It’s well into Advent, halfway through December, with less than two weeks until Christmas Day, preparation is probably the one word which characterises these few weeks. However, that preparation might be accompanied by a slight sense of panic.

It is interesting to see how preparing for Christmas is approached in other parts of the world.

In Venezuela, from 16 – 24 December in the capital Caracas, roads are closed to traffic and people attending Mass roller skate to church, following which there is a great deal of eating, singing and dancing.

In Scandinavian countries, a straw goat is constructed, wrapped in red ribbon and used to decorate, symbolising good cheer.

In parts of Southern Germany, children go knocking on doors in their neighbourhood, making lots of noise, expecting sweets in a repeat of Halloween, but without the dubious costumes.

For those of us with perhaps more down-to-earth church responsibilities, there’s perhaps too much to do and too little time to do it.

Looking back a little at the fast-disappearing 2025, we hope that these newsletters have been a source of help, education, encouragement and an enjoyable way to spend a few minutes each month.

December’s content may be a little reduced due to the need to circulate it earlier than usual.

Table of Contents:

• What’s new
  • Generous giving at Christmas
  • Church security – A reminder
  • New Code of Fundraising Practice now in effect
  • National Living/Minimum Wage reminder – Do we pay our church employees enough?
  • Charity compliance & tainted donations
  • FSCS limit raised from £85,000 to £120,000
  • ACAT job vacancy – Membership helpline support
• Points to Ponder
  • Young people to benefit from Government £820 million expanded support – An Opportunity for Churches & Christian Businesses?
  • Charter launched to protect street preachers from arrest
  • Ideas for improved collaboration among local churches
• Spring Training Programme 2026
• Charities Engagement Team – Upcoming webinars
• Final Thought

Lastly, ACAT will be closed from 24 December and open again on 5 January. Merry Christmas.

God bless,

Ashley Ellis
ACAT Executive Officer

P.S. To make sure you don’t miss important updates, please add @acat.uk.com to your safe senders list. Some members have found our emails ending up in spam folders. We’ve put together a simple guide for Outlook, Gmail and other email providers at: https://www.acat.uk.com/make-sure-you-get-acat-emails/

Generous giving at Christmas

#Church Life & Community, #Opinion, #Encouraged Action

This might not appear to be the most appropriate suggestion following last month’s Budget Statement, but even in these financially challenging times, can we consider how generous our giving might be this Christmas?

Several organisations are encouraging us to help visitors experience the joy of generosity this year as once again we contemplate God’s generosity to us. The following suggestions are worth considering and may warrant special emphasis in the next few weeks.

1. Making giving to your church easy
   • Use technology where possible.
   • Ensure everyone, particularly visitors, are aware of contactless giving points
   • Use QR codes on service sheets, publicity materials and in AV streaming
   • These additional donations can, in turn, be used to support others in need

With all the special church events, lunches, children & youth group parties, nativity and Christingle services, it is very easy to forget those folk among our local communities and even within our fellowships for whom this time is a difficult one. So, by making giving this Christmas easy within our churches, look at how the money could be used:

• Visiting those who may be alone at Christmas
  • Church members who may be on their own
  • Folk within the community, not necessarily church members
• Special Donations
  • Homeless charities
  • Charities providing meals
  • Additional support for local Foodbanks
• Make a special effort with neighbours
  • Not always easy, but it’s an opportunity
  • Send a church Christmas card if you don’t already do so
  • Invite them round for a little hospitality

This is a time when folk who aren’t regular churchgoers will come to carol services and Christmas midnight communion. Making them especially welcome is a generous act in itself, and who knows, it may spark something within them which inspires them to return.

Church security – A reminder

#Church Life & Community, #Opinion, #Encouraged Action

With Christmas in mind and the various special events that take place in our churches, Ecclesiastical has reissued a June 2024 article on ‘Church Security’, which is a useful reminder of a few relevant aspects.

• Don’t take security for granted – raise awareness among staff and volunteers.
• Report any suspicious activity in and around the church to local police.
• Depending upon your location, consult local security or anti-terrorist experts.
• Review premises security, alarm systems, CCTV.
• Ensure all staff & volunteers have the appropriate background checks.
• Review the church’s continuity planning in the event of a serious incident.

Security is one of those aspects of church life and governance which it is easy to take for granted. We do so at our peril and potentially serious financial cost.

New Code of Fundraising Practice now in effect

#Charity Governance & Regulation, #News, #Encouraged Action

In our May newsletter, we included an article regarding the new Fundraising Code of Practice, effective from 1 November. This is a gentle reminder that the new code is based on the following principles.

