## Fulwood Free Methodist Church
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **also known as FULWOOD FREE METHODIST CHURCH**
## **CHARITY INFORMATION**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **Trustees**
## Stephen Allen
Michael Bedford (appointed 1 September 2025) David Brown David Hamblin Martin Little (appointed 1 September 2025) Gladys Mahachi Timothy Mitchell Andrew Slack
Lucy Sutton (appointed 1 September 2025) Nicola Thorpe (appointed 1 September 2025) Geoff Tomlinson (resigned 31 August 2025) Sara Wright (appointed 1 September 2025)
## **Key Staff**
Rev. Lawrence Davie
Rev. Rebecca Parkinson
## **Governing Document**
Book of Discipline of the Free Methodist Church (updated 2023) Approved scheme of the Charity Commission dated 21 April 1983 and last amended 9 March
## **Charity Registration Number**
514359
**Principal Address and Registered Office**
Lightfoot Lane Fulwood Preston P32 3LT
## **Independent Examiner**
Sarah Crispin ACA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
Page 1
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **also known as FULWOOD FREE METHODIST CHURCH**
## **CHARITY INFORMATION**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **Main Bankers**
HSBC Bank plc 49A Fishergate Preston PR1 8BH
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Charity Information|1-2|
|Trustees' Annual Report|3-7|
|Independent Examiner's Report|8|
|Statement of Financial Activities|9|
|Balance Sheet|10|
|Notes to the Accounts|11-20|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities with Comparatives|21|
Page 2
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 31 December 2025
## **Objects of the charity**
The furtherance in the area served by the Fulwood Church of the religious and other charitable work of the Free Methodist Church of North America in accordance with the doctrines, disciplines and usages of the Church for the time being as set out in the Book of Discipline.
## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements**
To further the above objects and vision, the charity’s main activities and achievements were as follows:
The Church's principal activity is to further its objects by providing a centre of Christian worship, of Christian ministry and of support to the wider community based in the Fulwood area of Preston. It does not define the concept of 'Church' in terms of buildings or services, though it owns buildings and holds services, but rather as a worshiping community seeking to serve God and to support the spiritual and practical needs of its members, the people living within its reach and the wider world. To this end, it runs a wide range of activities from its site in Fulwood, supports other Christian activities within its local area and also supports mission focused organisations overseas.
Charity Commission.
The Church’s many activities are managed through Ministry Groups, each of which is led by a Group Leader. Each group reports to the Board and makes minutes of its meetings available to the Board. While it is clear that many activities are aimed at regular church attendees, no activity is “out of bounds” for casual visitors, and some activities are particularly aimed at people who otherwise have no association with the Church.
The Gatherings Team takes care of regular Sunday services and weekly prayer meetings (generally held at 7.00 am, 2.00 pm and 7.00 pm each Tuesday online). Prayer requests are brought from a wide range of sources from worldwide disasters to individuals some of whom have no other contact with the church. Since September 2015, except during Covid, we have held two services each Sunday morning. The second service is live streamed. An additional service is held on Sunday evenings.
The Outreach Team work to extend the message of the Gospel outside the borders of the Church itself. They lead regular events aimed at people enquiring about the Christian Faith, such as the Alpha Course. The team also plans special events from time to time, which are aimed to be of interest to non-Christians. Volunteers from Fulwood are at the forefront of the Street Pastor initiative in Preston. Along with volunteers from other churches, they work with the Police and local authority staff to provide a presence on streets where problems occur. Currently Street Pastors work in several areas of the city.
The Church also operates a CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Centre. CAP is a national organisation, based in Bradford, which aims to help anybody who finds their debt situation unmanageable. It is led in Fulwood by a Centre Manager, who are supported by a number of
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volunteers, and they liaise with the Bradford Centre, ensuring that correct debt advice is available to clients. This operation from the Fulwood Church aims to help clients living in the Fylde, Longridge, and North Preston. Some clients succeed in becoming debt free.
The Children’s, Youth & Families’ Ministry delivers an energetic programme covering the ages from birth to eighteen. Some activities take place on Sunday Mornings (Energise and Ignite) while others take place on weeknights. The weeknight activities attract many children and young people who have no other Church connection, some of whom go on to become regular church attendees. They also manage the weekly Toddler Groups and a Bump and Baby group that meet regularly during term time. Also, a group entitled “Who Let the Dads Out?” meet every half term on a Saturday morning. All these activities are open to all comers and are managed by volunteers.
The Discipleship Ministry focuses on new and more mature Christians. They are responsible for the adult and youth Homegroups, which aim to supplement the teaching and fellowship presented at Sunday Services. This group is led by a Discipleship Pastor.
