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2025-08-31-accounts

Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH

STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

Shern Hall Methodist Church

FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 August 2025

in the Forest Circuit Circuit no 35/33 Registered Charity - Charity Registration number 1202535 Minister: Rev Oseias da Silva ( to July 2025) Rev Kong Ching Hii (from September 2025)

----- Start of picture text -----
Church Stewards:
Marcia Brandt
Millicent Freeman Emmanual Kusi
Donald Espeute Jennifer Whitfield
Heather Espeute Abena Adofo
Thelma Blake
Joint Treasurers:
Hannah Roberts
Leandre Tuitt
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Church R and P 2015.xls

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Shern Hall Methodist Church - Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31[st] August 2025

Report Content

1 Reference and Administration Details
List of the CharityTrustees
2 Objectives and Activities
-
Mission & Vision
-
Aims and Organisation
-
Purpose of the Church within the Connexion
3 Review ofprogress and Achievements in theyear
-
The Annual Report
-
Future Plans
4 Financial Review
5 Reserves Policy
6 Structure,Governance and Management
-
Structure
-
Governance
-
Management
7 Related Parties
8 Public Beneft Requirement
9 Trustee Responsibilities
-
General Responsibilities
-
Financial Responsibilities
-
The Church Council
-
The Finance and PropertyCommittee
10 Risk Management
11 Report Approval and signature

Attachments

12 Standard form of Accounts for theyear and accompanyingnotes
-
Receipts and Payments for theyear
-
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at the end ofyear
-
Notes to the accounts
-
Declarations and Scrutiny

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Shern Hall Methodist Church - Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31[st] August 2025

1. Reference and Administration Details

As far as the trustees are aware:

Date Retired as
Trustee
Appointed since
1 September 2025
Rev KongChingHii 1/09/2025
Revd Oseias da Silva 05/07/2025
Hannah Roberts
Peter Sambani
Leandre Tuitt
Abena Adofo
Emmannuel Kusi
June Carole Campbell
Sonia Jennifer Whitfield
Kathleen Hudson
Donald Espeute
Millicent Patience Freeman
Dereen Omard
Cynthia Vilma Bonds
Evangelica Marietta Solomon
Loyl Marcia Brandt
Elvena Bernita Brumant
Ciddra Skerritt
Claudina A Green
William Poko-Adu

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Shern Hall Methodist Church - Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31[st] August 2025

2. Objectives and Activities

2.1. Introduction

The Shern Hall Methodist Church "The Church" is a Methodist church in the Forest Methodist Circuit. The church plays an integral role in the local community by hosting activities for residents. The congregation is ethnically diverse; however, we share one mission, and we work together to build god’s kingdom here on earth.

The Shern Hall Church Mission and Vision

The Shern Hall Church mission statement is "We believe that God has called us to be a transforming, united Church of Jesus Christ's disciples, who are growing as followers, obedient to the word of God and with a passion to serve God's church and community."

2.2. Aims and organisation

The Church's purpose is to provide a place for Christian Methodist Worship at Shern Hall Street, Walthamstow. The Church Council meets at least twice each year to consider the work of God in the Church and the general management of the Church its business and buildings.

2.3. Purpose of the Church within the Methodist Connexion

The Church is an expression, over a lesser geographical area than a Circuit, of the Connexional character of the Methodist Church. The purposes of the Methodist church are and shall be deemed to have been since the date of the union the advancement of:

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Shern Hall Methodist Church - Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31[st] August 2025

3. Review of Progress and Achievements

3.1. Shern Hall Church Annual Report

During the church year ended 31st August 2025, Shern Hall Methodist Church (Shern Hall) benefited from the renewal of the Village Nest contract for the rental of the church annex to a family- owned pre-school. The rental cost was increased in line with the current CPI index.

Shern Hall has remained committed to its community outreach. On Sunday, September 29, 2024, a successful Harvest service was held and members of the congregation donated perishable goods. These goods were distributed to less fortunate residents in the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

Additionally, Shern Hall operated a weekly mission and outreach program, a chair-based exercise class that was facilitated by the Leyton Orient, under the leadership of Sis Cynthia Bonds. This activity catered to both members and non-members of Shern Hall. The attendees benefited from health talks from various subject matter experts in the health/medical field.

The congregation bid farewell to Revd Da Silva in July 2025 who had been at Shern Hall for 7 years and the Forest circuit for 12 years. The congregation prepared themselves to welcome Revd Kong Ching Hii in the upcoming church year.

The church council agreed that the window replacement project would be the main project during the year. Due to the high costs of this project, the church was unable to cover the overall cost of the project. The church successfully received grants from both the Methodist District Fund and the Forest Circuit. In response a church appeal was also launched, and members gave generously.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Shern Hall Methodist Church - Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31[st] August 2025

3.2. Future Plans

Shern Hall secured the funding for the window replacement project. However, the actual work will commence in September 2025 and will be completed in the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.

