THE MESSAGE ENTERPRISE CENTRE

Registered charity 1147287 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as The Message Community Centre

We work with ex-offenders and those at risk of offending. Our programme starts with providing full time jobs in one of our businesses, gaining valuable work experience and skills as well as on the job training and support. Through this work we give people the chance to overcome the cycles of reoffending and continue to transform their lives as they grow in their Christian faith.

Objects

TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND RELIEVE UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND VULNERABLE ADULTS WHO ARE AT RISK OF REOFFENDING OR WHO HAVE POOR EMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL, THROUGH EDUCATION, ENTERPRISE, BEFRIENDING, MENTORING, FAITH-BASED ACTIVITIES AND OUTREACH.?

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

Causes: Education/training · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Religious Activities · Economic/community Development/employment · website · Get email alerts

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net surplus of £327k for the year, driven by significant gains on investment properties, resulting in total unrestricted funds of £4.1m. The charity holds £275k in general funds freely available for spending, which exceeds its stated reserves policy target of approximately £8k (one month's operating costs). The trustees confirm the charity is well-placed to manage its risks and continue as a going concern with the support of its parent charity.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Accounts audited by Menzies LLP. 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
• Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
• Complaints handling
• Complaints policy and procedures
• Conflicting interests
• Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
• Financial reserves policy and procedures
• Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
• Internal risk management policy and procedures
• Investing charity funds policy and procedures
• Investment
• Paying staff
• 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
• Trustee expenses policy and procedures
• Volunteer management

Corporate structure

• Registered company of the charity Companies House 07892774 · Financial health read from its filings

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.

• BRUCE, Fiona Claire — director, appointed 03/12/2025on trustee list
• NEILSON, Laura, Dr — director, appointed 14/12/2023on trustee list
• ORR-EWING, Amy Louise, Dr — director, appointed 25/03/2022on trustee list
• WHITE, Rob, Rev — director, appointed 15/03/2017not on trustee list
• HAYNES, Gordon Joseph — director, appointed 30/07/2014on trustee list
• LEAKEY, Andrew Christopher — director, appointed 28/12/2011on trustee list
• ROWBOTTOM, Ian — secretary, appointed 15/03/2017

Official officers record.

Property (HM Land Registry)

15 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (14 freehold); recorded price paid £1.9m. All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2023)

Reported reserves equal ~0.5 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 7.1 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (59% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 0.0% of total income — below the median for charities its size (3.0%) (benchmarks).

Trustees · trustee networks

• GORDON HAYNESchair · trustee of 1 other charity
• ANDREW CHRISTOPER LEAKEY
• Amy Orr-Ewing · trustee of 1 other charity
• Dr Laura Neilson · trustee of 1 other charity
• Fiona Claire Bruce · trustee of 1 other charity
• Rev ROBERT WHITE

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

Operates in: Manchester City

Income and spending

Common questions

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.