# **ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025**
# **CHRISTIAN BOOKS, DUNSTABLE**
**CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 801449**
Independent Examiners Ltd The Grain Store Hills Barns Appledram Lane South Chichester West Sussex PO20 7EG
## **CHRISTIAN BOOKS, DUNSTABLE**
## **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025**
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Page 3 Legal and Administrative Information
Pages 4 to 5 Trustees' Report
Page 6 Independent Examiner's Report on the Accounts
Page 7 Statement of Financial Activities
Page 8 Balance Sheet
Pages 9 to 12 Notes to the Accounts
**----- End of picture text -----**
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## **CHRISTIAN BOOKS, DUNSTABLE**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
## **CHARITY NUMBER**
## **START OF FINANCIAL YEAR**
## **END OF FINANCIAL YEAR**
## **TRUSTEES AT 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **GOVERNING INSTRUMENT**
## **OBJECTS**
## **CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS**
## **BANKERS**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER**
801449 01 January 2025 31 December 2025 C Wade _(Chair)_ S Woodruff _(Appointed 21.10.2025)_ C Brown _(Appointed 21.10.2025)_ R Andrews J Coleman C Norman D Woodruff
DECLARATION OF TRUST DATED 20TH MARCH 1989 as amended on 16 Sep 2019
TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN PARTICULAR BUT WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING BY SELLING AND DISTRIBUTING CHRISTIAN LITERATURE AND OTHER RELIGIOUS ARTICLES.
Christian Books St. Marys Gate Dunstable LU6 3SW
Lloyds Bank PLC 25 Gresham Street London EC2V 7HN
Lomax Pavey MAAT Independent Examiners Ltd The Grain Store Appledram Lane South Chichester West Sussex PO20 7EG
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## **CHRISTIAN BOOKS, DUNSTABLE**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025**
The trustees present their report on the accounts of Christian Books, Dunstable (registered charity number 801449) for the year ended 31st December 2025.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
Christian Books, Dunstable is registered with the Charity Commission. It is managed by its trustees.
New trustees are recommended and appointed by the existing trustees, with approval by members of Dunstable Baptist Church, in accordance with the charity’s constitution.
All the trustees have been briefed on the legal set up of the charity and its constitution and are aware of their obligations and responsibilities through Charity Commission publications. All trustees have completed fit and proper persons and conflicts of interest declarations.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The objects of the charity are:
- To advance the Christian faith by promoting the reading of Christian books and literature
- To be a ministry of Dunstable Baptist Church, including an evangelistic outreach
The charity will engage in activities to achieve these objectives. The trustees have considered the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and are firmly of the view that all its objectives and activities are for the public benefit.
## **Achievements and Performance**
2025 was a year of financial consolidation, with steady monthly sales. There was an increase in both footfall in the shop’s customers, and also in online sales, via the shop’s website. The shop was able to operate bookstalls at a number of external conferences and events, such as at the Carey Conference, London Seminary and the Grace Baptist Partnership Conference. In addition, bookstalls were also held at a number of Christmas fairs at numerous churches. In terms of evangelism, staff working in the shop were able to have numerous conversations with customers throughout the year; which included inviting them to church services at Dunstable Baptist Church. A financial gift was received from a Christian bookshop which closed in nearby Luton. Two further trustees were appointed, meaning there are now seven trustees (the maximum permitted in the Constitution is eight).
## **Financial Review**
The charity was chiefly funded in the period by sales of its stock; both in the bookshop premises itself at Dunstable, but also from online sales, and sales at bookstalls at conferences and churches, such as at Christmas fairs. The trustees regularly review likely income and expenses and have established a reserves policy, set out below. The cash balances held at the end of the year are considered adequate given likely expenditures in 2026.
## **Risk Assessment**
The trustees have identified the major risks to which they believe the charity is exposed and systems have been established to minimise these risks. The risks are formally reviewed, as appropriate, at each trustees’ meeting. The principal risks relate to the building and to the activities carried out in the building.
## **Reserves Policy**
Reserves are subject to regular review, and are intended to provide for at least six months’ commitments following a catastrophic loss of regular income. During this period, efforts would be made to replace the lost income. If ever the reserves fall below £ 5000, this would trigger the need for the trustees to meet and discuss the viability of the charity.
## **Public Benefit**
The charity acknowledges its requirement to demonstrate clearly that it must have charitable purposes or ‘aims’ that are for the public benefit. Details of how the charity has achieved this are provided in the Trustees report. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
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## **CHRISTIAN BOOKS, DUNSTABLE**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025**
Report to the trustees/members of Christian Books, Dunstable on the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2025.
## **Respective responsibilities of 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 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 the 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 Charities Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities 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.
...........................................................................................