A new minister Revd Kong Ching Hii will be joining the Circuit in September 2025 with pastoral responsibility for Shern Hall and Woodford. The Congregation look forward to his new ministry.

4. Financial Review

Receipts

The total receipts for the year were £129,223 which resulted in an increase of 2.8% on the previous year (23-24 £125,583).

Although an increase in receipts occurred it must be noted that £12,367 related to the Window Replacement Appeal Fund and is restricted for the Windows Replacement Project. £3,085 was received from fundraisings (23-24 £2,781).

Income from lettings rose by 6.1% to £63,025 (23-24 £59,400) whereas income from offerings reduced significantly by 20.8% to £49,683 (23-24 £62,741).

No gift aid was received in the financial year ended August 31, 2025, however Shern Hall is due to receive £9,349 in gift aid during the first quarter of the 2025-26 financial year.

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Receipts
70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
Offerings and Tax Bank and CFB Lettings Other receipts (incl
recovered interest and donations,
Investment income Fundraising &
Streaming Appeal)
2024-25 2023-24
----- End of picture text -----

Payments

The total payments for the year were £113,794 which indicated an increase of 6.3% on the previous year (23-24 £107,050).

The following expense categories contributed to the increase of 6.3%:

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Shern Hall Methodist Church - Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31[st] August 2025

Salaries, admin, cleaning & Church Expenses

The overall Salaries, admin, cleaning & Church Expenses were £24,561 which reflected a 24.8% when compared to the previous year (23-24 £19,673).

Contribution to Salaries rose by 80.2% to £10,809 in comparison to the previous year (23-24 £6000). The reason for this was that the Office Manager (OM) was employed for the entire year in the financial year 24-25, and in 23-24 the OM worked for eight months.

Cleaning expenses increased by 21.7% to £7,480 from the previous year (23-24 £6,144). In May 2025, the Finance and Property Committee agreed to increase the cleaner’s hourly rate from £16 to £18 in line with inflation taking into consideration that that hourly rate remained constant from October 2020 to May 2025.

Other payments (incl Exam. Charge)

Other payments for the year were £13,439 which indicated an increase of £11,835 when compared to the previous year (23-24 £1,604).

This increase was attributed to £10,793 which was designated to the windows project. This cost was covered by the monies collected from the windows replacement project.

Repairs and Maintenance

The repairs and maintenance reduced by £1,751 to £18,265 (23-24 £20,016), notable costs during the year included: In September 2024 new speakers and an amplifier was purchased for the church hall which amounted to £1,255, heating and valve upgrade in the amount of £4,560 in December 2024, installation of updated internet access cabling & equipment which cost £1,875 and during the year the church spent £3,305 on electrical works.

Utilities (Insurances, water charges, heating & lighting)

Utilities decreased significantly by 45.2% to £12,582 (23-24 £22,981). During the year the church opted to pay the water expense bi-annually.

Payments Comparison

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50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Circuit Donations Repairs and Utilities Salaries, Other
Assessment Maintenance (Insurances, admin, payments
or Share water cleaning & (incl Exam.
charges, Church Charge)
heating & Expenses
lighting)
2024-25 2023-24
----- End of picture text -----

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Shern Hall Methodist Church - Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31[st] August 2025

5. Reserves Policy

The Church needs to maintain an operating reserve approximately equal to 6 months of annual expenditure, This would give a short time for the church to respond to an income reduction whilst still meeting immediate expenditure needs. This is currently approximately £57,000 inclusive of designated fund expenditure. Committed expenditure includes such items as: assessment to the circuit; church manager salary; utility bills; financial examination; etc.

At the end of the year the church had £55,064 assets of which £5,222 was restricted leaving £49,842. This is equivalent to over 5 months operating reserve, so particularly careful financial management of funds is needed.

The church's benevolent fund is a restricted fund and holds £4,354 at 31st August 2025.

6. Structure, governance and Management

6.1. Structure

Shern Hall Methodist Church is an unincorporated association and is governed by the Methodist Church Act 1976, the deed of Union and the Model Trust Deeds of the Methodist Church. It is part of the Forest Methodist Circuit. Overall regulatory authority rests with the Methodist Conference.

The Circuit Meeting passes regulatory control down to Church Councils for local implementation by the Presbyter, the Church Stewards, and other officers, and this regulatory authority is then exercised by Church Councils as Managing Trustees of their charity.

6.2. Governance

The Church operates within a statutory framework of regulation and seeks to ensure that it follows Methodist Standing Orders. It relies on the Forest Circuit, the London District, the Connexional Office and the Charity Commission to provide guidance on changes that could affect the Church.