The Friends and Neighbours Ministry probably has the widest impact in the area around the Church, working among non-church people as well as supporting Church attendees in many situations. The Wednesday Lunch Break provides soup and a sandwich for up to 80 people each week, including a group from a local care home specialising in people with significant learning difficulties. We also have a Food Pantry that is kept topped up on a continuous basis so there is always something available in an emergency. This FFMC Food Pantry is linked to similar projects run by the Preston Christian Action Network and the Salvation Army so we are able to cooperate with others in and around Preston. It also supports the CAP Centre (see above) as an important additional resource for clients seeking debt help. A weekly activity known as “Inspirations Crafts” attracts ladies from many backgrounds who simply enjoy the sewing and the company of other likeminded ladies, most of whom have no other connection with the church. This Ministry also supports the “Men’s Breakfast”, where an invited speaker addresses topics of particular relevance to men. Another activity is a weekly carpet bowling group. This has attracted a large cohort of new people and now meets in our main worship area as it offers the largest area for bowling lanes.
The Global Partnership arranges support for many of our mission contacts and in particular allocates the Missions Budget that comprises a minimum of 15% of general church giving. The Team also organises VISA (Volunteers in Service Abroad) Teams. These teams visit the various projects that the church supports and undertake various practical activities while there. Another aspect of our missions’ activity is the Kibogora Initiative that supports the work of Kibogora Hospital in Rwanda. It has its own ring-fenced bank accounts and raises funds under the title Kibogora Initiative. The main source of funds in 2024/25 was a gift day at Fulwood Free Methodist Church and regular monthly gifts many of which are through the sponsor-a-bed appeal. Support was also provided for the Free Methodist Polytechnic in Kibogora. The sponsor-a-pastor scheme has continued to provide scholarships for Rwandans who simply cannot afford to meet their own costs. Funding for this is channelled through the Kibogora accounts, as are other specific gifts for the polytechnic. All the accounts have comprehensive local audit. David Hamblin, one of the Fulwood trustees has now retired from being Vice Chancellor but remains advisor to the Vice Chancellor of Kibogora Polytechnic and remains in contact, providing advice and support. Within Rwanda, the Kibogora Initiative is part of the Better Together group that seeks to improve communication amongst the various organisations involved in the hospital. This group includes the UK Free Methodist Conference, the Rwanda Free Methodist Conference, representatives of the Kibogora Free Methodist Church and CAHO (Central African Health Organisation: an
Page 4
American Charity that supports the work at Kibogora). Better Together met in person in November 2023 and January 2025 at Kibogora and members of the Fulwood team attended in person and via Zoom. (There was no meeting in 2024 due to rescheduling of the polytechnic graduation ceremony from November to January that BT members attend). We also receive quarterly written reports from Kibogora describing activities undertaken.
For Sierra Leone, our donations go via the UK based Charity International Aid Trust (Charity Reg No: 1086597); for Rwanda they go to Kibogora Hospital that is regulated and audited by the Rwandan Ministry of Health; and Pan de Vida is an Ecuadorian legally established non-profit organisation with the ministerial agreement MIES 0058 of September 21st 2007, and is also registered as a 501(c)3 foundation in the USA.
Each year we send a team of people to one of the three overseas projects we support. This allows people in our church to see for themselves how effective the projects are and for us to carry a review of effectiveness.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
## Organisation
Major decisions are discussed and approved at Society Meetings where all church members can vote. Non-members who attend the church can attend the Society Meeting but cannot vote. The Board is made up principally of elected trustees. Elected Trustees are appointed by a ballot vote of Church Members at the Annual Society Meeting (typically held in June) or any of the other Society Meetings held at other times. They serve for a period of three years, but there is no limit to the period of service if nominated and re-elected at the end if their three-year term. Additionally, Lay Delegates are affirmed annually. Election requires a 50% majority of the members voting. Nominations are invited from church members three months in advance, closing one month later. If there are no or insufficient nominations at the closing date, the Board is empowered to make nominations as a cooperate body. A Senior Pastor may be appointed by the GB (UK) Conference of the Free Methodist Church. When there is a person appointed to the office of Senior Pastor, the Senior Pastor is ex officio a trustee and is a member of the Board. The Church did not have a Senior Pastor during 2025.
The Charity Scheme allows for the remuneration of trustees when they also serve in staff roles within the Church. No trustees acted in this way in 2025 and none were paid for their services. The Church continues to be managed by its elected trustees. The Board meets at least 3 times per year, and at other times if necessary.
The Board delegates Spiritual leadership issues to the Spiritual Leadership Team (SLT) that is made up of two lay delegates, (Lay Delegates attend and vote at the GB Annual Conference of the Free Methodist Church), plus ordinary members to take the total to a maximum of 8 members.
