**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 226163**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND**
**FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **FOR**
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
P B Syddall & Co Chartered Accountants Grafton House 81 Chorley Old Road Bolton Lancashire BL1 3AJ
**THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
|||**Page**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1|to|4|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**||5||
|**Statement of Financial Activities**||6||
|**Balance Sheet**||7||
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|8|to|11|
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**||12||
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives**
The charity is established to support the seventeen congregations of the Mission area and to help promote Unitarianism throughout the north and east Lancashire areas.
## **Public benefit**
Each year the trustees review the objectives and activities of the charity to ensure they continue to reflect their aims and provide public benefit. The trustees are more than satisfied that they do.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Investment policy and objectives**
All investment decisions are undertaken by the finance committee with the approval of the general committee.
## **Financial controls**
NELUM has a finance committee who make recommendations to the general committee with regard to the charity's financial affairs.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
## **Organisational structure**
The North and East Lancashire Unitarian Mission is a registered charity (number 226163) and is one of thirteen district associations in England and the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. The association is also known as NELUM.
## **Risk management**
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number**
226163
## **Principal address**
c/o Ms K Diggle 8 Neyland Close Bolton Lancashire BL1 5DF
## **Trustees**
Ms K Diggle Reverend B Allerton Miss J Thompson
Page 1
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Independent Examiner**
A J Syddall M.A., F.C.A. P B Syddall & Co Chartered Accountants Grafton House 81 Chorley Old Road Bolton Lancashire BL1 3AJ
## **Bankers**
CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4TA
## **Solicitors**
Clough & Willis 2 Manchester Road Bury Lancashire BL9 0TD
## **Financial Advisers**
Charles Stanley & Co Limited 25 Luke Street London EC2A 4AR
Page 2
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **SECRETARY'S REPORT**
Thank you to everybody who has contributed to the years NELUM Meetings. The officers, the delegates, the members of the Finance Group, the trustees, the Ministers (and students), and the visitors; we have enjoyed both interesting discussions and social time.
Our treasurer's health has given cause for concern but he has tackled his tasks with enthusiasm and an impressive quality of work.
## Others must be thanked -
- Rev Beryl Allerton and Karen Diggle for 20 years of outstanding work and loyal service as our secretary and treasurer respectively with special thanks to Karen for service above and beyond the call of duty during her long treasurers handover.
- Rev John Allerton and John Illingworth for their work on CIO.
- The members of last year's Finance Group; and all those who have served NELUM in other acknowledged and appreciated capacities.
Reading through our church-reports I became aware of shared matters of concern and importance. The number of services per month varies but the majority of our churches meet weekly and although attendance is, overall, smaller than it used to be we have stable attendance with some churches reporting a pleasing increase in numbers. We are all trying to remain optimistic with progressive attitudes.
Each of our congregations needs support from service-leaders to some extent whose knowledge and excellent preaching are warmly welcomed. This applies especially to our serving and retired Ministers who give willingly of their time and experience particularly when special services take place. Our three ministry-students contribute valuably too and we send them our very best wishes in their work now as well as when they become fully-fledged Ministers.
Many of our churches need constant maintenance and those which benefit from financial help from NELUM express their gratitude for this support. Whilst most of our churches are financially stable a few are currently experiencing difficulties. When NELUM is at hand some of the problems can thankfully be resolved.
Our links with the General Assembly and the Executive Committee have improved this year and several visits have occurred. Liz Slade, the GA Chief Officer, attended our 2024 AGM and at our General Council Meetings we have met Rev Jo James (in March), Rev Laura Dobson (in October), and Simon Bland (in February, 2025). It has been interesting to hear their comments and we hope that ours have been noted and relayed back.
NELUM was actually the very first District to apply for an Innovation Challenge Grant just before the end of 2024. Whether our application will succeed remains to be seen.
