The Meeting Place Wirral Annual Report for the year ended 31 October 2025
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Reference and Administrative Details
The legal status of the charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Charity registration number: 1200773
Company Number: CE030477
Date of registration: 21 October 2022
Registered office: 13-15 Oxton Road, Birkenhead, CH41 2QQ
Phone number: 07836 725 626
Email address: meetingplace1079@icloud.com
Bank: Metro Bank,15, Paradise Street, Liverpool. L1 3EU
Trustees who served during the year
Mark Anthony Fishleigh - Chair Irene Joan Fishleigh Alan Edwin Maurice McGraa
Structure, Governance and Management
New Trustees are recruited by the existing charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed to effectively administer the charity.
The charity trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising their duties.
Independent Examiner
Mr M Morris, 12, Brimstage Avenue, Hr. Bebington, Wirral. CH63 5QH
Purpose and Activities of the Charity
Charitable Objects
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The advancement of the Christian faith in such parts of the United Kingdom or the World, as the Trustees think fit.
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Including providing services for prayer and worship and pastoral care and outreach into the community.
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Including educational classes of relationship and life skills, focussing particularly on the under privileged and disadvantage.
Public benefit
The Board of Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and report that the work that has been undertaken in past year continues to provide much benefit to the citizens of Wirral.
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Introduction
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 October 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011, and the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015). The board of trustees are satisfied with the performance of the charity during the year and the position at 31 October 2025 and consider that the charity is in a position to continue its activities during the coming year and the charity’s assets are adequate to fulfil its obligations.
Directors report 2025
We are in our third year as a registered charity and The Meeting Place Wirral (TMP) has continued to advance its charitable objectives within the Birkenhead community. Bible study and prayer is a regular weekly activity, however we have temporarily suspended our Sunday evening services due to lack of attendance. The 2 year SEAN course was completed in November and six students obtained their diplomas in theological studies. A Men’s discipleship course has begun and meets every Monday and Friday, to support and encourage those that are new in the faith.
In January 2025 the community shop moved from 23 Oxton Road into the basement of 13-21 Oxton Road in Cook Street. We have reduced our outgoings and through new connections are developing a second hand furniture sales room- receiving donations, collecting and delivering using our bespoke Mercedes Sprinter van. We have reduced our reliance on foodstuffs with the exception of our daily collections from supermarkets. Community breakfast is held every Wednesday morning at TMP and attracts between 15 and 35 people every week.
We have attracted additional ministries to use TMP;
Messianic Roots and Branches Way of the Spirit ministry
Women’s Recovery group
However we have not been successful in attracting new streams of financial support.
Future plans
We are examining the financial support of TMP through one major donor, which means that the financial sustainability is constantly under review and we are looking to reduce costs and increase our exposure through using social media platforms. A course has been prepared in which a number of us will take part, starting in January. We will inform other Christian leaders about the resources we have; allotments, bookshop, reading room, café and community shop and invite them to visit where they can see the opportunity and resources that we have.
Financial Review Transactions and Financial Position
The charity’s income in the year was £61,814 (2024: £136,833) after expenditure of £78,338 (2024: £118,536) a deficit of £16,523 (surplus 2024: £18,926) is reported.
General reserves carried forward amounted to £2,420 (2024: £18,396).
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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elect suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements.
This report was approved by the board of Trustees on
Mark Anthony Fishleigh Chair March 2026
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Report of the Independent Examiners to the Trustees on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 October 2025
I report on the financial statements of the charity on pages 5 to 7 for the year ended 31 October 2025.
Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under
section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of opinion and scope of work undertaken
My examination was carried out in accordance to general directions given by the charity commission. An examination includes a review of accounting records, kept by the charity and a comparison of accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items of disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedure undertaken does not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit. Consequently, no opinion is given to whether the accounts present a true and fair view and report is limited to the matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner's Statement
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In connection with examination, no matters have come to my attention;
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Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements;
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
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To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Martin Morris
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Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 October 2025
| INCOME 2025 Note £ Donations 40,6492 Income from charitable activities 21,166 3 Total Income 61,815 EXPENDITURE Charitable activities 78,3384 Governance costs 0 5 Total Expenditure 78,338 Net movement during the year -16,523 Total funds brought forward 18,944 Total funds carried forward 2,421 |
2024 £ 114,854 21,979 |
|---|---|
| 136,833 118,176 360 |
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| 118,536 18,297 646 |
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| 18,944 |
The net movement in funds to above in the net incoming resources as defined in the statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting and Reporting issued by the Charity Commission for England and Wales and is reconciled to the total funds as shown in the Balance Sheet as required by the said statement.
All Income and Expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Balance Sheet as at 31 October 2025
| CURRENT ASSETS Cash at Bank LIABILITIES Creditors amounts falling due within one year TOTAL NET ASSETS |
£ Note 2,421 150 7 2, 271 |
£ 18,944 548 18,396 |
|---|---|---|
Mark Anthony Fishleigh Approved by the Board of Trustees on
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Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 October 2025 and are an integral part of the accounts
1. Accounting policies The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows: a) Basis of preparation The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. The trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. b) Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis The financial statements are prepared on a going concern. The Charity is entirely dependent on continuing grant and donation support and as a consequence the going concern basis is also dependent on that continuing financial support. c) Income Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably. Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. Income received in advance of the provision of specified services is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met. d) Donated services and facilities Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the general volunteer time is not recognised and refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution. On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt. e) Interest receivable Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank. f) Fund accounting Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
| • | Costs of raising funds comprise the consists of commercial trading. |
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| • | Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of activities undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and |
| their associated | |
| support costs | |
| • | Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other heading. Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost |
| against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred. | |
| h) | Allocation of support costs |
Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back-office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charitable activities. These costs have been allocated between costs of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities. The bases on which support costs have been allocated are set out in note 1. i) Debtors Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
j) Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. k) Creditors and provisions Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimating reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
l) Financial instruments
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are recognised at transaction value.
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| 2. Donations and Legacies Gifts and donations Grants HMRC Gift Aid |
2025 £ 23,302 8,840 8,507 40,649 |
2024 £ 67,037 32,473 15,344 114,854 |
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The Trust benefits from the involvement and enthusiastic support of its many volunteers, details of which are given in our annual report. In accordance with FRS 102 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the economic contribution of general volunteers is not recognised in the accounts.
| 3. Income from charitable activities 2025 £ Shop and other activities 21,166 4. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities 2025 £ Catering and subsistence 8,894 Repairs 1,539 Rent 31,100 Subscriptions 237 Utilities 2,118 Bank charges 8 Insurance 1,460 Purchases 6,039 Other IT, office and admin. expenses 1,597 Salaries 23,919 Motor Expenses 1,427 78,338 5. Analysis of governance and support costs 2025 £ General Support 0 Governance Functions - Independent Examiner 0 Basis of apportionment - Governance 6. Analysis of staff costs, Trustee remuneration and expenses and the cost of key 2025 £ Salaries 23,919 No employee had remuneration benefits in excess of £60,000 (2024 - nil) The number of employees was 1 (2024 - 2) The Trustees did not receive any remuneration, nor expenses in the current and previous 7. Creditor amounts falling due within one year 2025 £ Accrued expenses 150 |
2024 £ 21,679 2024 £ 13,885 1,736 46,683 218 1,445 122 489 12,846 10,797 26,214 3,741 118,176 2024 £ 0 360 management personnel 2024 £ 26,214 years. 2024 £ 360 |
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8. Analysis of charitable funds
Analysis of movements in unrestricted funds The charity has only one unrestricted general fund. The movements in that fund are shown in the Statement of Financial Activities. All of the net assets apply to the one unrestricted general fund.
The Meeting Place Wirral