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2024-12-31-accounts

Annual Report & Accounts

THE EDEN CHRISTIAN TRUST For the period ended 31 December 2024

Table of Contents

Trustees’ Annual Report ................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Chairman's Statement .................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Independent Examiner's Report on the Accounts .............................................................................................................................. 8 Income and Expenditure Account ............................................................................................................................................................. 9 Balance Sheet .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 10

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Trustees’ Annual Report

Introduction

The Eden Christian Trust (ECT) was established in 1990 and took its present form in 1997. It has four main objectives:

The Trust is an inter-denominational Christian charity that works with those engaging locally in youth activities.

Activities Throughout the Year

The weekly ECT Youth Club, run on Friday nights during term time by the Youth Worker and volunteers, regularly attracts 30–40 youngsters. Special activities are planned for each session, such as:

Club members are offered opportunities to attend our popular annual residential camps, PULSE Camp and the Satellites Festival. These two residentials saw up to 27 young people attending from the Edenbridge area.

We had a visit to the Youth Club from newly appointed Edenbridge beat officer PC Harry Kemp, who encouraged youngsters to make good life choices. Further visits are planned for 2025. The young people have enjoyed a planned programme of activities throughout the year as well as just being able to socialise with their friends.

One-to-One Mentoring and Support

We offer weekly mentoring to young people who need and want one-to-one support with a designated adult. These sessions are organized by our ECT Youth Worker and supported by a settled team of adult volunteers. Special activities have included:

School Work and Clubs

The ECT Youth Worker has established relationships with the teaching teams at four local primary schools in Edenbridge, Crockham Hill, Hever, and Four Elms, offering various activities and participating in assemblies. Other supported activities included Laser Lite Kidz Club for Key Stage One Age Group

Church Visits and Other Activities

Our Youth Worker has regular contact with nine churches in Edenbridge and surrounding villages and has run or attended the following activities throughout the year:

THE EDEN CHRISTIAN TRUST

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Outreach to the Community

Throughout the year, as part of ECT's commitment to the community, our Youth Worker partnered with West Kent Youth Services, also based in Edenbridge, to provide detached youth work in the community, visiting the spaces in the town where young people gather to meet with them and offer advice and support where needed. This will continue in 2024.

Plans for 2025

We are planning to run a week-long residential summer camp this year.

PULSE Camp

Unfortunately, the camping facilities we have used to host this popular and successful weekend camp were closed in 2024. We hope to return in 2025. For those who are new to ECT, PULSE stands for (Prepare, Unite, Love, Serve, Equip) and is a themed activity development concept featuring outdoor activities and residential workshops and is open to all young people associated with ECT.

Satellites Festival/Camp 2025

After successful visits to Satellites over the last few years, we are planning to take a further group of young people away to this exciting festival camp in August 2025. The festival is run by Youthscape and will take place at the Bath and West Showground, Somerset.

Days Out Activities

Opportunities for trips to local theme parks and attractions are being considered with other Youth Services to co-host and organise.

Supporters of ECT

The Trustees thank all those who have supported ECT generously over the past year, including the following organisations and the very many individual supporters, too numerous to mention:

Trustees and Organisation

At the end of 2024, the serving Trustees were:

Name Role Tim Hill Chairman Brigitte Hunter Sheila Stapleton Fundraiser Dorothy Sutton Sue White Safeguarding Officer Neil Marshall Hon. Treasurer

There is one co-opted position (non-trustee), Sue Paice, who continues as ECT Secretary.

To deliver the objectives of the Trust, the ECT employs a full-time youth worker (the only paid employee) who is supported in the youth club activities by a number of volunteer youth leaders.

Decision making is by majority vote. Trustee meetings are held bi-monthly and are attended by the above together with a Church Leader. This important role is filled by Dave White, minister for the Grace Church, providing the additional link between the Trustees and the Churches that support the ECT. Support for the youth worker is provided internally by a line manager selected from the Trustees, with spiritual support provided by Rev. David Flagg.

None of the Trustees, nor any person connected with them, is paid.

THE EDEN CHRISTIAN TRUST

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Accounts for the Year Ending December 2024

The accounts report on four areas of activity in 2024:

Total income in 2024 was £42,032 , down 24% from £55,371 in 2023.

