Trustee’s Annual Report, and
Financial Statements
For the financial period ending 31st December 2025 Scottish Registered Charity SC008274
Peter Hall Finance & Accounting Solutions Certified Public Accountant UK 10227712A
Contents
| ontents | |
|---|---|
| Trustees Annual Report | 3 |
| Church Services | 4 |
| Groups and Activities | 4 |
| Missions Support and Giving | 6 |
| Training and Development | 6 |
| Building Use | 7 |
| Conclusion | 7 |
| Finance Report | 8 |
| Receipts & Payments | 8 |
| Statement of Balances | 9 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 |
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Trustees Annual Report
for the period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
The objects of the Assembly shall be:
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to advance the Christian Faith in accordance with the statement of Faith of the Assemblies of God, as approved by the General Council of the Assemblies of God, from time to time and in such parts of the United Kingdom, or the world as the Assembly Council may, from time to time think fit.
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to relieve sickness and financial hardship, and to promote and preserve good health, by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind, through the provision of counselling and support in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world, as the Assembly Council, from time to time thinks fit, and to advance education in such ways and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Church Council from time to time, thinks fit.
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Such other charitable purposes as shall further the attainment of the above objects of the Assembly or any of them.
Trustees
As a matter of clarity, the denomination Connect Community Church is affiliated with, outlined in object 1 above, is Assemblies of God Great Britain (AoG GB). The General Council refers to those who are members of AoG Inc., normally ministers of religion who are in good standing with AoG GB, or duly elected church representatives. AoG GB has experienced significant growth in the UK over the last eight years.
Our Senior Leadership Team are the trustees of the charity, referred to above as the Assembly Council. There were four members on the team throughout 2025. Thank you to Anne for her continued support, though she had to stand down from the role for this season due to personal reasons. We met four times throughout the year to discuss the church’s ongoing work, including finances and governance. Thank you to all the team for leading in the church.
The SLT consisted of:
Stevie Roy (Chair)
Mary Roy
Sams Omale
Stewart Laing
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Church Services
Sunday service is an important gathering for the whole church, from the oldest to the youngest, where ethnic and cultural diversity continue to be a feature, with representation from around thirteen nationalities, including the home nations. Praise and worship, Bible teaching, prayer and personal stories play a significant role in the gatherings. The pastor, along with seven others from the congregation, shared in preaching and teaching. The church was also blessed to hear from eleven outside speakers, all friends, and some specific mission partners. Our congregation has grown by around 30% over the last two years.
Our kids and youth have a separate programme running during the teaching part of the service (normally during school term time), where they gather in ANSWER House, next door. Work among the rising generations remains an important focus of church life. Some are also learning to serve in church ministries through programmes such as Young Lions Juniors, Young Lions, and Young Lions Academy, where they work alongside an experienced person to learn about serving in various ministries, including technical operations. This helps to engender an attitude of service, vital to the future life of the church and community.
Groups and Activities
We aim to be a multigenerational church, so our activities aim to encompass all ages, from toddlers to seniors.
Connect Tots
Meeting on Friday mornings during school term-time, the toddler group is a vibrant outreach, open to all in the community and provides a wonderful opportunity for connection and social interaction, not only among the toddlers, but also among the families in our community. There is always a vibrant atmosphere as kids (and adults) learn about social interaction, eat together and join in with kids’ songs.
Connect Kids
A great sign of growth in any church ministry is that Connect Kids is now led by someone who joined the group in 2012 as a child. Again, the group is open to everyone in our community, regardless of their faith background (or lack of), every Wednesday night during school term-time. The evening is split into two, with primary 1 to 3 meeting first, then the primary 4 to 7 age group. The atmosphere is always lively, with vibrant songs, dances, games, activities and Bible teaching. The group also gets involved in community events surrounding the Civic Week, such as the Galaday, and hosts a free activity day called JUMP for a Day. As noted above, many also meet on the Sunday gathering.