Detailed governance arrangements are outlined within the Constitutional Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church by the order of the annual conference (CPD)

6.3. Management

Day to day management of Shern Hall Methodist church, between trustees meetings is undertaken by the Minister, Church Stewards, the Treasurers and a number of established committees: the Pastoral Committee, the Safeguarding committee and the Finance and Property Committee. These committees are appointed by the Church Council to act on behalf of the Church Council between Church Council Meetings.

7. Related Parties

Shern Hall Methodist Church is part of the Forest Methodist Circuit which is part of the London District of the Methodist church and is therefore also accountable to the Methodist Conference. The church's main source of funding is offerings from the congregation and income from rooms let.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Shern Hall Methodist Church - Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31[st] August 2025

The income is used to pay an assessment to the Forest Methodist Circuit, pay for the upkeep of the Church building and carry out the Church Mission.

The church now also shares the responsibility for the employment and cost of a Church Manager with Woodford Methodist church.

8. Public Benefit Requirement

The trustees had due regard to the guidance published by the Charities Commission in compliance with its duties under section 4 of the Charities Act 2011. This guidance sets out two key principles:

The church exists to:

The trustees consider that for these reasons the charity meets these public benefit requirements.

9. Church Trustee Responsibilities

9.1. General Responsibilities Include:

9.2. Financial Responsibilities include:

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees must:

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Shern Hall Methodist Church - Trustees’ Annual Report For the year ended 31[st] August 2025

9.3. The Shern Hall Church Council

The Church Council meets at least 2 times a year to deal with routine and exceptional matters. It seeks to think strategically about the work of the Church and carry out administrative matters. Its key functions have been:

9.4. The Church Finance and Property Committee

This sub-committee have been authorised by the Church council to act in an executive capacity in relation to Financial and Property matters requiring decisions and action between meetings of the Church Council Trustees. All actions taken being reported to the following Church Council meeting.

10. Risk Management

The church council has responsibility for considering the various risks facing the church, the impact and the likelihood of issues occurring. This is managed between Church Council Meetings by the Church Safeguarding Committee. Guidance is received from the Forest Circuit, the London District of the Methodist Church and the Methodist connexion. The headings under which the risks are being categorised include:

11. Report Approval

22 June 2026

The report was approved by the trustees on ………………………… and signed on their behalf by

……………………………………..

Revd Kong Ching Hii

Church Minister & Chair of Trustees

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Shern Hall Methodist Church

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Totals this Totals last
SECTION A Funds Funds Funds year year
£ £ £ £ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings and Tax recovered 1 49,683 49,683 62,741
Bank and CFB interest and
a3 Investment income 758 758 661
a4 Lettings 63,025 63,025 59,400
a5 Other receipts (incl donations, Fundraising & Strea 2 305 3,085 12,367 15,757 2,781
a6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 113,771 3,085 12,367 129,223 (a7) 125,583
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 44,947 44,947 42,776
b3 Donations
b4 Repairs and Maintenance 18,265 18,265 20,016
Utilities (Insurances, water
b5 charges, heating & lighting) 3 12,582 12,582 22,981
b6 Salaries, admin, cleaning & Church Expenses 4 24,561 24,561 19,673
b7 Other payments (incl Exam. Charge) 5 1,917 729 10,793 13,439 1,604
b8 [TOTAL PAYMENTS ] 102,272 729 10,793 113,794 (b9) 107,050
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS
c1 FOR THE YEAR (a6-b8) 11,499 2,356 1,574 15,430 18,533
Total funds brought forward from
last year
c2 34,793 1,293 3,548 39,634 (c6) 21,101
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) 46,292 3,649 5,122 55,064 39,634
c4 Transfers and adjustments (440) 340 100 (c7)
c5 [TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR ] (c3+c4) 45,852 3,989 5,222 55,064 (c8) 39,634 (c6)
SECTION D
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
d (these amounts are not to be included in total receipts/payments figures above) £ £
d1 Balance brought forward from last year 361 3,603
d2 Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations 900 382
d3 Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations 675 3,624
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3) 586 361
----- End of picture text -----

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Shern Hall Methodist Church

Church

SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL

SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2022 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the District and connected District Organisations.