We actively fundraise and attract donations and grants from local organisations to support the core activities of the charity. Individual donations increased by 71% to £12,569 (2023: £7,355). We continue to be significantly supported by numerous local organisations, the local churches in Edenbridge and surrounding villages.

Expenditure increased slightly to £47,346 from £44,053 in 2023. The main on-going areas of expenditure were staff costs, travel, equipment purchases and rent.

Circumstances beyond ECT's control meant that the Youth club needed to find new accommodation and, as a result, we are now incurring higher rental costs.

Satellites summer camp is subsidised from core funds.

In 2024 the Trust recorded a deficit of £5,314 compared with a surplus of £11,318 in 2023. Resulting core unrestricted funds decreased to £55,936 (2023: £61,093), and total funds came to £58,493 (2023: £63,806).

Movement on Restricted Funds during the year were:

Fund Balances and Reserves Policy

Total funds at year end fell to £58,493 (2023: £63,806), comprised of:

Due to reliance on fundraised income, the Trust aims to keep sufficient reserves to support approximately six months staff and running costs. Beyond this contingency reserve, we favour the retention of additional uncommitted reserves where possible, up to three further months of running costs, to provide security against fluctuations in income to cover core costs. For these purposes, the Trust has established a designated fund of £25,000. The General Fund provides additional support for all on-going activities. ECT Youth club funds are maintained to provide sufficient working capital in planning and enabling advance payments towards outings and other expenses. One-to-One manages its own fundraising and expenditure and is considered a ring-fenced restricted fund. The Trust reviews this Reserves Policy once a year.

THE EDEN CHRISTIAN TRUST

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Accounting Policies

Income and expenditure are recorded on a cash received basis.

Public Benefit Statement

In planning our activities for the year, the trustees keep in mind the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. We believe that the activities of Eden Christian Trust benefit local young people, volunteers, and the wider community.

Risk Factors

The greatest risk facing the Trust is, and probably always will be, the inability to fund the incumbent. Over 75% of the funding received has to be researched and requested. Therefore, the capacity to fundraise effectively is essential.

To date, it has been possible to retain the £25,000 allocated to designated reserves intact. This allows approximately six months direct employment costs, plus other running costs and a working capital contingency, in hand.

Also, the Trust relies on the voluntary support of youth leaders and must be able to retain a core of leaders sufficient to assure the safety of the young people who attend ECT Youth Club and other events. Finally, the Trust must be able to maintain the capability to manage itself in accordance with all necessary regulations affecting employment, financial administration, child protection and health and safety.

THE EDEN CHRISTIAN TRUST

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Chairman's Statement

Throughout the year as always, our focus has been on the Young People of Edenbridge and surrounding villages providing them with opportunities to meet, grow as individuals, learn life skills and instilling in them the need that all people should be respected and supported, whilst giving them opportunities to attend activities and festivals.

It is fair to say that 2024 was the most challenging year I have experienced as Chair of ECT. Having spent many years being able to use the Old Baptist Chapel, for which we are truly grateful to the Baptist community, after a short consultation period with the Church’s Trustee group we had to leave the venue due to safety issues. This resulted in the fact that we had to immediately vacate and remove equipment whilst striving to find alternative venues to hire for the Youth Club on Friday nights. We also had to find new office space and storage for our equipment. We are very grateful to those individuals and organisations, who have supported us in this year of transition and demanding circumstances.

Subsequently, with no regular settled venue during the remainder of 2024 and not being able to transport our large static equipment i.e. Pool Table, Table Ice Hockey, Table Tennis Table etc. there has been an impact on those who attend and on some Friday nights a 50% reduction in attendance.

However, with a new influx of eligible age Young People in September, numbers are starting to increase again. As a Trustee group we are fully supportive of our Youth Worker, Anthony Shipwright, and together we will ensure the Youth Club regenerates as we continue to strive in our purpose to serve the Young People of Edenbridge and surrounding villages.

Looking forward in 2025, we have now agreed on a settled venue to hire – namely Edenbridge Primary School - bringing some stability, and feel positive that we will see numbers grow, albeit whilst still not being able to offer all of our equipment and activities due to more limited space.