• Fundraising must meet the requirements of the law. 
• Fundraisers must be clear about their processes and willing to explain them when necessary. 
• Fundraisers must act with integrity and must not mislead people when asking for donations. 
• Fundraisers must respect the people and places they interact with.

The new Code of Practice focuses on three aspects summarised as:

Documenting fundraising decisions

• Only acting within your decision-making powers.
• Using available and relevant information and evidence to inform your decisions.
• Considering issues from different points of view.
• Identifying areas of risk and taking steps to manage them.
• Taking professional advice, where needed.
• Acting in good faith.
• Undertaking due diligence.
• Keeping accurate records and documenting your fundraising decisions

Due diligence and fundraising

• Check the identity, verify the legitimacy and suitability of your donations and donors.
• Check that the donations are not subject to restrictions, prohibitions or sanctions.
• Assess and manage the risks associated with your fundraising activities. 

Monitoring fundraising partners

• Ensure effective processes to monitor fundraising activity carried out on your behalf by fundraising partners.

It is respectfully suggested that members ensure that whoever is responsible for their church’s fundraising is aware of the Code and its requirements. More information can be read in the links below.

National Living/Minimum Wage reminder – Do we pay our church employees enough?

#Finance & Fundraising, #News, #Information Only

Whilst 1 April 2026 is over three months away, members who employ staff should be aware that the Government has accepted the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission in full. The National Living Wage/Minimum Wage will increase from 1 April 2026:

• For those aged 21 & over to £12.71 per hour
• For 18–20-year-olds to £10.85 per hour
• For 16-17-year-olds & Apprentices to £8.00 per hour

Note that the National Living Wage applies to workers over age 21, whilst the minimum wage will still apply for workers aged 20 and under.

This raises an interesting question. Do we pay church employees enough? Some things to consider:

• Churches rely heavily on dedicated staff and volunteers. They are frequently the glue that, humanly speaking, holds churches together. Do we appreciate them and respect what they do?
• Fair pay is only right. – It encourages and rewards effort, retaining quality staff, demonstrating that they are valued.
• Does your church have a clearly defined pay policy?
• Do you research comparable rates of pay and salaries among churches and voluntary organisations?
• Do you carry out annual staff appraisals in a transparent manner in accordance with recommended employment practice?

Does your church governing body formally express its gratitude to the staff and volunteers at the Annual Church Meeting?

Charity compliance & tainted donations

#Charity Governance & Regulation, #News, #Encouraged Action

This is the time of year when charities and churches alike tap into the public’s spirit of generosity.

On 5 December, the Government issued updated guidance on what is known as “Tainted Donations.” A tainted donation is one in which a UK taxpayer donor seeks to obtain a financial benefit or advantage from the charity to whom the donation is made. 

Three conditions must be met for a donation to be a tainted charity donation.

If all 3 conditions are satisfied, the donor loses any tax relief that they would have been entitled to claim.

An additional charge to tax may also arise where the donation would have been eligible for relief under the Gift Aid Scheme (for individual donors only).

The 3 conditions to be met for a donation to be regarded as tainted are:

• The donation to the charity and arrangements entered by the donor are connected.
• The main purpose of entering the arrangements is for the donor, or someone connected to the donor, to receive a financial advantage directly or indirectly from the charity.
• The donation is not made by a qualifying charity-owned company or relevant provider linked with the charity to which the donation is made.

The detailed guidance, together with examples of tainted and untainted donations, is set out in the Government note, which can be accessed by the link below.

FSCS limit raised from £85,000 to £120,000

#Finance & Fundraising, #News, #Information Only

One of our partners in ministry, Unity Trust Bank, informed us that on Tuesday, 18 November, the Bank of England increased the FSCS limit from £85,000 to £120,000, effective from 1 December 2025.

Why does a higher limit matter?

For many, it’s peace of mind. If you’ve been saving for years, planning for retirement, or a big purchase like a home, this extra cover assists in keeping your money secure. And if you’ve just sold a house or received an inheritance, temporary protection now goes up to £1.4 million.

Stronger protection means more confidence in the banking system. That confidence helps banks lend for mortgages and to businesses, to fuel growth across the country.

See the below source of the official announcement from the Bank of England and some more information about the FSCS scheme and charities.

ACAT job vacancy – Membership helpline support

We’ve got a brilliant opportunity coming up for someone with a knack for helping others and a passion for keeping on top of changing info. Specifically, we need someone to answer membership queries and to help us keep the ACAT website up to date.

With Peter leaving us in February, we’re now on the lookout for someone to step into his shoes. The role is pretty varied but essentially involves answering questions that come in through our helpline, updating the website (including some FAQs), and making sure our resources are always up to date with the latest legal requirements and best practice.

