Glenabbey Church
Trustees' Report
The Trustees present their report and the financial statements of the church for the year ended 30 June 2025. The Trustees confirm that they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, The Charities (Annual Return) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, The Charities (Annual Return) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice which applies to charities Preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015),
The Trustees
The Trustees who served the church during the year were as follows:
Iain Johnston (resigned 30.06.2025) Mark Jones Garth McCartney Martin Spence Ian Thompson
Structure, Governance & Management
Glenabbey Church is governed by a Trust Deed adopted on 13 February 1992.
thanThe Trustees three, nor are mo re sponsiblethan seven. for the overall governance of the church. The number of Trustees shall not be less
Trustee Selection, Appointment & Competence Whena Trustee vacancy exists, the current Trustees will appoint a replacement or additional Trustee. No person shall be appointed as a Trustee who does not hold the basic doctrines of faith as specified in the Trust Deed.
External Audit At the Trustees' Meeting on 21 May 2025, MBS Chartered Accountants were appointed as external auditors for the period I July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
Statement of Compliance with Public Benefit Guidance In setting our activities and planning our activities for the year the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity's purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.
Purposes The purpose of this Trust shall be as follows:
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To proclaim and further the Gospel of God concerning his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and the preaching and elsewhere.teaching of the Christian Faith throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and
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To organise, sponsor and promote the advancement of the Christian religion throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and elsewhere the object of which shall be: - i) To seek to present the Gospel to every creature by every means possible and lead men women and children to a saving Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and teach and encourage them in the Service of God; ii) To produce publish and distribute the Scriptures, Christian Literature, audio-visual aids, films and any other material of a religious nature, provided that the Trustees shall not engage in any permanent trading activity; iii) To aid the Christian Church in all its ministries by specialist services whereby the Word of God is presented so that those to whom it is presented may be led to personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and may be encouraged and instructed in the development of Christian character and may take their place as members and workers in the life of their local Church; iv) To promote thoughtful Bible reading among people of all ages.
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Glenabbey Church
Trustees’ Report (continued)
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To|hold|public|meetings|for|the|preaching|of the|Gospel|of the|Grace|of God|and|for|the|fellowship|and|
|edification of Christians.|
| To assist in the relief of|human suffering and poverty consequent upon the effect of|personal,|local national or|
|international|disaster.|
|There|is no harm associated with the purposes.|
|Summary|of activities|
|°|Sunday|services|
|e|Sunday|children's|programmes|
| Weekly programmes|for bible|teaching,|study and prayer|
| Tuesday night youth programmes|
|+ Friday night youth and children's programmes|
|¢ Community|programmes|
||Missions|support groups|
|+»|Summer|camps|for children and youth|
|+ Summer|trips nationally and internationally|
|+ Poverty relief and humanitarian|trips|
| Monthly club|for adults with learning|difficulties|
| Provision|of creche|facilities|
|¢|Parent and|toddler group|
|+ Renew (Mums’|fitness|class)|
| Monday Club|(friendship|group for over 50’s)|
|* Holiday Bible|Club|
|Beneficiaries|
|The|charity's|beneficiaries|are:|
|The|regular|attendees|of|all|ages|at|weekly|events|run|in|its|own|premises|in Newtownabbey|and|at|other|
|locations|in County|Antrim.|
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People from many countries who access the Bible teaching via the Internet.
Hundreds of children, young people and adults that are assisted financially, pastorally, physically and spiritually through the Charity's partnerships.
The poor and disadvantaged, especially in Ethiopia, Kenya, Chad and Ecuador, who are reached in person by teams sent out each year as well as enjoying financial support. Local young people and adults with learning difficulties.
Private benefit The only private benefit arising in the period was the remuneration of those employed to manage the charity. This benefit is incidental to and does not outweigh the public benefit. Public benefit During the period, the charity has continued to provide benefits from its activities as follows:
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Glenabbey Church
Trustees' Report (continued)
The provision of a Christian and moral framework encouraging people to engage positively with the culture around them and to care for their fellow human beings. Deepening understanding of how the Bible speaks to contemporary culture and guidance as to how Christians can make a Positive contribution to the peace and prosperity of the wider community. The provision ofregular Christian education, helping people to understand, live out, defend and Promote the Christian gospel. The development of individual ability and gift. The engagement and encouragement of hundreds of willing volunteers in practical and spiritual service to their andfellow God human and between beings. humanThe spread beings. of the Gospel of peace, bringing reconciliation both between human beings
The promotion of the importance of facilitation of honest discussion and examination of the Christian faith in comparison with other value systems. The provision of Bible teaching resources in audio, audio-visual and Written form that are used locally and internationally. The organisation of conferences and special events to participants, benefit other churches and individuals. The running of specialist training programmes for leaders and
The encouragement of deeper knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith and its relevance to contemporary society. The encouragement of people gathering together for common purpose, developing friendships and providing help and support to one another. The creation of a safe place for people from all walks ofsociety to hear about, explore and discuss the Christian faith. Significant practical relief delivered by experts to those who urgently need it. The support of individuals within our own community who have suffered physical and/ or financial reversal. The encouragement of an outward ethos of generous and practical compassion. These benefits are demonstrated through: Those attending and benefiting directly each week, the leaders and helpers mobilised each week through various programmes and the Positive contributions ofmembers within the wider community and the effective pastoral care supporting both families and individuals - the Tesources already produced and in wide use, regular training and personal development programmes, active use of the internet, app and social media and high levels of financial and personal investment in the Programmes - large number of attendees at Sunday services, the number remaining after services to talk and interact and the quality and quantity of these discussions and the number of sceptics attending. The generous amounts of financial provision for the needs of vulnerable people in Chad, Burma, Ecuador and Ethiopia and Kenya, and support for local people in financial distress or particular need. The Provisionseeking asylum of languagein our country.classes, Opportunity for social interaction and care to people from a range of countries
There are no restrictions on those who can benefit from the activities ofGlenabbey. Financial Review and Results for the Year The Charity's incoming recourse for the year amounted to unrestricted funds £723,941 restricted funds £101,442 total funds £825,383 (2024: £684,797). Principal sources of funding are from donations. The outgoing expenditure for the year amounted to unrestricted funds £612,781 restricted funds £30,268 total funds £643,049 (2024: £696,563). The net incoming for the year amounted to unrestricted funds £111,160 restricted funds £71,174 total funds£182,334 (2024: outgoings £1 1,766).Leaving a net movement in funds including transfers as unrestricted funds £10,485 restricted funds £171,849 total funds £182,334 (2024: outgoings £1 1,766).
