2025-04-05-accounts - Ocean Baptist Church

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OCEAN BAPTIST CHURCH Trustees Report and Receipt and Payment Accounts 26 January 2024 – 5 April 2025

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 26 January 2024 (period start date) to 5 April 2025 (period end date)

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity name: Ocean Baptist Church

Also known as: Ocean Church

Registered charity number: 1206731

Charity’s principal address: 30 Osprey Close Upton Poole Dorset BH16 5FF

Trustees

Rev John Good (Minister) Lisa Mutter (Secretary) Barry Mutter (Secretary) Rebecca Nixon (Treasurer, appointed 1 January 2025)

Miriam Good Benjamin Powell (resigned 31 December 2025) Michael Foy (Treasurer, resigned 31 December 2024)

Independent Examiner

Oak Accounting Ltd 27 Bascott Road Wallisdown Bournemouth Dorset BH11 8RJ

Objectives and Activities

Purposes of the charity

As stated in the Constitution, the principal purposes of Ocean Church are the advancement of the Christian faith according to the principles of the Baptist denomination and to advance education and carry out other charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and/or other parts of the world.

Our Vision is to reimagine church itself as a living breathing adventure.

Our Mission is to ignite a community of adventurers who embody faith through shared outdoor experiences, deepen spiritual practices, and cultivate a culture of transformation that redefines Church as a vibrant, real-world journey.

Activities

The main activities of Ocean Church during this accounting period were:

Monthly outdoor gatherings open to anyone, exploring the link between faith and nature. These events always include sharing food together, and where appropriate, activities in or on the water.
Monthly breakfasts on the beach, providing opportunities to build and strengthen relationships in an informal setting.
Weekly small groups meeting in homes to deepen faith, encourage spiritual growth and offer mutual support.
Linking with the Watersports Library, enabling more people to get out on the water.
Regular walks along the South West Coast path, promoting wellbeing and building community through shared experiences.
Weekly blogs published on the Ocean Church website exploring different aspects of life and faith, accessible to the wider public.
Ocean Church Vision and Values day exploring and shaping the Ocean Church vision and core values.
Easter celebrations on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
A weekend camp sharing food and faith together outside in nature, with activities on the lake and on land.
Christmas activities including Christmas carols at Hamworthy Park and Christmas Day dip and reflections on Branksome beach.
“Dip a day” Lent series with organised daily dips and email daily devotionals to encourage spiritual reflection.
A weekend pilgrimage giving people the chance to slow down, connect with others and deepen their faith.

Statement re public benefit

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. The purpose

of the charity is enshrined in its objects outlined above. The trustees ensure that this is carried out for the public benefit by delivering a range of activities to meet its objects.

Achievements and Performance

Deepening relationships and building community: Ocean Church has focused on opportunities to encourage individuals to develop meaningful connections and to create a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Deepening faith: Activities and adventures have been aimed at enabling the exploration of faith and encouraging spiritual growth.
Welcoming people into the community: Efforts have been made to ensure that newcomers feel included and valued.
Enabling children and young people to be a full part of the community: Ocean Church has prioritised the involvement of younger members, ensuring they are integrated and active participants.
Benefits to mental and physical health through movement and time outdoors: By organising outdoor activities, Ocean Church has contributed positively to the well-being of its members.
Enabling access and encouraging people to spending time in and on the water: Through the link with the Watersports Library and the dip-a-day initiative, more people have been able to enjoy water-based activities.
Spending time in nature: Regular events and gatherings in natural settings have been a core part of Ocean Church’s approach, promoting both spiritual and physical health.

Financial Review

Ocean Church was established as a registered charity on 26 January 2024. During the period January to December 2024, financial activity was minimal. From 1 January 2025, Ocean Church began receiving a monthly grant from the Southern Counties Baptist Association to enable us to remunerate John Good for his role as minister of Ocean Church.

Throughout the financial period, the number of regular donors to Ocean Church has grown and at the end of the period, the church was in a stable financial position.

The reserves policy of Ocean Church is to hold three months of all expenditure to allow the church to adapt to any changes in the income or expenditure of the church. The Trustees currently believe this amount to be £6,000, compared to £4,000 in free cash reserves held at the year-end. As this is the first financial period, the reserves are gradually being built up, and the Trustees aim to increase the reserves over the next financial period. The risk of significant loss of income is currently low due to the grant from Southern Counties Baptist Association recently being extended for a further three years.

Structure, Governance and Management

Ocean Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by its Constitution which is in the form of the Approved Governing Document for Baptist Churches.

Trustees are appointed by Church Members at Church Members Meetings. The Trustees must include a Secretary and a Treasurer. Where there is a Minister, they must also be a Charity Trustee.

