The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 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).
The purpose of the Equippers Church charitable company is to advance the Christian faith for the public benefit in accordance with the Statement of Beliefs outlined in our Articles of Association in such parts of the UK or the world as the trustees deem fit. The trustees have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.
Equippers Church is a vibrant organisation which is part of the Acts Churches UK movement. There are over 60 different Equippers Church locations in 18 different countries which all share the same vision and values. This charitable company, Equippers Church, comprises three church locations: Weybridge, West London and Birmingham.
Our principal activities are:
The provision of Christian events and education
Community and financial support
The vision of the charity is to “Equip people for life through faith in Jesus Christ”. This is done primarily through Christian events and education. Teaching on the Christian faith is done through regular Sunday meetings, midweek events such as eGroups, youth and young adults programmes, and through other conferences and events. These activities are open to all.
In 2025, the total number of Equippers locations in the UK grew to six, and the charity continues to equip these new locations through shared resources, support, conferences and events, in order to reach more people nationally.
In 2025, the charity completed on the purchase of Weybridge Hall; a fantastic 4 storey building on Weybridge High Street which is being renovated to provide a large auditorium as well as additional multifunctional rooms and reception areas. This will provide a venue for Sunday services, mid-week events and local community use.
Sunday Services
The Weybridge location continues to grow and 2025 saw an average weekly attendance of around 700 people across 3 services. The highest attendance of the year, on Easter Sunday, saw over 1,000 people coming along to be part of the special Easter service. Space is therefore becoming limited and there is much excitement for 2026 when the church will move into its new, larger home on Weybridge High Street.
In January, the West London church relocated to The Exchange in Twickenham, a multipurpose venue in the centre of the town. Since meeting here, Sunday service attendance numbers and new visitor numbers have grown in comparison to the previous year, with an average of 85 attendees each Sunday.
Sunday services began in Birmingham in September 2025 with an average of 35 people attending. Many of the attendees are new to Equippers, and have joined the church through the interest nights and mid week gatherings held earlier in the year.
Across all 3 locations 1,837 first time visitors were welcomed in 2025 and 346 salvation responses were celebrated on Sundays alone. Another highlight for the year were the baptism services, during which 39 people publicly confirmed their faith through water baptism.
All three locations put on special Christmas events which are particularly popular and draw in many visitors from the local communities. In Weybridge 6 sold-out Christmas Shows happened over one weekend, with 1,642 tickets sold in total. West London hosted a ‘Christmas At The Movies’ event, with 150 total attendees, including 50 guests from the local community. In Birmingham Christmas was a real highlight too, hosting nearly 60 people at a festive ‘Rowdy Carols’ event.
eGroups
Teaching on the Christian faith is also done midweek through eGroups. These are small groups of around 6-15 people who gather in homes across in the local community. eGroups are open to all and have an interactive format where people can discuss issues, ask questions, share challenges and pray with one another. Groups are also encouraged to journey together through the events of life, supporting one another through both times of celebration or difficulty. During 2025, there were 42 different eGroups in operation across the three locations.
Conferences and mid week events
In July 2025 ‘Shout Conference UK’ was held at G-Live in Guildford, Surrey. This is a three-day event hosted by Equippers Church primarily for people from the Equippers churches around Europe and beyond. 1,053 people attended the conference with groups from 20 different nations.
Our annual women’s conference, ‘For Her’, happened in March 2025 at a new location in Leatherhead. Guest speaker Pastor Jo Geerling from iSEE Church in Australia, together with Pastors from Equippers Church, spoke at the conference, which was attended by nearly 300 women ranging from age 11 to 70+.
In the Easter holidays YxYA, a three night residential camp for youth and young adults, was held in Reading. Over 160 young people aged 11 to 25 gathered to encounter God, build friendships and have a lot of fun!
Equippers Church organised two worship nights in central London towards the end of the year. Each of these London Presence Nights was attended by over 200 people, over half of whom had no previous connection with Equippers Church and many who gave their lives to Jesus or were positively impacted by the events.
Education
In September 2025 a fresh intake of students were welcomed to Equippers College UK with students split across a Leadership Stream and Worship Stream. Four students also stayed on for a second year to complete a Level 4 Diploma in Christian Studies.
