## **Report and Financial Statements for Blackbird Leys Parochial Church Council**
**incorporating the life and witness of Holy Family Blackbird Leys Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP)**
## **Year ending 31 December 2024**
Registered Charity No . 1209195
Registered name :
“The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Blackbird Leys, Diocese of Oxford”
Address : 1 Cuddesdon Way, Oxford OX4 6JH Answerphone : 01865 396241 Website : www.holyfamilybbl.co.uk
Vicar : Position vacant
Through 2024 until 25 February 2025, Revd Heather Carter
Bankers :
The Co-operative Bank, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester M60 4EP
Independent Examiner :
Mr Peter Stevenson
A
## The Parochial Church Council of Holy Family Church, Blackbird Leys
## Trustees’ Annual Report (pages A – E) for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## Aim and Purpose
Holy Family’s Parochial Church Council (the PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the Incumbent, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. As well as the Church building (the Sanctuary) the PCC is also responsible for maintaining the integral Church Hall and ancillary rooms.
## Objectves and Actvites
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our Church, and to become part of our parish family. When planning our activities, the PCC has considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. We try to enable people to live out their faith as part of our parish family, through:
- Worship and prayer: learning about the Gospel, and developing their knowledge of and trust in Jesus;
- Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish; and
- Mission and outreach work.
To facilitate this work, it is vital that we maintain the fabric of both the Church and the Hall. (See below)
## Achievements and Performance
## Worship and Prayer
The PCC is keen to offer a range of services, that our community might find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling, and not only on Sundays. For example, a variety of styles is possible in Holy Week, Easter, Harvest and the Christmas season. During Covid we broke new ground and held our worship outside on the Church lawn in sight and hearing of passers-by.
We have welcomed a few families into our church, and though their circumstances have meant that most have found their spiritual home where there are more children, they have appreciated the welcome they received among us. In 2024 we were blessed by the ministry of a vicar-in-training and also a local School Chaplain who became a member of Holy Family. The style of our worship is varied. After our Vicar moved to another parish, in March 2025, we have largely relied on our own members to lead our worship. Music is provided by a rota of friends and church members on piano or guitar. Though a small congregation now, in 2026, of about 20, our singing is notably good.
We have, since our foundation in the 1960’s, always been an ecumenical church accommodating the traditions of the Church of England, Baptist and Methodist Churches, the United Reformed Church and the Moravian Union. Holy communion is celebrated at least monthly. We celebrated one adult baptism on profession of faith and one child in 2024. At present there are 36 parishioners on the Electoral Roll, 33 of whom live within the parish. Through 2024 the average Sunday attendance at the 10am Service on Sundays was 25. Those who are no longer able to come to Church are not forgotten. The text of the Sunday services including hymns, bible readings, prayers, and a thought for the day or full sermon text are delivered to five households A monthly Holy Communion Service has been held in a local residential home for a long time, though this is in abeyance in the early part of the vacancy. The church is connected to the internet which would in future allow downloading worship resources and to live-stream events such as funerals (when technical expertise permits.)
B
## Deanery Synod
One member of the PCC sits on the Cowley Deanery Synod. This provides the PCC with a link with the churches around us, and also with the Diocese as a whole. It also receives reports from the General Synod, as well as news from the non-Anglican denominations. Conversations across the denominations include trying to work out how best to deploy clergy, both stipendiary and non-stipendiary, between the parishes in the Deanery.
## Links with the non-CofE denominatons
The strongest link is with the United Reformed Church with their strong ecumenical ethos. As well as URC members and retired ministers having committed themselves to Holy Family, the URC have committed one of their nine Church-Related Community Workers (CRCW) to Holy Family and The Leys, for an initial phase of 5 years. The costs, including stipend and housing are being met by the URC with the local church bearing the day-to-day expenses. The CRCW is due to take up their appointment in March 2025
## Church Fabric
Our Redevelopment is taking longer than hoped to get started, therefore the grant of £130,000 from Benefact we received in 2022 has been treated as a loan as per “PCC Accountability” para 1.4 , page 10 “Exclude”.
