**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 226163**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND**
**FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
## **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 2025**
|||**Page**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Reference and Administrative Details**||1||
|**Report of the Trustees**|2|to|3|
|**Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**||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**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
|**TRUSTEES**|Ms K Diggle|
|---|---|
||Reverend B Allerton|
||Miss J Thompson (resigned 17.5.25)|
||M W Couser (appointed 17.5.25)|
||Reverend C L Readett (appointed 17.5.25)|
||A R Cowgill (appointed 17.5.25)|
|**PRINCIPAL ADDRESS**|c/o Mr M Couser|
||7 Orchid Court|
||35-37 South Promenade|
||Lytham St Annes|
||Lancashire|
||FY8 1QF|
|**REGISTERED CHARITY**|226163|
|**NUMBER**||
|**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER**|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|
|**INVESTMENT MANAGERS**|Charles Stanley & Co Limited|
||25 Luke Street|
||London|
||EC2A 4AR|
Page 1
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2025. 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 thirteen 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.
Page 2
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
## **TREASURERS REPORT**
Treasurers report on The North and East Lancashire Unitiarian Mission and North and The East Lancashire Unitarian Mission Trustee Company (Incorporated).
During the year, NELUM has continued to serve the Unitarian movement in general and specifically the thirteen congregations within it's district.
**Income** included subscriptions and donations of £5,960. Dividends and interest accounted for £58,856.
**Expenditure** included donations to Unitarian Organisations / charities - £7,400 and the continuing support of 3 trainee Unitarian Ministers - £2,250. Also the equal distribution of the gift received last year from the sale of Bank St., Bolton - 13 x £5,000 = £65,000.
In addition, grants were made to congregations for repairs of £30,000 and projects promoting Unitarianism to young people - £2,697.
As in previous years, congregations were given utility grants of £13,500 and sustentation grants of £11,000.
The district continues to maintain Newchurch graveyard and costs this year included the rebuilding of a boundary wall £17,598.
Perhaps the largest expense relates to the administration of our share portfolio by Charles Stanley & Co Ltd - £20,772. This expense should be viewed in relation to the amount of dividend received together with the realised / unrealised gains made by shares in the year amounting to £103,537.
**Assets** - the value of the share portfolio stood at £1,591,960 at the year end. The balance at the bank was £525,983 making total funds available at the year end of £2,117,943.
**Liabilities** - the upkeep of Newchurch Graveyard.
It is in my opinion that NELUM continues to be in a strong position to assist member congregations and the outlook for future years from a financial viewpoint is extremely positive,
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 30 May 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
M W Couser - Trustee
Page 3
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law).
Under charity law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and The Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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 2025.
## **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**
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
31 May 2026
Page 5
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
**5,960**
Investment income
2
**62,490**
**Total**
**68,450**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Charity expenses
**158,600**
Net gains/(losses) on investments
**(29,932)**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
**(120,082)**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
**461,450**
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
**341,368**|Restricted
fund
£
**-**
**69**
**69**
**-**
**(601)**
**(532)**
**58,087**
**57,555**|**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**5,960**
**62,559**
**68,519**
**158,600**
**(30,533)**
**(120,614)**
**519,537**
**398,923**|2024
Total
funds
£
213,343
52,921|
|---|---|---|---|
||||266,264|
||||258,098|
||||9,352|
||||17,518
502,019|
||||519,537|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **BALANCE SHEET 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
|Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Investments
4
**92,897**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank
**248,471**
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**248,471**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
**341,368**
**NET ASSETS**
**341,368**
**FUNDS**
5
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
fund
£
**55,965**
**1,590**
**1,590**
**57,555**
**57,555**|**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**148,862**
**250,061**
**250,061**
**398,923**
**398,923**
**341,368**
**57,555**
**398,923**|2024
Total
funds
£
179,395
340,142|
|---|---|---|---|
||||340,142|
||||519,537|
||||519,537|
||||461,450
58,087|
||||519,537|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 30 May 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:
M W Couser - 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 2025**
## **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|**2025**
**£**
**57,172**
**5,387**
**62,559**|2024
£
47,027
5,894|
|---|---|---|
|||52,921|
continued...
Page 8
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
## **3. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 September 2025 nor for the year ended 30 September 2024.
## **TRUSTEES' EXPENSES**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30 September 2025 nor for the year ended 30 September 2024.
## **4. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS**
## **5.**
|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
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At
1.10.24
£
**461,450**
**58,087**
**519,537**|**2025**
**£**
**148,862**
**2025**
**£**
**55,965**
**320,873**
**(227,976)**
**148,862**
Net
movement
in funds
£
**(120,082)**
**(532)**
**(120,614)**|2024
£
179,395
2024
£
56,566
303,773
(180,944)
179,395
At
30.9.25
£
**341,368**
**57,555**
**398,923**|
|---|---|---|---|
continued...
Page 9
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
## **5. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|Incoming
Resources
resources
expended
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**68,450**
**(158,600)**
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
**69**
**-**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**68,519**
**(158,600)**
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
At
1.10.23
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
445,779
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
56,240
**TOTAL FUNDS**
502,019
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
Resources
resources
expended
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
266,191
(258,098)
**Restricted funds**
Restricted funds
73
-
**TOTAL FUNDS**
266,264
(258,098)|Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
**(29,932)**
**(120,082)**
**(601)**
**(532)**
**(30,533)**
**(120,614)**
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|
|---|---|
continued...
Page 10
**THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
## **6. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 30 September 2025.
## **7. BANK STREET CHURCH**
£100,000 was received from Bank Street Church in the year to September 2024. £65,000 of this was divided equally and distributed to the thirteen NELUM congregations during the year to September 2025.
Page 11
## **THE NORTH AND EAST LANCASHIRE UNITARIAN MISSION**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
|**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 (expenditure)/income**|2025
£
**5,000**
**960**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**5,960**
**57,172**
**5,387**
**62,559**
**68,519**
**72,650**
**259**
**729**
**17,598**
**2,665**
**-**
**13,500**
**37,868**
**11,000**
**81**
**2,250**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**158,600**
**-**
**158,600**
**(90,081)**|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|
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 12