The Board also delegates general management issues to the Administrative Leadership Team (ALT), some of whom are appointed to a specific role (e.g. Church Secretary, Head of Finance) while others are appointed “without portfolio” and are given administrative responsibilities from time to time as agreed by the Board. The Board receives minutes from both the SLT, and the ALT, who can also pass major items back to the Board for final decisions.
In the fourth quarter of the year the Head of Finance heads up a small team to prepare a budget for the following year. This is based on prudent estimates of anticipated income from offerings, together with expected financial requirements that are related to the overall vision of the Church
Page 5
treasurer also presents (unexamined) financial information relating to the previous year.
The Church has decided to change its structure to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation using one of the Charity Commission model constitutions. An application for the formation of a new CIO is currently with the Charity Commission and is expected to be approved during the second half of 2026. Once approved, the plan is to merge the existing charity with the new CIO, probably in late 2026.
## **Financial Review**
The Statement of Financial Activities is set out on page 9. Total receipts from unrestricted funds during the year were £374,601. Restricted donations of £117,282 were also received and are detailed in the financial statements. Total expenditure was £497,875. The net result for the year was a deficit of £5,992 compared to a surplus of £43,240 in 2024. The charity’s net assets decreased by the same amount, to £2,381,475, of which £2,279,319 were unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose. Net current assets increased by £4,331 to £479,347, of which £377,191 were unrestricted.
from a reducing balance to a straight-line basis. This has resulted in an additional depreciation charge of £21,682, which has been incorporated in the figures stated above and is shown in note 8 to the accounts.
Income is mostly derived from free will gifts made by Church Members and other attendees, some of which is designated to specific causes. This income is supplemented by tax refunds on Gift Aided donations, and occasionally by income from other charities, usually other Christian organisations, or grants from public bodies. The trustees manage incoming resources by a combination of prudent spending within an annual budget that is set by the Finance Committee and approved by the Board and Church Members.
The trustees, by virtue of the regular Board meetings, constantly make judgements and estimates relating to available funds and appropriate allocation of those funds. These are based on regular (four times per year) Income and Expenditure accounts prepared by the Church Treasurer and scrutinised by the Board. Unexpected demands on these funds can then be handled appropriately. The Trustees, through the Treasurer, keep appropriate records that satisfy the legal requirements placed on trustees.
## **Investments Policy**
by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Invested money is split between fixed term accounts paying relatively high returns and accounts allowing quick access but paying lower returns.
## **Reserves Policy**
The charity aims to hold a minimum of £166,000 (which is approximately six months of the Church operating expenditure) as unrestricted cash, so that the charity could continue to operate should income and / or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted cash and cash equivalent deposits of £377,073.
Page 6
## **Key Risks and Uncertainties**
review the charity's activities regularly to identify significant risks and, where possible, they take appropriate measures to mitigate those risks.
## **Responsibilities of Trustees under charity law**
statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
1. select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
2. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
3. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
4. state whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
5. presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and 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.
## **Approval**
This report was approved by the trustees, and is signed on their behalf by:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Name STEVE ALLEN
Signature
S.J.Allen
S.J.Allen (Jul 15, 2026 14:27:13 GMT+1)
Date Jul 15, 2026
**----- End of picture text -----**
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## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD ('the Charity')**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2025 on pages 9 to 21 following, which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on pages 11 to 13.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s 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 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**
Since the Charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity 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.
## Sarah Crispin
Sarah Crispin (Jul 15, 2026 15:06:22 GMT+1)
Sarah Crispin ACA The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
Date: Jul 15, 2026
Page 8
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|Note
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
5
**Total income and endowments**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitable activities
6
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
14
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
14|Unrestricted
Funds
£
325,646
38,187
10,767
374,601
345,897
345,897
28,704
(37,000)
(8,296)
2,287,615
2,279,319|Restricted
Funds
£
117,282
-
-
117,282
151,978
151,978
(34,696)
37,000
2,304
99,852
102,156|Total
Funds
2025
£
442,928
38,187
10,767
491,883
497,875
497,875
(5,992)
-
(5,992)
2,387,467
2,381,475|Total
Funds
2024
£
437,470
38,965
5,301|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||481,736|
|||||438,496|
|||||438,496|
|||||43,240
-|
|||||43,240
2,344,227|
|||||2,387,467|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing operations.
The notes on page 11-20 form part of these accounts.
