## **Light Church** ## Registered Charity Number: **519135** ## **Annual Report and Financial Statements** (for period from 1st September 2024 until 31st August 2025) Correspondent: **Daniel Belshaw** Light Church 30 St Michaels Road Kirkham Preston PR4 2TQ Bank: NatWest plc. The Square, 24 St. Annes Road West, St. Annes FY8 1RH. Independent Examiner: Wilfred Rhodes Higsons Limited 109 Market Street Farnworth Bolton BL4 8EX ## **Contents** Annual Report Pages 2 - 6 Financial Statements Pages 7 - 9 Independent Examiners Report Pages 10 1 ## **Light Church Annual Report 2025** ## **1. Reference and Administrative Details of the charity, its Trustees and Advisors** The Charity’s name: Light Church (Formerly Kirkham Free Methodist Church) Registration Number: 519135 The Address & Office: 30 St Michaels Road, Kirkham, Preston, PR4 2TQ Names of trustees (Alphabetical order): David John Awde, Elizabeth Louise Belshaw, Damian Broughton, James Parkinson ## **2. Structure, Governance and Management** ## A. Governance of the charity The church was originally constituted in 1983 but the governance structure was substantially revised in a new Charity Commission Scheme dated 9th March 2000. The church is led by the Minister (Rev. Daniel Belshaw) and the Trustees. The Trustees effectively serve the church alongside the Minister, Lay delegate and the various department heads. The Lay Delegate represents the Church at the conference of the Free Methodist Church in the UK & Europe. The Minister and Elders/Trustees meet monthly. The church changed its name to Light Church in May 2015 and all records at the Charities Commission and the Bank have been changed to Light Church. ## B. Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees. New Trustees are appointed by a consensus of the membership. They serve a minimum of one year and can remain trustees for longer unless they wish to step down or the leadership deems their removal as necessary. It is considered that the Trustees and any others who could be understood to be ‘managers ’in the activities and affairs of the Light Church are deemed to be ‘fit and proper ’persons under the terms of the Finance Act 2010. Trustee training is available as and when requested/required. The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefit and have given regard to it in their publication ‘The Advancement of Religion for Public Benefit ’and seek to follow this guidance in the activities and administration of the church. ## **3. Financial Review** Income is achieved through voluntary giving on a weekly and monthly basis by members and non-members alike. The Treasurer, support staff and the Trustees manage and oversee the administration and financial aspects of the charity on a daily basis. They are able to make 2 judgements, evaluations and make funds available to all departments based on the funds within the charity. The Treasurer (Wilfred Rhodes) along with the support staff keeps appropriate records of receipts and payments made to justify the legal requirements of good practice and expectations of its charitable status in accordance with the charities commission. The accounts are subject to a monthly examination by the Treasurer and the Trustees, and by an independent examiner on an annual basis. ## **4. Reserves Policy** The Trustees endeavour to maintain a sufficient balance on current account to cover three months normal expenditure plus a supplement to cover for any emergency expenditure that has not been anticipated with remaining funds being held on interest bearing safe deposit accounts. We hold £25,000 in reserve in the current account. ## **5. Objectives and Activities** The key objectives of the charity are to serve the community of the Fylde Coast and beyond through Light Church and its charitable work in the UK, Europe and Africa. This is done within the support, generosity of Light Church members and under the doctrines and disciplines of the Free Methodist Church in the UK & Europe. Light Church’s activities are: Worship gatherings on Sundays, with kid’s & youth Church (0-14yrs), age appropriate teaching for the youth and a crèche facility running parallel to the services. Team night (all volunteer teams hosted seasonally) Groups (small groups) meeting most nights of the week all over the Fylde Coast Prayer small group (hosted digitally) Elder/Board Meeting Overseas Missions Team meetings Pastoral Visitation by the Pastor and Pastoral Team Community engagement & Social Action Community Care: Loneliness & Isolation Community events Staff team activities & weekly meetings 3 ## **6. Achievements and Desired Goals** ## _Sunday Gatherings_ With regular Sunday Gatherings, we aim to create a space for all to find home. We desire to create an environment whereby people can worship together, grow in their faith and meet other people. We have grown significantly this year and welcomed many new people into the church. This year we have seen significant growth in attendance of our Sunday gatherings, with around 50 new people joining the church and many more visitors. Desired Goals: We aim to continue creating space for more people to attend our gatherings and join the church. We are also aiming to improve the way in which we help new people get assimilated into the church by sharpening up our welcome and joining process. ## _Connection_ This past year we saw a healthy percentage of the church engaging in small groups (8-12ppl). These groups have run consistently and enabled people within the church to stay connected, cared for and known. The curriculum of our groups follows the content that is taught on a Sunday morning during our gatherings. Desired Goals: We aim to launch 6-10 more groups in the coming year to facilitate those new members going the church. We aim to smarten up our pastoral care process to better equip group leaders in dealing with issues. We also aim to better care for our group leaders with added training and more regular check-ins. ## _Growth_ Throughout the year, we continued to invest in the spiritual formation of our church community through a number of key initiatives. We ran Alpha courses at various points during the year, creating space for those exploring faith to ask questions, build relationships, and discover more about Jesus. We also worked to strengthen the connection between our Sunday teaching and our small groups, helping people engage more deeply with biblical teaching throughout the week and encouraging greater application and discussion within community. In addition, we continued to develop our Team Nights, intentionally