Lomax Pavey MAAT Independent Examiners Ltd The Grain Store Appledram Lane South Chichester West Sussex PO20 7EG
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## **CHRISTIAN BOOKS, DUNSTABLE**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025**
|**Notes**
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
Donations and Legacies
**3a**
Income from Charitable Activities
**3b**
**TOTAL INCOME**
**EXPENSES**
Charitable Activities
**4a**
Governance Costs
**4b**
**TOTAL EXPENSES**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENSES)**
Balances Brought Forward
**BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD**|Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Funds
Funds
**2025**
**2024**
£
£
**£**
**£**
4,720
-
4,720
350
33,422
-
33,422
30,356|
|---|---|
||**38,142**
**-**
**38,142**
**30,706**|
||31,976
-
31,976
35,120
1,872
-
1,872
1,756|
||**33,848**
**-**
**33,848**
**36,876**|
|||
||**4,294**
**-**
**4,294**
**(6,170)**
24,586
-
24,586
30,756|
||**28,880**
**-**
**28,880**
**24,586**|
Movements on all reserves and all recognised gains and losses are shown above. All the organisation's operations are classed as continuing.
The notes on pages 9 to 12 form part of these financial statements.
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##
##
|||U n rest ri cted Restricted Iota I Total|U n rest ri cted Restricted Iota I Total|
|---|---|---|---|
|||Fund Fund|31 -De€125 31 -Deel24|
|||££££||
|Asses|Notes|||
|Tangible Fixed Afsets|2|||
|CurrentAssets||||
|Stock|||19,982 16,549|
|Debtors & Prepayments|||834 40|
|Cash at bank and in hand|||9,382 8,670|
|Total Cu rrent Assets||30,198|- 30,198 25,259|
|Creditors: amounts falling due within one year|||1,318 1,273|
|NETCuRRENTASSEIS|||28,880 23,986|
|TOTAL ASSETS less current liabilities||28,880|28,880 24,586|
|Creditors: amounts falling due in morethan one year|10|||
|NETASSETS||28,880|- 28,880 24,586|
|FUNDS oF THE CHARirv||||
|General Funds||28,880|28,880 24,586|
|Restricted funds||||
|TOTAL FUNDS||28,880|- 28,880 24,586|
## **CHRISTIAN BOOKS, DUNSTABLE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year.
## **Basis of preparation:**
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes. They have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) – second edition (October 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Charities Act 2011.
The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
## **Assessment of Going Concern**
Preparation of the accounts is on a going concern basis. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
## **Recognition of Incoming Resources**
These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when:
· the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
· the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and
- the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## **Incoming Resources with Related expenditure**
Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income) the incoming resources and related expenditure are
## **Grants and Donations**
Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
## **Gift Aid**
The charity claims Gift Aid on eligible donations. Gift Aid receivable is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to it and its receipt is probable, normally at the same time as the related donation.
## **Volunteer Help**
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts and is described in the Trustees' Report.
## **Stock**
Stock held for resale is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Provision is made for slow-moving, damaged or obsolete items.
## **Debtors**
Short-term debtors are measured at transaction price less any impairment.
## **Creditors and Financial Instruments**
Short-term creditors are measured at the settlement amount. The charity holds only basic financial instruments, which are measured at transaction value.
## **Value Added Tax (VAT)**
The charity is registered for VAT. Income and expenditure are stated net of recoverable VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the relevant expense.
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## **CHRISTIAN BOOKS, DUNSTABLE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)**
## **Expenditure and Liabilities**
## **Liability Recognition**
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
## **Governance Costs**
Include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of the trustees meetings and cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.
## **Pensions**
Pension contributions are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as they become payable.
## **Fund Accounting**
Funds held by the charity are either:
## **1. Unrestricted funds**
These are funds which can be used in accordance with the charity's objectives, at the discretion of the trustees.
## **2. Restricted funds**
These are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity.
## **3. Designated funds**
These funds are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific purposes or projects.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **Fixed Assets**
Fixed Assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year and cost at least £1,500. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, at the value to the charity on receipt.
## **Depreciation Expense**
Depreciation is calculated at a rate to write off the cost of tangible fixed assets on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives. The rates applied per annum as are follows:
Fixtures, Fitting & Equipment 25% Straight Line Basis
## **2. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible fixed assets with a net book value of £600 were included in the prior year accounts. Supporting records, including an asset register, original cost and depreciation schedule, had been lost and were not available to substantiate these items. The net book value is below the charity's capitalisation threshold, and the assets have been written off in full during the year. No tangible fixed assets are held at the year end.
