Trustee Annual Report and Financial Statements 2025
CONTENTS
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| INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………… 3 |
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| LEGALITIES………………………………………………………………………………………… 4 |
| MAIN ACTIVITIES TO FURTHER PUBLIC BENEFIT…………………………………………… 5 |
| REVIEW OF PUBLIC BENEFIT OUTCOMES FOR 2025…………………………………….. 7 |
| TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES………………………………………..………………………….. 10 |
| INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT…………………………………………………………. 11 |
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2025………………………………………………………………… 12 |
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INTRODUCTION
This is the Trustee Annual Report for Cornerstone City Church as required by the Charity Commission NI. This report relates to the financial year from 1[st] January 2025 to 31[st] December 2025.
This document has been prepared based on guidance provided by the Charity Commission NI.
Signed on behalf of Trustees: - 21/05/26
David Gamble Chairperson
John Loughery Trustee
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LEGALITIES
The church is registered as a charity under the name Cornerstone City Church but is also on occasion referred to just as Cornerstone or Cornerstone Church.
The church is registered with the Charity Commission under the number NIC102984, and with Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) under the reference XR25207.
The principal address of the church and of its office is 40 Duke Street
L’Derry BT47 6DQ
| TRUSTEE NAME | SERVED DURING 2025 |
| David Gamble | Yes |
| John Loughery | Yes |
| Carolyn Smith | Yes |
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MAIN ACTIVITIES TO FURTHER PUBLIC BENEFIT
#1 The Advancement of Religion
Our principle activity and purpose is to provide a Christian place of worship in the Derry/Londonderry area for all those who wish to participate on a temporary or longer-term basis. The direct benefits that flow from this purpose include open public access to Sunday services (including prayer, praise, worship, and Christian teaching), midweek prayer/bible study groups and pastoral services. Additional benefits include contribution to the mental, spiritual and emotional health and wellbeing of members and contribution to moral improvement in society. These benefits are demonstrated through numbers of formal members, and attendance at Sunday services and midweek prayer/bible study groups. The purposes of our charity may lead to harm if people feel pressured to join or stay in our church, but we can show that this potential harm is heavily outweighed by the benefits through the fact that people may choose freely to join, stay or leave membership at any time. The only private benefit flowing from this purpose is payment of Pastoral Church Leaders or other staff, and this is incidental, necessary and integral to the furtherance of the charity’s purposes.
Our church offices are open to all during normal working hours, and our church building is open to all for specific church services and meetings. We deliver Sunday services, midweek prayer/bible study groups, pastoral support, faith-based conferences, worship events, and outreach.
#2 The Prevention or Relief of Poverty
The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include the relief of poverty and financial hardship among individuals and families within the Derry/Londonderry area. These benefits are demonstrated through the practical support provided by the Hope Centre and through community development programmes aimed at equipping individuals with practical life skills and strengthening community connections.
In previous years the church operated a Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Debt Centre providing debt advice and budgeting support. During the year 2024 the CAP manager retired and the church ceased operating as an official CAP centre. The church no longer employs staff specifically for the CAP ministry or for the Hope Centre. However, the Hope Centre continues to operate through a team of volunteers and other paid staff who provide practical assistance and support to individuals and families experiencing hardship.
The Hope Centre provides food parcels, clothing, and other practical assistance to individuals and households in need. The ministry also works alongside other local organisations and partnering agencies who refer individuals and families requiring support. Where appropriate, the Hope Centre volunteers provide guidance and signposting to other services available within the city.
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A significant portion of the Hope Centre ’ s activity during the year was delivered through a programme funded through the PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan for the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. This initiative focused on addressing food poverty within the community by equipping individuals and households with the knowledge and skills required to prepare affordable and nutritious meals on a limited budget.
Through this programme, a series of in-person cookery workshops and practical sessions were delivered. These sessions provided participants with practical cooking skills, budgeting guidance, and increased confidence in preparing healthy meals using low-cost ingredients. In addition to addressing food poverty, the workshops also created opportunities for participants to build relationships, share experiences, and develop a stronger sense of community.
In addition, during the year the church began developing a men ’ s community programme aimed at supporting men from disadvantaged or vulnerable backgrounds. This initiative provides opportunities for individuals to participate in practical activities such as woodworking and general maintenance within the church premises. The programme seeks to build confidence, develop practical skills, and create supportive relationships through shared activity and mentoring. Participants are referred through local agencies and community organisations.
It is difficult to imagine a scenario where harm would outweigh the benefits of these services. Care is taken to ensure that individuals accessing support are not pressured to participate in church activities, and assistance is offered freely regardless of faith, background or personal circumstances.
The only private benefit flowing from this purpose is the development of skills, experience and training provided to volunteers and participants. This benefit is incidental and necessary in order to deliver these charitable activities.
3 The Advancement of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, Reconciliation, and the Promotion of Religious Harmony, Racial Harmony, Equality and Diversity.
Many of the church ’ s community programmes also contribute to this purpose by creating inclusive environments where individuals from different backgrounds can participate together.
