Charity registration number꞉ 1206263 


**FREEDOM CHURCH WORCESTER TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 19 DECEMBER 2023 TO 31 MARCH 2025** 




## **Freedom Church Worcester Contents** 

||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees'Report|1—4|
|IndependentExaminer'sReport|5|
|StatementofFinancialActivities|6|
|StatementofFinancialPosition|7|
|NotestotheFinancialStatements|8—11|





## **Freedom Church Worcester Trustees' Report For the Period 19 December 2023 to 31 March 2025** 

The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2025. 

## **Objectives and Activities** 

## **Aims and Objectives** 

The core activities of Freedom Church Worcester CIO are summarised as follows꞉ 

- 1. The advancement of the Christian religion mainly, but not exclusively, by means of, broadcasting Christian messages of an evangelistic and teaching nature, holding meetings and producing or distributing literature about Christianity. 

- 2. The prevention or relief of poverty or financial hardship anywhere in the world by providing or assisting through all the necessary support to help individuals to be self‑sufficient. 

- 3. To advance in life and help young people through activities, training and support. 

- 4. The relief of persons who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress, or who are aged or sick. Our mission statement, which captures the essence of these aims is, ‘Connecting anyone, anywhere to a life changing relationship with Jesus’ 

Our main long‑term objectives are꞉ 

- 1. To grow our current church and help to begin new churches, developing and diversifying our approach. 

- 2. To strategically develop our staff and volunteer teams to support this growth 

- 3. To serve and engage with our local community more 

- 4. To increase our digital ministries and broadcast capabilities to increase engagement 

- 5. To increase our financial stability and strengthen our financial planning Freedom Church Worcester relies heavily on the contributions of our volunteers. Volunteers are involved in almost every aspect of the running of Freedom Church and the delivery of our services, events and other programmes. At least half of our church members volunteer at our events, support our staff team and we are very grateful for their time, passion and skills. 

The CIO complies with the code of Fundraising Practice. It does not engage the services of professional fundraisers or commercial participators, and it has not received any complaints relating to fundraising. 

## **Public Benefit** 

Core to our approach as a CIO is the objective of generating public benefit. We continue to do this in all areas of our activity. The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. 

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. 

## **Future Plans** 

The CIO remains focused on developing our core activities which strengthen spiritual well‑being, build a caring and supportive community, reach out to our local community, advance the Christian faith and develop leadership and ministry skills. 

## **Achievements and Performance** 

## **Main Achievements** 

The 2024–2025 year has been an exciting year for us. We became a separate church location, (previously having come under the umbrella of Freedom Church Hereford) which has given us more autonomy and the ability as a church to better reach our local community and will help us to promote healthy and sustainable growth. We remain part of the Freedom Nation and under the ultimate leadership of our senior pastors and their directional leadership team. 

This move to become a separate church has enabled us to set up our own charity in December 2023 and separation from Freedom Church Hereford became effective on 1st April 2024. Over this last year we have begun to see growth in all aspects of church life, especially in the areas of children's work and our Sunday morning meetings. This has led to the need to look for larger premises and in December 2024 we secured rental premises on the building next door to our current rental property to be able to use for our children's work. In January 2025 we began renovation of this property as well as enlarging our main building space to accommodate the growth seen in numbers coming to church and to give space for future growth. To help with the increase of people coming to the church and all the administration required to support our activities we have employed one of our Pastors for 40 hours a week and an admin assistant for 8 hours a week in an admin role increasing to 12 hours mid 2026. 

Page 1 



## **Freedom Church Worcester Trustees' Report (continued) For the Period 19 December 2023 to 31 March 2025** 

## **Financial Review** 

## **Financial Position** 

Following on from the decentralisation of Freedom Church Hereford, we as Freedom Church Worcester established a charity in December 2023 and opened our own bank account at this time to enable our congregants to donate money into this account. (Previously all donations received by Freedom Worcester had been managed by Freedom Church Hereford.) Our main source of income is via donations and in the financial year, 2024 ‑2025 this income was £294,756. We also received a grant of £20,000 from Freedom Church Hereford to help us get established as a church. 

The expenditure on facilities did not rise fully during this year as although we secured another rental property for our children's work, we had a rent‑free period of 3 months and only began paying in March 2025. 

