee's report | 2 |
| Independent auditor's report on the financial statements | 12 |
| Statement of financial activities | 15 |
| Balance sheet | 16 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 17 |
Waterways Chaplaincy Reference and Administra�ve Details Year ended 31 March 2025
Trustee The Church Army Charity registered number 1200492 Principal office C/O Church Army Wilson Carlile Centre 50 Cavendish Street Sheffield S3 7RZ Independent auditor Hawsons Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor Pegasus House 463a Glossop Road Sheffield S10 2QD
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Waterways Chaplaincy Trustee’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
The trustee presents its annual report together with the audited �nancial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Objects
The objects of the charity are:
To advance the Chris�an faith with the aim of bringing people to a personal faith in Jesus Christ by:
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Providing trained evangelists and lay agents (including, but not limited to, Chaplains) to assist the advancement of the Chris�an religion, and
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Relieving poverty and distress, including by (but not limited to) providing pastoral care and support, par�cularly among people living or travelling on or around canals and waterways across the UK
Main ac�vi�es undertaken to further the charity's purposes for the public bene�t
Our Waterways Chaplains proac�vely reach out to people in need on our rivers and canals.
We support the increasing number of boaters who are ‘signposted to us’ by a variety of sources. These include the Canal and River Trust Welfare O�cers, Licensing O�cers, Community Roots workers, the Environment Agency’s Naviga�on O�cers, marina owners, health care professionals, police, and many others. Our main source of contacts, though, s�ll comes from the ‘accidental’ conversa�ons that occur as the Waterways Chaplains go about their work. All of this work relieves poverty and distress, demonstrates our Chris�an faith, and highlights how simple acts of kindness can go a long way to advance the Chris�an religion.
Rather like Street Pastors, Waterways Chaplains are there to serve those they come across. We build and maintain rela�onships and o�en help to sort out more involved issues with the boater, such as poverty or health & bene�ts problems. On occasion this leads to a clear transforma�on in people’s lives, but very o�en we do not know exactly how we have helped. Faith conversa�ons are o�en brought up by those we help (see below) and we are ready to respond to their ques�ons; our evangelism is oblique, rarely the purpose of our conversa�ons but regularly the outcome.
Waterways Chaplains walk the waterways within a certain geographical patch near them, or they ‘lurk’ in marinas or waterside cafes. As trained volunteers, they come from di�erent ecumenical and work backgrounds but are all very connected into their local communi�es. This local knowledge helps them ‘come alongside’ people in need with prac�cal help.
The Chaplains o�er:
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Listening : listening & con�den�al ear.
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Signpos�ng : signpost those in di�culty to local support services e.g. foodbanks.
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Advocates : act as advocates when a boater needs someone to unravel issues e.g. di�cul�es with paying licences, support with bereavement.
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Emergencies : take boaters to access emergency medical support e.g. Doctor or hospital, housing.
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Prac�cal : help e.g. washing and drying laundry for boaters, helping out a�er a (rare) boat sinking.
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Spiritual support: When asked, Chaplains are willing to pray for and with people and talk about faith.
All the support provided is free of charge.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Trustee’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Review of ac�vi�es
It has been another great year for the chaplaincy, with a more stable sta� structure and a solidifying of background administra�on. The second half of the year was impacted by the news that the Church Army (our trustee) was about to undergo signi�cant restructuring. The good news is that this restructuring has had li�le impact on the work of the frontline chaplains.
On 31[st] March 2025 we had:
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101 ac�ve waterways chaplains
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12 supporter churches
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1 supporter business
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16 ac�ve waterways supporters - this group includes a number of re�red chaplains who are keen to con�nue a rela�onship with the chaplaincy but can no longer ful�ll the needed obliga�ons.
We expect all four of these groups to grow in the coming year.
All of this has allowed us to have around 3,500 meaningful conversa�ons with approximately 3,500 boaters and towpath users. The Waterways chaplaincy has given over 5,000 hours of volunteer �me and collec�vely walked over 5,000 miles of canal side towpath!