The direct benefits that flow from this purpose include the promotion of reconciliation to the public in the Foyle area. These benefits are demonstrated through the numbers of reconciliation or cross-community activities led by or engaged by church members through the church. The purposes of our charity may lead to harm if the staff or volunteers with inexperience in the field of reconciliation were not fully briefed, but we can show that this harm is outweighed by the benefits through ensuring our staff and volunteers are appropriately trained and prepared. The only private benefit flowing from this purpose is training, skills and experience provided to staff and volunteers, and this is incidental and necessary because it is needed in order to deliver this benefit.
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We work alongside other churches in the interests or reconciliation and promotion of religious harmony. Through the Hope Centre we have been partnering with Probation NI to provide a safe space for individuals to complete their community service hours. We also run an ‘I Heart Derry’ outreach week annually providing children’s work and community development/relations activities in different areas of Derry/Londonderry to people of diverse identities.
Alongside the ‘ I Heart Derry ’ outreach week, the church continued to engage in a number of community initiatives which bring together individuals from diverse social, cultural and religious backgrounds.
The aforementioned programmes delivered through the Hope Centre, including a PEACEPLUS funded food poverty initiative and the development of a men ’ s community programme, created opportunities for individuals from a wide range of backgrounds to engage together in practical learning environments. These programmes provide inclusive spaces where participants can build relationships, develop practical skills and experience a sense of belonging and community regardless of their faith, ethnicity or social background.
Through these initiatives the church seeks to contribute positively to community cohesion, mutual understanding and the strengthening of relationships across different sections of society within the Derry/Londonderry area.
We have regarded to all statutory guidance for the provision of these public benefits. The charities beneficiaries for the above purposes are primarily those residents in the Derry/Londonderry area who choose to engage in Christian worship through the church. Wider beneficiaries are the public who use the Hope Centre and its various ministries/programmes, or who engage with our other community activities.
REVIEW OF PUBLIC BENEFIT OUTCOMES FOR 2025
#1 The Advancement of Religion
OUTCOME: Throughout the year we effectively created open access for members of the public to attend Sunday services, which provide a space for people to worship God, pray together and grow in their faith. This is further enhanced by opportunities to join together for midweek prayer/ bible study groups.
ACTIVITY: We held weekly Sunday services that were predominantly attended by members of Cornerstone, but some others from the local area also attended. We also held weekly midweek prayer/bible study groups throughout the year. In 2025 we have seen a continued increase in those from BAME communities attending our Sunday services and engaging with the organisation.
We have also seen a continued increase in those living in financial and food poverty attending our Sunday services and engaging with the organisation.
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IN-PERSON STATISTICS (Approx):
| Adult Members | 150 | |
|---|---|---|
| Children (Under 18) of Adult Members | 95 | |
| Average Weekly Adult Attendance | 175 | |
| Average Weekly Children (Under 12) Attendance | 12-50 | |
| Midweek Groups | 8 | |
| Midweek Groups Attendance | 95 |
#2 The Prevention or Relief of Poverty
OUTCOME:
The Hope Centre continued to support individuals and households within the Derry/Londonderry area who were experiencing financial hardship or food poverty. Through the provision of food parcels, clothing assistance and practical support, individuals were able to access help during times of difficulty. Additional outcomes were achieved through a PEACEPLUS funded food poverty programme which equipped participants with practical cooking and budgeting skills, enabling them to prepare affordable and nutritious meals at home. ACTIVITY:
The Hope Centre continued to operate throughout the year through the work of volunteers who organised and distributed food parcels and clothing support to individuals and families in need. Volunteers also signposted individuals to other services available within the city where appropriate.
During the year, cookery workshops were delivered as part of a PEACEPLUS funded initiative aimed at addressing food poverty within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. These in-person workshops focused on teaching participants practical cooking skills, meal planning and budgeting techniques to enable them to prepare healthy meals on a limited budget.
The programme also created opportunities for participants to connect with others in the community, build confidence and develop practical life skills.
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Alongside this work, the church began developing a men ’ s community programme which provides a structured environment where participants can engage in practical activities such as woodworking and building maintenance within the church premises. The programme seeks to build confidence, develop practical skills, and foster supportive relationships and community among participants. STATISTICS (Approx):
Hope Centre Clients (Households) — 300 (households)
Hope Centre Food Parcels Distributed — 1,000
Money Spent on Food Parcels — £18,976
PEACEPLUS Cookery Workshops Delivered — 6
Participants Attending Workshops — 94
Men ’ s Programme Participants — 25
Men ’ s Programme Sessions Delivered — 105
3 The Advancement of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, Reconciliation, and the Promotion of Religious Harmony, Racial Harmony, Equality and Diversity.
OUTCOME: Our ‘I Heart Derry’ outreach week engages and impacts both children and adults from all sectors of the community bridging potential divides.
ACTIVITY: On the first week of July we host our annual I Heart Derry outreach week. As part of that week, we hosted a kids club, football camp and carried out cleanup projects in a few local communities.
STATISTICS:
| I Heart Derry Volunteers | 60 |
|---|---|
| Kids Week Attendance | 110 |
| Football Camp Attendance | 50 |
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Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities in respect of the Annual Report and the financial statements
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial
statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each 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 the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities FRS102 SORP;
-make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-state whether applicable Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any
material departures that must be disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
-prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website in accordance with legislation.
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