Dot Hewerdine was elected as a G A Honorary Member at the 2024 Annual Meetings and received our warm congratulations for her well-deserved achievement; we have admired her newly conferred status.
The closure of Bank Street Chapel, Bolton, in May, 2022 caused sadness and regret. We mourn the demise of this congregation and its worship-centre. Fortunately most members have remained within the Unitarian sphere. In 2024, we received a most generous donation from the Bank Street chapel-members of £100,000, to add to NELUM funds and we thank them most sincerely for their kind gift. At present each of our 13 remaining churches has been given £5,000. Further thought must be devoted to the remainder.
We also mark, with sorrow, the passing of Connie Diggle in February, 2025. As a valuable Unitarian, and an eminent member of our churches and our district she will be greatly missed. May she rest in peace.
Newchurch Graveyard has presented severe problems during the past few years but we hope that these will very shortly be resolved and that the area will become a place of beauty and tranquillity. On Remembrance Sunday, November 10th 2024, after an excellent service conducted by Rev Tony McNeile at Rawtenstall Unitarian Church, the ashes of Muriel Whittaker were interred in Newchurch Graveyard and her final resting-place now boasts a fine headstone in a smart setting thanks to her nephew Ryan Godwin.
Page 3
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
As I review 2024 I should like to echo John Hewerdine's words as he prepares the Chorley Chapel for its 300th Anniversary: "Let us keep the chalice-flame alight!"
Anne Mills
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 25 March 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Ms K Diggle - Trustee
Page 4
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The North and East Lancashire Unitarian Mission**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The North and East Lancashire Unitarian Mission (the Trust) for the year ended 30 September 2024.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
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 respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do 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.
A J Syddall M.A., F.C.A.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
P B Syddall & Co Chartered Accountants Grafton House 81 Chorley Old Road Bolton Lancashire BL1 3AJ
25 March 2025
Page 5
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
**213,343**
Investment income
2
**52,848**
**Total**
**266,191**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Charity expenses
**258,098**
Net gains/(losses) on investments
**7,578**
**NET INCOME**
**15,671**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
**445,779**
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
**461,450**|Restricted
fund
£
**-**
**73**
**73**
**-**
**1,774**
**1,847**
**56,240**
**58,087**|**2024**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**213,343**
**52,921**
**266,264**
**258,098**
**9,352**
**17,518**
**502,019**
**519,537**|2023
Total
funds
£
41,635
46,844
88,479
53,449
(7,367)
27,663
474,356
502,019|
|---|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **BALANCE SHEET 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Investments
4
**122,829**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
5
**-**
Investments
6
**-**
Cash at bank
**338,621**
**338,621**
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
7
**-**
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**338,621**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
**461,450**
**NET ASSETS**
**461,450**
**FUNDS**
8
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
fund
£
**56,566**
**-**
**-**
**1,521**
**1,521**
**-**
**1,521**
**58,087**
**58,087**|**2024**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**179,395**
**-**
**-**
**340,142**
**340,142**
**-**
**340,142**
**519,537**
**519,537**
**461,450**
**58,087**
**519,537**|2023
Total
funds
£
350,987
39,500
525
226,393
266,418
(115,386)
151,032
502,019
502,019
445,779
56,240
502,019|
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 25 March 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
K Diggle - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 7
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **BASIS OF PREPARING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value.
The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£).
## **INCOME**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **EXPENDITURE**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **TAXATION**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
## **FUND ACCOUNTING**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
## **GOING CONCERN**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern.
## **2. INVESTMENT INCOME**
|Other fixed asset investments
Bank interest received|**2024**
**£**
**47,027**
**5,894**
**52,921**|2023
£
42,894
3,950|
|---|---|---|
|||46,844|
continued...
Page 8
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **3. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 September 2024 nor for the year ended 30 September 2023.
## **TRUSTEES' EXPENSES**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30 September 2024 nor for the year ended 30 September 2023.
## **4. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS**
|Other
There were no investment assets outside the UK.