The chaplains are arranged into 12 Hubs: Central, East Anglia, Kennet & Avon, London, North Midlands, Northwest, Severn & Avon, West Midlands, Southeast, Sta�ordshire, Surrey & Hants and Peaks & Derbyshire. We currently have three paid sta�: a Na�onal Lead Chaplain and a Senior Chaplain for the North and a Senior Chaplain for the South. They work part �me.
Funding the work of the chaplaincy con�nues to need careful considera�on, and we are deeply indebted to the Church Army for their support. While we con�nued to receive some major grant funding, our chaplains and supporters have increasingly risen to own the funding challenge themselves.
Knowing that people o�en value what they give to, we recognise that the �nancial pressure on the chaplaincy is having a very posi�ve e�ect in that every chaplain now owns the future of the chaplaincy and recognises the part they are playing.
The WWC was part of the Church Army’s work that Premier Chris�an Radio featured throughout the year. We have also been featured on Poppyland Radio, in a variety of Diocesan newsle�ers and denomina�onal ar�cles, and podcasts.
Kim and Paul Hutchinson, Lorriane Newman and Charlie Bushel will also feature on the Ch. 4, Narrow Escapes program that will be aired in the coming months.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Trustee’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Who Waterways Chaplains work with and the issues they face
Poverty and mental health have been among the key issues reported with other things ranging from boa�ng ma�ers to rela�onships, employment, and homelessness. Ma�ers of faith and spirituality o�en come up in conversa�ons as people are o�en struggling with what seemed to them hopeless situa�ons. We have been involved in funerals for boaters and their families as part of that support, which has been important for the boa�ng community and raises our pro�le around the waterways. The underpinning principle of this unique chaplaincy is to provide independent and con�den�al holis�c support, which is encouraging and ensures that people feel listened to. Among our volunteers are a mix of re�red teachers, GPs, clergy, professionals, and others who are s�ll working but �nd volunteering a wonderful way to ‘give back.’
It is very clear that while many people on and around the waterways are having a great �me... a great number of people are not. The Waterways Chaplaincy works with both groups and is beginning to act as a bridge between the two.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Trustee’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
The above graphs give some quan�ta�ve details about the work that the chaplaincy is doing. The split is similar to previous years, but we have noted a slight increase in ‘boat worthiness.’ We have just started collec�ng the data in this way, but over the years to come we expect the analysis of trends to become an important part of our work.
Along with the quan�ta�ve data, we collect much qualita�ve data too. This is published monthly in our e- newsle�ers that go out to over 300 subscribers. Here are some short snippets.
A sad story from the Norfolk Broads hub by hub lead Mike:
‘Very soon a request came from the Broads Authority to assist a boater (BX) whose ropes had been cut due to his ‘history’ having been discovered. He had been towed, he had no power, to a remote mooring for his own safety. Over the next two and a half years support was provided for BX un�l Mike very sadly found him dead in the bo�om of his boat about a year ago. Shopping, hospital appointments, visits, doctors’ appointments, electricity cards, outboard motor delivery for repairs. So much support given and it seems the way this was handled endeared WWC to the Broads Authority and an excellent rela�onship has developed and Mike gets invited to the Broads Beat Partnership online forum. At that mee�ng those needing help are iden��ed to the WWC, if the informa�on has not already been passed on. The whole area is covered. Even when BX was found we were able to assist the authori�es with his personal informa�on, support and visit his mum and set funeral arrangements in process. She allowed us to have the ashes and with BX ’s friends sca�er them near where he died. Photos were sent to BX’s mum, and Mike painted a watercolour of the Broad where the ashes were sca�ered.’