|**3. INCOMING RESOURCES**
Note
**b) Income from Charitable Activities**
Sales
Shipping Charges
Donations and Gifts
**a) Donations & Legacies**|Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Funds
Funds
**2025**
**2024**
£
£
**£**
**£**
4,720 -
4,720
350|
|---|---|
||**4,720**
**-**
**4,720**
**350**|
||33,228 -
33,228
30,356
194 -
194
-|
||**33,422**
**-**
**33,422**
**30,356**|
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## **CHRISTIAN BOOKS, DUNSTABLE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025**
|**4. EXPENDITURE**
Note
Purchases – Books & Stock
Salaries Wages & Pension Fund
**11**
Bookshop Insurance
Heating, Lighting, Electricity
Rates & Council Tax
Repairs and Maintenance
Conference Events Travel
Office & Postage Costs
Telephone & Broadband
Stationery
Licenses and Subscriptions
Equipment Hire
Shopify Subscription (EPOS)
Lloyds Bank Charges
Booksellers Association
QuickBooks charges
Shopify Sales Commission (Fees)
Depreciation/Write Off
**2**
Release of prior year accrual
**9,13**
Accountancy & Professional Fees
Independent Examiner's Fee
Other Professional Services
**5. STOCK**
Goods for Resale
**b) Governance Costs**
**a) Costs of Charitable Activities**|Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Funds
Funds
**2025**
**2024**
£
£
**£**
**£**
17,503 -
17,503
17,064
9,999 -
9,999
12,671
349 -
349
238
1,270 -
1,270
1,725
265 -
265
135
- -
-
355
170 -
170
66
578 -
578
747
458 -
458
242
290 -
290
216
40 -
40
157
- -
-
440
345 -
345
-
705 -
705
864
48 -
48
-
121 -
121
-
508 -
508
-
600 -
600
200
(1,273) -
(1,273)
-|
|---|---|
||**31,976**
**-**
**31,976**
**35,120**|
||430
-
430
1,756
1,067
-
1,067
-
375
-
375
-|
||**1,872**
**-**
**1,872**
**1,756**|
||Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Funds
Funds
**31-Dec-25**
**31-Dec-24**
£
£
**£**
**£**
19,982
-
19,982
16,549|
||**19,982**
**-**
**19,982**
**16,549**|
## **6. RESTRICTED FUNDS**
The charity held no restricted funds during this or the previous financial period.
|**7. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND**
Current Account Lloyds
Petty Cash|Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Funds
Funds
**31-Dec-25**
**31-Dec-24**
£
£
**£**
**£**
9,286
-
9,286
8,574
96
-
96
96|
|---|---|
||**9,382**
**-**
**9,382**
**8,670**|
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## **CHRISTIAN BOOKS, DUNSTABLE**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2025**
## **8. DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS**
|Shopify Clearing & Pending Balances
Sundry Debtors
**8. DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS**|Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Funds
Funds
**31-Dec-25**
**31-Dec-24**
£
£
**£**
**£**
834
-
834
-
-
-
-
40|
|---|---|
||**834**
**-**
**834**
**40**|
|Sundry Creditors
Independent Examiner's fee
VAT Liabilities
Gift Card Liabilities
**9. CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE**
**YEAR**|Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Funds
Funds
**31-Dec-25**
**31-Dec-24**
£
£
**£**
**£**
-
-
-
1,273
1,067
-
1,067
-
211
-
211
-
40
-
40
-|
|---|---|
||**1,318**
**-**
**1,318**
**1,273**|
## **10. CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS AMOUNTS FALLING DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR**
The Charity held no long term liabilities during this or the previous financial period.
|**11. STAFF COSTS**
Gross Wages and Salaries
Employer's National Insurance Costs
Pension Contributions|**TOTAL**
**2025**
9,999
-
-|
|---|---|
||**9,999**|
The average number of employees during the year was: 1 (2024 - 1)
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000. (2024 - None)
## **12. TRUSTEES AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES**
No payments were made to trustees or any persons connected with them during this financial period. No other material transaction took place between the organisation and a trustee or any person connected with them.
## **13.PRIOR YEAR INCOME RECOGNITION**
The figures reported in prior years reflected income net of the cost of purchases. In these accounts, income and expenditure are reported gross, in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102). Total income and total expenditure are therefore higher than figures reported in prior periods, with no change to net income/(expenditure) or total funds.
## **14. COMPARATIVE INFORMATION**
Reliable accounting records for periods prior to the year ended 31 December 2025 had been lost and were not available. During 2025 a new accounting system was established and the charity's transactions for the year were reconstructed from bank statements and other available records.
The comparative figures have been taken in good faith from the charity's published accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024, with bank balances agreed to bank statements. The remaining opening balances could not be independently verified.
In the absence of supporting records, two prior year balances have been written off during the year: office equipment of £600 (Note 2), and sundry creditors of £1,273, no corresponding liability having been identified or carried into the current year's records. These amounts are not considered material and the prior year figures have not been restated.
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