Investments (neither listed nor unlisted) were as follows:
The NELUM Trustee Company Fixed Interest Fund
The NELUM Trustee Company Equity Fund
Amount owed to The NELUM Trustee Company
**5.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Loan to Walmsley Church
Coronavirus loans
Loan to Blackpool Church
**6.**
**CURRENT ASSET INVESTMENTS**
Bank deposits held at stockbrokers|**2024**
**£**
**179,395**
**2024**
**£**
**56,566**
**303,773**
**(180,944)**
**179,395**
**2024**
**£**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**2024**
**£**
**-**|2023
£
350,987|2023
£
350,987|
|---|---|---|---|
|||2023
£
54,792
296,195
-||
|||350,987||
||||2023
£
6,000
21,500
12,000|
||||39,500|
||||2023
£
525|
continued...
Page 9
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **7. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
|The North & East Lancashire Unitarian Mission Trustee Company
(Incorporated)
Newchurch
Accruals and deferred income
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**266,191**
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
**73**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**266,264**|At
1.10.23
£
**445,779**
**56,240**
**502,019**
Resources
expended
£
**(258,098)**
**-**
**(258,098)**|**2024**
2023
**£**
£
**-**
23,003
**-**
89,383
**-**
3,000
**-**
115,386
Net
movement
At
in funds
30.9.24
£
£
**15,671**
**461,450**
**1,847**
**58,087**
**17,518**
**519,537**
Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
**7,578**
**15,671**
**1,774**
**1,847**
**9,352**
**17,518**|
|---|---|---|
**8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
continued...
Page 10
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
## **8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
|Net
At
movement
1.10.22
in funds
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
411,721
36,938
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
62,635
(9,275)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
474,356
27,663
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:|Transfers
between
funds
£
(2,880)
2,880
-|At
30.9.23
£
445,779
56,240|
|---|---|---|
|||502,019|
||||
||Incoming|Resources|Gains and|Movement|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||resources|expended|losses|in funds|
||£|£|£|£|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||
|General fund|88,429|(53,449)|1,958|36,938|
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|Restricted funds|||||
||50|-|(9,325)|(9,275)|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|88,479|(53,449)|(7,367)|27,663|
## **9. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 30 September 2024.
## **10. BANK STREET CHURCH**
During the previous year, following the closure of the Bank Street Church, funds were received by the charity amounting to £43,170. This was considered to be a refund of grants paid to Bank Street Church over a number of years and as settlement of a loan that was included within debtors at the start of the year amounting to £2,370.
A further £100,000 has been received from Bank Street Church this year.
Page 11
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024**
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations
Subscriptions
Bank Street Church
Newchurch
The NELUM Trustee Company
Historical donation
**Investment income**
Other fixed asset investments
Bank interest received
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Charity expenses**
Donations
Administration expenses
Meeting expenses
Newchurch expenses
Accountancy
Sundry expenses
Utility support
Grants made to churches
Specific sustentation grants
Bank charges
Training grants
Historical donations
Historical grants
Historical sustentation grant
Historical amount owed to The NELUM Trustee
Company
**Support costs**
**Governance costs**
Independent examination fee
Total resources expended
**Net income**|2024
£
**-**
**540**
**100,000**
**89,000**
**23,003**
**800**
**213,343**
**47,027**
**5,894**
**52,921**
**266,264**
**6,935**
**382**
**849**
**3,319**
**1,536**
**142**
**10,500**
**5,546**
**10,500**
**95**
**2,250**
**21,000**
**15,500**
**(2,000)**
**180,944**
**257,498**
**600**
**258,098**
**8,166**|2023
£
15
820
40,800
-
-
-|
|---|---|---|
|||41,635
42,894
3,950|
|||46,844|
|||88,479
6,400
285
903
4,970
1,416
28
-
26,750
12,000
97
-
-
-
-
-|
|||52,849
600|
|||53,449|
|||35,030|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 12