Some re�ec�ons on Ma�hew 6 and The Bea�tudes from Lorriane at the South East hub For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat
‘In the last year our region alone has delivered over 135 food parcels to hungry boaters and homeless people. On one occasion chaplains supported a boater who couldn't get to the shops anymore due to ill health and they regularly shopped for small items for him, petrol for generator, TV magazine, and bread and milk mostly, as he got the bigger things delivered by the shop and the fuel boat. They also fetched his medicines and one day, as they gave date of birth to pharmacist, they realised that it was his birthday. They got a birthday card, some special foods & snacks and some chocolates. He was very shy and surprised they knew it was his birthday.’
Pip writes a great story from the Kennet & Avon hub:
‘Not everyone wished to join the crowd singing carols on the Kennet and Avon towpath at Hungerford last Christmas. One boater said he was content to lie in his bunk and just listen. A crowd of about thirty people, including a live-aboard couple from France, gathered to sing the old words to the well-loved melodies. They were led by boater Steve on his guitar and for��ed by delicious mince pies made by another waterways neighbour.
The towpath runs alongside the spacious grounds of the parish church of St. Lawrence, and the curate said it was a happy opportunity to take the church’s ministry out to the local boaters instead of expec�ng them to come into church.
The boater who was moored in front of us didn’t come out of his boat, but the following morning told us how much he had enjoyed the singing. Another boater made some of the best mince pies we have ever tasted. Marcia, our curate, said it was one of the best evenings of the year, because we took church out to the people!! Great night!’
These three snippets point to the depth and quality of the work that the Waterways Chaplains do everyday.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Trustee’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Plans for 2025-26
As we moved into April 2025 the key objec�ves for the coming year were:
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Con�nuing to grow the quality and number of chaplains and the geographical spread of the chaplaincy. This will be done through ongoing training and by increasing the expecta�ons in the recruitment process.
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Working with the Church Army in their training of evangelists by o�ering contextual placements alongside our chaplains.
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Increasing the resilience of the �nancial and prayer support for the chaplaincy, by targe�ng waterside churches and growing the supporter network.
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Build rela�onships with the waterways core industry of boatbuilders, �nancers and marinas. This will help us o�er care to those areas and will also be a source of funding.
However, in September 2025 the Church Army Board announced that a�er more than 3 years as part of the Church Army family, the Waterways Chaplaincy will be taking steps towards a new future outside of Church Army’s governance. This change comes as part of the refocusing of Church Army’s work on training and equipping evangelists, and the strategic decision to simplify and re-size its work.
This has added several overarching priority objec�ves for the second half of the year:
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to develop a plan for the future governance of Waterways Chaplaincy
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agree a �nancial support package with Church Army
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agree a �meline and implementa�on plan for the governance change.
To ensure this transi�on is as smooth as possible and to secure a strong future, Waterways Chaplaincy has established an interim transi�on group (ITG) to determine the next steps. This group is being led by the Na�onal Lead Chaplain and will be considering the best approach for the future, either within another charity or with a new board to replace Church Army as the sole trustee. The ITG will present its recommenda�ons to the Church Army Board in November 2025.
Chris Upton, Na�onal Lead Chaplain
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Waterways Chaplaincy Trustee’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Governance
Church Army provides Waterways the organisa�onal support of HR, payroll, volunteering, policy, �nancial processing, line management and leadership, with oversight of the work undertaken through a Project Board. Church Army is the sole trustee of Waterways Chaplaincy. It carries all legal and �nancial responsibili�es in respect of Waterways Chaplaincy. The Waterways Project Board has delegated authority from Church Army to oversee the ac�vi�es of the Waterways Chaplaincy.
In the past 12 months we have increased the chaplaincy’s representa�on on the project board by invi�ng two senior chaplains to join. Babs Davis is an experienced boater and former Northern regional lead, and David Green is new to the WWC but come with a wealth of experience in mental health and wellbeing.
