Connect Christian Fellowship
Trustees Report
For the year ended 5 April 2025
The Trustees, who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their annual report together with the financial statements and independent examiners' report of the charitable company for the year ended 5 April 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Connect Christian Fellowship meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.
Legal Structure
Connect Christian Fellowship Limited is a charitable incorporated company governed by its Articles of Association and is a registered charity in Northern Ireland (Charity Registration No. 104970). The charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee.
Purpose
Connect Christian Fellowship’s main activities are public meetings at the Connect Centre and group meetings in private homes for worship, prayer, teaching, fellowship and support and encouraging all participants to engage in altruistic activities in the community. The meetings are open to the public and information is available on the website in relation to the gatherings and other events that the church supports. The church has programmes catering for children of all ages up to school leavers. The church supports individuals and Christian charities involved in charitable work locally and internationally. The church supports joint activities with other churches in the Ballymoney area.
Public Benefit
The principal public benefit is the advancement of the Christian faith through a personal belief in Jesus Christ. The church promotes the application of Biblical teaching for life. It trains, equips and supports people in their Christian faith with the benefits flowing from the promotion of family stability and the well-being for those attending. The public are welcome to attend our meetings which are free of charge and open to all. Through its activities and the support given by the church, people have increased opportunity to contribute positively to society and to address poverty and help those in need of care at home and elsewhere. We facilitate those who attend to carry out acts of social concern to benefit persons in the Causeway and surrounding areas facing hardship on the basis of their need and thereby promote the practice of the Christian faith. The benefits are evidenced through weekly meetings to present the teachings of the bible and the provision of opportunities for Christian response including but not limited to prayer and worship and the building up of fellowship. There are groups for children of all ages up to school leavers. In the various meetings we promote the Christian faith, friendship and care. The church facilitates and encourages contact and activities with other churches in the Ballymoney area. The church’s beneficiaries are those who attend and participate in meetings and activities including children, youth, parents/carers with toddlers and also members of the general public in the local community and further afield to whom the church members reach out.
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Connect Christian Fellowship
Trustees Report
For the year ended 5 April 2025
Many people testify to the beneficial effects resulting from attending the meetings and participating in the activities. The charity also brings benefits to those in need in the local community and abroad through financial and other support of people, and appropriate charitable organisations and individuals carrying out charitable Christian work helping people in need by reason of poverty or sickness and people in need of educational help. Any private benefit flowing from the purpose of the church is incidental. No harm arises from these purposes. Achievements and Performance Total incoming resources amounted to £189,291 (2024 - £215,165) and after deducting total resources expended of £149,884 (2024 - £157,253), which excludes fixed asset investments, net incoming resources amounted to £39,407 (2024 - £57,912). At the year end unrestricted funds amounted to £330,339 (2024 - £290,932). All resources received and expended are treated as unrestricted funds, unless otherwise stated.
Connect Christian Fellowship continued to host public Christian worship meetings and community support groups in the Connect Centre, Model School Road, Ballymoney. Church affiliates are encouraged to participate in community service and charitable activities. Meetings were open to all members of the public, with details being made available on the church website and social media. Connect Christian Fellowship provided financial and practical support to individuals and Christian charities working both locally and internationally and continues to collaborate with other churches and charities in the Ballymoney area on joint initiatives.
Through its activities, and the support given by the charity, people have continued to have increased opportunity to contribute positively to society. The charity enabled those who attended fo carry out acts of social concern to benefit persons in the Ballymoney and surrounding areas.
During the year the charity acquired a property at 34 High Street, Ballymoney, to support its ministry and community activities. This resulted in an addition of £194,579 to tangible fixed assets. To fund the property purchase, the charity received a £160,000 concessionary loan on a nil-interest basis, repayable in ten years. The loan is secured by a legal charge on the property. This arrangement significantly strengthens the long-term capital position of the charity.
Governance and Management
The Trustees of the charity have the responsibility for the operational deliverance of the charity's activities and achievement of the objectives. The Trustees who served during the year are as stated below:
Mark Ballantine William Patterson Paul Paynter
Trustees are elected in accordance with the Articles of Association.
The Trustees have assessed major risks to which the company is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure.
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Connect Christian Fellowship
Trustees Report
For the year ended 5 April 2025
Reserves
The Trustees review the charity’s reserves at least annually to ensure sufficient funds are held to meet foreseeable operational needs and to protect the charity from unexpecied financial pressures.
At 5 April 2025, the charity held unrestricted reserves of £329,739, of which £45,335 is designated for the Connect Centre (formerly the Barn Fellowship fund being renamed in 2025) and £284,404 remains available for general use. The Trustees are satisfied that these reserves _areappropriategiven current commitments, the recent purchase of property, and the strategic plans for future development. Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires that the Trustees prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the affairs of the charitable company and the incoming resources and application of the resources, including the net income or expenditure, of the charitable company for the year. In preparing these financial statemenis, the Trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
eobserve the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
emake judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
*Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the.charitable company. will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Smali company provisions This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
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This “gport was approved by the Trustees at the meeting on 12 December 2025 and signed on
its Behalf by:
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illiam Patterson
Trustee
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Mark Ballantine
Trustee
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