We increased our Pastor’s hours slowly as she was self employed and eventually became contracted with us in January for 40 hours. There was no increase in salaries this financial year, we are looking at a pay increase for next year in conjunction with inflation. 

Our net income for this financial period is £133,160. 

The trustees apply the funds of Freedom Church Worcester at their discretion and in accordance with the charitable purposes and objectives of the CIO. The total spending on charitable activities was £161,596. Our grant‑making policy outlines how grants can be made and the priorities for support. The current priorities for funding are the advancement of the Christian faith within our local community and the relief of poverty within local communities among the world’s deprived and needy peoples. 

## **Reserves Policy** 

The trustees of Freedom Church Worcester recognise the importance of a reserves policy to demonstrate good stewardship and financial management. Our policy is to retain reserves to ensure that the charity can manage future unforeseen financial difficulties and to ensure that excessive funds are not held without any identifiable reason. During 2023‑2025, the trustees reserve policy considered that 3 months of staffing and lease costs £50,000 is a sufficient reserves level. We are working towards this as a new charity. 

## **Going Concern** 

The trustees are confident that the CIO is a going concern. Whilst we do recognise the ongoing challenges of the UK economy as reflected by the cost‑of‑living crisis, and how this can reflect in a drop in donations, we have seen an increase in the number of people attending our church and with it an increase in donations. We will seek to protect any financial surplus against any future drop in income to act as a cushion in the event of any economic challenges. Budgets and spending will be governed by economic realities, and we will continue to encourage contributions to the charity from our members. The trustees confirm that the going concern basis for preparation is appropriate. 

## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

## **Governing Document** 

Freedom Church Worcester is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered charity number 1206263. The CIO has adopted a foundation model constitution. The board of trustees is focused on ensuring that Freedom Church Worcester meets its aims in an appropriate, legal and accountable manner. 

The trustees provide governance oversight to the Church’s senior directional pastors, who in turn work with the leaders of our various teams to meet our objectives. 

Charity commission’s guidance on the duties of a trustee꞉ Trustee Recruitment Cycle from Reach volunteering.All trustees have been provided with the Charity Commissions’ guidance on the duties of a trustee. A large number of decisions relating to the CIO are made by the senior directional Pastors, but are subject to the accountability, approval and oversight of the board of trustees. 

The board of trustees makes all decisions relating to remuneration of staff and have benchmarked salaries against equivalent roles in other sectors. While many risks can be carefully managed, the trustees recognise the need for a comprehensive risk management strategy. Including a regularly reviewed and updated risk register. 

The safety and wellbeing of our church members and staff remains a key priority for us and we recognise the need for safeguarding policy training and procedures. We will be looking to update our safeguarding policy and safeguarding training in 2025. 

## **Trustee Selection Methods** 

The trustees have been recruited from the churches’ membership for an initial term of 3 years. In selecting individuals for appointment, the trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. 

Page 2 



**Freedom Church Worcester Trustees' Report (continued) For the Period 19 December 2023 to 31 March 2025** 

## **Reference and Administrative Details** 

## **Trustees** 

Mr Martyn Sharpe ‑ Chair (appointed 19/12/2023) Mr Samuel Petts (appointed 19/12/2023) Mrs Kate Noor (appointed 19/12/2023) 

## **Charity Number** 

1206263 

## **Principal Address** 

4B Lowesmoor Wharf Lowesmoor Worcester Worcestershire WR1 2RS 

## **Independent Examiner** 

Thompson & Co Thompson & Co SME House Holme Lacy Industrial Estate Hereford HR2 6DR 

Page 3 



## **Freedom Church Worcester Trustees' Report (continued) For the Period 19 December 2023 to 31 March 2025** 

## **Post Balance Sheet Events** 

We have since finished our building works on both properties and have seen this grow our kids and adults numbers and made it easier to teach and interact with our children's work with the extra space. We have also increased our admin and operations assistants hours from 8 hours to 12 hours to help with the increased demand as our church has grown. 

The trustees' report was approved by the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by꞉ 

|Martyn Sharpe (Jan 30, 2026 09:28:48 GMT)|Kate Marie Noor (Jan 30, 2026 08:51:27 GMT)|
|---|---|
|MrMartynSharpe|MrsKateNoor|
|Trustee|Trustee|
|29/01/2026||



Page 4 



## **Freedom Church Worcester Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Freedom Church Worcester For the Period 19 December 2023 to 31 March 2025** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Freedom Church Worcester (the Trust) for the period ended 31 March 2025. 

