## **BALLEE BAPTIST CHURCH** **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2025** **Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC101764** ## **BALLEE BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT** The Trustees present their Annual Report of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. ## **PURPOSE** The principal purpose of Ballee Baptist Church is the advancement of the Christian faith according to Biblical principles. ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on provision of public benefit and are confident that the Church fully satisfied this requirement throughout 2025 through its activities. Sunday services and the mid-week Bible Study continue to livestreamed and uploaded onto Sermon Audio website where they may be freely accessed on an ongoing basis. Drive-in Gospel services were again conducted on Sunday evenings from 29[th] June to 31[st] August in the church carpark as an outreach. In addition to the ongoing ministries such as Little Sunbeams, Sunday School, SALT, Youth Club and Good News Club a number of volunteers also conducted 4 Day Clubs, Lego Clubs and Easter Clubs at various locations in Ballymena. In July over 300 children attended the Holiday Bible Club. To close the year a Fellowship Choir performed a Canata on 2 evenings in December. A number of Missionary Societies and Christian organisations attended the Fellowship to provide members the opportunity to receive information on their work. Financial support to Missions and Christian organisations in 2025 amounted to £92,181 approximately 36.4% of income. Visitation of the sick, consolation and support of members suffering bereavement continued in 2025 as the Pastor and Church Visitor, together with others from within the Fellowship, sought to provide comfort and support for those affected. In November, Pastor Anderson announced his intention to resign as Pastor of Ballee Baptist Church with effect from 31[st] January 2026. Elders are currently seeking God’s guidance as to a replacement. During the period of vacancy visiting speakers will undertake Sunday Services and Midweek Bible Studies. The Elders will provide pastoral support and visitation as required. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISORS** Charity name: Ballee Baptist Church Address: 166 Toome Road, Ballymena. BT42 2HX. Email: info@balleebaptist.org Website: www.balleebaptist.org ## **BALLEE BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT cont’d** ## **TRUSTEES** The Charity Trustees consist of Pastor, Elders and Deacons. All male members of the Church are eligible to stand for election as a deacon unless disqualified by Statute from holding office as a trustee. Elections to the Office of Deacon are conducted annually at the Church Members Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Church Meeting is open to all church Members. The Church’s Constitution requires a two thirds majority of those voting for the appointment of Pastors or Elders, or transactions involving property. Elders are elected to serve for life, unless they choose to retire or leave the Fellowship. Pastors serve for the period of their pastorate. ## **INDUCTION AND TRAINING OF TRUSTEES** Following appointment each newly appointed Trustee receives an Induction Pack containing copies of Charity Commission for Northern Ireland publications: Running Your Charity. Trustees are also encouraged to access further information available on the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland website. The Trustees in office at 31 December 2025 and the date of signing this report were: |D Anderson|Pastor (resigned 31 January 2026)| |---|---| |K Clinton|| |W Coulter|Church Secretary| |T Gillan|Lead Child Safeguarding Officer| |R Herbison|| |S Irons|Church Treasurer| |G Kernohan|Assistant Church Treasurer| |A McAlonan|| |J McKillen|| |D Mitchell|| |K Morrison|Child Safeguarding Officer & Assistant Secretary| |B Nelson|| |T Nutt|Assistant Premises, Health & Safety Officer| |T Robinson|Premises, Health & Safety Officer| |C Semple|Youth Coordinator & Child Safeguarding Officer| During the year, A Calderwood retired as a trustee on 12[th] March 2025. ## **PAYMENTS TO TRUSTEES** No Trustee received payment for undertaking trustee duties. Payments to the Pastor relate to expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of pastor. Where Trustees purchase items on behalf of the Charity these costs may be reimbursed. ## **BALLEE BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT cont’d** ## **CUSTODIAN TRUSTEES** Premises owned by the Church are held under trust by "Custodian Trustees" whose sole function is to hold the property assets of the Church. Custodian Trustees do not serve on Oversight unless also elected to an Office of Elder or Deacon. ## **ADVISORS** Bankers: Danske Bank, Broadway, Ballymena. BT43 6EA. Independent Examiners: Stevenson & Wilson Chartered Accountants, 22-30 Broadway Ave, Ballymena. BT43 7AA. Insurance Adviser: Kerr Group Insurance 16 Church Street, Kilrea. BT51 5QU. Solicitors: McKervill Neilly Solicitors 1 Broadway Avenue, Ballymena. BT43 7AA. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** Ballee Baptist Church was constituted by a Trust Deed dated 3rd February 1981 as an unincorporated association and is an independent Fellowship with no affiliations to any other Church or Association. It is governed by a Constitution which was formally adopted on 18th March 2011 as amended on 2nd December 2014. Ballee Baptist Church is registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, number NIC101764. ## **MANAGEMENT** The Trustees continued to meet regularly, physically or via Zoom, to discuss the work of the church, and to make decisions concerning the regular activities within the church and also outreach activities. Matters are reported to Church Members via the Annual Church Members Meeting when the Report and Accounts are also presented. Matters requiring approval of a Church Members Meeting, other than appointment of Elders or Pastors, are decided by majority vote. In event of a tie the Chairman of the Church Members Meeting has a casting vote. Approval at a Church Members Meeting is required for significant projects, such as a building programme, prior to commencing any major new undertaking. Volunteers continue to play key roles in various Departments of the Church. It is not possible to quantify this support as much is done behind the scenes. However, many Ballee Baptist Church ministries could not function as they do without their faithful support. ## **BALLEE BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT cont’d** ## **RISK MANAGEMENT** The Trustees have conducted an assessment of the risks to which the charity is exposed and have reviewed systems and procedures to mitigate such risks. Risk assessment covering fire, health & safety and the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults is an ongoing process and is reviewed annually or before any new major undertaking. Two Trustees act as Health & Safety Officer and Lead Child Safeguarding Officer and their Reports are standing Agenda items at monthly Trustee Meetings. ## **DATA PROTECTION** Ballee Baptist Church is registered with the Information Commissioners Office. Church membership records are encrypted and held by the Church Secretary with encrypted backups stored separately. Personal information held, in addition to membership records, relate to the activities conducted by each department and is disposed of securely when no longer required. The Trustees are satisfied that the levels of information held by each department are appropriate to fulfil the need to operate in accordance with both GDPR and the Church’s Child Protection Policies. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The church is funded by voluntary gifts and donations and use is made of Gift Aid and the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme. The church does not seek funds from other sources. Income for the year amounted to £253,080 (2024: £268,277). Expenditure in the year amounted to £256,553 (2024: £294,140). Other than the fee for the Independent Examiner’s review, the Church had no other liabilities or commitments outstanding at 31st December. The Church uses Restricted and Unrestricted Funds in its accounting policies. Restricted Funds are used for money donated to the Church for specific purposes e.g. Missions, Youth Ministries etc. Unrestricted Funds from general offerings are used for all other purposes. Any shortfalls in the Restricted Funds are made up by transfers from the Unrestricted Fund. ## **RESERVES POLICY** A policy on reserves has been reviewed and agreed by the Trustees. The income of the church is stable, and in the event of an unexpected financial need the Trustees are confident that members would respond accordingly. The Trustees are satisfied that a figure equating to approximately two months' expenditure is an appropriate level of reserve balances at the present time. Cash balances at year end exceeded the level of Reserves required. ## **BALLEE BAPTIST CHURCH** ## **TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT cont’d** ## **FUNDS HELD AS CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF OTHERS** Ballee Baptist Church does not hold any funds as Custodian Trustee on behalf of others. ## **SIGNED ON BEHALF OF TRUSTEES BY:** ___________________ ___________________ Kou GW boulter **S Irons** Church Treasurer Date: 10[th] February 2026 **G W Coulter** Church Secretary Date: 10[th] February 2026