Towards the cost of developing a first scheme for the redevelopment, we drew in previous years on the, originally £100,000, Diocese Development Grant. Through 2024 the uncalled-upon balance remained at £56,695
The Communi-tea Café is the church’s main outreach into the community. It is for this purpose the main occupier of the church premises during the week. In recent years there have been book entries made to reflect the Café’s share of heat, light and power and cleaning. This resulted in the Café recording a deficit of income compared to expenditure. The transfer of £35,000 from “Unrestricted” to “Designated” Funds represents the recent years’ accumulated deficits. The balance of Designated Funds (£29,431) now principally represents an historic amount of savings set aside for Church roof repairs, which sum may well be utilised in any Redevelopment. The Unrestricted Funds are now available for other work of the church (see definition below) Every endeavour will be made by grant applications, welcoming new customers, saving on utility costs, and moving Café prices in parallel with the Oxford Living Wage which we pay to the staff, to have the Café break even.
## Mission and Evangelism
See Worship and Prayer and the description of the Communi-Tea Café (above) as well as Other Activities (next paragraph)
## Other Actvites
The PCC publishes prior to the APCM each year, a separate document containing reports of some of the organisations and groups that are part of the Church’s wider family. Activities of these users of the Hall include the Communi-tea Café, Blackbird Leys Choir, a twice-weekly exercise group and a Men’s Health group and three different “Anonymous” groups which help members to address their addictions.
C
In early December 2024 we offered our premises and support for a local community initiative “Light Up Blackbird Leys” which saw a Christmas tree set up on the lawn and lit, activities and refreshments for all ages and carol singing
## Financial Review
Total receipts on the unrestricted General Fund were £44,540, and payments from this fund totalled £32,138, giving a surplus of £12,402.
Free will offerings whether by regular, annual donations, standing orders or weekly envelopes increased by around 7%.
Income from hall lettings has remained stable, and interest received has been essential. An equitable proportion of the investment income has been allocated to the savings accumulated towards the Redevelopment.
We increased our Diocesan ‘Parish Share’ –which helps towards the cost of stipends and housing costs for the clergy – by 40%. This was in answer to a strong call to be sacrificial in our contribution, and, from our side, a recognition of the generous support our church has been afforded over a very long time. (In 2026 the church will be given a 10% rebate on their parish Share as we are without a Vicar.)
The Communi-tea Café is the church’s main outreach into the community. It is for this purpose the main occupier of the church premises during the week. In recent years there have been book entries made to reflect the Café’s share of heat, light and power and cleaning. This resulted in the Café recording a deficit of income compared to expenditure. The transfer of £35,000 from “Unrestricted” to “Designated” Funds represents the recent years’ accumulated deficits. Every endeavour will be made by grant applications, welcoming new customers, saving on utility costs, and moving Café prices in line with the Oxford Living Wage which we pay to the staff, to have the Café break even.
The balance of Designated Funds (£29,431) now principally represents an historic amount of savings set aside for Church roof repairs, which sum may well be utilised in any Redevelopment. The Unrestricted Funds are now available for other work of the church.
## Reserves Policy
To cover emergencies the PCC seeks to maintain a balance on our Unrestricted Fund, which equates to at least three months’ payments. For this purpose, Unrestricted and Designated payments are taken together in view of the significance of the Communi Tea Café’s costs. These Unrestricted and Designated expenditures taken together in 2024 amounted to £90,400. Three months’-worth is £22,600 which compares to Unrestricted reserves at the end of 2024 of £43,700.
It is our policy to invest any surplus funds with CCLA, through the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund, their Investment Fund units, and their Property Fund units.
## Safeguarding
The PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). The Parish Safeguarding Officer keeps the records of all those who need to have a DBS check and ensures they are renewed as necessary
## Volunteers
The members of the PCC would like to thank all who work to keep our Church alive and active in very uncertain times
D
## Structure, Governance and Management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The Council comprises the Incumbent, the Churchwardens, a representative of LLM’s, those elected to the Deanery Synod, and other members who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, by those on the Electoral Roll. Members of the congregation are always encouraged to join the Electoral Roll, and to consider standing for election to the PCC.
The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance in the parish, and for all financial matters. The full PCC met ten times during the year. The average level of attendance was 90%.
## Administratve Informaton
Holy Family Church is situated at 1 Cuddesdon Way, Blackbird Leys, Oxford OX4 6JH and is part of the Cowley Deanery, in the Diocese of Oxford.
The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, and the Church Representation Rules 2022) and a Registered Charity (No. 1209195) with the Charity Commission.