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Connect Youth
The youth group grew over the course of 2025, with young people from both the church and the wider community meeting on Thursday evenings. Again, most of the activities are free, and where camps are involved, some people from the church congregation generously sponsor young people who may need a little support. There is a wide range of activities for them, hosted in the church and in other settings. These include praise, prayer, Bible study (we are seeing a growing number of young people who are spiritually curious and have very deep questions about life and spirituality), games, activities, food and fun nights. There are also a host of activities for them to get involved in, where they can see what is going on beyond their immediate community. Again, some will meet on Sunday, too.
Young Adults
We continued to provide activities for our young adults, normally those who leave Connect Youth and are under thirty years of age. Many have been part of the kids or your work in the past and have gone on to serve in the ongoing life of the church in various ways. Several from this group also attended other events in the wider church community, such as OneGen, The Send and other church events. We still maintain connections with many young adults in the community, though we had no formal activities for them in 2025.
School Chaplaincy
The pastor continued to serve as a school chaplain in four local primary schools, and helped a little in the secondary school. However, various pressures seriously impacted the opportunity to serve the children, families and staff in our local schools as we launched into the new school term after the summer. Baseline activities include whole-school assemblies and end-of-term services. We hosted the Watoto choir, from Uganda, and put on a free concert for our primary schools. In partnership with a local business, the church helped some families who needed a boost at Christmas time, providing (no strings attached) age-specific gifts and a Christmas dinner.
Flourish
Flourish is the women’s group in the church, hosting a wide range of activities throughout the year. These include small group activities, a walking group, Bible study and various other activities such as the women’s conference. The conference was a huge success and again, was open to all in our community, with a faith background or none. The ladies were also involved in fundraising to support mission work in the Philippines. More about mission work is detailed below.
Season Changers
Season Changers meet four times a year on Saturday and help with some of the needs of the older people in the church and wider community. The group enjoyed ministry input from people within the church, as well as other guests. These meetings are, among other
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things, a great social hub, fostering friendship and meeting needs. They are also an opportunity for people from various churches to gather.
LOVE Whitburn
One of our big activities during 2025 was Love Whitburn on the 21st of June, hosted by the Connect Community Church in the grounds of Whitburn Juniors, where almost nine hundred guests attended a wonderful day for all the family, planned to coincide with our Whitburn civic week celebrations.
There was live worship music, testimonies, kids’ sessions in the big tent, activities, inflatables, a free BBQ, and we handed out two hundred and seventy food parcels; the remaining thirty were distributed after the event via West Lothian Foodbank. We teamed up with Convoy of Hope, and the Foodbank helped with the food pack logistics. Thank you to Convoy of Hope for their practical and financial support. The event cost just under £14k (of which COH donated £9k). We saw this as a way to bring some joy into our community.
All of the feedback was very positive. One grateful member of the community said, “It was a great day, the kids had a ball. The event was well organised and much appreciated, thank you.x”
Missions Support and Giving
Connect Community Church has a relentless focus on global mission , which we believe is part of the mandate of Jesus to: go into all the world, making disciples of all nations . We currently support work that provides humanitarian, emotional, and spiritual aid to people in various parts of the world, including Laos, Cambodia, Thailand (working with an organisation called Compassion), the Philippines, Ukraine, Japan, and Uganda. We also supported Open Doors, a charity that aims to meet the complex needs of persecuted Christians throughout the world. Each year, we give 10% of the church’s unrestricted income to support the invaluable and irreplaceable work of the church in the world. All our global mission work is through people we know; it’s relational, so we know that every penny is used appropriately. Also, 3% of unrestricted income goes to AoG GB to further the mission and vision of the denomination. We also made a financial contribution to New Life Shetland to help them open their building on time, and we value their work in the Northern Isles.
Training and Development
Throughout the year, we invited guests to speak to our leaders, though this was open to all, and in some cases, we invited people from the wider community where we felt there could be a benefit. Lee Morrison spent a morning with us discussing the topic of Resilient Living, taking a multifaceted look at health. We talked about physical as well as emotional
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health. Lee’s input was first-class. Alan Nolan ran event training from Convoy of Hope in the run-up to LOVE Whitburn. Elsie & Lyndsay organised our annual Safeguarding training, which everyone doing regulated work needed to attend. Finally, Pete Anderson came to share on the subjects of Humility, Integrity & Longevity in Leadership. All of these sessions were excellent.