Page 9
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|Note
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
8
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
9
Investments
10
Cash at bank and in hand
11
**CREDITORS: Amounts falling**
**due within one year**
12
**Net current assets / (liabilities)**
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
**FUND BALANCES**
14
Unrestricted Funds
General funds
Designated funds
Restricted Funds|Unrestricted
Funds
£
1,902,128
1,902,128
17,362
170,000
207,073
394,435
(17,244)
377,191
2,279,319
2,235,908
43,411
2,279,319
-
2,279,319|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
13,520
-
88,636
102,156
-
102,156
102,156
-
-
-
102,156
102,156|Total
Funds
2025
£
1,902,128
1,902,128
30,882
170,000
295,709
496,591
(17,244)
479,347
2,381,475
2,235,908
43,411
2,279,319
102,156
2,381,475|Total
Funds
2024
Restated
£
1,912,452|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||1,912,452|
|||||25,917
170,000
292,659|
|||||488,576
(13,561)|
|||||475,015|
||||||
|||||2,387,467|
|||||2,244,205
43,411|
|||||2,287,615
99,852|
|||||2,387,467|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and were signed on its behalf by:
## S.J.Allen
S.J.Allen (Jul 15, 2026 14:27:13 GMT+1)
---------------------------------------
STEVE ALLEN
Jul 15, 2026 Date: ___________________
Charity number: 514359
The notes on page 11-20 form part of these accounts.
Page 10
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **1 Statutory Information**
The charity is a trust registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales. The charity's registered number and principal address can be found on the Charity Information page.
## **2 Accounting Policies**
These financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of certain assets, which are measured at fair value through the Statement of Financial Activities.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the "Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) ("the Charities SORP"), with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland ("FRS 102") and with the Charities Act 2011. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as set out in FRS 102.
The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (the '2008 Regulations') requires charities to prepare their accounts in accordance with 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005' but this accounting standard has since been withdrawn and has been replaced by the Charities SORP mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The charity has prepared these financial statements in accordance with the new Charities SORP; this departure from the 2008 Regulations is believed to be necessary for these financial statements to give a 'true and fair view'.
The principles adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.
## a) Going concern
The trustees (who are the charitable company's directors for the purposes of company law) have assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have considered possible events or conditions that might cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees have made this assessment for a period of at least one year from the date of approval of the financial statements. In particular the trustees have considered the charity's forecasts and projections and the possible implications should projected income and / or expenditure vary unexpectedly. The trustees have concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future. The charity therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.
## b) Income
Income including investment income is recognised in the period in which the charity becomes entitled to receipt, the amount receivable can be measured with reasonable certainty, and receipt is probable. For the most part, income is generally recognised when it is received. Income is only deferred when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future period.
Income from donations and legacies includes:
- i) Recoverable gift aid. This is recognised when the related donation is received. Gift aid that has not been recovered by the balance sheet date is included as a debtor.
- ii) Donated facilities, services and goods. Goods donated for distribution to beneficiaries are recognised as income when receivable at fair value (being an estimate of the amount it would cost to purchase those items) and such is material. Facilities, services and goods donated for the charity's own use are recognised as income when receivable at their value to the charity.
The charity relies on volunteers to carry out many of its activities. However, in accordance with the SORP, the value of these services has not been included in these financial statements as they cannot be reliably measured.
When donated goods, services and facilities are distributed or consumed, an expense in respect of those items is included in the Statement of Financial Activities. At the year end any goods that have not been distributed or consumed are recognised as stock; donated fixed assets are capitalised.
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## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **2 Accounting Policies (continued)**
iii) Legacies. Income from legacies is recognised when a distribution is received from the estate or, if earlier, when the charity has been notified that a distribution will be made and the amount receivable can be measured reliably.
Income from charitable activities represents income receivable from goods, services and facilities supplied in furtherance of the charity's charitable objects. It includes income from church retreats and other events and courses.
Investment income represents income generated by the charity's assets and includes income from bank interest.
## c) Expenditure
Expenditure, including irrecoverable VAT, is recognised when it is incurred or, if earlier, when a legal or constructive obligation for a payment arises provided that it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
The charity makes grants to other institutions and individuals to further its charitable objectives. Grants payable are recognised as constructive obligations arise, which is generally when the charity expresses a commitment to the recipient that can be measured reliably and then only to the extent that any conditions associated with the grant are outside of the control of the charity.
The cost of raising funds is not significant and has not been separately disclosed.
Governance costs, which are included in expenditure on charitable activities but are identified separately in the notes to the accounts, includes costs associated with the independent examination of the financial statements, compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements and any other expenditure incurred on the strategic management of the charity.
## d) Fund accounting
- General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects. Endowment funds are donations that are retained as capital in accordance with the donor's wishes. The nature of the restriction determines whether the endowments represent permanent endowments or expendable endowments.