Our Volunteers
Our amazing volunteers help to make our Sunday services, events and midweek gatherings happen. There were 450 people who volunteered in some capacity at one of our locations or conferences during 2025, most of whom serve in on a regular basis, and we are so thankful for them!
(ii) Community and Financial Support
We continue to support many local, national and international organisations as a church. We have a fund to support church members, and connected community members, who are struggling financially. This continues to provide much needed assistance mainly in the form of cash grants or supermarket gift cards. In 2025 we gave grants of varying amounts to individuals, totalling £12,750.
Each year we take up an annual “Impact Offering”. This is a pledged offering, across 12 months, with the funds used to support initiatives beyond our regular operating costs within Equippers Church, both within the wider community and internationally. Funds received towards Impact offering in 2025 totalled £405,960.
£585,000 of Impact funds was used towards the purchase of Weybridge Hall, enabling the church to purchase the building outright, with no debt, for £1.2 million.
Money from Impact Offering was also used to help plant churches in both the UK and abroad, as well as to provide grants to other charities and NGOs.
The aim of the Impact fund is to sow money locally, nationally and globally, as well as to support the next generation which was done through grants made to Equippers College and local schools programmes.
During this financial year, the charity made a net surplus on unrestricted funds of £262,184 (2024: surplus of £252,325). Overall the Trustees are pleased with the results for 2025 and note the charity is in a healthy financial position.
In accordance with best practice, a designated reserve has been set aside at a level equating to three months’ essential core operating costs. This currently equates to £177,351 (2024: £196,630). Reserves at 31 December 2025 were £346,350 (2024: £1,445,939).
Risk management
The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
Risks are examined and considered under the following headings:
Governance
Operational
Finance
Compliance
External
This allows the Trustees and management to adapt policies and actions appropriately.
The renovation of Weybridge Hall continues to be a focus for 2026 with the aim of it being operational by Autumn 2026. The venue will accommodate the services currently held at Cleves School, providing much needed increased capacity for Sundays, as well as space for midweek events and activities for the whole community.
West London are aiming to break through to over 100 attendees on a Sunday and are employing a number of different approaches and resources to see this become a reality. They also plan to launch Revolution Youth, a youth programme for 11-18 years olds and will continue to explore other ways to reach into the community, in order to bless and support the local area but to also raise the profile of the church locally.
Birmingham are aiming to see attendance continue to increase to over 60 attendees on a Sunday. They are starting to explore new venues to provide for a growing Sunday congregation, and provide better facilities for eKids groups. The team in Birmingham continue to explore ways to bless the city of Birmingham and reach into the spheres of media, arts and entertainment.
Further London Presence Nights are planned for the first few months of 2026, as the church continues to identify and meet the needs of those we’re connecting with in central London. We may also hold smaller gatherings and eGroups as a way to build community and provide connection with those seeking to know more.
Equippers Church also plans to plant a new church in Bournemouth in 2026 in response to a key family within the church feeling called to lead a church in this part of the country. They will begin to explore next steps and build a team to move to Bournemouth early in 2026.
Equippers Church is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association amended 11 October 2016. The charity is a company limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
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:
The existing Trustees may identify the need for additional Trustees to be appointed as the demands of the charity continue to develop, and as and when existing Trustees stand down from office. The Trustees will identify a suitable candidate to act as a Trustee, based on a series of factors including their character, experience, specialist skills and chemistry with the existing Trustees.
Subsequently the candidate will be approached by one of the current Trustees to establish their willingness to consider the role. They may be invited to sit in on meetings as an observer until they reach a decision. If they accept they will be formally appointed to the board at the next meeting.
The Chairman of the board of Trustees will ensure that they are given any necessary induction and training for the role. This will depend on their previous experience in similar roles. The new Trustee will be given tasks suitable to their experience level.
Day-to-day management is delegated by the Trustees to the management team, led by the Senior Pastor.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Caladine Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The Trustees, who are also the directors of Equippers Church 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 UK 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.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Equippers Church (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the statement of financial position, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and the provisions available for small entities, in the circumstances set out in note 28 to the financial statements, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the Trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and
the directors' report included within the Trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the Trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
The extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charity through discussions with Trustees, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the charity sector;
we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the charity, including the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011 and employment legislation;
we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the charity's financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
Audit response to risks identified
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias; and
investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;
enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims; and
reviewing correspondence with HMRC and relevant regulators
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
The major income and expenditure of the charity derive from continuing activities.