Achievements and performance for the year Systematic teaching of the Bible was held on a weekly basis throughout the year both through services in Glenabbey Church and online. Our online provision continues to benefit those members who cannot attend in person and others from all around the world. A strong programme ofactivities was made available to children and young people to strengthen their faith. We continue to be designated under the Safe Church Initiative. Treland, During the year we provided financial Support to Christian workers in Ecuador, Zambia, Scotland, Bulgaria and
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Glenabbey Church
Trustees' Report (continued)
Financial support has also continued of overseas charities working to relieve poverty and suffering in Ethiopia and Kenya. Our own Barnabas Fund, which was set up to help those in particular financial need, has been active during this year and has responded swiftly where financial need has been identified. We are a member church of Welcome Churches, a network which welcomes and supports those who have travelled from across the world to our locality, many of whom have fled war, persecution and famine. A support group for parents and carers of children with neuro-diverse conditions continues to meet.
Partnership with and support of the following has continued:
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|||||
|---|---|---|---|
|+|Greater Ballyclare Youth for Christ|
| Monkstown|Village|Initiatives|
|+|Christians|in Sport|
|+ Parents and Kids Together,|Carrickfergus|
|°|Street|Pastors|
||Active|Listening|
|+ Model Railway|Club|
| Hope|365|
|+ Hope|into|Action|
|¢|Safe|churches|
||Christians|Against|Poverty|
| Newtownabbey|Foodbank|
|°|Causeway|
| Home|for Good|
|+|Prison Fellowship|
|° Transforming|Lives|for Good|
|* Welcome|Churches|
|e|SPARK|
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PlansIt is thefor intention the future of the trustees to continue the current activities of the charity and expand and develop these as they see fit to achieve the purposes of the charity and to ensure the continued delivery of public benefit as described elsewhere in this report.
RiskRisk is Management an everyday part of the Charity's normal activity. The Trustees have considered and identified the major risks to which the charity is exposed and having taken appropriate professional advice have been assured that adequate systems and procedures are in place to mitigate or manage those risks.
ReservesThe TrusteesPolicyhave established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets (‘the free reserves’) held by the charity should amount to between 2 and 6 months worth of the resources expended which equates to between £102,130 and £306,391 in general funds. At this level, the Trustees feel that they would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in funding; however it would obviously be necessary to consider how the funding would be replaced or activities changed. At present the free reserves (which exclude designated funds), amount to £393,079 and is slightly above the Trustees' target range. The Trustees continue to work towards maintaining their free reserves target.
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Glenabbey Church
Trustees' Report (continued)
Pensions The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme (which meets the requirements of The Pension Regulator as a qualifying workplace pension scheme) for the benefit of its permanent staff and those who are eligible under Auto Enrolment, The assets are administered by insurance companies in personal pension plans and are held independently from those of the charity. Contributions are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
Results Thefinancialresultsstatements.for the year and the charity's financial position at the end of the year are shown in the attached
Reference and Administrative Details
| CharityRegistration | Number | NIC102050 |
|---|---|---|
| PrincipalOffice: | BallycraigyRoad | |
| Newtownabbey | ||
| CoAntrim | ||
| BT36 5ZZ | ||
| Auditor: | MBSCharteredAccountants | |
| CharteredAccountants&RegisteredAuditor 3 High Street |
||
| Larne | ||
| CoAntrim | ||
| BT401JN |
Disclosure of information to auditor Each trustee has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a trustee in order to make themselves aware ofany relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that information. The trustees confirm that there is no relevant information that they know ofand ofwhich they know the auditor is unaware. The annual report was approved by the trustees ofthe charity on 28 November 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
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Trustee
Ian Thompson
Trustee
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Glenabbey Church
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently,
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«observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent,
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- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements, and
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- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
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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 (Northern Ireland) 2008, Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees 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. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable entity's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved by the trustees of the charity on 28 November 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
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aan
Trustee
A Ata fo~
Ian Thompson
Trustee
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