## e) Tangible fixed assets
Items purchased or donated for the charity's own use are capitalised when the cost of purchased items, or the fair value of donated items, is more than £250 and the item is expected to benefit the charity over more than one accounting period. Depreciation is charged on a straight line basis so as to write down the value of each asset to its estimated residual value (if any) over its expected useful economic life. To achieve this objective the following rates of depreciation are charged:
|Freehold land|Is not depreciated (because it is not consumed by use)|
|---|---|
|Freehold buildings|Is not depreciated (because it is not consumed by use)|
|Fixtures, fittings & equipment|5% - 20% per annum straight line depending on the expected useful|
||economic life of the asset|
|Office equipment|over 3 years straight line|
|Motor vehicles|25% per annum reducing balance|
The accounting policy for the depreciation of some classes of fixtures, fittings & equipment has been changed from 20% reducing balance to 20% straight line and a one-off charge to write-off the value of some legacy assets has been included in note 8.
The carrying values of tangible fixed assets are reviewed for impairment in periods when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
## f) Leased assets
Leases which do not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the charity are classified as operating leases. Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term (unless another systematic basis is more representative of use).
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## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **2 Accounting Policies (continued)**
## g) Pension scheme arrangements
The charity operates defined contribution pension schemes for its employees. Obligations for contributions to these schemes are recognised as an expense when the liability arises. The assets of these schemes are held separately from those of the charity in independently administered funds.
## h) Taxation
The charity has taken advantage of the various reliefs from taxation available to charities and no tax is payable on the charity's income.
## i) Financial instruments
The charity's financial assets and financial liabilities all qualify as basic financial instruments, as defined by FRS102. Except for loans, creditors and debtors are measured at their expected settlement value (normally the amount of cash that the charity expects to pay or receive). The charity recognises liabilities for the principal of those loans that remains outstanding at the year end (i.e. the liabilities exclude any interest chargeable on the loans in future years).
## j) Exemption from preparing a cashflow statement
The charity has taken advantage of an exemption conferred by the Charities SORP and has not prepared a cash flow statement.
## k) Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement
The trustees do not consider that there are any material sources of estimation or uncertainty at the balance sheet date that could result in a material adjustment to the carrying values of assets and liabilities in the next reporting period.
## **3 Donations and legacies**
|Donations of cash and similar
Government grants (note 3a)
Legacies receivable
Gift aid recoverable
Preston City Council
**Income from charitable activities**
Church events and activities
Community outreach activities
Use of premises
Other income
**Investment income**
Bank interest
Government grants comprise:|2025
£
361,493
6,472
43
74,921
442,928
2025
£
6,472
6,472
2025
£
12,523
16,319
8,715
631
38,187
2025
£
10,767
10,767|2024
£
316,932
-
56,500
64,038|
|---|---|---|
|||437,470|
|||2024
£
-|
|||-|
|||2024
£
15,676
14,710
7,138
1,441|
|||38,965|
|||2024
£
5,301|
|||5,301|
**a** Government grants comprise:
**4 Income from charitable activities**
## **5 Investment income**
Page 13
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **6 Charitable expenditure**
|**a**
**Costs incurred directly on specific activities**
Salaries, travel and expenses
Telephone and utilities
Cost of services
Catering
Childrens & youth ministry
Outreach ministy
Other ministry costs
Conference levy
Repairs & maintenance
Grants payable (note 6c)
**b**
**Costs incurred on support & administration**
Governance costs
Independent examiner's fee
Other
Office and administration
Subscriptions and professional fees
Bank fees and charges
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Insurance
**Total expenditure**|2025
£
182,116
25,871
10,052
8,675
14,642
14,797
39,863
12,098
23,263
331,376
100,073
431,449
4,500
420
4,920
4,076
3,763
1,822
44,233
7,612
66,426
497,875|2024
£
186,768
19,004
12,012
8,574
12,941
15,351
23,221
12,108
19,328|
|---|---|---|
|||309,306
83,016|
|||392,322|
|||4,440
570|
|||5,010
6,624
2,652
1,550
22,705
7,633|
|||46,173|
|||438,496|
The fee payable to the independent examiner for preparing and examining the accounts was £4,500 (2024: £4,440).