The project board met quarterly throughout this year, and its membership comprised:
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Director of Mission Opera�ons, (Chair)
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Company Secretary of Church Army
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Na�onal Lead Chaplain for Waterways
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Tony Charles – former trustee of EPI Ltd t/a Workplace Ma�ers
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Mission Development O�cer, (South and East)
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Two senior Waterways Chaplains
The Waterways Chaplaincy Project Board oversees the strategic direc�on, legal and �nancial responsibility and the support for the Na�onal Lead Chaplain and the team.
As a project board we are hugely indebted for the hours that our network of chaplains provides for Waterways and our communi�es. For the many hours walking, listening, suppor�ng, and caring they are valued and appreciated.
The work of Waterways Chaplaincy is needed more than ever within this country. We recognise the immense need that our licensed chaplains are addressing along our waterways of England and Wales. The stories of impact included in this report illustrate the complexity of needs that the Waterways Licensed Chaplains are picking up.
Emma Sivyer, Mission Development O�cer for Church Army with special oversight for Waterways Chaplaincy
Financial review
a) Review of period
Income from dona�ons and grants increased to £132k (2024: £103k) as we recognised the full value of 2 new mul�-year grants and recognised the remaining 9 months of an exis�ng mul�-year grant, changing the approach taken in previous years on the instruc�on of our new auditor. Part of each of these grants is intended to provide funding for our work in future years and if this element of the income was removed then the amount a�ributable to ac�vi�es in 2024-25 would have been £72k and this would have resulted in a de�cit of £38k for the year, rather than the £22k surplus shown. The di�erence of 49k is shown as a debtor in the accounts.
Expenditure of £110k led to a surplus of £22k for the year (2024: £1k de�cit)
Total funds carried forward of £44k represents just under 5 months of opera�ng costs which implies we are close to our reserves target of 6 months expenses, but as highlighted above £49k of these funds will be spent in 2025-26 as intended by the grant funders, so the charity e�ec�vely has nega�ve free reserves. The inten�on is to build reserves of 6 months of opera�ng expenses over the coming years.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Trustee’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Waterways Chaplaincy therefore con�nues to rely on the ongoing support of the parent charity Church Army as detailed in the Going Concern statement below. The Project Board is immensely thankful for this ongoing support while work con�nues to source ongoing grant funders and increase dona�on and fundraised income to move Waterways to �nancial sustainability and build back its reserves posi�on over the coming years.
b) Budget for 2025-26
The Project Board has agreed a balanced budget that includes a target for increased dona�ons from individuals, churches, and other supporters in addi�on to the target for grants from trust funders. At the �me of signing these accounts progress has already been made in a�rac�ng grants from new funders; several of these are mul�-year grants, providing a helpful founda�on for the journey to �nancial sustainability over the coming years.
c) Going concern
The Board recognises there remains a journey ahead to move to �nancial sustainability and con�nues its work to grow mul�-year grant income while also developing income streams from the boa�ng industry and marinas alongside growing �nancial support from waterside churches and individuals.
The support of Church Army over the last 3 years has been invaluable and the decision by the Board of Church Army in September 2025 that Waterways Chaplaincy should �nd a new home outside of the Church Army family has been coupled with an o�er of �nancial support to enable this transi�on. While the details of this �nancial support have not yet been �nalised, the Project Board has sought and received a le�er of comfort from the Board of Church Army – an extract from this reads:
‘The Board of Church Army remains commi�ed to the work of the Waterways Chaplaincy of which Church Army is the sole Trustee. Having made the decision that the future of the Waterways Chaplaincy should be outside of the Church Army family we are commi�ed to suppor�ng this transi�on and providing funding at a level to be agreed to support the journey to �nancial sustainability over a 2-year period.
For audit purposes to con�rm that Waterways Chaplaincy is a Going Concern we explicitly con�rm that Church Army will provide su�cient funds to enable the Waterways Chaplaincy to con�nue for at least the next 12 months from the date of approval of these accounts.’
