June 2024 to May 2025
Full Name of the Charity: The Orthodox Christian Trust
Charity Number: 1208707 (Excepted Charity)
Address: 12 Regina Terrace, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1GJ
Names of Trustees: 1. Dr James Siemens; 2. Mrs Kimberly Siemens; 3. Mr Declan Kelly
Structure/Governance:
The charity is governed by the trustees who meet regularly and host an annual meeting of all church members.
## 2. Objectives and Activities
Our Aim: To faithfully practice and proclaim the Orthodox Christian Faith for the people of Cardiff and South Wales by worshipping the Triune God and serving the community for the salvation of all.
Public Benefit Statement: The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. In light of this we have sought to promote thoughtful, authentic engagement with the Orthodox Christian tradition, including its life of liturgy, prayer, theology, and outreach. Consequently, we have been proactive in inviting members of the wider community into serious engagement with Orthodoxy by means of online outreach, publicly-accessible teaching, additional work at a local university, and serving an open-door Sunday liturgy.
Summary of Activities: In the year between June 2024 to May 2025, we served over fifty liturgies, representing the range of liturgical practice of the Orthodox Church – all of which we available to the public and well-advertised. Additionally, we undertook six baptisms while others were made catechumens. The priest travelled around Wales and elsewhere in the UK, visiting holy sites and sister parishes, speaking on a variety of topics, and in some cases, broadcasting his words on YouTube and other podcasting platforms. The parish hosted a monthly theology club and a monthly book club on Zoom that attracted participants from across the UK, North America, and even the Middle East. The priest engaged in various activities beyond the parish by way of extending our presence and showing cooperation and fraternal goodwill. These included an ecumenical visit to Oxford, participation in a Holy Week service at the local Greek Orthodox parish, and a public talk to a community Seniors’ Club alongside a retired Archbishop of Canterbury.
## 3. Achievements and Performance
Our weekly worship numbers ranged from 25 to 40, with the majority of Sunday liturgies having the higher attendance. We have gradually been increasing attendance each week, and we regularly have new attendees and enquirers. Throughout the year we have engendered a close community that supported each other in learning and exploring the Orthodox faith. This has been done through social time after services, visiting members and non-members in their homes and elsewhere, and exercising an open door policy both at the church and at the priest’s home.
As we are renting a space at the moment we are not able to make any changes or repairs to our premises, although we enjoy the benefit of having all the furniture we need for our services and not having to disassemble and reassemble it each week.
## 4. Financial Review
All of our income came from weekly giving, and it was used mostly on supplies for the church and towards travel expenses for the priest. At this time we keep our free cash available in order to ensure liturgies run smoothly and to allow for hospitality.
## 5. Plans for the Future
In the coming year we plan to have a permanent full choir, increase our outreach to attract more members, and we aim to engage in more fundraising activities to raise money for the purchase of our own building, all while continuing and expanding the teaching work.
## 6. Structure, Governance, and Management
At the end of the year we were made aware that our safeguarding officer was moving away, which drew to our attention the necessity of maintaining our safeguarding responsibilities.
Failure to increase our income would mean that we could not expand our mission, including the acquisition of our own building.