PCC members who have served from 1[st] January 2024 untl the date this report was approved were:
## Ex Of fi cio
The Incumbent Rev’d Heather Carter Chair – until 25 February 2025 LLM Prof Denise Morrey-Carter Vice Chair - until 25 February 2025 Churchwardens Thomas Baker Secretary, Chair- from 25 February 2025 Churchwarden until 3 February 2026 Sasha East Deanery Synod Rep Simon Pitkin Elected Members Revd Paul Bedford Treasurer to the PCC Mrs Susan Bedford (PSO) From 18 May 2025 Mrs Ira Browne Until 9 December 2025 Mrs Beverley Humberstone Mrs Eva Powell Until 9 December 2025 Mrs Joy Smith Until 5 November 2024
## Approved by the PCC on 3 February 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
T Baker *Paul M Bedford ……………………………………. …………………………………… Thomas Baker (Chair of meetng) Paul M Bedford (Treasurer)
E
## **Report and Financial Statements for Blackbird Leys Parochial Church Council**
**incorporating the life and witness of Holy Family Blackbird Leys Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP)**
## **for the year ending 31 December 2024**
## Registered Charity No. 1209195 Registered name:
- “The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Blackbird Leys, Blackbird Leys, Diocese of Oxford”
_Page 1_
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) present the Financial Statements of Blackbird Leys Parochial Church Council incorporating the life and witness of Holy Family Blackbird Leys Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP) for the year ended 31 December 2024
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
||**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Restricted Endowment**
**Total**
**Prior year**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**total funds**|
|---|---|
|**Receipts**
Planned giving
Collections and other giving
Other voluntary receipts
Gift Aid recovered
Other receipts
Activities for generating funds
Investment Income
Receipts from church activities
**Total income**
**Payments**
Cost of generating funds
Missionary and Charitable Giving
Parish Share
Clergy and Staffing costs
Church Running Expenses
**Total expenditure**
Gains / losses on investment assets
**Net income / (expenditure) resources before**
**transfer**
**Transfers**
Gross transfers between funds - in
Gross transfers between funds - out
**Other recognised gains / losses**
Gains on revaluation, fixed assets, charity's own
use
**Net movement in funds**
**Total funds brought forward**
**Total funds carried forward**
**Represented by**
**Unrestricted**
General fund
**Designated**
Art (Craft) Group
Cafe Fund
Church Fabric (Roof) Fund
First Steps
Holiday
JOSEPH
**Restricted**
Community Arts Programme
Community Worker Fund
Disabled Toilet fund
Little Chicks fund
Redevelopment (Building) Fund
Toddler Time
Youth Work Fund|21,174
—
—
—
21,174
19,807
1,420
—
—
—
1,420
1,678
478
799
3,408
—
4,685
33,362
8,589
—
2,500
—
11,089
—
—
37,604
—
—
37,604
25,768
6,643
—
—
—
6,643
4,230
6,234
—
10,900
—
17,134
10,249
—
—
—
—
—
2,277|
||**44,540**
**38,403**
**16,808**
**—**
**99,751**
**97,373**
—
58,280
—
—
58,280
40,472
569
—
—
—
569
—
11,546
—
—
—
11,546
7,959
1,224
—
—
—
1,224
1,147
18,797
—
1,844
—
20,642
33,895|
||**32,138**
**58,280**
**1,844**
**—**
**92,263**
**83,474**
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**12,402**
**(19,877)**
**14,963**
**—**
**7,488**
**13,898**
—
35,000
—
—
35,000
—
(35,000)
—
—
—
(35,000)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**(22,598)**
**15,123**
**14,963**
**—**
**7,488**
**13,898**|
||**66,293**
**14,308**
**135,594**
**—**
**216,196**
**202,298**|
||**43,695**
**29,431**
**150,557**
**—**
**223,685**
**216,196**
43,695
—
—
—
43,695
66,293
—
209
—
—
209
209
—
(2;476)
—
—
(2,476)
(17,598)
—
31,626
—
—
31,626
31,626
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
72
—
—
72
72
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
725
—
725
725
—
—
5,773
—
5,773
5,773
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
141,787
—
141,787
126,823
—
—
1,514
—
1,514
1,514
—
—
757
—
757
757|
_Page 2_
## **Balance sheet**
||**Total funds**
**Prior year funds**|
|---|---|
