Eastside Community Church
Report and Accounts Period 14th March 2024 to 31st March 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
EASTSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH
LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
FOR THE PERIOD 14 MARCH 2024 TO 31 MARCH 2025
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE 104 South View Crescent Sheffield S7 1DH GOVERNING DOCUMENT CIO Constitution dated 29th February 2024 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1207453 TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR Matthew Spriggs (Chair) MANAGING THE CHARITY Stephen Timmis Jennifer Baxter BANKERS NatWest INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
INDEX
Page 1 Pages 2-5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Pages 9
Legal & Administrative Details Trustees' Report Independent Examiner's Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of Assets & Liabilities Notes to the Accounts
Page 1
Trustees’ Annual Report
Objectives and Activities
The charity, which is a church, is governed by a constitution and is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation.
The general objective of Eastside Community Church (ECC) is to advance the Christian religion for the benefit of the public in Sheffield and surrounding areas, in accordance with its statement of belief. This is achieved in particular but not exclusively through the holding of services of worship, educating the public about Christianity, and providing pastoral care and outreach work to the local community.
The charity has the responsibility of co-operating with the elders of the church, in promoting the whole mission of the church. When planning our activities for the year, the charity has considered the Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith both individually and corporately in the local area through:
-
worship & prayer; learning from the Bible; encouragement in the knowledge of, and trust in, Jesus
-
provision of pastoral care for members of the church
-
educating the public about Christianity and outreach work to the local community
Public Benefit Statement
In planning the activities the Trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
Achievements and Performance
- Worship & Prayer
Eastside Community Church believes worship entails lives lived wholly to the glory of God. It is also expressed in specific formal times when the people of God gather together. Significant thought & preparation goes into our corporate worship and Bible teaching on a Sunday morning. We are thankful for the provision of being able to rent a community room in Manor Top library for the purpose of meeting together. This is a familiar space for the local community and the meeting is open to the public. We are thankful to have been able to provide some financial support to one of the church leaders allowing him to focus on the development of ECC in its early days as a charity. In addition to a Sunday morning, ECC also meets together in homes at other times of the week for prayer, food & encouragement. We are thankful to have been able to create and invest in a website for ECC which has proved to be a useful resource for the benefit of church members as well as hopefully
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providing a helpful ‘shop window’ for those members of the local community wanting to know more.
- Pastoral сare
ECC believes the gospel calls us to a shared identity where we enjoy the tangible blessings of being the family of God together. Therefore as a family we are committed to caring for one another and building each other up in the Christian faith. Whilst members of ECC are encouraged to see themselves as ministers of the gospel, for some this will be expressed in church leadership, both lay & supported. Leadership in the church is vital as leaders use their gifts and leverage their role to facilitate the pastoral care of those who are part of ECC. We are thankful that the leadership is able to visit members of the church in order to provide pastoral care and encouragement. We are thankful for the monthly Men’s and Women’s breakfasts that take place on a Saturday morning which provides space for mutual encouragement alongside the monthly community lunches held in the local pub.
- Educating the public about Christianity and outreach work to the local community
ECC believes it is our calling to be a blessing to the city of Sheffield and to seek its good. ECC believes we are sinners welcomed by Christ and the primary way we can be of benefit to others is to let them know about that gospel of Jesus Christ. ECC is about equipping its members to do just this in the everyday of life, e.g. the Bible teaching provided by ECC seeks to be practical in its encouragement of its members to be good neighbours and active members of the local community. Whilst ECC is still in its early stages of development we have been thankful for the opportunity to explore practical ways in which we might be a blessing to the city e.g. debt counselling/ job clubs. We continue to explore the best avenue to do this with the resources we have at this time. We have been thankful to have people join us on Sunday morning who are not Christians and for them to have the opportunity to hear about what the Bible has to say. We are thankful to have hosted a Christmas service where we saw members of the public come and hear the good news of Jesus.
- Fraternal Relations
ECC believes that whilst we are a local church with local responsibility and a local focus we are also part of the church global. This is expressed in our prayers during our weekly worship, and also in tangible connections with other local churches. We are thankful that there are currently two in particular with whom we are in regular contact.
Mission Church, Swansea have been supportive of us since our inception. One of our elders meets with their leaders 6-8 times a year on Zoom and makes an annual visit. We have contributed financially to specific needs as an expression of this partnership.
Trinity Church, Denver is another local church that has been an encouragement to us since our beginning. Their senior minister visits annually to meet with us all and preach at our service and one of our elders reciprocates. This ‘exchange’ is with a view to maintaining and
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strengthening our partnership. Trinity Church also contribute to our financial needs on a monthly basis.