Charity Registration Number : 1208707
## **THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TRUST**
A CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION (CIO) TRUSTEES’ REPORT
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025
## **THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TRUST**
## **CONTENTS**
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025
|Legal and Administrative Information
......................................................................................................|1|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Report
......................................................................................................................................|2|
|Independent Examiner's Report
..............................................................................................................|4|
|Statement of Financial Activities
.............................................................................................................|5|
|Balance Sheet
.........................................................................................................................................|6|
|Notes to the Financial Statements
..........................................................................................................|7|
## **THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TRUST**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025
|**Trustees**|Dr James Siemens|
|---|---|
||KIMBERLY SIEMENS|
||Declan Kelly|
|**Charity Number**|1208707|
|**Registered Ofce**|190 Cathedral Road|
||Cardif|
||CF11 9JE|
|**Bankers**|HSBC UK|
|**Independent Examiner**|Cangaf Accountants & Business Advisers|
||235 Tonge Moor Road|
||Bolton|
||BL2 2HR|
Page 1 of 10
## **THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT**
## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2025. June 2024 to May 2025
Full Name of the Charity: The Orthodox Christian Trust
Charity Number: 1208707 (Excepted Charity)
Address: 12 Regina Terrace, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1GJ
Names of Trustees: 1. Dr James Siemens; 2. Mrs Kimberly Siemens; 3. Mr Declan Kelly
## **1. Structure/Governance:**
The charity is governed by the trustees who meet regularly and host an annual meeting of all church members.
## **2. Objectives and Activities**
Our Aim: To faithfully practice and proclaim the Orthodox Christian Faith for the people of Cardiff and South Wales by
worshipping the Triune God and serving the community for the salvation of all.
Public Benefit Statement: The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
In light of this we have sought to promote thoughtful, authentic engagement with the Orthodox Christian tradition,
including its life of liturgy, prayer, theology, and outreach.
Consequently, we have been proactive in inviting members of the wider community into serious engagement with
Orthodoxy by means of online outreach, publicly-accessible teaching, additional work at a local university, and serving an open-door Sunday liturgy.
Summary of Activities: In the year between June 2024 to May 2025, we served over fifty liturgies, representing the range of liturgical practice of the Orthodox Church – all of which we available to the public and well-advertised. Additionally, we undertook six baptisms while others were made catechumens. The priest travelled around Wales and elsewhere in the UK, visiting holy sites and sister parishes, speaking on a variety of topics, and in some cases, broadcasting his words on YouTube and other podcasting platforms.
The parish hosted a monthly theology club and a monthly book club on Zoom that attracted participants from across the UK,
North America, and even the Middle East. The priest engaged in various activities beyond the parish by way of extending our presence and showing cooperation and fraternal goodwill.
These included an ecumenical visit to Oxford, participation in a Holy Week service at the local Greek Orthodox parish, and a public talk to a community Seniors’ Club alongside a retired Archbishop of Canterbury.
## **3. Achievements and Performance**
Our weekly worship numbers ranged from 25 to 40, with the majority of Sunday liturgies having the higher attendance.
We have gradually been increasing attendance each week, and we regularly have new attendees and enquirers.
Page 2 of 10
Throughout the year we have engendered a close community that supported each other in learning and exploring the
Orthodox faith.
This has been done through social time after services, visiting members and non-members in their homes and elsewhere, and exercising an open door policy both at the church and at the priest’s home.
As we are renting a space at the moment we are not able to make any changes or repairs to our premises, although we enjoy the benefit of having all the furniture we need for our services and not having to disassemble and reassemble it each week.
## 4. **Financial Review**
All of our income came from weekly giving, and it was used mostly on supplies for the church and towards travel
expenses for the priest.
At this time we keep our free cash available in order to ensure liturgies run smoothly and to allow for hospitality.
## 5. **Plans for the Future**
In the coming year we plan to have a permanent full choir, increase our outreach to attract more members, and
we aim to engage in more fundraising activities to raise money for the purchase of our own building,
all while continuing and expanding the teaching work.
## 6. **Structure, Governance, and Management**
At the end of the year we were made aware that our safeguarding officer was moving away, which drew to our
attention the necessity of maintaining our safeguarding responsibilities.
Failure to increase our income would mean that we could not expand our mission, including the acquisition of our own building.
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on its behalf by: ------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Dr James Siemens Chair**
Date : **16 March 2026**
Page 3 of 10
## **THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TRUST**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Orthodox Christian Trust
I report to the Charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 May 2025 which consists of the statement of financial activities,balance sheet and the related notes
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’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 charity'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.