## **Responsibilities and Basis of Report** 

As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. 

## **Independent Examiner's Statement** 

Since the Trust’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of The Association of Accounting Technicians, which is one of the listed bodies. 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect꞉ 

- 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 

- 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

- 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and contents of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 


Thompson & Co 29/01/2026 SME House Holme Lacy Industrial Estate Hereford HR2 6DR 

Page 5 



**Freedom Church Worcester Statement of Financial Activities For the Period 19 December 2023 to 31 March 2025** 

|**Notes**<br>**INCOMEANDENDOWMENTSFROM꞉**<br>Donationsandlegacies<br>**3**<br>Charitableactivities꞉<br>Academy+<br>Events<br>Othertradingactivities<br>**4**<br>**EXPENDITUREON꞉**<br>Charitableactivities꞉<br>**6**<br>Academy+<br>Barbarians<br>CommunityOutreach<br>Events<br>Facilities<br>Finance<br>GuestServices<br>HR<br>Kids<br>Marketing<br>Pastoral/Leadership<br>Production<br>She<br>Worship<br>Zeal<br>**NETINCOME**<br>**NETMOVEMENTINFUNDS**<br>**RECONCILIATIONOFFUNDS꞉**<br>Totalfundsbroughtforward<br>**TOTALFUNDSCARRIEDFORWARD**<br>**15**<br>Thenotesonpages8to11formpartofthesefinancialstatements.|**31March**<br>**2025**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>294,757<br>700<br>350<br>295|
|---|---|
||296,102|
||(3,481)<br>(241)<br>(474)<br>(10,047)<br>(54,171)<br>(53,186)<br>(4,395)<br>(347)<br>(2,183)<br>(1,676)<br>(29,205)<br>(969)<br>(135)<br>(586)<br>(1,846)|
||(162,942)|
||133,160|
||133,160<br>‑|
||133,160|
|||



Page 6 



## **Freedom Church Worcester Statement of Financial Position As At 31 March 2025** 

|**Notes**<br>**FIXEDASSETS**<br>TangibleAssets<br>**10**<br>**CURRENTASSETS**<br>Debtors<br>**11**<br>Cashatbankandinhand<br>**Creditors꞉AmountsFallingDueWithinOneYear**<br>**12**<br>**NETCURRENTASSETS(LIABILITIES)**<br>**TOTALASSETSLESSCURRENTLIABILITIES**<br>**NETASSETS**<br>**FUNDSOFTHECHARITY**<br>UnrestrictedFunds<br>**TOTALFUNDS**<br>**15**<br>Onbehalfoftheboard<br>MrMartynSharpe<br>Trustee<br>MrsKateNoor<br>Trustee<br>29/01/2026<br>Kate Marie Noor (Jan 30, 2026 08:51:27 GMT)<br>Martyn Sharpe (Jan 30, 2026 09:28:48 GMT)|**31March**<br>**2025**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>5,250|
|---|---|
||5,250<br>49,615<br>94,243|
||143,858<br>(15,948)|
||127,910|
||133,160|
||133,160|
||133,160|
||133,160|
|||



The notes on pages 8 to 11 form part of these financial statements. 