The Project Board takes comfort from this express commitment of ongoing support from Church Army in making its Going Concern statement.
d) Reserves policy
Following the move of Waterways Chaplaincy ac�vi�es into a new charity on 1 January 2023, with Church Army as the sole Trustee, the aim is to work towards holding free reserves equivalent to 6 months opera�ng expenses over the next 4 years.
Key Risks
The Project Board maintains a Risk Register and highlights key risks to the Trustee – the current key risks and mi�ga�ons are as follows:
| Key risk | Mitigations |
|---|---|
| Failure to attract new grant funding and donation income results in operating losses |
• Targeted programme of Grant applications being implemented • Wider fundraising strategy being developed to obtain support from different stakeholders in the canals and waterways • Commitment from Church Army the sole Trustee to provide financial support to sustain Waterways Chaplaincy while sustainable ongoing fundingisput inplace |
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Waterways Chaplaincy Trustee’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
| Waterways Chaplaincy Trustee’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025 |
|
|---|---|
| Loss of key staff due to insecurity of funding |
• Church Army has agreed to support the ongoing work of Waterways while it identifies and secures sustainable funding • We will work with the Chaplains to help strengthen their stakeholder relationships. |
| Level of voluntary income including trust income continues to decline in real terms impacting risk appetite to grow the work |
• We continue to evaluate the work which enables us to offer more evidenced based applications strengthening the opportunities • We will seek to build longer term relationship with the trusts we currently work with • We are developing a strategy to engage churches local to waterways to try and secure new funding from that source • We are seeking to increase the number of individual donors |
| Reputational risk through failure to protect the vulnerable and marginalised |
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Safeguarding training screening to reduce risk. • Policies and procedures exist in the chaplaincy to establish good practice. • All staff and volunteers working with vulnerable adults or children have regular safeguarding training updated at least every three years • Continued vigilance and addressing of issues as they arise. • Any allegations handled in line with our policy • We are supported by 31:8 for advice and help when things go wrong |
Structure, governance and management
a) Cons�tu�on
Waterways Chaplaincy is a registered charity, number 1200492, and is cons�tuted under a Trust deed.
Church Army is the sole trustee of Waterways Chaplaincy. It carries all legal and �nancial responsibili�es in respect of Waterways Chaplaincy. The Church Army Board acts on Church Army’s behalf as trustee and sets the framework.
As well, as being sole trustee, Church Army provides certain services to Waterways Chaplaincy, including execu�ve leadership, accoun�ng, payroll and other HR & Volunteering support services, policies, and other support services.
b) Project Board
The Church Army Board has created the Waterways Chaplaincy Project Board (‘Project Board’) as a subcommi�ee of the Church Army Board and has delegated to it non-execu�ve responsibility for overseeing the management, opera�on and development of the Waterways Chaplaincy within agreed parameters.
A report from the Project Board together, with the minutes of each of its mee�ngs, are considered at each quarterly mee�ng of the Church Army Board of Trustees
During the year the Church Army Director of Opera�ons had execu�ve responsibility for all aspects of the management and opera�on of the Waterways Chaplaincy and reported Waterways Chaplaincy ac�vi�es through his execu�ve repor�ng line into the Church Army Management Group. Towards the end of the year this responsibility passed to Emma Sivyer, a Regional Development O�cer with special responsibility for Waterways a�er Emma’s departure from Church Army in the summer of 2025 this passed to Robin Webb, Director of Finance & Support Services and Company Secretary, who also took over as Chair of the Project Board.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Trustee’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
The Project Board and the Waterways Chaplaincy Lead are keen to work with churches from di�erent denomina�ons, the local community, sta�, service users and other key stakeholders, and to bene�t from their insights.
The Project Board has freedom to act as it sees �t in implemen�ng the decisions of the Church Army Board and in overseeing the management, opera�on and development of the Waterways Chaplaincy within the following parameters:
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The Project Board is to lead and set strategy, vision and direc�on of the Project whilst managing the �nances of the Project in line with the agreed budget.