Building Use
Our building is used regularly throughout the week, particularly during school term-time, and because it is small, this does not allow us to open it for regular use by other organisations. However, it was used by one of our schools for their Christmas Nativity, and was open to all in their school community, and by our neighbouring charity, ANSWER Project Ltd., for their Christmas Pantomime. We also opened the building up for another local church (which at the time did not have a building) to run their leadership retreat.
The building incurred significant storm damage during the winter, necessitating urgent roof repairs. This was also an opportunity to remedy some roof damage due to wear and tear over many winters.
Conclusion
The church has remained healthy throughout the year. Many have grown in their faith and abilities to serve, not only within the context of the local church, but in the wider community through events like LOVE Whitburn and supporting our Civic Week celebrations. The church has also grown numerically, not only in Sunday attendance, but also in the kids’ and youth work.
As we look ahead, we will continue to be active partners in the community. We see many more needs and would like to expand every area of our work and add new ministries to help engage our community and those that surround Whitburn. As a Senior Leadership Team, we wish to thank the staff and all the volunteers who make this happen week by week, as well as each person who gives financially, of their time, and prayerfully to the work of the church.
Pastor Stevie Roy (Chair) on behalf of the trustees
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Finance Report
Receipts & Payments
For the year ended 31st December 2025
| Receipts Donations & Legacies Other Activities Total Receipts Payments Charitable Activities Total Payments Net Movement in Funds Transfer between funds Reconciliation of Funds Funds bought forward Funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 2025 2024 Notes £ £ £ £ 120,100 120,100 139,245 2 8,044 8,044 1,629 3, 4 128,143 128,143 140,874 143,387 143,387 102,064 7 143,387 143,387 102,064 (15,243) (15,243) 38,809 147,884 147,884 109,075 132,640 132,640 147,884 6, 7 |
|---|---|
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Statement of Balances
At 31st December 2025
| Cash funds Cash and Bank Net assets The funds of the charity Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds |
2025 2024 £ £ Notes 132,640 147,884 7 132,640 147,884 132,640 147,884 132,640 147,884 6 |
|---|---|
These notes form part of the financial statements.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and were signed on its behalf by Stephen Roy, Trustee.
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Date: May 2026
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Notes to the Financial Statements
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.
Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, the charities and Trustee investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by charities.
Financial reporting standard number 1
Exemption has been taken from preparing a cash flow statement on the grounds that the charity qualifies as a small charity.
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Basis of preparation
The accounts have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis in accordance with the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended), and the guidance issued by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (“OSCR”).
The accounts reflect the cash transactions of the charity during the financial year together with the balances held at the year end.
Nature & Purpose of Funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions imposed by donors or by the nature of the appeal under which the funds were raised. The Trustees are responsible for ensuring such funds are applied in accordance with those restrictions.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds which have been earmarked by the Trustees for particular future purposes.
Receipts
Voluntary income, including donations, offerings, Gift Aid taxation recoveries and grants, is recognised when received.
Income from church activities and events is recognised when received.
Bank interest is recognised when credited to the charity’s bank account.
Payments
Payments are recognised when paid.
Charitable expenditure comprises those payments made in the furtherance of the charity’s objectives, including ministry activities, community outreach, pastoral support, youth and children’s work, events, and related operational costs.
Governance and administrative costs include those associated with the administration
Taxation
The charity is recognised as a charity for taxation purposes and benefits from reliefs available under applicable tax legislation in respect of charitable activities.
Pension Costs
The charity operates a defined contribution pension arrangement for eligible employees. Contributions are recognised when paid.