Page 7 



**Freedom Church Worcester Notes to the Financial Statements For the Period 19 December 2023 to 31 March 2025** 

|1.<br>**GeneralInformation**<br>FreedomChurchWorcesterisacharitableincorporatedorganisationregisteredwiththeCharityCommission,registeredcharitynumber1206263.Theprincipaladdressis4BLowesmoorWharf,Lowesmoor,Worceste<br>WR12RS.<br>2.<br>**AccountingPolicies**<br>2.1.<br>**BasisofPreparationofFinancialStatements**<br>ThefinancialstatementshavebeenpreparedinaccordancewiththeCharitiesSORP(FRS102)"AccountingandReportingbyCharities꞉StatementofRecommendedPracticeapplicabletocharitiespreparingt<br>accordancewiththeFinancialReportingStandardapplicableintheUKandRepublicofIreland(FRS102)(effective1January2019)",FinancialReportingStandard102"TheFinancialReportingStandardap<br>andRepublicofIreland"andtheCharitiesAct2011.<br>ThecharityisaPublicBenefitEntityasdefinedbyFRS102.<br>2.2.<br>**IncomingResources**<br>AllincomeisrecognisedintheStatementofFinancialActivitiesoncetheCharityhasentitlementstothefunds,itisprobablethattheincomewillbereceivedandtheamountcanbemeasuredreliably.<br>2.3.<br>**DonatedGoodsandServices**<br>Donatedgoodsandservicesarerecognisedatopenmarketvaluewhenthebenefitisreliablymeasured.<br>2.4.<br>**ResourcesExpended**<br>Liabilitiesarerecognisedasexpenditureassoonasthereisalegalorconstructiveobligationcommittingthecharitytothatexpenditure,itisprobablethatatransferofeconomicbenefitswillberequiredinsett<br>amountoftheobligationcanbemeasuredreliably.Expenditureisaccountedforonanaccrualsbasisandhasbeenclassifiedunderheadingsthataggregateallcostrelatedtothecategory.Wherecostscannotb<br>toparticularheadingstheyhavebeenallocatedtoactivitiesonabasisconsistentwiththeuseofresources.<br>2.5.<br>**TangibleFixedAssetsandDepreciation**<br>Tangiblefixedassetsaremeasuredatcostlessaccumulateddepreciationandanyaccumulatedimpairmentlosses.Depreciationisprovidedatratescalculatedtowriteoffthecostofthefixedassets,lesstheire<br>value,overtheirexpectedusefullivesonthefollowingbases꞉<br>ComputerEquipment<br>33%straightline<br>Individualfixedassetscosting£500ormoreareinitiallyrecordedatcost,lessanysubsequentaccumulateddepreciationandsubsequentaccumulatedimpairmentlosses.FreeholdProperty‑whereapplicable‑<br>valuewithgainsandlossesrecordedthroughtheStatementofFinancialActivities.<br>2.6.<br>**CashandCashEquivalents**<br>Cashandcashequivalentsarebasicfinancialassetsandincludecashinhandanddepositsheldatcallwithbanks,othershort‑termhighlyliquidinvestmentsthatmatureinnomorethanthreemonthsfromthe<br>andarereadilyconvertibletoaknownamountofcashwithinsignificantriskofchangeinvalue,andbankoverdrafts.<br>3.<br>**IncomefromDonationsandLegacies**<br>Donationsandgifts<br>Donatedgoods,facilitiesandservices<br>4.<br>**IncomefromOtherTradingActivities**<br>Incomefromothertradingactivities|r,Worcestershire,<br>heiraccountsin<br>plicableintheUK<br>lement,andthe<br>edirectlyattributed<br>stimatedresidual<br>isrecordedatfair<br>dateofacquisition<br>**31March2025**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>286,921<br>7,836|
|---|---|
||294,757|
||**31March2025**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**£**<br>295|



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**Freedom Church Worcester Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For the Period 19 December 2023 to 31 March 2025** 

## 5. **Net Income/(Expenditure)** 

The net income is stated after charging/(crediting)꞉ 

|henetincomeisstatedaftercharging/(crediting)꞉||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Depreciationoftangiblefixedassets‑owned<br>.<br>**AnalysisofExpenditure**<br>Academy+<br>Barbarians<br>CommunityOutreach<br>Events<br>Facilities<br>Finance<br>GuestServices<br>HR<br>Kids<br>Marketing<br>Pastoral/Leadership<br>Production<br>She<br>Worship<br>Zeal|**Activities**<br>**undertaken**<br>**directly**<br>**£**<br>358<br>125<br>‑<br>4,777<br>136<br>‑<br>1,595<br>‑<br>885<br>‑<br>493<br>23<br>135<br>‑<br>416|**Supportcosts**<br>(seenote7)<br>**£**<br>3,123<br>116<br>474<br>5,270<br>54,035<br>53,186<br>2,800<br>347<br>1,298<br>1,676<br>28,712<br>946<br>‑<br>586<br>1,430|**31March2025**<br>**£**<br>2,586|
||||**31March2025**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>3,481<br>241<br>474<br>10,047<br>54,171<br>53,186<br>4,395<br>347<br>2,183<br>1,676<br>29,205<br>969<br>135<br>586<br>1,846|
||8,943|153,999|162,942|



