Trustees’ Annual Report
For the period: From 01/04/2024 To 31/03/2025 Charity name: Wellingborough United Reformed Church
Charity registration number: 1207683
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.19 | Wellingborough United Reformed Church (‘the Church’) is a local association for the public worship of God, Christian witness and service in accordance with the principles and usages of the United Reformed Church (‘the URC’). Admission to the full responsibilities and privileges of membership in a local Church confers membership simultaneously in that Church and in the URC. The Church supports the wider councils of the URC through giving and participation and may share in activity with other faith communities on an ecumenical basis. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.19 | Worship services, Friendship Group, Brigades, Youth Drama group, Parents & Toddlers group, Open All Hours, letting rooms for a variety of community groups and other faith groups, supporting local and overseas charities e.g. Christian Aid, HomeStart and Wellingborough Food Bank, weddings, funerals and blessings. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.20 | The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.21 | Volunteers carry out most of the work of the church, which cover all aspects of church life, including pastoral care. |
| Projects | Para 1.22 | Following completion of stage 1 & 2 (of a 4 stage project) in the previous financial year, we were notified that to be in line with current health and safety guidelines, |
additional safety measures were required on the external balustrades. Fundraising and grant applications for stage 3 & 4 continued with various levels of success. We have continued to explore the different ways in which the completed project will be utilised to benefit the community. Also during this period we received notification from the Architect (who was also our project manager) that due to personnel changes they were no longer able to support our project. Consequently this led to a period of dormancy pending the establishment of a new relationship with another architect.
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.27 | The church has continued to offer refreshments and conversation through our ‘Open All Hours’ initiative which supports vulnerable adults during the week. Opportunities for social gatherings have also continued for all ages via weekly meetings for Parent & Toddler’s, CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) and other ad-hoc events. Seeking to expand our mission, discussions began with representatives from CAP (Christian’s Against Poverty) and other local churches with the aim to work together for the community and possibly offer support via a ‘Job Club’. Continuing with mission, we received financial support to start ‘Brick Church’ initially meeting once a month, aimed at families from within the church community and beyond. We held another successful Christmas Tree Festival which this year was supported by Wellingborough Lions who purchased the gifts for the elf’s workshop. We have upgraded the projector and screen in church which in addition to enhancing worship, also offer other users quality resources. |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.34 | General Funds The church’s financial situation is shown in the audited accounts submitted along with this report. It has been a very turbulent period due to a number of factors to include: • Significant unexpected expenditure i.e. repairs to church roof, removal of oil tank from church basement • Committed and loose offering decreased due to the death of several generous givers • Weddings decreased • Decrease in rentals income • Increase in monthly Ministry & Mission contribution to Synod • Utility expenditure more than doubled A full review of the financial situation was undertaken and the following implemented: • Agreed with cleaner to reduce hours • Agreed with Synod to offer £2000 less than originally required (but there was still a slight increase on last year’s contribution) • Present TRIO (The Responsibility is Ours) as part of a review of offering our time, talents and monetary gifts The church’s financial situation is kept under continual review and the financial year ended with a small deficit of £1500. HUB Project Current balance for the Hub project is to progress stage 3 and 4. During this financial year most of the income received was in response to grant applications. |
|---|---|---|
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.35 | N/A – all funds shown on accounts |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.37 | WURC should hold readily available reserves to manage cash flow for use in emergencies, or unforeseen circumstances. This should be sufficient to pay up to three months running costs in order to be able to adapt to any changes in the income and expenditure of the church. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.37 | £11,592.85 |
|---|---|---|
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.37 | N/A |
| Comparing the amount of reserves against the reserve policy |
Para 1.39 | -£6350 |
| Review of the charity’s reserves |
Para 1.40 | N/A |
| Ability to operate | Para 1.41 | We currently have sufficient funds in reserve to cover expenditure for six weeks. A full financial review is taking place – see 1.34 above |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.42 | N/A |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.50 |
The church has adopted a Constitution on 6thFebruary 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.50 | The Church is governed by the Church Meeting. The Church Meeting is open to the entire congregation, although only Members are permitted to vote when there is a formal vote. However, the meeting usually works by consensus so that the views of all may be heard and taken into account. Members of the congregation join the church by making a confession of faith or by transfer from another church. Elders are elected from the membership to lead the congregation and are ordained into office. The function of the Elder is much wider than that of a Trustee and includes pastoral oversight of the congregation. Trustees are the serving Elders of the church, selected as above, and initially serve for a period of three years, after which they can stand for re-election of two years. At the end of five years the Elder will be encouraged to stand down for at least one year. |
Reference and Administrative details
Charity name Wellingborough United Reformed Church Charity Other name the charity uses
| Registered charity number | 1207683 |
|---|---|
| Charity’s principal address | Salem Lane Wellingborough Northants NN8 4JT |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claire Ette | Secretary | Wholeyear | Church Meeting | |
| Paul Ette | Wholeyear | Church Meeting | ||
| Richard Hartnell | Wholeyear | Church Meeting | ||
| Mike Lawson | Wholeyear | Church Meeting | ||
| Gill Matthews | Elected 21/09/2025 | Church Meeting | ||
| Ruth Sheehan | Elected 21/09/2025 | Church Meeting | ||
| Sue Scott | Wholeyear | Church Meeting | ||
| Barbara Tungaraza | Wholeyear | Church Meeting | ||
Sustainability
| Response and management of environmental governance |
Para 1.60 | As part of the Hub project, we are looking to improve our heating systems to enable us to reduce energy usage within the church building. We will also be looking at the lighting with a view to installing LED lighting systems. The installation of external glass doors has already had a positive impact by reducing the draft coming into the building. |
|---|---|---|
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
N/A
Funds held as holding trustees on behalf of others
Holding Trustees, Parent Charities and Charitable Para 1.73-1.76 N/A Companies
Other optional information
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) Claire Ette Position (eg Secretary, Secretary Chair, etc) Date 24th January 2026
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