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The Project Board is responsible for the appointment of the Waterways Chaplaincy Lead and will select appropriate member(s) to be involved in any recruitment process - through that person holds the Project Management Team accountable for the Project.
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The Project Board is to report annually to the Church Army Board in September, reviewing both developments over the past year and its plans for the following year, including proposals on strategic direc�on for the Waterways Chaplaincy for approval or amendment by the Church Army Board. The Project Board may refer urgent ma�ers to the Church Army Board or Finance Commi�ee at other �mes of year.
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The Project Board is to work within the policies and procedures of Church Army with regard to personnel, health and safety, �nance, property, insurance and legal compliance except as agreed with the relevant Church Army managers.
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The Project Board is a non-execu�ve Board and does not therefore get involved in the day-to-day running of the project.
The role of the Church Army Board
The Church Army Board reserves to itself the following powers and responsibili�es:
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To approve and amend as appropriate the overall strategic direc�on for Waterways Chaplaincy
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To appoint and remove members of the Project Board
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To approve the annual �nancial statements of Waterways Chaplaincy
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To approve the annual budget of Waterways Chaplaincy, including capital expenditure
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To set and amend as appropriate the governance framework for Waterways Chaplaincy
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To receive the minutes of mee�ngs of the Project Board
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To advise the Project Board and to respond to ques�ons raised by the Project Board
c) Methods of appointment or elec�on of Trustee
The management of the charity is the responsibility of the Trustee who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Trust deed.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Trustee’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Statement of Trustee's responsibili�es
The Trustee is responsible for preparing the Trustee's report and the �nancial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accoun�ng Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accoun�ng Prac�ce).
The law applicable to chari�es in England & Wales requires the Trustee to prepare �nancial statements for each �nancial period which give a true and fair view of the state of a�airs of the charity and of its incoming resources and applica�on of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these �nancial statements, the Trustee is required to:
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select suitable accoun�ng policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles of the Chari�es SORP (FRS 102);
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make judgments and accoun�ng es�mates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK Accoun�ng Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the �nancial statements;
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prepare the �nancial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will con�nue in business.
The Trustee is responsible for keeping adequate accoun�ng records that are su�cient to show and explain the charity's transac�ons and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any �me the �nancial posi�on of the charity and enable them to ensure that the �nancial statements comply with the Chari�es Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regula�ons 2008 and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the preven�on and detec�on of fraud and other irregulari�es.
Disclosure of informa�on to auditor
The Trustee at the �me when this Trustee's report is approved has con�rmed that:
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so far as that Trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit informa�on of which the charity's auditor is unaware, and
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the Trustee has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Trustee in order to be aware of any relevant audit informa�on and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that informa�on.
Auditor
Following a tender process Church Army appointed Hawsons Chartered Accountants as its new auditors for all the chari�es in the Church Army group for the March 2025 audit.
Approved by order of the Trustee and signed on their behalf by:
John Whi�ield
For and on behalf of the Trustee Date:
24/11/2025
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Waterways Chaplaincy Independent Auditor’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Waterways Chaplaincy (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025, which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 March 2025, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions rela�ng to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustee's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustee with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other informa�on
The other information comprises the information included in the trustee’s report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustee is responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Independent Auditor’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Ma�ers on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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the information given in the trustee’s report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or
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sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
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the charity's financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibili�es of the trustee
As explained more fully in the trustee’s responsibilities statement on page 11, the trustee is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustee determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustee is responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustee either intends to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor responsibili�es for the audit of the �nancial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below
The charity is subject to laws and regulations that directly and indirectly affect the financial statements. Based on our understanding of the charity and the environment it operates in, we determined the laws and regulations which were most significant included FRS 102 and the Charities Act 2011. We considered the extent to which non-compliance with these laws and regulations might have a material effect on the financial statements, including hoe fraud might occur. We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls) and determined that the principal risks were related to the posting of inappropriate journal entries to improve the charity’s result for the period and management bias in key accounting estimates.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Independent Auditor’s Report Year ended 31 March 2025
Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
-
Discussions with management and those responsible for legal compliance procedures within the charity to obtain an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the charity and how the charity complies with that framework, including consideration of known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud
-
Reviewing minutes of trustee meetings
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Identifying and assessing the design effectiveness of controls that management has in place to prevent and detect fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations
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Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their significant accounting estimates
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Identifying and testing journal entries, in particular journal entries posted with unusual account combinations or posted by senior management
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/library/standards-codes-policy/audit-assurance-and-ethics/auditors-responsibilitiesfor-the-audit This description forms part of the auditor’s report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustee, as a body, in accordance with section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our work has been undertaken so that we might state to the trustees those matters which we are required to state to trustees in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and its trustees as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
……………………………………………………. Hawsons Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
Pegasus House 463A Glossop Road She�eld S10 2QD
08/12/2025 Date: …………………………..