## **c Grants payable**
|Grants for UK and overseas mission
Grants for the relief of poverty
The comparatives for the previous year are as follows:
Grants for UK and overseas mission
Grants for the relief of poverty|Institutions
£
90,558
4,000
94,558
Institutions
£
68,736
1,080
69,816|Individuals
£
5,515
-
5,515
Individuals
£
13,200
-
13,200|2025
£
96,073
4,000|
|---|---|---|---|
||||100,073|
||||2024
£
81,936
1,080|
||||83,016|
Page 14
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **6 Charitable expenditure (continued)**
The charity's principal grants to institutions comprised:
|charity's principal grants to institutions comprised:|||
|---|---|---|
|Kibogora
Pan de Vida
International Aid Trust
Frontiers
Message Trust
Safe Families for Children
Cedar House
Preston Street Pastors
Tearfund
Open Doors
Sports Reach
Grants to institutions for less than £1,000 each|2025
£
48,529
13,017
12,013
5,000
4,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
1,000
1,000
-
1,000
94,558|2024
£
37,779
9,792
4,735
-
2,000
5,040
3,050
3,000
1,080
1,040
2,000
300|
|||69,816|
## **7 Analysis of staff costs, the cost of key management personnel and trustee remuneration**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was 8 (2024: 8). Most of the charity's activities are carried out by volunteers.
No staff received salaries at a rate of more than £60,000 per annum.
The charity's key management comprise the trustees and the key staff named on the Charity Information page. Total employment benefits payable to key management for the year were as follows:
|Other
Employer
Wages &
employment
pension
salaries
benefits
contributions
Other members of key management
following amounts were payable in the previous year:
Other
Employer
Wages &
employment
pension
salaries
benefits
contributions
Trustees:
Rev. Ian Winter
46,899
-
3,752
Other members of key management|2025
£
89,449|
|---|---|
||89,449|
||2024
£
50,651
67,973|
||118,624|
The following amounts were payable in the previous year:
Rev. Ian Winter served as the church's Senior Pastor and received the above payments for serving in that capacity, not for serving as trustees; these payments are permitted by the charity's governing document.
Page 15
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **8 Tangible fixed assets**
|Cost or valuation
At 1 January 2025
Additions
At 31 December 2025
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2025
Charge for the year
Additional charge on change of policy
At 31 December 2025
Net book value
At 31 December 2025
At 31 December 2024|Land and
buildings
£
1,820,357
-
1,820,357
-
-
-
-
1,820,357
1,820,357|Fixtures,
fittings and
equipment
£
377,202
33,909
411,111
287,342
21,726
21,682
330,751
80,360
89,859|Office
equipment
£
11,465
-
11,465
9,230
824
-
10,054
1,411
2,235|Total
2025
£
2,209,024
33,909|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||2,242,933|
|||||296,572
22,550
21,682|
|||||340,804|
|||||1,902,128|
|||||1,912,452|
As described in note 2(e) above, the accounting policy for the depreciation of some classes of fixtures, fittings & equipment has been changed from 20% reducing balance to 20% straight line. A one-off exceptional additional charge of £21,682 in depreciation has been made to write-down the value of these assets in accordance with this change in policy.
The original Land and Church buildings were revalued and included in the accounts at valuation for insurance purposes as at 31 Deecember 1997. All additions since that date have been included at cost. No information about original cost is available.
Title to the Land and Church buildings is held by former trustees of the charity as proprietary trustees. This will be amended when the charity completes a conversion into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), which is expected to take place in the year to 31 December 2026.
## **9 Debtors**
|**tors**|||
|---|---|---|
|Gift aid recoverable
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|2025
£
8,190
7,940
14,752
30,882|2024
£
10,815
220
14,883|
|||25,917|
## **10 Current asset investments**
|Cash equivalent deposits
**h at Bank and in Hand**
Cash at bank with immediate access
Petty cash|2025
£
170,000
170,000
2025
£
294,480
1,229
295,709|2024
£
170,000|
|---|---|---|
|||170,000|
|||2024
£
292,546
113|
|||292,659|
## **11 Cash at Bank and in Hand**
Page 16
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **12 Creditors: liabilities falling due within one year**
|**itors: liabilities falling due within one year**|||
|---|---|---|
|Taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals|2025
£
6,227
5,498
5,519
17,244|2024
£
3,594
5,527
4,440|
|||13,561|
## **13 Pension commitments**
During the year employer’s pension contributions totalling £12,030 (2024: £12,315) were payable to defined contribution personal pension schemes. Pension contributions of £1,533 were owing at the balance sheet date (2024: £1,356).
