The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 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 the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable 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 2019).
Frontline Trust is a registered charity originally constituted under a Declaration of Trust dated 9 June 1992. In May 2005 Frontline Trust was incorporated as a Private Company Limited by Guarantee, which is also a Registered Charity. The new company took over all assets, liabilities and activities of the former Trust on 1 September 2005.
An introduction to Frontline Church:
Our vision statement is ‘sharing the hope of Jesus’. This vision speaks of our desire to play our part in building God’s kingdom, particularly in Liverpool, by sharing the good news of Jesus and meeting practical needs. We aim to do this centrally as an organisation and through equipping, supporting and encouraging our members to do this wherever they are, in their workplaces, schools, universities, social spaces and more.
Within this vision is the recognition that each person that we meet is an individual, made in the image of God, with their own life journey. We believe that the good news about Jesus represents good news for all – accordingly, our priority is to welcome, accept and offer support to people wherever we can, irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious background or other irrelevant factors. We aspire to God’s standards of purity and holiness and teach these accordingly, whilst also recognising that no one is perfect, and Jesus died that our sins might be forgiven.
We are called ‘Frontline Church’ because we feel called to join in with God on the ‘frontline’ of what He is doing in our city.
Frontline Church was founded in 1992 by the merging of two small congregations. Since then it has grown from about 60 members into a community of around 700 men, women and children. It is a church with a big heart and big vision. The primary administration base is located at Frontline Centre, 147 Lawrence Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, L15 3HA, in what was previously a Territorial Army barracks and a Post Office engineering centre. This has been Frontline’s base since 1996 and the facilities have served us well over the years.
It has always been our desire to have a transforming influence in the whole of the Liverpool City Region and we now have a network of Churches and leaders that have been planted from Frontline and/or are supported by Frontline. Frontline Toxteth has developed over two decades, impacting local communities and raising up new indigenous leaders. CROWD Church launched during the Covid pandemic to connect with an online community. As well as a Sunday gathering, these church plants are built on smaller groups looking for opportunities to connect with and serve the local community they are part of. In addition, we also have demographically focused plants for whom English is not their first language. We currently have two such established church plants - a Polish church plant and an Iranian church plant. We also provide leadership support and resourcing to West Derby Neighborhood Church.
As well as focusing on our own localities, we work with other churches and agencies across Liverpool and beyond. Our longing is to be a transforming community within our own region and a model of what can be achieved in other parts of the UK and overseas.
Objectives and activities:
The objects of Frontline Trust are:
To advance the Christian Faith
To relieve poverty, hardship, sickness and distress
To advance education and promote learning and training
To provide and maintain facilities for the benefit of the community
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
Objectives reflecting the stated aims above are translated into our core activities, as outlined below.
To advance the Christian faith
Our mission is to build a vibrant church of wholehearted Christ followers who are committed to unlimited growth and influence. We have a congregation of around 700 adults and children within the church community who share this vision and purpose. Frontline has a deep-rooted mentoring ethos and we are committed to empowering our members to reach their full potential and to demonstrate their Christian values in everyday life.
Through a wide range of activities, including Christian outreach, worship, prayer, Holy Spirit ministry, teaching and personal discipleship, we see men, women and children being given a new sense of their value as human beings who are loved by God. Their lives take on a new sense of purpose as they are motivated to seek and pursue their unique destiny, strengthened and transformed through a personal relationship with Jesus and by being part of a community of believers who share a common faith and vision.
To relieve poverty, hardship, sickness and distress
Over recent years our primary activity to relieve poverty, hardship, sickness and distress has been to invest heavily in the work of Imagine If Trust. We continue to do this through providing grant funding, management services and support facilities to Imagine If Trust.
Imagine If Trust runs a variety of projects including:
Sticky Fingers Playgroup – a carer and toddler group.
The Zone – an after-school youth hub for children in the local area in years 3-9.
Love Congo – providing skills and resources to the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Sticky Fingers Nursery – a day nursery offering places to local children aged 2-4.
Genesis Housing – offering supported living to those who were previously homeless.
Food Hub – providing low-cost food to those on a restricted budget.
Forever Young – a weekly group combating isolation among older people.
Safe Families – support for families at risk of falling into the care system.
In addition to the support we provide to Imagine If Trust, we are also developing church programmes that make a contribution towards meeting this objective. We have a Pastoral Care department whose aim is support individuals during difficult times and seasons. This can take the form of practical support such as food shopping, meal rotas or emotional support.
We also partner and provide meeting space for the debt counselling agency of Freedom Church.