Financial review
The trust’s income was primarily from donations. with a negligible amount from refunds and reimbursements.
During the period income was £38,525, and expenditure was £24,808. As a result the cash held by the charity at period end was £13,717, all of which is unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
Reserves Policy
Income and expenditure are monitored regularly and adjusted where necessary. Cash reserves were maintained through the period. It is the trust’s policy to only use funds that the trust has already received, and so the accounts always operate in credit. The aim is to reserve 3 months of running costs to allow for unforeseen changes in income and manage existing commitments.
At the period end, the charity held unrestricted cash of £13,717 and the charity is complying with its reserves policy.
Structure, governance and management
The charitable trust is run and overseen by the trustees,. They meet regularly throughout the year to ensure that the aims of the trust are being met as laid out in the trust’s governing document, and to confirm that trust funds are being used for the benefit of the public. This is done by reviewing finances and safeguarding and discussing any other matters arising.
Responsibilities of trustees
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
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Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ Annual Report above.
Signed:
Matthew Spriggs (Apr 15, 2026 12:46:15 GMT+1) Matthew Spriggs
Full Name: Matthew Spriggs
Position: Chair of Trustees
Date: Apr 15, 2026
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF
EASTSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Eastside Community Church ('the charity') for the period 14th March 2024 to 31 March 2025 on pages 7 to 9 following.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 2011 Act.
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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Sarah Crispin
Sarah Crispin (Apr 20, 2026 09:53:31 GMT+1) Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Apr 20, 2026
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EASTSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE PERIOD 14 MARCH 2024 TO 31 MARCH 2025
| Notes Income receipts Donations Grants Total receipts Payments 2 3 Total payments Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Cash funds as at last year end Cash funds at this year end A Net of receipts / (payments) before Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly |
General Designated Funds Funds £ £ 23,351 - 15,174 - 38,525 - 19,308 - 5,500 - 24,808 - 13,717 - - - 13,717 - - - 13,717 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - |
2025 £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23,351 15,174 |
|||
| 38,525 | |||
| 19,308 5,500 |
|||
| 24,808 | |||
| 13,717 - |
|||
| 13,717 - |
|||
| 13,717 |
The notes on pages 9 form part of these accounts.
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EASTSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE PERIOD 14 MARCH 2024 TO 31 MARCH 2025
| Notes A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity C Liabilities Falling due within one year Fee for Independent Examination Total D Assets retained for charity's own use Music and PA equipment Computers and IT |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 13,717 - 13,717 - 4,156 - 4,156 - 870 - 870 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs |
2025 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 13,717 13,717 4,156 4,156 870 870 |
||||
| 13,717 | ||||
| 13,717 | ||||
| 4,156 | ||||
| 4,156 | ||||
| 870 | ||||
| 870 | ||||
| Value £ |
||||
| 1,000 900 |
||||
| 1,900 |
Insurance values are given, as the trustees are unable to reliable estimate the current value of the assets. Insurance values may differ materially from cost.
E Guarantees and secured debts
The charity has not given any guarantees and has not provided its assets as security for any liabilities.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Matthew Spriggs _____Matthew SpriggsMatthew Spriggs (Apr 15, 2026 12:46:15 GMT+1)
Apr 15, 2026 Date:_____
The notes on pages 9 form part of these accounts.
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EASTSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE PERIOD 14 MARCH 2024 TO 31 MARCH 2025
1 Accounting policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
| 2 Payments in relation to charitable activities undertaken directly Payments for services received Ministry expenses Room hire Website + IT Conferences and travel Insurance Admin and fees |
General Designated funds funds £ £ 10,900 - 1,746 - 1,710 - 1,578 - 2,565 - 267 - 541 - 19,308 - Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - |
2025 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General funds £ 10,900 1,746 1,710 1,578 2,565 267 541 19,308 |
||||
| 10,900 1,746 1,710 1,578 2,565 267 541 |
||||
| 19,308 |
3 Grants paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others
| nts paid in relation to charitable activities undertaken by others | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants for: Other small grants to organisations Grants to individuals |
500 5,000 5,500 |
- - - |
- - - |
500 5,000 |
| 5,500 |
4 Transactions with related parties
Stephen Timmis, a trustee, was paid £10,900 for providing services concerning the day to day running of the church, not for his role as trustee. These payments are permitted by the governing document. The charity also paid for Steve Timmis to travel to a partner church in Denver. This was in his role as Elder, not as a trustee.
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