|**Current assets**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Liabilities**
Creditors: Amounts falling due in one year
**Net current assets less current liabilities**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Total net assets less liabilities**
**Represented by**
**Unrestricted**
General fund
**Designated**
Art (Craft) Group
Cafe Fund
Church Fabric (Roof) Fund
First Steps
Holiday
JOSEPH
**Restricted**
Community Arts Programme
Little Chicks fund
Community Worker Fund
Disabled Toilet fund
Redevelopment (Building) Fund
Toddler Time
Youth Work Fund
**Funds of the church**|353,439
343,199|
||**353,439**
**343,199**
129,753
127,002|
||**129,753**
**127,002**|
||**223,685**
**216,196**|
||**223,685**
**216,196**|
||**223,685**
**216,196**
43,695
66,293
209
209
(2,476)
(17,598)
31,626
31,626
—
—
72
72
—
—
725
725
—
—
5,773
5,773
—
—
141,787
126,823
1,514
1,514
757
757|
||**223,685**
**216,196**|
## **Statement of assets and liabilities**
||**General**
**Designated**
**Restricted Endowment**
**This year**
**Last year**|
|---|---|
|**Current assets - Cash at bank and in hand**
Bank current account -
CCLA (CBF) deposit account -
Petty Cash -
**Totals**
**Liabilities - Agency accounts**
Agency collections -
**Totals**
**Liabilities - Creditors: Amounts falling due in**
**one year**
Loans received -
**Totals**
**Grand total**|17,143
1,269
9,494
—
27,907
34,075
41,330
14,701
269,500
—
325,531
309,123
(14,779)
13,463
1,316
—
—
—|
||**43,694**
**29,433**
**280,311**
**—**
**353,438**
**343,199**
—
—
(246)
—
(246)
(2,997)|
||**—**
**—**
**(246)**
**—**
**(246)**
**(2,997)**
—
—
130,000
—
130,000
130,000|
||**—**
**—**
**130,000**
**—**
**130,000**
**130,000**|
||**43,694**
**29,433**
**150,557**
**—**
**223,685**
**216,196**|
_Page 3_
## **Fund movement by type**
||**Opening**
**Incoming**
**Outgoing Transfers Gains/losses Journals Closing**|
|---|---|
|**AG - Art (Craft) Group**
Designated
**Sub-total for AG**
**CAFE - Cafe Fund**
Designated
**Sub-total for CAFE**
**CAP - Community Arts Progr**
Restricted
**Sub-total for CAP**
**CFF - Church Fabric (Roof)**
Designated
**Sub-total for CFF**
**CHF - Little Chicks fund**
Restricted
**Sub-total for CHF**
**CWF - Community Worker Fun**
Restricted
**Sub-total for CWF**
**DTF - Disabled Toilet fund**
Restricted
**Sub-total for DTF**
**FS - First Steps**
Designated
**Sub-total for FS**
**HolF - Holiday**
Designated
**Sub-total for HolF**
**JO - JOSEPH**
Designated
**Sub-total for JO**
**RBF - Redevelopment (Build**
Restricted
**Sub-total for RBF**
**TT - Toddler Time**
Restricted
**Sub-total for TT**
**YWF - Youth Work Fund**
Restricted
**Sub-total for YWF**
**General - General fund**
Unrestricted
**Sub-total for General**
**Grand total**|209
—
—
—
—
—
209|
||**209**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**209**
(17,599)
38,403
58,280
35,000
—
—
(2,476)|
||**(17,599)**
**38,403**
**58,280**
**35,000**
**—**
**—**
**(2,476)**
725
—
—
—
—
—
725|
||**725**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**725**
31,626
—
—
—
—
—
31,626|
||**31,626**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**31,626**
—
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
5,773
—
—
—
—
—
5,773|
||**5,773**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**5,773**
—
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
—
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
72
—
—
—
—
—
72|
||**72**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**72**
—
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
126,823
16,808
1,844
—
—
—
141,787|
||**126,823**
**16,808**
**1,844**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**141,787**
1,514
—
—
—
—
—
1,514|
||**1,514**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**1,514**
757
—
—
—
—
—
757|
||**757**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**757**
66,297
44,540
32,138
(35,000)
—
—
43,699|
||**66,297**
**44,540**
**32,138**
**(35,000)**
**—**
**—**
**43,699**|
||**216,196**
**99,751**
**92,263**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**223,685**|
_Page 4_