Notwithstanding, this major disruption, Anthony has continued to ensure the Young People are his focus, which is a testament to his dedication and faith. Significantly, to have organised so much throughout this difficult time, we as a Trustee group, truly thank him. It was so rewarding to see such a great group attend the Satellites Festival in August.

Edenbridge continues to grow as new homes are built and new families move into the town. The Trustees are committed to ensure that ECT continues to be a charity that develops its programmes to meet the future needs of the Young People, offering a range of activities and a venue to meet and socialise.

To our supporters and donors, recognising the challenges that all face financially, we are forever grateful of your support over the past year. Thank you all for your donations, large and small. These enable us to offer so much. If you would like to visit ECT in action then please let us know.

Finally, l would like to thank my fellow Trustees for their support in this challenging year. Also, many thanks to our volunteers who give of their time freely and willingly to make Eden Christian Trust such a vibrant caring group for the young people in our communities.

Tim Hill ECT Chair

THE EDEN CHRISTIAN TRUST

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Inde endent Examiner's Re ort on the Accounts p p

Report to the trustees

of the Eden Christian Trust

On accounts for the year ended 31/12/2024 Charity no. 1001961 Set out on pages 12 & 13 only

Responsibilities and basis of report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2024.

As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Date: 14/07/2025 Name: Paula Hardy Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): ACA Address:

THE EDEN CHRISTIAN TRUST

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Income and Expenditure Account

January - December 2024

Income and Expenditure Account
January - December 2024
ECT Youth
Club
ECT
Core
One to
One
Photography
project
Satellites
2024
Satellites
2025
SDC 2023
grant		 TOTAL
Jan - Dec 2024
Jan - Dec 2023
(PY)
INCOME
Individual Donations And Gift Aid
12,569
Donations/Grants From Organisations
22,233
250
Fundraising Income
52
Youth Club Subscriptions
814
Youth Club Tuck Income
1,604
Trips And Activities
280
2,123
680
Interest
1,427		 12,569
7,355
22,483
40,128
52
914
814
1,147
1,604
2,291
3,083
2,793
1,427
743
Total Income
2,418
36,561
0
0
2,373
680
0		 42,032
55,371
EXPENDITURES
Staff Cost
33,492
Trips And Outings
619
2,251
990
Events And Activities
Youth Club Tuck Expenses
1,604
Equipment / Supplies
620
976
212
15
26
141
Travel / Subsistence
2
952
Training
Rent / Utilities
1,430
1,115
54
Insurance
710
Telephone And Broadband
679
Fees / Subs
614
Postage Stationery Office
320
Repair And Maintenance
413
Fundraising Expense
Sundry Expenditure
111		 33,492
31,501
3,860
3,214
0
1,110
1,604
2,287
1,990
1,965
954
1,307
0
155
2,599
122
710
853
679
316
614
500
320
489
413
0
0
234
111
0
Total Expenditures
3,656
40,001
266
15
2,277
990
141		 47,346
44,053
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
-£1,238
-£3,440
-£266
-£15
£96
-£310
-£141		 -£5,314
£11,318

THE EDEN CHRISTIAN TRUST

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Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2024

Balance Sheet
As of December 31,2024
Total
As of Dec 31, 2024 As of Dec 31, 2023 (PY)
CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND
CAFBank Current Account 1,603 1,900
CAFBank Deposit Account 36,215 41,151
Petty Cash 10 10
NatWest 665 745
Shawbrook CAF 60 day deposit 20,000 20,000
Total Cash at bank and in hand 58,493 63,806
NET CURRENT ASSETS 58,493 63,806
TOTAL NET ASSETS (LIABILITIES) £58,493 £63,806
CHARITY FUNDS
Designated - Running Costs Contingency Fund 25,000 25,000
Designated - Youth Club Fund 500 500
Restricted - EB Town Council 2023 Grant 0 500
Restricted - EB Town Council 2024 Grant 500 0
Restricted - One to One 450 450
Restricted - Overseas Mission Fund 1,607 1,607
Restricted - Sevenoaks DC 2023 grant 0 156
Retained Earnings 0 0
General fund 35,750 24,275
Surplus/(Deficit) -5,314 11,318
TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS £58,493 £63,806

THE EDEN CHRISTIAN TRUST

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