Equippers Church is a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Suite 4, 45-47 Monument Hill, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 8RN.
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 financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, 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 financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Property, fixtures and equipment are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following basis:
Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey, purchased during the year, is scheduled for significant renovation works. Depreciation will commence once the refurbishment is complete and the property is brought into operational use.
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.
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. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ 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 trade and other receivables 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 trade and other payables 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 payables 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 payables are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
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.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
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.
Grants receivable
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
Trustee Mr M Collard is also employed by the charity and received gross pay in the year of £89,705 (2024: £87,102) which included manse rental costs of £21,000 (2024: £21,000). He also received employers pension contributions of £7,176 (2024: £6,968) and gifts worth £nil (2024: £65) during the year.
In 2024 the Charity paid a sum of £35,000 and entered into an Option Agreement dated 13 November 2024 with Mr M Collard to secure an option to acquire up to 28% of the land and property at 43 Ada Gardens, Ockham Road North, East Horsley, Leatherhead, KT24 6PU, after a 7 year period. This can be repaid by Mr M Collard within the 7 years, or converted into a loan at a market interest rate. The purpose of the Option Agreement is to enable Mr M Collard to build and acquire suitable housing for him to carry out his duties as Senior Pastor of the Church. Mr M Collard was absent during the trustees' independent approval of the agreement, and the terms are no more beneficial than to an unconnected third party. During the year Mr M Collard has repaid £19,692 of the balance and £15,308 remains outstanding at the year end.
Employee, Mr S Malcolm, became a trustee in 2025. During the year he received gross pay of £34,264, which included manse costs of £2,650, and employers pension contributions of £2,741 during the year. He also was paid £1,113 for other ad-hoc work in the year.
Mr S Monk, who became a Trustee in 2025, received honorarium of £2,500 and gifts worth £76 during the year.
Mr B Anthony, who became a Trustee in 2025, received gifts in the year worth a total of £185.
Trustee Mrs I Jack received gifts in the year worth a total of £196 (2024: £210).
Trustee Mr J Everitt received gifts in the year worth a total of £233 (2024: £75).
Hospitality worth £129 was provided at Trustee meetings in the year.
The legal authority for these payments is found in a provision in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Charity. The board has a robust conflicts of interest policy and non‑conflicted trustees set and review remuneration.
The total amount of donations received from the Trustees and their related parties amounted to £209,622 (2024: £108,900).
On the 14 May 2025 the Church acquired 34 and 36 Church Street, Weybridge, Surrey. The total cost of the freehold property of £1,209,846 was capitalised in the year. Associated, taxes, legal and professional fees, and subsequent repairs and renovation costs incurred have also been capitalised. Once the renovations are complete and the property made operational, a suitable depreciation policy will be adopted.
Other receivables due after more than one year represents the Option Agreement detailed within note 13 of the financial statements. At 31 December 2025, the outstanding Option Agreement has been included within Amounts falling due within one year, as repayment is anticipated during 2026.
Deferred income represents fees paid in advance for the Equippers College 2025/26 academic year, as well as 2026 events and conferences.
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 restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Ukraine
Donations for organisations working in Ukraine in response to the war which started in 2022.
Building
Restricted gifts for a new Church property, The income in 2025 was a £100,000 grant from the Benefact Trust for renovation works. The funds were used in 2025 to purchase and renovate a property in Weybridge, Surrey.
Equippers Birmingham
Donations to be used for setting up a new Equippers church in Birmingham.
Other restricted funds
This fund holds other restricted donations, for example donations for the support of a particular project or individual. These amounts are then used for the purpose identified by the donor. The amount remaining at the end of 2025 are donations for Kids and Youth spaces at the new building in Weybridge.
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.
Reserve fund
In accordance with the charity's reserves policy, funds equating to 3 months' essential spending commitments should be maintained. As at the balance sheet date this equates to £177,351.