## **Independent Examiner's Statement**
The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of ACCA
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 gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content 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.
## Name: **Cecilia Asamoah**
for and on behalf of **Cangaf Accountants & Business Advisers**
Date: **16 March 2026**
Page 4 of 10
## **THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TRUST**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025
|**Recommended categories by**
**activity**
**Notes**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
2
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
3
**Total**
Net income
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted funds**
**£**
6,612.89
**6,612.89**
6,169.51
**6,169.51**
443.38
**443.38**
-
**443.38**|**Total Funds 2025**
**£**
6,612.89|
|---|---|---|
|||**6,612.89**|
|||6,169.51|
|||**6,169.51**|
|||443.38|
|||**443.38**
-|
|||**443.38**|
Page 5 of 10
## **THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TRUST**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025
|**Recommended categories by activity**
**Notes**
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand
6
**Total current assets**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
7
**Net current assets/(liabilities)**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
8
**Total net assets**
**Funds of the Charity**
Unrestricted funds
9
Restricted funds
9
Endowment funds
9
**Total funds**|**Total Funds 2025**
**£**
3,672.84
**3,672.84**
2,329.46
**1,343.38**
**1,343.38**
900.00|
|---|---|
||**443.38**|
||443.38
-
-|
||**443.38**|
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 16 March 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
**Dr James Siemens Chair**
Date : **16 March 2026**
Page 6 of 10
## **THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2025
## **1. Accounting Policies**
The principal accounting policies adopted by the Charity, which is a public benefit entity, in the preparation of the accounts are as follows.
## **1.1 Basis of preparation**
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the inclusion of charitable properties and fixed asset investments and investment properties at valuation.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
These accounts are presented in pounds sterling and rounded to the nearest pound.
## **1.2 Going concern**
The Trustees have prepared financial projections, taking into consideration the current economic conditions and have, at the time of approving these accounts, a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.
## **1.3 Income from donations or grants**
Income from donations and grants is recognised when the charity is entitled to the funds, the receipt is probable and the amount can be measured reliably. For donations, this is usually on receipt. For grants, this is usually when a formal o'er is made in writing. If a donation or grant contains terms and conditions outside of the charity’s control which must be met before the charity is entitled to the funds, or if the donor specifies that the funds must be used in future time periods, then the income is deferred.
## **1.4 Tax reclaims on donations and gifts**
Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
## **1.5 Donated goods**
Donated goods are measured at fair value (the amount for which the asset could be exchanged) unless impractical to do so.
Gifts in kind for use by the charity are included in the SoFA as income from donations when receivable.
## **a) Donated goods for distribution to beneficiaries**
The cost of any stock of goods donated for distribution to beneficiaries is deemed to be the fair value of those gifts at the time of their receipt and they are recognised on receipt. In the reporting period in which the stocks are distributed, they are recognised as an expense at the carrying amount of the stocks at distribution.
## **b) Donated goods for resale**
Donated goods for resale are measured at fair value on initial recognition, which is the expected proceeds from sale less the expected costs of sale, and recognised in 'Income from other trading activities' with the corresponding stock recognised in the balance sheet. On its sale the value of stock is charged against 'Income from other trading activities' and the proceeds from sale are also recognised as 'Income from other trading activities'.
## **c) Donated goods and services capitalised as Tangible fixed assets**
Goods donated for on-going use by a charity in carrying out its activities are recognised as tangible fixed assets with the corresponding gain recognised as income from donations within the SoFA.
Page 7 of 10
## **1.6 Donated services and facilities**
Donated services and facilities are included in the SOFA when received at the value of the gift to the charity provided the value of the gift can be measured reliably.
Donated services and facilities that are consumed immediately are recognised as income with an equivalent amount recognised as an expense under the appropriate heading in the SOFA.