## **Analysis of income and expenditure**
||||||**Total**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**Designated**|**Restricted**|**Endowment**|**This year**|**Last year**|
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**|||||||
|**Planned giving**|||||||
|0101 - Gift Aid (via bank)|17,120|—|—|—|17,120|15,865|
|0201 - Envelope giving scheme|4,054|—|—|—|4,054|3,942|
|Total|21,174|—|—|—|21,174|19,807|
|**Collections and other giving**|||||||
|0202 - Gift Aid envelopes|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|0301 - Loose plate collections|248|—|—|—|248|678|
|0401 - Regular gift days|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|0501 - One-off Gift Aid gifts|1,172|—|—|—|1,172|1,000|
|Total|1,420|—|—|—|1,420|1,678|
|**Other voluntary receipts**|||||||
|0410 - Giving through church boxes|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|0550 - Donations appeals etc|478|—|3,408|—|3,886|16,462|
|0801 - Recurring grants|—|—|—|—|—|2,000|
|08A1 - Non-recurring one-off grants|—|799|—|—|799|14,900|
|Total|478|799|3,408|—|4,685|33,362|
|**Gift Aid recovered**|||||||
|0601 - Tax recoverable on Gift Aid|8,589|—|2,500|—|11,089|—|
|Total|8,589|—|2,500|—|11,089|—|
|**Other receipts**|||||||
|0901 - Other funds generated|—|37,604|—|—|37,604|25,768|
|1310 - Insurance claims|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|Total|—|37,604|—|—|37,604|25,768|
|**Activities for generating funds**|||||||
|0910 - Rummage sales + other|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|fundraising|||||||
|1240 - Church hall lettings - fund|6,643|—|—|—|6,643|4,230|
|raising|||||||
|1260 - Parish magazine sales|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|Total|6,643|—|—|—|6,643|4,230|
|**Investment Income**|||||||
|1020 - Bank and investment interest|6,234|—|10,900|—|17,134|10,249|
|1030 - Rent from lands or buildings|—|—|—|—|—|—|
|Total|6,234|—|10,900|—|17,134|10,249|
|**Receipts from church activities**|||||||
|1101 - Fees for weddings and|—|—|—|—|—|2,277|
|funerals|||||||
|Total|—|—|—|—|—|2,277|
_Page 5_
**INCOME TOTAL** 44,540
— 38,403 16,808 99,751 97,373
|**EXPENDITURE**
**Cost of generating funds**
1730 - Costs of fetes & other events
2365 - Magazine costs
2501 - Cafe Payroll
2502 - Cafe non-staff costs
Total
**Missionary and Charitable Giving**
1801 - Giving to missionary societies
1870 - Secular charities
Total
**Parish Share**
1901 - Stipends quota
1910 - Other Free church Ministry
Total
**Clergy and Staffing costs**
2001 - Assistant staff costs
2101 - Working expenses of
incumbent
2120 - Council tax
2130 - Manse + Vicarage expenses
2140 - Water rates - vicarage
2145 - Parsonage - water
2150 - Vicar's telephone
2370 - Visiting speakers / locums
Total
**Church Running Expenses**
2170 - Education
2201 - Parish training and mission
2210 - Worship and Sanctuary
2301 - Church running - insurance
2310 - Church office - telephone
2330 - Church maintenance
2331 - Cleaning
2360 - Administration
2401 - Church running - electric
2410 - Church running - gas
2420 - Church running - water
Total|—
—
—
—
—
91
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
18,934
—
—
18,934
19,197
—
39,345
—
—
39,345
21,184|
|---|---|
||—
58,280
—
—
58,280
40,472
70
—
—
—
70
—
499
—
—
—
499
—|
||569
—
—
—
569
—
10,231
—
—
—
10,231
7,425
1,314
—
—
—
1,314
534|
||11,546
—
—
—
11,546
7,959
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1,224
—
—
—
1,224
1,147
—
—
—
—
—
—|
||1,224
—
—
—
1,224
1,147
—
—
—
—
—
—
200
—
—
—
200
540
541
—
—
—
541
170
2,666
—
—
—
2,666
2,603
1,212
—
—
—
1,212
1,092
1,894
—
1,844
—
3,739
17,843
4,221
—
—
—
4,221
3,530
2,545
—
—
—
2,545
3,529
5,121
—
—
—
5,121
2,817
368
—
—
—
368
799
25
—
—
—
25
968|
||18,797
—
1,844
—
20,642
33,891|
|**EXPENDITURE TOTAL**|32,138
58,280
1,844
—
92,263
83,474|
|||
|**GRAND TOTAL**|12,402
(19,877)
14,963
—
7,488
13,898|
_Page 6_
## **Other assets**
Gift Aid recoverable £7,000 Investments (CCLA held by ODBF) £26,776 Investments (Aviva) £45,074 (at March 2025) **Other Liabilities** Grant treated as Loan (see below) £130,000
## **ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 section 132(1), using the receipts and payments basis available to small charities.