## **14 Funds**
During the year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:
|_Designated Funds_
Development Fund
_General Unrestricted Funds_
Total Unrestricted Funds
_Restricted Funds_
Food Bank Community
Christians Against Poverty
Cedar House
Leaving Gifts
Anna Snalam
Kibogora
Pan de Vida
Craft Inspirations
India
Global Partnership
Kez Watkins
Visa Teams
Safe Families
Other small funds
Aggregate of funds|Opening
balance
2025
£
43,411
43,411
2,244,205
2,287,615
1,359
22,900
43
634
-
43,371
3,081
2,376
1,775
14,367
1,510
7,222
-
1,213
99,852
2,387,467|Incoming
resources
2025
£
-
-
374,601
374,601
-
14,025
98
-
1,606
52,728
9,797
-
-
7,704
-
31,325
-
-
117,282
491,883|Outgoing
resources
2025
£
-
-
(345,897)
(345,897)
-
(18,210)
(3,000)
-
(3,765)
(51,553)
(13,017)
-
-
(28,013)
(750)
(30,670)
(3,000)
-
(151,978)
(497,875)|Transfers
in the year
2025
£
-
-
(37,000)
(37,000)
-
-
3,000
-
2,159
4,500
139
-
-
17,013
-
5,650
4,540
-
37,000
-|Gains and
losses
2025
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Closing
balance
2025
£
43,411|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||43,411
2,235,909|
|||||||2,279,319|
|||||||1,359
18,714
140
634
-
49,046
-
2,376
1,775
11,071
760
13,527
1,540
1,213|
|||||||102,156|
|||||||2,381,475|
Page 17
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **14 Funds (continued)**
The transfers referred to above were made for the following reasons:
- a) Transfer of £37,000 from the **General Fund** to the **Global Partnership Fund** as the church's contribution to supporting partnerships locally and further afield.
- b) Transfer of £3,000 from the **Global Partnership Fund** to the **Cedar House Fund** to fund the church's support of the service.
- c) Transfer of £4,500 from the **Global Partnership Fund** to the **Kibogora Fund** to support the church's partnership with the project.
- d) Transfer of £5,650 from the **Global Partnership Fund** to the **Visa Teams Fund** to support the annual trips overseas.
- e) Transfer of £139 from the **Global Partnership Fund to the Pan de Vida Fund** to clear a year-end deficit. These funds share a similar purpose.
- f) Transfer of £2,159 from the **Global Partnership Fund to the Anna Snalam Fund** to clear a year-end deficit. These funds share a similar purpose.
- g) Transfer of £3,000 from the **Global Partnership Fund** to the **Safe Families Fund** to fund the church's support of the service.
## **Analysis of net assets by fund**
The assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:
|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
Tangible fixed assets
1,902,128
-
Debtors
17,362
-
Investments held as current assets
170,000
-
Cash at bank and in hand
163,662
43,411
Creditors falling due within one year
(17,244)
-
2,235,908
43,411
In the previous year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:
Opening
Incoming
Outgoing
Transfers
balance
resources
resources
in the year
2024
2024
2024
2024
£
£
£
£
_Designated Funds_
Development Fund
-
57,005
-
(13,594)
-
57,005
-
(13,594)
_General Unrestricted Funds_
2,259,679
339,900
(331,978)
(23,396)
Total Unrestricted Funds
2,259,679
396,905
(331,978)
(36,990)
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
-
13,520
-
88,636
-
102,156
Gains and
losses
2024
£
-
-
-|2025
£
1,902,128
30,882
170,000
295,709
(17,244)|
|---|---|---|
|||2,381,475|
|||Closing
balance
2024
Restated
£
43,411|
|||43,411
2,244,205|
|||2,287,615|
Page 18
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **14 Funds (continued)**
_Restricted Funds_
|Food Bank Community
Christians Against Poverty
Cedar House
Leaving Gifts
Anna Snalam
Kibogora
Pan de Vida
Craft Inspirations
India
Sierra Leone
Global Partnership
Kez Watkins
Visa Teams
Other small funds
Aggregate of funds|1,359
20,439
-
634
204
48,384
3,562
2,376
1,775
4,602
-
-
-
1,213
84,549
2,344,227|-
12,163
53
-
7,126
28,441
9,327
-
-
-
9,354
2,365
16,003
-
84,831
481,736|-
(16,702)
(3,050)
-
(8,908)
(37,954)
(9,807)
-
-
(4,735)
(11,376)
(2,355)
(11,631)
-
(106,517)
(438,496)|-
7,000
3,040
-
1,578
4,500
-
-
-
133
16,389
1,500
2,850
-
36,990
-|-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|1,359
22,900
43
634
-
43,371
3,081
2,376
1,775
-
14,367
1,510
7,222
1,213|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||99,852|
|||||||2,387,467|
## **Analysis of net assets by fund**
In the previous year, the assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:
|Tangible fixed assets
Stock
Debtors
Investments held as current assets
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors falling due within one year|General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
1,912,452
-
-
21,060
-
170,000
-
154,254
43,411
(13,561)
-
2,244,205
43,411
Unrestricted Funds|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
4,857
-
94,995
-
99,852|2024
Restated
£
1,912,452
-
25,917
170,000
292,659
(13,561)|
|---|---|---|---|
||||2,387,467|
The **Development Fund** is designated by the trustees for exceptional projects, such as further enhancements to the Fulwood site or church planting in another community.