To advance education and promote learning and training
Lifelong learning is an implicit part of the Frontline ethos, and this is reflected in the mentoring system within the church and through our Sunday teachings, which are relevant to people’s daily lives.
In addition, several of the projects run by Imagine If Trust promote learning or deliver training programmes.
To provide and maintain facilities for the benefit of the community
Since purchasing our current building, we have always sought to utilise the facilities in furtherance of our objectives and for the benefit of the community. Around 400 people visit our Wavertree facility for a service each Sunday. In addition, over 300 carers and children use the building during the week through the Sticky Fingers project, whilst the FoodHub sessions, held twice a week, see around 80 people who find friendship and community whilst choosing their shopping. The Zone, run by Imagine If trust and staffed by volunteers from the church, sees up to 65 children a week.
We also provide facilities for community training courses and make facilities available to other agencies and community groups, such as providing rooms for council run training sessions.
Other community activities that are hosted in the Frontline Centre include twice weekly Foodbank sessions, birthday parties, events promoting fostering and adoption, and family fun days.
Our partners:
We would like to offer our thanks to all the organisations and individuals who have supported us in our work this year, including all of our church members, volunteers, donors and sponsors. Everything Frontline has achieved this year has been reliant on your valuable contributions, in all their various forms. Thank you!
Church:
A significant focus of the year was the continued transition of leadership. In April 2024 we had transitioned the senior leadership of the church to two Lead Pastors and a process of listening and planning had started. This year saw a great deal of reshaping started, including a new vision statement and accompanying values, the start of a brand refresh, changes in our Sunday services and planning for future social action.
On a Sunday we run church services in the Wavertree building and this provides an opportunity for people to meet others, worship together, and provide teaching and encouragement, which enables people to grow and develop in their thinking and understanding of the Christian faith. Additionally, these services are an opportunity for those who are developing new skills, to be trained and mentored in areas such as team leadership, preaching, worship leading, etc.
The Polish and Iranian services continue to meet and serve their members. Frontline Toxteth has continued to develop into multiple prayer houses in the local community, now reaching beyond Toxteth where it started. CROWD Church launched during Covid pandemic, as an online Church and continues to develop and grow its significant reach with a weekly online service and discipleship groups.
Throughout the year the church has continued to develop our mid-week small groups, now called Life Groups. We have around 18 separate mid-week groups with around 230 people participating in them. These diverse groups aim to support people in their faith and pastorally. They are an essential part of the church’s ministry to its members. In addition, and line with our objective of advancing the Christian faith, these community groups encourage and support members as they seek to communicate their faith to others, throughout their daily lives.
Liverpool has a large student population and Frontline Church has a long history of seeking to connect with and serve those coming to the city to study. Many of the key church leaders today were themselves first introduced to Frontline when they came to Liverpool as students. We have continued to prioritise connecting with students and young adults and welcoming them into the church.
We have continued our partnership with Kairos Connexions (KX). This is a network of churches in the UK and further afield who carry similar core vision and values and are looking to develop Missional Communities as a central aspect of their strategy for growth. We believe the wider connection with KX churches brings strength to Frontline, particularly through the opportunity to participate in learning communities, share best practice and access respected teachers, as well as offering the opportunity for us to support and encourage other churches in the UK.
Projects and ministries:
Our Christian ethos is the motivation for investing into and supporting people regardless of religion, gender, sexual orientation or race. Our objectives speak of our priority to see the transformation of people and places by the practical impact of our Christian faith.
In pursuit of this, in 2012 we supported the establishment of a new independent charity, Imagine If Trust, to act as an umbrella organisation for the development of social transformation projects. Imagine If Trust has a separate board of trustees and is free to develop in pursuit of its own priorities. Frontline, however, continues to be a major supporter. During the year Frontline Trust made grants of £36,396 to Imagine If Trust (2024: £41,320) as well as providing office space and resources for the charity’s staff, and the use of the building and its resources as a centre for the charity’s outreach to the local community as described earlier. This in kind support equates to a similar amount as the grants. Frontline also supported over 45 church members to give their skills and time by volunteering for Imagine If Trust projects.
As well as supporting Imagine If Trust projects, Frontline is developing other initiatives that meet the objective of seeing transformation in the people and places around us.
Over the last ten years we have partnered with the Hope Foundation to host a Christmas lunch at the Frontline building for those who are homeless or isolated. Through an amazing team of over 30 volunteers, we were able to host over 200 people on Christmas day. Our thanks to the volunteers and various partners for the enormous generosity that enabled this event to happen.