6. **Analysis of Expenditure** 

7. **Support Costs** 

|Employeecosts<br>Premisesexpenses<br>General<br>administration<br>Depreciation<br>Interestpayable<br>Governancecosts|**Academy+**<br>**£**<br>794<br>‑<br>2,329<br>‑<br>‑<br>‑|**Barbarians**<br>**£**<br>‑<br>‑<br>116<br>‑<br>‑<br>‑|**Community**<br>**Outreach**<br>**£**<br>‑<br>‑<br>474<br>‑<br>‑<br>‑|**Events**<br>**£**<br>1,871<br>‑<br>3,399<br>‑<br>‑<br>‑|**Facilities**<br>**£**<br>57<br>44,373<br>7,948<br>‑<br>‑<br>1,657|**Finance**<br>**£**<br>12,584<br>‑<br>37,451<br>2,586<br>565<br>‑|**GuestServices**<br>**£**<br>‑<br>222<br>2,578<br>‑<br>‑<br>‑|**HR**<br>**£**<br>‑<br>‑<br>347<br>‑<br>‑<br>‑|**Kids**<br>**£**<br>397<br>‑<br>901<br>‑<br>‑<br>‑|**Marketing**<br>**£**<br>‑<br>‑<br>1,676<br>‑<br>‑<br>‑|**Pastoral/**<br>**Leadership**<br>**£**<br>4,791<br>‑<br>23,921<br>‑<br>‑<br>‑|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||3,123|116|474|5,270|54,035|53,186|2,800|347|1,298|1,676|28,712|



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**Freedom Church Worcester Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For the Period 19 December 2023 to 31 March 2025** 

## 8. **Staff Costs** Staff costs were as follows꞉ 

|Wagesandsalaries<br>Noemployeesreceivedemployeebenefits(excludingemployerpensioncosts)forthereportingperiodofmorethan£60,000.<br>9.<br>**AverageNumberofEmployees**<br>Averagenumberofemployeesduringtheperiodwas꞉2<br>10.<br>**TangibleAssets**<br>**Cost**<br>Asat19December2023<br>Additions<br>Asat31March2025<br>**Depreciation**<br>Asat19December2023<br>Providedduringtheperiod<br>Asat31March2025<br>**NetBookValue**<br>Asat31March2025<br>Asat19December2023<br>11.<br>**Debtors**<br>**Duewithinoneyear**<br>Tradedebtors<br>Otherdebtors<br>12.<br>**Creditors꞉AmountsFallingDueWithinOneYear**<br>Tradecreditors<br>Taxationandsocialsecurity<br>Accrualsanddeferredincome|**31March2025**<br>**£**<br>13,378|
|---|---|
||**Computer**<br>**Equipment**<br>**£**<br>‑<br>7,836|
||7,836|
||‑<br>2,586|
||2,586|
||5,250|
||‑|
||**31March2025**<br>**£**<br>3,683<br>45,932|
||49,615|
||**31March2025**<br>**£**<br>13,944<br>804<br>1,200|
||15,948|



13. **Credit Risk** 

The CIO’s principle financial assets are bank balances, cash and other receivables. The credit risk on liquid funds is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit‑ratings assigned by international credit‑rating agencies. The CIO has no significant concentration of credit risk, with exposure spread over several counterparties and customers 

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**Freedom Church Worcester Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For the Period 19 December 2023 to 31 March 2025** 

## 14. **Liquidity Risk** 

To maintain liquidity to ensure that sufficient funds are available for on‑going operations and future developments. Further details can be found in the statement of accounting policies in the financial statements. 

15. **Movement in Funds** 

|5.<br>**MovementinFunds**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Unrestrictedfunds**<br>General꞉<br>Generalunrestrictedfund<br>**Totalfunds**|**Asat19**<br>**December2023**<br>**£**<br>‑|**Income**<br>**£**<br>296,102|**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>(162,942)|**Asat31March**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>133,160|
||‑|296,102|(162,942)|133,160|



16. **Transactions with Trustees** 

None of the trustees received any remuneration or any other benefits from an employment with the charity or a related entity during the current year. 

No trustee expenses have been incurred. 

17. **Related Party Disclosures** 

There have been no related party transactions in the reporting period that require disclosure. 

Page 11 