The **Food Bank Community** a reserve of money that has been given from time to time to provide short term food relief (principally) to CAP clients who need emergency food help while CAP help to resolve their wider problems.
The **Christians Against Poverty Fund** reflects the church's long-standing partnership with CAP. It employs a worker (Linda McGuinness) to work on behalf of CAP with financially distressed clients within the local community. Occasionally, it holds gift days for funds to support Linda’s costs. A surplus is retained in this fund to provide a robust buffer for these salary and other costs in the event of a downturn in giving.
Page 19
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **14 Funds (continued)**
The **Cedar House Fund** supports a counselling centre in Preston operated by Christians but proving services to anyone in need of help.
The **Leaving Gifts Fund** is made up of any money collected specifically as leaving gifts for staff, ministers or others when they move on from association with the church. Any balance in this fund should be transitory as we aim to pay out shortly after receipt.
The **Anna Snalam Fund** supports a previous church member who has moved on to become a full-time Chirstian worker in Wales. The church contributes to the cost of her work there.
The **Kibogora Fund** reflects the church's long-term relationship with Christian work in the Kibogora area of Rwanda. This started as support for the establishment of a hospital and progressed to include the development of a Christian polytechnic. The church supports the ongoing costs of both undertakings, with some of the gifting received being specifically targeted at supporting the training of Christian ministerial candidates, for whom there is no locally available financial support.
The **Pan de Vida Fund** supports a Christian charity based in Quito, Ecuador operating in the city and some other areas around the country. It is a charity registered in Ecuador and the USA. It provides food, health, education and support services to the poor of its region. It also assists people to establish small businesses and to become self-sufficient.
The **Sierra Leone Fund** supports the work of International Aid Trust in Sierra Leone.
The **Craft Inspirations Fund** supports the costs of running craft-based outreach activities within the church.
The **India Fund** has been used to support the work of a partner organisation in India.
The **Kez Watkins Fund** supports the work of a church member who is working with Youth With A Mission in Norway. The church is contributing to the cost of supporting her to do this work.
The **Global Partnership Fund** supports the churchs's giving to external charitable activities that are not part of any other specific named fund.
The **VISA Teams Fund** reflects the income and expenditure for the church teams sent out as 'Volunteers in Service Overseas' to work alongside our partner projects in other countries, typically once a year.
The **Safe Families Fund** reflects the church's support for the Safe Families for Children service.
## **15 Transactions with related parties**
During the year the charity:
- a) received donations totalling £84,592 (2024: £36,781) from related parties (which includes trustees, any other members of key management and anyone closely connected to them).
- b) paid expenses totalling £1,315 (2024: £1,299) on behalf of the trustees in relation to insurance premiums incurred by the charity in respec of indemnity and travel insurance for the trustees whilst carrying out duties associated with being trustees or when undertaking employment duties not connected with serving as a trustee; no other expenses (2024: £nil) were paid to, for for, the trustees; reimbursements for expenses incurred when acting as agent for the charity or incurred when undertaking employment duties not connected with serving as a trustee are not included in this disclosure.
Except as disclosed in note 7 'Analysis of staff costs', there have been no other transactions with related parties during the year.
Page 20
## **FREE METHODIST CHURCH, FULWOOD**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES WITH COMPARATIVES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|Note
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
5
**Total income and endowments**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitable activities:
6
**Total Expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
14
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
14||General
2025
£
325,646
38,187
10,767
374,601
345,897
345,897
28,704
(37,000)
(8,296)
2,244,205
2,235,909
Unrestric|Unrestric|Designated
2025
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
43,411
43,411
ted funds|Restricted
2025
£
117,282
-
-
117,282
151,978
151,978
(34,696)
37,000
2,304
99,852
102,156|Total
2025
£
442,928
38,187
10,767
491,883
497,875
497,875
(5,992)
-
(5,992)
2,387,467
2,381,475|||General
2024
£
295,635
38,965
5,301
339,900
331,978
331,978
7,922
(23,396)
(15,474)
2,259,679
2,244,205
Unrestric|Unrestric|Designated
2024
£
57,005
-
-
57,005
-
-
57,005
(13,594)
43,411
-
43,411
ted funds|Restricted
2024
£
84,831
-
-
84,831
106,517
106,517
(21,687)
36,990
15,303
84,549
99,852|Total
2024
£
437,470
38,965
5,301
481,736
438,496
438,496
43,240
-
43,240
2,344,227
2,387,467|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 21