Hawsons is eligible to act as an auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Statement of Financial Ac�vi�es Year ended 31 March 2025
| Waterways Chaplaincy Statement of Financial Ac�vi�es Year ended 31 March 2025 |
|
|---|---|
| Note Income from: Dona�ons and legacies 2 Total income Expenditure on: Charitable ac�vi�es Total expenditure Net movement in funds Reconcilia�on of funds: Total funds brought forward Net movement in funds Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ As restated Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 131,285 103,213 |
| 131,285 103,213 |
|
| (109,763) (104,426) |
|
| (109,763) (104,426) |
|
| 21,522 (1,213) |
|
| 22,669 23,882 21,522 (1,213) |
|
| 44,191 22,669 |
The Statement of Financial Ac�vi�es includes all gains and losses recognised in the period. All income and expenditure derive from con�nuing ac�vi�es.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2025
| Waterways Chaplaincy Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2025 |
|
|---|---|
| Note Current assets Debtors 6 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 7 Net current assets Total net assets Charity funds Unrestricted funds 9 Total funds |
2025 £ 2024 £ 48,966 51,730 (4,775) (29,061) |
| 44,191 22,669 |
|
| 44,191 22,669 |
|
| 44,191 22,669 |
|
| 44,191 22,669 |
The �nancial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the trustee and signed on their behalf by:
Ma� Barlow
John Whi�ield
For and on behalf of the trustee Date: 24/11/2025
For and on behalf of the trustee
The notes on pages 17 to 21 form part of these �nancial statements
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Waterways Chaplaincy Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2025
1. Accoun�ng policies
1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements
The �nancial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Chari�es SORP (FRS 102) - Accoun�ng and Repor�ng by Chari�es: Statement of Recommended Prac�ce applicable to chari�es preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Repor�ng Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (e�ec�ve 1 January 2019), the Financial Repor�ng Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Chari�es Act 2011.
Waterways Chaplaincy meets the de�ni�on of a public bene�t en�ty under FRS 102. Assets and liabili�es are ini�ally recognised at historical cost or transac�on value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accoun�ng policy. The �nancial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the func�onal currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £1.
1.2 Going concern
Due to support pledged from the trustee, the charity has adequate resources to con�nue in opera�onal existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they con�nue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the �nancial statements.
1.3 Income
All income is recognised once the charity has en�tlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
1.4 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or construc�ve obliga�on to transfer economic bene�t to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic bene�ts will be required in se�lement and the amount of the obliga�on can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classi�ed by ac�vity. The costs of each ac�vity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each ac�vity. Direct costs a�ributable to a single ac�vity are allocated directly to that ac�vity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one ac�vity and support costs which are not a�ributable to a single ac�vity are appor�oned between those ac�vi�es on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central sta� costs are allocated on the basis of �me spent, and deprecia�on charges allocated on the por�on of the asset’s use.