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date	R Nixon	J Good
	Rebecca Nixon	Rev John Good
	Treasurer	Minister
	12 January2026
	12 January2026

O OCEA CHURCII th 19 January 2026 The Trustees O(e3n Baptist Church 30 Osprey Close Upton, Poole BH16 5FF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS Report to the Trustees of Ocean Baptlst Church. on accounts for the perlod ended 5, Aprll 2025 Respectlve responsSbllltles of Trustees and examlner The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year lunder section 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Actll and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. Examine the accounts lunder section 145 of the Act); To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions 8iven by the Charity Commission (under section 14515llbl of the Aill, and To state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 8asls of Independent examln¢r's statement My exainination was carried out ii) accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examinatr'on includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of anv unusual items or disclosiires in the accounts. and seeking explanationg from you as Iruslees conceining any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audil, and consequently no opinion 15 given as to whethei the accounts presenl a 'trve and fair view. and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Ind•pend•nt oxamlner's statement In the course of iiiy exainiiiation, no niatter has come to my attention: l. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the Trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that.. Proper accounting records are kept lin accordance with section 41 of the Actl- and b. Accounts are prepared wliich agree with the accounting records and comply wilh the accounting requirements of the Act,. or 2. To which, in niy opinioii, attention sliould be drawn in order to enable a proper understandin8 of the accounts to be reached. Signed...Sa........ Date.. 191112026... Sue Wintle ACIE Association of Charity Independent Examiners 27 Bascott Road Bourneniouth Dorset BH 118RI

OCEAN BAPTIST CHURCH

FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE PERIOD 26 JANUARY 2024 TO 5 APRIL 2025

GENERAL RECEIPTS & PAYMENT ACCOUNT

Note Receipts Donations and events income 2 Income tax recovered on gifts Cashback Home Mission grant Other income 3 Total Receipts Payments Ministry 4 Mission 5 Administration 6 Other payments Total Payments Net receipts / (payments) for the year Transfers (to) / from general fund Cash balance at previous year end Cash balance at current year end	2024-25 2023-24 6,505 0 0 0 4 0 3,697 0 207 0
	10,413 0 4,231 0 969 0 1,030 0 0 0
	6,230 0
	4,183 0

	0 0 0 0
	4,183 0

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES AT 5 APRIL 2025

Note Assets Bank and other cash balances Petty Cash Virgin Bank Account Other monetary assets: Gift aid claimed but not received Assets Held for Church’s own use 7 Total Assets Liabilities Current Liabilities 8 Total Liabilities	2024-25 2023-24 0 0 4,183 0 0 0 0 0
	4,183 0 207 0
	207 0

The accounts and statement of assets and liabilities set out on pages 2 and 3 relating to the year ending 5 April 2025 are as approved by the Trustees.

Signed: R Nixon

Rebecca Nixon (Treasurer)

Date: 12 January 2026

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

1. Basis of accounts

These accounts have been prepared on a ‘receipts and payments’ basis and in accordance with Section 133 Charities Act 2011.

2. Donations and events income

. Donations and events income
General donations Events income Total Donations and Events Income . Other income Watersports Library receipts Total other income	2024-25 2023-24 5,510 0 995 0
	6,505 0 2024-25 2023-24 207 0
	207 0

3. Other income

The Watersports Library is a separate Community Interest Company (CIC) which has close links with Ocean Church and they currently share a website. These funds have been received into the Ocean Church bank account during this financial period which are being held and applied for the Watersports Library and will be reflected separately in the Watersports Library CIC accounts.

4. Ministry

Minister’s stipend Pension contribution National insurance Minister’s travel Manse costs Total Ministry	2024-25 2023-24 3,697 0 311 0 0 0 0 0 223 0
	4,231 0

The Minister acts as one of the church's trustees and receives remuneration and other benefits in respect of his services as Minister, including the provision of manse accommodation owned by Southern Counties Baptist Association and leased by the church.

5. Mission

5. Mission
Catering Events Total Mission 6. Administration Printing and stationery Website Insurance Total Administration	2024-25 2023-24 82 0 887 0
	969 0 2024-25 2023-24 0 0 356 0 674 0
	1,030 0

7. Assets Held for the Church’s own use

The church currently has no assets.

8. Current Liabilities

. Current Liabilities
Watersports library funds Total Current Liabilities	2024-25 2023-24 207 0
	207 0

9. Trustee Remuneration and expenses

During the financial period, the charity made the following transactions with Trustees:

Rev John Good

Rev John Good received remuneration of £3,697 during the financial period.

No Trustees received any other benefit from the charity during the year.