It’s a fantastic chance to play a key role in supporting the ACAT membership. A really rewarding job that’ll give you plenty of variety and satisfaction. A full job description is downloadable below. If you want to give it a go, send your CV to Ashley Ellis. All the details you need are in the job description if you want to learn more. 

Young people to benefit from Government £820 million expanded support – An Opportunity for Churches & Christian Businesses?

#Social Justice & Policy, #News, #Encouraged Action

It is estimated that approximately one million young people will benefit from learning or employment opportunities as a result of a major £820 million funding package announced by the Government.

In summary

• Funding for 350,000 new workplace opportunities designed to support young people into employment.
• Additionally, young people on Universal Credit will benefit from dedicated support.
• From Spring next year, a guaranteed jobs scheme will be established in areas with some of the highest need identified as being:
  • Birmingham & Solihull
  • East Midlands
  • Greater Manchester
  • Hertfordshire & Essex
  • Central & East Scotland
  • South West & South East Wales

Does this funding offer an opportunity for us to encourage:

• Young people in our churches, who may be out of work or on benefits, to investigate what support and workplace training is available,
• and church members who are senior business managers or own their companies/organisations to actively participate in the scheme by offering employment to young people if they do not already do so?

Any support the church can offer could be invaluable to helping young people as they become more involved in the ‘adult world’.

Charter launched to protect street preachers from arrest

#Church Life & Community, #News, #Information Only

Preaching in the open air has been a feature of Christian outreach which arguably dates back to the Great Commission, set out in Matthew 28:16-20. In Acts 2:14-22, Peter preaches to 3,000 people in the open air, and St Paul in Acts 17 stands in the midst of the Areopagus in Athens and says to the people, “I see that you are very religious in every aspect.”

In recent times, the Street Pastors Movement, an initiative of Ascension Trust, founded in 2003 by Rev. Les Isaac, seeks to provide support and help for those on the streets at night and engage people in conversations about the Christian faith.

The Christian Institute recently launched a Street Preachers Charter, which aims to protect street preachers from arrest following several recent court cases.

The Charter aims to:

• Set out the rights and responsibilities of individuals who engage in public preaching or share their beliefs in the streets of England and Wales.
• Support those who preach on the streets,
• Guide police and local authorities in upholding long-standing free speech protections.

The Charter sets out a summary of good practices and guidance on relevant laws

• It advises street preachers to stay accountable by connecting with a local church.
• To check local regulations.
• Seek to build good relations with the local council, police and shop owners.
• Discuss contentious issues such as gender, sexual orientation and sexual ethics with care and sensitivity.
• Commend the exclusive claims of Jesus as opposed to focusing on preaching against other faiths.
• Be mindful of the volume at which they preach.
• Avoid sounding angry or using an argumentative style.
• Never single someone out of the crowd to preach at.
• Be friendly and cooperative.
• Respect rightful authority.

As many of our ACAT members support Street Pastors and also engage in open air witness as part of their outreach ministry, this Charter initiative is well worth considering, and its contents are worth drawing to the attention of those involved.

Ideas for improved collaboration among local churches

#Church Life & Community, #Opinion, #Encouraged Action

As we come to the end of the year and begin to think ahead to 2026, here is something else worth considering. It’s all too easy to stay within the relative comfort of our own denominational support. However, it is true that even as different church groups with differing theological perspectives in some areas, we are ‘better together.’

So how can we improve collaboration among our local churches with a view to increasing the influence and impact on the communities where we are?

Churches Together in England is the national ecumenical instrument supporting and encouraging churches from a wide range of traditions to work together in unity.

Waltham Abbey Baptists recently published a few ideas for collaboration, essentially among a local hub of Baptist churches. Ideas which I’m sure could be considered in a wider context of collaborative working.

These include:

• Social events, meals together
• Joint services, prayer meetings, either face-to-face or via Zoom
• Exchanging preachers, worship leaders, music
• Joint outreach projects
• Collective buying – suppliers, service providers
• Sharing expertise, Governance, support systems, and administration

Something to think about for next year. Even if your church is already working with other denominational groups in the area, could that collaboration be more effective? If so, how?

• Introduction to Computer Security for churches
  • Date: Wednesday 14 January
  • Time: 12.30 PM – 1.30 PM
• Being a Treasurer: The Basics – 3 session course
  • Date: Thursday 29 January, 5, 12 February
  • Time: 7 PM – 9 PM

If you have any questions about our training, please contact Cath Fox.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales registers and regulates charities to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence. Through regular events, the Charities Engagement Team supports trustees and charity leaders to manage their charities effectively.

Courses in January are available for booking.

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