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INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening Closing
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances balances
e1
e2
e3
e4
e5
e6
e7
Sub total of Internal
e8 Organisations funds (e11) (e12)
e9 Church accounts (totals 129,223 (a7) 113,794 (b9) 15,430 (c7) 39,634 [(c6)] 55,064 [(c8)]
brought forward from page
2 - totals column)
e10 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD 129,223 113,794 15,430 39,634 (x) 55,064 (y)
BY CHURCH
Continue on a separate sheet
TOTAL
if necessary and bring the TOTAL RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
totals forward
SECTION F
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
OPENING CLOSING
CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2025 BALANCES BALANCES
f1 Cash in hand 7
f2 Bank Current Account 37,937 34,258
f3 Bank Deposit Account 1 1
f4 Central Finance Board 1,689 20,805
f5 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
f6 Other funds
f7 SUB TOTAL - Church accounts 39,634 (c6) 55,064 (c8)
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing
f8 balance total from above) (e12) (e11) (e12)
f9 TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH 39,634 (x) 55,064 (y)
SECTION G At At
1 September 2024 31 August 2025
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES
g1 Investments (include Endowments)
g2 Land & Buildings (see notes re Insurance value) 2,239,607 2,306,800
g3 Other Assets
g4 Loan(s) - show amount outstanding at year end
g5 Other Liabilities: ();
----- End of picture text -----

f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board

f5 Include only Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes

g1 Include any other investments (not the cash element of TMCP trusts accounts this is included in line f5

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

SHERN HALL METHODIST CHURCH

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Notes to the accounts

1
Offerings and Tax recovered
24-25
Church Offerings
49,583
Gift Days
100
Tax Reclaim
-
Total
49,683
2
Other receipts (incl donations, Fundraising )
24-25
To General fund
Other Income
100
Donations
205
Total
305
To Designated Funds
Fundraising -
2,460
Black History£1,690, Christmas Get
Together-£570 and Minister's Farewell -
£300
Steel Band donation
300
- Sunday School Fund
325
Other
-
Total
3,085
To Restricted Funds
To Benevolent Fund
1,246
Church Appeals e.g. Windows
11,121
12,367
Total
15,757
3
Utilities etc (Insurances, water charges, heating & lighting)
24-25
Water
1,264
Gas
3,814
Electric
5,608
Insurance
1,897
Total
12,582
4
Salaries, admin, cleaning & Church Expenses
24-25
Salary contribution
10,809
Security
343
Cleaning
7,480
Postage, Printing, etc
70
Printer Lease
753
Licences & subscriptions
1,003
Bank charges
323
Telephone & Broadband
969
Organist
2,810
Total
24,561
5
Other payments (e.g. Streaming Projects, Exam. Charge)
24-25
Examination Fee
1,536
Sundry Items
231
23-24
54,575
-
8,166
62,741
23-24
-
-
-
1,436
-
-
-
1,436
1,345
-
1,345
2,781
23-24
685
11,332
9,124
1,840
22,981
23-24
6,000
1,113
6,144
275
1,054
968
317
1,082
2,720
19,673
23-24
1,536
68

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

SHERN HALL METHODIST CHURCH

TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Donations made
Re-payment of loan from Circuit
Total
From designated Funds
Fundraising
Other funds (e.g. LOT - Mission& Outreach)
Total
From Restricted Fund
From Benevolent Fund
Church Appeals e.g. Windows
Total
Total
150
-
1,917
289
440
729
500
10,293
10,793
13,439
-
-
1,604
-
-
-
-
-
1,604

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Name of Church … Shern Hall Methodist Church

Declarations and Scrutiny

I confirm that these Receipt and Payment based accounts for the year to 31 August 2025 have been prepared from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church trustees.

20/6/2026

Signature of treasurer ……………………………………………………… Date……………………..

Name and address of Treasurer ………………� Leandre Tuitt

…………�…� 1 Woodlands Court Loughton, Essex IG103EX

Presentation to the Church trustees

I confirm that the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 will be presented to the meeting of the Church trustees to be held on .................................... June 22, 2026

Signature of the Chair of the meeting ……………………………………………………………………

Name of the Chair of the meeting … Rev Kong Ching Hii

Date: 22/6/2026

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

Shern Hall Methodist Church

Charity Number 1202535

Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Shern Hall Methodist Church for the year ended 31 August 2025 set out on pages 1 to 14. As the Church’s trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011

(‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Church’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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.

*�delete or circle as appropriate

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Docusign Envelope ID: 85DACBED-D518-84D7-82B3-AEB2459143D0

Name of Church …………… Shern Hall Methodist Church

Independent Examiner’s Statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below*) which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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.

I have not obtained independent verification of all investments with the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church which are individually in excess of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at the balance sheet date.

Signature of independent examiner …………………………………………………………………

Name of independent examiner …Lorraine Catherine Purdy FCCA

Relevant professional qualification of independent examiner ...Certified Accountant

Name of firm (where appropriate) … Clay Ratnage Strevens & Hills

Address … Suite D, The Business Centre, Faringdon Avenue, Romford, Essex RM3 8EN

22/6/2026 Date …………………………………………

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