incorporating extended times of worship and prayer alongside updates, encouragement, and team development. These gatherings have become an important rhythm in the life of the church, helping to cultivate both spiritual growth and a stronger sense of unity as we pursue God's mission together. Desired Goals: We aim to continue running these courses with improved training and planning. We hope to provide more spaces for people to explore their faith together. ## _Building Project_ Throughout the year, we have continued to make significant progress on our building project at Mill Farm, Wesham. Working closely with PWA Planning, we have been carefully and strategically developing our planning application, engaging with key stakeholders and refining the proposals to give the project the best possible opportunity for success. This process has 4 involved considerable preparation and collaboration as we seek to create a building that will serve both the church and wider community for many years to come. Desired Goals: Submit a full planning application and secure planning permission for the proposed development. ## **7. Risk Assessment** The Trustees recognise that in relation to ‘Risk Assessment’, risk is defined as ‘the threat of any action or event which will adversely affect an organisation’s ability to achieve its objectives and execute its strategies’. It also accepts that the term ‘risk ’can include any circumstances that may, or do, have an adverse effect, and is wider than financial matters. ‘Risks ’relate not only to the negative consequences of a threat, but also to the impact of not taking advantage of opportunities. The Trustees recognise it requires a practical Health and Safety Policy covering activities for its worship and associated activities currently being held in Mill Farm, Wesham. This is reviewed on a regular basis. An Accident Book is maintained. The contents and obligations of the Equality Act 2010 and the General Data Protection Regulations 2018 are known and complied with to the best of the Trustee’s ability. The Trustees PCC are aware of their responsibilities in respect of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in its requirement to carry out a fire assessment to identify any possible dangers and risks, to take action to minimise the risks and to create a plan to deal with any emergencies, and also to write up and keep a record of its findings and to review its assessment annually. The Trustees have appointed Helen Broughton and Lucy Awde to be the responsible persons to put these things into operation. There is a Protection Policy in place in respect of children and vulnerable adults. Checks have been and are made with the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly the CRB) in respect of persons dealing regularly with young people and vulnerable adults. The Trustee’s appointed officers for this are Lucy Awde (Lead) and Kat Fawcett (Deputy). Whilst it is impossible to eliminate all risks and their consequences, efforts are constantly made to minimise such occurrences. ## **8.Future Plans.** Building Project – This is a big future plan for us to develop this land and build a place of worship for the community. Outreach – Develop our work in the community continuing to partnering with other local charities and organisations. We aim to find ways to better serve the needs of the local area by keeping our close relationships with the council and providing services to meet these. 5 Gatherings – We aim to facilitate the expansion of our Sunday Gatherings and provide clear ways for people to join the church. This is a large task due to the volume of visitors that we get but it is essential if we are to see growth over the coming year. **Approved by the Trustees on** 19th June 2026 **Signed on their behalf by** THE TRUSTEES **Mr. James Parkinson** 6 Kiikham Flee Method15t Church (Light Chuich). financial ststement5 forthe yearended 31sL August2025. Unrestricted Fund 2024 2024 Receipts Cash Givln& Covenantand GWtAid Givlni Inteiest recelved net In944 135369 2388 Totsl Re￿[Pt5 171944 137757 Payments Admin Exp. & Vi5itini SpeakeTJ Free MethodSst Church Levy GlftslDonatlons Ministries Premlses hlre Salaile5 and N.1.* Equip. ASSErs Offlce General CoJt5 Professlonal servlces et Travel Youth and Klds 5302 6384 4263 7855 6674 34568 76757 65264 154 5587 3428 4154 3724 1729 1041 Total Paymentj 150987 130648 Ex¢e5s of Recelpt5 over Payments 7109 Fund Dalance 66133 Re5tri(ted Fund 2024 2024 Receipt5 Cash GMn& Co¥enantaThd GlftAld GMThg Building Fund Table Top sales Mi555on gifts Total Receipts 21400 56 147375 1667 1932 1220 4297 5745 Payments Admin Exp. & Visiting Speaker5 Free Method15t Church leby Glft5/Donation5 Minlstries 5998 Premlses hlre Salarie5 and N.1. Equ1p.ASS￿s Offlce Genetal C05t5 Profe551onal 5eNl¢e5 et Trdvel Youth and Klds New Bulldlng C05t5 Total Pawnents 6392 39) Exce55 of Recelpts over Payments (REsTRI￿ED) 162615 Fund Balance 12539 Exce55 of Recelpts over Payments (General & Re5ts1rted) 21017 169723 Cash and bank balance at 1st. September 24 Cashand bankbalanceat31st. Auy5t2025 78072 statement d Assets arnl at 31sL W 202& Monetari Assets PEtty 125 2024 (*d iknres Not Ylest 85805 661 2536996 Notwest 11628 11620 9453 85036028 Notwest 1561 1561 35050020 Equals Carth Assoc5ote P4Stor Equals Card P4*toral fxpen Equals Card staff fxpenses Equ4J15 C¥d Gatheflnp Tot•1 126 126 431 431 136 42 99609 70672 PEtti cosh Total Monetari Assets 116x1 1561 695 99609 70672 lkn.Monet•ry Ameli. nd & 513376 519376 l. The 514temenls (rfthe dMwth/th¥lly Iwye been wewed on the l*r*ls Payments bas15. 2. No powwils haye been mide to Ihe Trwtees lor thek Trusleek Expen￿ rAdlke haye been re-knbxsed as requeste Approved by the Trustees on 19th 25 4nd on they beha¥ by *. O•nkn MBE ## **Independent Examiner ’ s Report to the Trustees of Light Church** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 August 2025. ## **Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner** The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; - Follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commissioner under section 145 (5) (b) of the 2011 Act; and - To state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of the independent examiner’s report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## **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 2011 Act; and to prepared accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 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. Wilfred Rhodes: Higsons Limited 109 Market Street Bolton, BL4 8EX Date: 19/06/2026 10