THE FORGE COMMUNITY CHURCH

Registered charity 1101080 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as MCF, MENDLESHAM CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

To advance the Christian faith and to relieve persons who are in conditions of need and hardship or who are aged or sick.

Objects

(A) TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATEMENT OF BELIEFS APPEARING IN THE SCHEDULE HERETO IN THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK AND IN SUCH OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OR THE WORLD AS THE DIRECTORS OF THE CHARITY (HEREINAFTER CALLED "THE TRUSTEES") MAY FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT AND TO FULFIL SUCH OTHER PURPOSES WHICH ARE EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE ACCORDING TO THE LAW OFEN LAND AND WALES AND ARE CONNECTED WITH THE CHARITABLE WORK OF THE CHARITY;(B) TO RELIEVE PERSONS WHO ARE IN CONDITIONS OF NEED OR HARDSHIP OR WHO ARE AGED OR SICK AND TO RELIEVE THE DISTRESS CAUSED THEREBY IN THE SAID LOCATION AND IN SUCH OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OR THE WORLD AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME THINK FIT

Area of benefit: SUFFOLK

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£440k

Latest spending

£456k

Registered

2003

Accounts read

FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit for the year of £16,106, with total expenditure rising faster than income. Per the trustees' report, free reserves stood at £17,818, which is below the directors' agreed minimum cash balance target of £46,000 on general funds, though total unrestricted reserves were £187,549.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: minimum cash balance on general funds of £46,000 (held: £18k)

“The Directors agreed a minimum reserves position for the year expressed as a minimum cash balance on general funds of £46,000.” — page 7

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Related-party transaction: Payment to close family members of Trustee Michael Walsh for cleaning services.

“During the year £744 (2023 - £NIL) was paid to close family members of Trustee Michael Walsh for cleaning services. There are no further related party transactions in the year that require disclosure (2023 - £NIL), other than those disclosed in note 10.” — page 26

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Investment
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures

Corporate structure

Registered company of the charity Companies House 04964286

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — The Forge Community Church (matched by registered charity number).

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Street Kids Direct — “As a church we provide regular financial support and also facilitate team trips to visit Guatemala and serve alongside the team at Street Ki…” (source page)
Hands at Work — “We support Hands at Work financially and send bi-annual trips to Zambia.” (source page)

Company officers (Companies House)

Current officers of the charity’s own company per the Companies House register, cross-checked against the Charity Commission trustee list by name. A director not on the trustee list is usually a timing or naming difference between the two registers — check both records before drawing conclusions.

LING, Jeremy Andrew — director, appointed 29/09/2025on trustee list
SPARKES, Lois — director, appointed 29/09/2025on trustee list
DONALDSON, Susanna Mary Sharp — director, appointed 29/09/2025on trustee list
COBBOLD, Sarah — director, appointed 15/07/2024on trustee list
WESTMANCOTT, Oliver — director, appointed 15/07/2019on trustee list
FENNING, Stephen James — director, appointed 15/07/2019on trustee list
URWIN, Stephen John — director, appointed 15/07/2019on trustee list
WALSH, Michael Christopher — director, appointed 15/07/2019on trustee list
SERJEANT, Neil — secretary, appointed 07/04/2021

Official officers record.

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Jeremy Andrew Ling
Lois Sparkes
Michael Christopher Walsh
Oliver Westmancott · trustee of 1 other charity
Sarah Cobbold
Stephen James Fenning · trustee of 2 other charities
Stephen John Urwin
Susanna Mary Sharp Donaldson

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Chad · Croatia · Ethiopia · Guatemala · South Africa · Suffolk · United States · Zambia

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2024	£440k	£456k
31/12/2023	£389k	£390k
31/12/2022	£357k	£433k
31/12/2021	£379k	£414k
31/12/2020	£455k	£385k

Common questions

Is THE FORGE COMMUNITY CHURCH financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit for the year of £16,106, with total expenditure rising faster than income. Per the trustees' report, free reserves stood at £17,818, which is below the directors' agreed minimum cash balance target of £46,000 on general funds, though total unrestricted reserves were £187,549. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.