Expenditure on charitable ac�vi�es is incurred on directly undertaking the ac�vi�es which further the charity's objec�ves, as well as any associated support costs.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
1.5 Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the se�lement amount a�er any trade discount o�ered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2025
1. Accounting policies (continued)
1.6 Liabili�es and provisions
Liabili�es are recognised when there is an obliga�on at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic bene�t will be required in se�lement, and the amount of the se�lement can be es�mated reliably.
Liabili�es are recognised at the amount that the charity an�cipates it will pay to se�le the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
Provisions are measured at the best es�mate of the amounts required to se�le the obliga�on. Where the e�ect of the �me value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that re�ects the risks speci�c to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of �nancial ac�vi�es as a �nance cost.
1.7 Financial instruments
The charity only has �nancial assets and �nancial liabili�es of a kind that qualify as basic �nancial instruments. Basic �nancial instruments are ini�ally recognised at transac�on value and subsequently measured at their se�lement value with the excep�on of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amor�sed cost using the e�ec�ve interest method.
1.8 Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discre�on of the trustee in furtherance of the general objec�ves of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with speci�c restric�ons imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the speci�c fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the �nancial statements.
2. Income from donations and legacies
| Grant and trust income Dona�ons Legacies |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ As restated Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 118,095 51,416 13,090 51,797 100 - |
|---|---|
| 131,285 103,213 |
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Waterways Chaplaincy Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2025
3. Auditor’s remunera�on
| Fees payable to the charity's auditor for the audit of the charity's annual accounts 4. Staff costs Staff costs recharged comprised: Wages and salaries Social security costs Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes |
2025 £ 2024 £ 4,775 5,730 2025 £ 2024 £ 77,445 70,060 6,922 5,013 2,936 2,680 |
|---|---|
| 87,303 77,753 |
Sta� costs are recharged from the parent charitable company, The Church Army, for the sta� of Waterways Chaplaincy.
No sta� member received remunera�on amoun�ng to more than £60,000 in the period.
5. Trustee's remuneration and expenses
During the year, the trustee did not receive any remunera�on, expenses or other bene�ts (2024: nil).
6. Debtors
| btors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Amounts owed by group undertakings Prepayments and accrued income ditors: amounts falling due within one year ccruals and deferred income |
2025 £ 10,564 38,402 48,966 2025 £ 4,775 |
2024 £ 48,328 3,402 |
| 51,730 | ||
| 2024 £ 29,061 |
7. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Accruals and deferred income
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Waterways Chaplaincy Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2025
8. Deferred income
| erred income | ||
|---|---|---|
| . Opening deferred income Resources deferred during the year Amounts released from previous years Closing deferred income |
2025 £ 24,286 - (24,286) - |
2024 £ 43,666 24,286 (43,666) |
| 24,286 |
Deferred income relates to grant income received in advance.
9. Statement of funds
Statement of funds - current year
| Balance at 1 | Balance at | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 31 March | |||
| 2024 | Income | Expenditure | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General funds | 22,669 | 131,285 | (109,763) | 44,191 |
Statement of funds – prior period
| Balance at 1 | Balance at | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | As restated | As restated | 31 March | |
| 2023 | Income | Expenditure | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General funds | 23,882 | 103,213 | (104,426) | 22,669 |
The 2024 income and expenditure �gures have been restated following the reclassi�ca�on of certain items of income and expenditure from restricted to unrestricted funds.
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Waterways Chaplaincy Notes to the Accounts Year ended 31 March 2025
10. Related party transac�ons
The sole trustee and parent charitable company is Church Army. A balance of £10,564 (2024: £48,328) is held within debtors owed by Church Army as at the year end.
As well as being sole trustee, Church Army provides certain services to Waterways Chaplaincy, including execu�ve leadership, accoun�ng, payroll and other HR services, policies, and other support services. No charges are made for these services.
There were no other related party transac�ons.
11. Controlling party
The ul�mate controlling party is the sole trustee, Church Army, a charitable company limited by guarantee under company number 00037169 and registered charity number 226226.
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