## **SIGNIFICANT ITEMS**
Our Redevelopment is taking longer than hoped to get started, therefore the grant of £130,000 from Benefact we received in 2022 has been treated as a loan as per “PCC Accountability” para 1.4 , page 10 “Exclude”.
Towards the cost of developing a first scheme for the redevelopment, we drew in previous years on the, originally £100,000, Diocese Development Grant. Through 2024 the uncalled-upon balance remained at £56,695
The Communi-tea Café is the church’s main outreach into the community. It is for this purpose the main occupier of the church premises during the week. In recent years there have been book entries made to reflect the Café’s share of heat, light and power and cleaning. This resulted in the Café recording a deficit of income compared to expenditure.. The transfer of £35,000 from “Unrestricted” to “Designated” Funds represents the recent years’ accumulated deficits. The balance of Designated Funds (£29,431) now principally represents an historic amount of savings set aside for Church roof repairs, which sum may well be utilised in any Redevelopment. The Unrestricted Funds are now available for other work of the church (see definition below) Every endeavour will be made by grant applications, welcoming new customers, saving on utility costs, and moving Café prices in line with the Oxford Living Wage which we pay to the staff, to have the Café break even.
## **FUND ACCOUNTING**
**Unrestricted Funds** may be used by the church for any of its ordinary purposes **Designated Funds** represent unrestricted funds set aside by the church for specific purposes; they can be transferred back into general funds at the church’s discretion
**Restricted Funds** represent income which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of a trust or bequest, or donations or grants received or invited for a specific purpose. The funds can only be spent on the specific purpose for which they were given. The Building Redevelopment Fund represents grants and donations received, less payments made, towards a new building, including planning and preliminary works.
## **ASSETS USED FOR CHURCH PURPOSES**
**Church buildings and contents** for the year 2025 have been insured for £6.65m (Index-linked). Our intention is to demolish and rebuild on the site
## **TREASURER’S STATEMENT**
I have prepared the financial statements on pages 2 to 7 for the year ended 31 December 2024
Paul M Bedford 8 September 2025
## **PCC APPROVAL**
The above financial statements were laid in draft before the Annual Parochial Church Meeting held 18 May 2025 and signed, after Independent Examination, on its behalf by me, Thomas Baker, Churchwarden, at the PCC held on 7 October 2025.
_Page 7_
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the PCC of the Church of the Holy Family, Blackbird Leys, Oxford for the year ended 31 December 2024**
## **Introduction**
This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 2 to 3, is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 (“the Regulations”) and section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
## **Respective Responsibilities of the PCC and Examiner**
As members of the PCC, you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. You consider that the audit requirement of the Regulations and section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 does not apply, and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to issue this report on those financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Regulations.
## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Act and set out in the Church guidance, 2006 edition.
The examination includes:
- A review of the accounting records kept by the PCC
- A comparison of the financial statements with those records
- Consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements
- Seeking explanations from members of the PCC regarding such matters
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit; consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
## **Independent Examiner’s Statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; **or**
2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed… **Peter J. Stevenson** Date: 6th October 2025
Flat 25, Cherwell Court, Banbury Road, Kidlington OX5 2BG
_Page 8_
Page 9
Independent Examiner’s Report to the PCC of the Church of the Holy Family, Blackbird Leys, Oxford for the year ended 31 December 2024
## Introducton
This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 2 to 3, is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 (“the Regulations”) and section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
## Respectve Responsibilites of the PCC and Examiner
As members of the PCC, you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. You consider that the audit requirement of the Regulations and section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 does not apply, and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to issue this report on those financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Regulations.
## Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Act and set out in the Church guidance, 2006 edition.
The examination includes:
- A review of the accounting records kept by the PCC
- A comparison of the financial statements with those records
- Consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements
- Seeking explanations from members of the PCC regarding such matters
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit; consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
## Independent Examiner’s Statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; or
2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed… Peter J. Stevenson Date: 6th October 2025
Flat 25, Cherwell Court, Banbury Road, Kidlington OX5 2BG