Richmond Property Reserve
This fund contains money received on the merger with Equippers London, towards the future purchase of a building. These funds have been transferred out in 2025 following the purchase of the new building which has been capitalised in the accounts.
Future building fund
The Future Building Fund was established during 2021, when £250,000 of that years Impact Offering was set aside for future property needs. These funds have been transferred out in 2025 following the purchase of the new building which has been capitalised in the accounts.
A lease was taken out for office premises from June 2020 at The Monument Weybridge for a term of 14 months at £15,000 per annum expiring July 2021. This has continued on a rolling 1 month lease since that date.
A property lease was taken out for the use of Equippers College from September 2024 for a term of four years at £30,000 per annum. Rental costs can be reduced by a maximum of £120,000 dependent upon the monies spent on Refurbishment of the property. At 31 December 2025, over £120,000 had been expended on this and therefore no further rent is due.
Three manse leases were held at the year end. One property is on a rolling 1 month contract. Another property is on a lease term of two years of £20,400 per annum ending in July 2027. The final property is on a lease term of two years of £31,800 per annum ending in December 2027.
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
Amounts contracted for but not provided in the financial statements:
The Church has entered into a contract with Ammcass Construction & Engineering Group in September 2025 for the renovation works on Weybridge Hall, with a projected construction cost of £1,677,514, plus applicable VAT. During the year £14,880 of the scheduled works was completed and expensed.
As disclosed in note 23, the church has contracted for major refurbishment works to Weybridge Hall. To fund this, loan finance of £1,560,000 has been agreed with CAF Bank with an interest rate of 2.6% above base rate variable, repaid over 20 years. The church will raise further funds through grants and congregational giving, with an April 2026 gift day raising approximately £140,000. There is also the option of a loan from a related party if required.
Mrs M Collard, spouse of Trustee Mr M Collard, received gross remuneration of £46,824 (2024: £47,325), and the charity made employers pension contributions of £3,197 (2024: £3,104). Included within gross remuneration are other benefits provided by the charity, including a car allowance of £6,857 (2024: £6,857), wellness allowance of £168 (2024: nil) and sabbatical allowance of £nil (2024: £1,666).
Miss S Drummond, sister-in-law of Mr M Collard received a gross salary of £22,331 (2024: £8,470) and employers pension contributions of £1,566 (2024: £721). The charity also provided wellness allowance of £20 (2024: nil) and made payments for fundraising services of £1,743 (2024: £3,338).
Mrs N Malcolm, spouse of Mr S Malcolm (who became a Trustee in 2025), received gross remuneration of £30,667 and employers pension contributions of £2,453. The charity also provided wellness allowance of £15.
Trustees Mr M Collard and Mr S Monk (who became a Trustee in 2025) are also Trustees of the following charities: Acts Churches UK and Equippers Church Bristol. Equippers Church received income of £9,564 (including £1,800 for shared services) from and paid a levy of £11,662 to Acts Churches UK. The charity received income of £31,400 (including £10,000 levies, £14,400 payment for shared services) from Equippers Church Bristol.
Mr M Collard is also a Trustee of Equippers Church Essex, Equippers Church Ghana and Equippers Church Swindon.
Equippers Church received income of £6,225 (including £5,225 for levies) from Equippers Church Essex.
The charity made donations to Equippers Church Ghana of £455 (2024: £3,000).
The charity made donations of £nil to Equippers Church Swindon (2024: £3,000), and received income of £17 (2024:nil) for shared services.
Mr S Monk is also a Trustee of Equippers Mainz (Germany) and Equippers Network International. The church provided donations of £70 to Equippers Mainz during the year.
The church contributed £3,600 to Equippers Network International for the airfare of speakers to visit Equippers Churches in the UK in 2025, and paid on honorarium of £6,400 to the charity.
The parents of Trustee Mr S Monk were paid £639 for books purchases and gifted honorarium payments of £4,074.
Mr B Anthony (who became a Trustee in 2025) is also Trustee of Life Child International Trust. The church made payments of £140 to cover the travel and accommodation of a visitor.
All related party transactions were reviewed and approved by non-conflicting trustees.
The charity had no material debt during the year.
In common with many businesses of our size and nature we use our auditor to assist with the preparation of the financial statements and VAT returns.