Overseas:
Part of our core values is to see the same transformation in other nations that we are working towards in Liverpool. This predominately expresses itself in us sending individuals to other nations and giving financially to invest in various situations around the world. Over the last year most of those living and working overseas were able to come back and visit Frontline to share their work. This profile encourages the church to support them and even consider spending some time overseas themselves. We held a conference for these individuals in July 2025 to enable to them to encourage each other and to receive support from the church. Throughout the year we also support them utilising digital technology.
During the year we supported 17 people who are working in six different countries. While each overseas worker has different opportunities, they all look to bring transformation to the people and places with whom and in which they are living. Some do this primarily through engaging with those in the workplace and others are more publicly hosting meetings and planting churches. We count it as a privilege to have connection with men and women who want to invest their lives in this way.
Volunteering:
The best way to feel part of a large church is to get involved through volunteering. At Frontline we seek to offer relevant and fulfilling opportunities to our members to volunteer in pursuit of our vision to ‘share the hope of Jesus’.
During the year around 180 members of Frontline volunteered in some capacity. Roles included leading Life Groups, stewarding in services, assisting with children’s ministry, providing hospitality, and many more. Through these practical acts of service Frontline members get to contribute their gifts and also get the benefits of playing their part in a team.
Governance:
After keeping the trustee board tight over the transition period we started to recruit new trustees this year. And are continuing to do so into the 26/27 financial year. The process has included reviewing our skill set as a board, aiming to keep the board as varied and fit for purpose as possible.
Overall, the picture is one of the organisation continuing to perform well. As we had budgeted for, our income reduced from the previous year due to a mix of pressure on donor finances and loss of members, though a number of new donors started giving towards the end of the financial year. We are expecting income to stabilise at the start of the 25/26 budget before hopefully starting to increase at the end of the 25/26 financial year. That said, the Trustees are very mindful that this may be gradual due to the potential financial impact of high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis continuing to be felt. Virtually all of our income is based on personal donations from our members. As the economic picture continues to be unstable and personal incomes fluctuate, we are continuing to be aware that our income as a trust could be at some risk.
In the year our income was £567,349, expenditure was £569,124 in total, giving a deficit for the year of £1,775.
Due to the reduced income the Trustees have taken a prudent approach to the financial future. There is a healthy culture of good stewardship throughout the organisation. They have prepared a cautious budget for 2025/26 and have identified areas of potential savings if the reduction in income is greater than the small amount expected at the start of the financial year. We are also pursuing other forms of funding to see if we can boost our income in different ways. This and the healthy free reserves will ensure we can continue to deliver on the objectives of the charity in the year ahead.
Looking ahead into 2025/26 the trustees are confident that the organisation is financially robust enough to be a going concern for the next 12 months and that we will maintain our ability to finance high quality activities and services which will enable us to achieve our primary objectives.
Investment policy:
There are no restrictions on the investment powers of the trustees.
Our liquid funds are currently held in various bank savings accounts.
Reserves policy:
Our reserves policy reflects our desire to maintain a liquid reserve to draw on in the event of any reduction in our donated income stream, to provide a measure of protection to our ability to deliver our core objectives. We continue to aim to have a fund of free and liquid reserves equivalent to at least £30,000.
Operational (free) reserves at the year-end stand at £81,520 (2024: £61,813) and are above our target for free reserves.
Designated funds:
From time to time, we decide to set aside certain funds to allow for the development of a new project or to facilitate our desire to support external agencies or individuals, whether in the UK or abroad, whose work contributes to our overarching purposes.
Current funds include:
Advance which is a fund that has been aside to support those engaged in the mission of the church, primarily in other nations or to those from other nations who are now living in our region.
Risk policy
The trustees have identified the following main risks to our organisation and responses to these risks are outlined below.
Health and Safety
A Health and Safety policy has been written and signed by the chairman of the board of trustees. Work has been carried out on risk assessments including an assessment of fire safety and asbestos. A staff member and a trustee have been identified as having specific responsibilities for health and safety. Health and Safety induction and training is provided for all staff and volunteers as appropriate.
External Risks
One of our potential risks is adverse publicity in an increasingly secular society that can be critical of Christian values. Since we are an independent organisation, our membership of the Evangelical Alliance and Together for the Harvest, both organisations focussed on the development of church co-working, along with close relationships with churches of various denominations all contribute to building our credibility. Our presence in the community also minimises this risk as we work tangibly and visibly to serve the community’s needs.