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2. Receipts from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Covenant (Gift Aided Deposits) |
59,971 | 59,971 | 50,921 | |
| Gift Aid returns (Tax reclaimed) |
12,280 | 12,280 | 13,383 | |
| General | 46,527 | 46,527 | 44,012 | |
| Designated Donations | 300 | 300 | ||
| Other | 1021 | 1021 | 379 | |
| Legacies | 30,550 | |||
| 120,100 | 120,100 | 139,245 |
3. Receipts from Charitable Activities
4. Receipts from Groups
| Missions Other |
2025 2024 £ £ 60 10 |
|---|---|
| 70 |
| Connect Kids Connect Youth Flourish Men’s Ministry Season Changers |
2025 2024 £ £ 723 398 4094 59 2940 367 104 287 632 |
|---|---|
| 8,044 1,559 |
Church Total Income & Expenditure
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150,000
130,000
Income Expenditure
110,000
90,000
70,000
2022 2023 2024 2025
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5. Movement in Funds
| ent in Funds | |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Funds |
1/1/25 Income Expenses Transfers 31/12/25 £ £ £ £ 147,884 128,143 143,387 132,640 |
| 147,884 128,143 143,387 132,640 |
6. Cash and Bank Balances
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Current Account | 132,640 | 147,884 |
| Cash on hand | ||
| 132,640 | 147,884 |
7. Receipts and Payments Account
for the year ended 31st December 2025
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Other Equipment
Missions
Gift Aided
General Giving & Gifts
Offering
Church Church Salaries
Income Outgoings
Sources Summary
Building,
Bills & Admin
Ministries
Gift Aid
Reclaimed & Groups
Income Unrestricted Restricted Total 2024
Covenant (Gift Aid & PAYE) 59,971 59,971 50,921
Designated Donations 300 300
Event Income 911 911
Gift Aid Returns 12,280 12,280 13,383
General 46,527 46,527 44,022
Grants (2,236) (2,236) 50
Donations & Legacies 30,550
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| Missions | 60 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interest | 110 | 110 | 329 | |
| Groups | 8,044 | 8,044 | 1,559 | |
| 125,907 | 125,907 | 140,874 | ||
| Expenses | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | 2024 |
| Administration | 2,568 | 2,568 | 486 | |
| Advertising | 500 | 500 | 16 | |
| AOG Fellowship contributions | 2,909 | 2,909 | 7,021 | |
| Building & Maintenance | 5,237 | 5,237 | 5,432 | |
| Cleaning | 2,521 | 2,521 | 2,512 | |
| Equipment | 4,168 | 4,168 | 3,071 | |
| Events | 17,419 | 17,419 | 2,821 | |
| Flourish | 3,293 | 3,293 | 376 | |
| Gifts – Missionaries | 9,350 | 9,350 | 8,550 | |
| Gifts – Other | 828 | 828 | 1,739 | |
| Heat & Light | 4,645 | 4,645 | 4,270 | |
| Insurances | 1,881 | 1,881 | 1,700 | |
| Interest | 210 | 210 | 268 | |
| Legal & Professional | 1,614 | 1,614 | 1,560 | |
| Men’s ministry | 6,917 | 6,917 | ||
| Mileage & Parking | 1,096 | 1,096 | 1,141 | |
| Ministry expenses | 2,589 | 2,589 | 2,042 | |
| Connect Youth | 4,684 | 4,684 | 1,392 | |
| Pension Scheme Contributions | 4,526 | 4,526 | 1,675 | |
| Salaries & Wages | 45,883 | 45,883 | 43,509 | |
| Season Changers | 200 | 200 | 350 | |
| Security | 227 | 227 | 188 | |
| Software | 941 | 941 | 1,655 | |
| Stationery | 70 | 70 | 98 | |
| Subscriptions, Licences & Fees | 5,514 | 5,514 | 2,565 | |
| Sundry | 32 | 32 | 181 | |
| Telephone | 464 | 464 | 461 | |
| Training & Events | 3,276 | 3,276 | 2,117 | |
| Travel & Accommodation | 6,308 | 6,308 | 2,952 | |
| Connect Kids | 1,125 | 1,125 | 1,841 | |
| Young Adults | 156 | 156 | 76 | |
| 141,150 | 141,150 | 102,064 | ||
| Net Receipts (Payments) | (15,243) | (15,243) | 38,809 |
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Peter Hall
May 2026 Fellow Certified Public Accountant UK 10227712A
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