## **1.7 Income from charitable activities**
Income from charitable activities is recognised over the period to which the income relates. Concert fees are recognised at the date of the event. Membership fees are recognised over the period of the membership. Rent is recognised over the period to which it relates. Any amounts relating to future periods are deferred.
## **1.8 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised when a present legal or constructive obligation exists at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and the amount can be estimated reliably. It is inclusive of VAT which cannot be recovered.
Direct costs are those costs which directly attribute to its activities. Wages and salaries are allocated to direct costs based on an estimate of time spent on charitable activities by staff members.
Support costs include staff costs and are those which do not produce a direct output. Staff costs relate to specific activities and this is reflected in the allocation of payroll costs based on the percentage of time spent.
All costs, including governance costs, are allocated between the expenditure categories of the charity on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are charged directly; others are apportioned on an appropriate basis.
Support costs and overheads have been calculated by allocating staff time to the level of involvement in the various activities of the Charity.
## **1.9 Taxation**
The organisation is a registered charity and has no liability to income tax or corporation tax on its charitable activities during the year.
Value added tax is accounted for on an accruals basis.
## **1.10 Creditors**
The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts.
## **1.11 Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are those funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes.
## **2. Income from Donations and Legacies**
|**2. Income from Donations and Legacies**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Analysis**
Donation and gifts
**Total**|**Unrestricted funds**
**£**
6,612.89
**6,612.89**|**Total funds 2025**
**£**
6,612.89|
|||**6,612.89**|
Page 8 of 10
## **3. Expenditure on Charitable Activities**
|**3. Expenditure on Charitable Activities**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Analysis**|**Unrestricted funds**|**Total funds 2025**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Bank charges|95.58|95.58|
|Legal/professional fees|210.00|210.00|
|Travel and Subsistence|1,626.88|1,626.88|
|Purchases|1,875.25|1,875.25|
|Motor Expenses|437.08|437.08|
|Subscriptions|220.00|220.00|
|Insurance|123.09|123.09|
|Software|508.51|508.51|
|Stationery and Printing|173.12|173.12|
|**Total**|**5,269.51**|**5,269.51**|
|Support Costs|900.00|900.00|
||**6,169.51**|**6,169.51**|
|**4. Support Costs**|||
|||**Total funds 2025**|
|**Analysis**||**£**|
|**Support Costs**|||
|**Governance Costs**|||
|Accountants fees||900.00|
|||**900.00**|
|**5. Details of certain Items of Expenditure**|||
||**This year**|**Last year**|
||£|**£**|
|**Independent examiner’s fees**|900||
|**Assurance services other than audit or independent**|||
|**examination**|||
|**Tax advisory fees**|||
|**Other fees (for example: fnancial advice, consultancy,**|||
|**accountancy services) paid to the independent examiner**|||
|**6. Cash at bank and in hand**|||
|**Analysis**||**Total funds 2025**|
|||**£**|
|Cash at bank and in hand||3,672.84|
|**Total**||**3,672.84**|
|**7. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one**|**year**||
|**Analysis of Creditors**||**Total funds 2025**|
|||**£**|
|Other creditors||2,329.46|
|**Total**||**2,329.46**|
Page 9 of 10
## **8. Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year**
|**8. Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year**|**8. Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year**|**8. Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year**|**8. Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Analysis of Creditors**
**Total funds 2025**
**£**
Accruals and deferred income
900.00
**Total**
**900.00**
**9. Charity funds**
**9.1 Details of material funds held and movements during the CURRENT reporting period**
**Fund names**
**Fund**
**balances**
**brought**
**forward**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**Gains and**
**losses**
**Fund**
**balances**
**carried**
**forward**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**-**
**6,612.89**
**6,169.51**
**-**
**-**
**443.38**||||**Total funds 2025**
**£**
900.00||
|||||**900.00**||
||**-**|**6,612.89**
**6,169.51**
**-**|**-**||**443.38**|
**9.1 Details of material funds held and movements during the CURRENT reporting period**
Page 10 of 10