Safeguarding & Vulnerable Adults
A Safeguarding in place which covers the safeguarding of children, vulnerable adults as well as staff and volunteers. The Trustees take very seriously their responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to Frontline’s care. All staff and volunteers (not just those who have access to children, young people and vulnerable adults) are briefed on their responsibilities and are made fully aware of the organisation’s safeguarding policy and procedures. Any of our staff and volunteers involved in activities where they may have contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults are required to undergo DBS checks. A Safeguarding Team has been appointed and meets regularly to ensure that the policy is being implemented and to ensure that the policy remains both effective and up to date.
Financial Risks
Guidelines are issued to all staff on proper cash handling procedures and are updated at least once a year. Instructions are issued to avoid making purchases in cash unless it is unavoidable. Internal departmental procedures have been standardised. Departmental records and central accounts are monitored regularly and all departmental budget holders receive monthly budget performance reports.
The trustees have reviewed and updated the policies in relation to bribery and money laundering and have provided these to all staff along with training in identifying potential areas of risk and how to manage these.
The trustees have updated policies in line with GDPR legislation and during the year provided all staff with training in relation to their responsibilities regarding the management and use of personal data.
We receive regular guidance on financial risks from our accountant, the Charity Commission, HMRC and various third sector agencies. This keeps us up to date with newer areas of risk. Our accountant also advises us of any specific areas of weakness that may be identified during the annual independent examination, so that we can take immediate steps to correct or protect against them.
Future aims:
The various leadership teams have continued to focus on our core vision and values. The year ahead will see us continue to seek to deliver on our objectives regardless of the challenges that lie ahead. We will look to maximise on the opportunity to express our values in new ways and will continue to communicate the distinctive of the church with confidence and clarity. This will build well on previous work done in this area and will continue to enable us to work out our key objectives. These are:
Vision
“Sharing the Hope of Jesus”
Values
Our 3 core values:
Passionate about knowing God deeply
Living as one body, many parts
Sent out to build God’s kingdom
These values shape the decisions we make and underpin how we outwork our objectives.
Structures
The main structures we have identified for achieving our vision and expressing our values are:
Life Groups
Church Plants / Expressions of Church (diverse expressions of 'church' as we look to reach new people in new places)
Sunday services
Outreach projects
The Trustee Team oversee the legal and financial responsibilities of the Trust, and have the overall legal responsibility for the charity. The Trustee Team engages with, and delegates to a Wider Leadership Team. (WLT) This team, which includes volunteers as well as paid employees meets to implement the direction and vision of the charity. Within the WLT, and comprising primarily of paid employees, the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) are able to meet more often to help set overall direction and priorities of the church. Within the SLT a smaller Executive Team deal with matters on a day to day basis.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Executive Team
Jack Mariner (Lead Pastor), Jenny Mariner (Lead Pastor), Hebe Ambler (Children and Families Pastor), Cherry Farrington (Church Life Manager).
Senior Leadership Team
Jack Mariner (Lead Pastor), Jenny Mariner (Lead Pastor), Hebe Ambler (Children and Families Pastor), Sue Uddin (Pastoral Care, resigned December 2025), Elizabeth Dobson (Trainee Pastor), Helenor Watson (volunteer), Adam Drury (volunteer).
The remuneration of the key management personnel is reviewed each year by the Chair and Finance trustees. Any recommendations for adjustment are included in the annual budgets and as such approved by the full board of trustees. The trust does not use any external pay scales in deciding the remuneration of the key management personnel.
Method of appointment of trustees:
Vacancies are filled from applicants responding to either open advertisements to the church congregation or to personal invitations proffered to individuals with particular skills matching current needs. Applicants receive a comprehensive information pack including the most recent annual reports and standard Charity Commission Publications and documents on the Governance responsibilities of trustees.
Appointments follow an interview with the Chair and at least one other board member.
No other person or body is involved and no individual has the power of appointment.
Induction and training of new trustees:
Relevant training and induction is offered to new trustees in line with their experience and knowledge of the workings of Frontline Trust and the wider responsibilities of a trustee. New trustees are generally invited to attend one or two board meetings as an ‘observer’ prior to a final decision to appoint.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
On behalf of the board of trustees
The trustees, who are also the directors of Frontline Trust for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law 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, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures 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 operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate 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 Companies Act 2006. They 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.
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Frontline Trust for the year ended 31 August 2025.
This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent Examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for my examination, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
Investments
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Investments
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Frontline Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Frontline Centre, 147 Lawrence Road, Liverpool, L15 3HA.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the charity's memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the accounts the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the Trustees continue to adopt the ‘going concern’ basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.
Funds held by the charity are:
Unrestricted general funds - these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
Designated funds - these are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes.
Restricted funds - these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Capital grants receivable are treated as restricted income until they are expended. Thereafter they are treated as designated funds, provided the restriction has been discharged, and then released to general funds over the life of the related asset. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
Voluntary income including donations and gifts are recognised where there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Such income is only deferred when the donor has imposed conditions which must be met before the charity has unconditional entitlement.
Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis.
Income from charitable activities includes income received under contract or where entitlement to grant funding is subject to specific performance conditions is recognised as earned (as the related goods or services are provided). Grant income included in this category provides funding to support performance activities and is recognised where there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
On occasions where the charity received assistance in the form of donated goods and facilities, and the benefit is quantifiable and material, an appropriate amount is included in income and an equivalent amount as expenditure under the relevant heading. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these accounts.
Income from donated services and facilities is included at a valuation which is an estimate of the financial cost borne by the donor where such a cost is quantifiable and measurable. No income is recognised when there is no financial cost borne by a third party.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. The irrecoverable element of VAT is included with the item of expenses to which it relates as this cannot be recovered by the charitable company.
Charitable activities
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries.
Governance costs
This category includes those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost or deemed cost for land and buildings on transition to FRS 102, net of depreciation and any impairment losses. All assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised at cost.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
The wholly-owned trading subsidiary, Frontline Trading (UK) Limited is incorporated in the United Kingdom. The company ceased trading on 1 September 2013 and was dissolved on 31 December 2024.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and only measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method if payable in more than one year.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
The company makes contributions into employees' private pension plans. The contributions are charged as expenditure in the year in which they are paid.
Taxation
The charity benefits from various exemptions from taxation afforded by tax legislation and is not liable to corporation tax on qualifying income or gains falling within those exemptions. Recovery is made of tax deducted from income and from receipts under Gift Aid. The charity is not able to recover Value Added Tax. Expenditure is recorded in the accounts inclusive of VAT.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
There were considered to be no critical accounting estimates or judgements applied in the preparation of these financial statements.
Income from charitable activities
Premises expenses
Repairs and renewals
Motor and travel
Legal and professional
Self employed workers
Course and conference expenses
IT costs
Office expenses
Food, drink and other purchases
Sundry expenses
Support and governance costs are recharged to church activities.
No trustees were reimbursed expenses during the year in regards their roles as trustees (2024: no trustees were reimbursed expenses). For details on expenses reimbursed and remuneration with regards employment, see note 24.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The assets are all used for direct charitable purposes.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The charge to the statement of financial activities in respect of defined contribution schemes was £13,605 (2024: £14,239).
Income
Expenditure
Income
Expenditure
The Hardship Fund is a fund created by individual donors and an allocation from general reserves. The fund was available to Frontline Church members who are suffering personal financial hardship.
Other Funds consist of small projects / initiatives for which finances were specifically raised and utilised.
Operation Promises funds are received from donors for the work of the Iranian pastor.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
Income
Expenditure
Income
Expenditure
During a previous year a major section of roof was renewed at a cost of £23k. The Roof Fund was set up to receive donations given specially for this purpose.
Tithe of Tax Rebates is created by an allocation from our core tax refund income. The TOT Fund enables us to make gifts and grants to people or organisations whose work we wish to encourage and support.
Advance is a fund that has been aside to support those engaged in the mission of the church, primarily in other nations or to those from other nations who are now living in our region.
The India Fund is made up of monies allocated to the support of churches and particularly church leaders in India. This fund is generated from a small percentage of our income.
At the reporting end date the charity had no outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases.
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.
Transactions with related parties
During the year the company entered into the following transactions with related parties:
Mrs H Watson, a trustee until July 2024, was also a trustee of Imagine If Trust (resigned June 2025), an independent charitable company. During the year Frontline Trust has assisted Imagine If Trust by providing grants (see note 8). Imagine If Trust have also recharged sundry expenses.
During the previous year, John Harding was a trustee and also employed by the charity. The governing document permits trustees to receive grants and remuneration, provided such trustees are not in the majority. Any such remuneration level is set by the board, excluding those members with a conflict of interest. Both were considered to be key management and his salaryy is included in the aggregate remuneration for key managers noted above. John Harding resigned as a trustee on 20 June 2023 and remained as an employee until April 2024. During the previous year, expenses and ex-gratia payments were repaid to John Harding at a total value of £11,319 in relation to his role as Pastor.
During the year trustees donated £12,338 (2024: £29,046 to the charity in the year).
There were no other related party transactions in the year.
The Frontline Trust is incorporated under the Companies Act as a company limited by guarantee. The liability of the members is limited to £10.