2025-04-05-accounts - The Damascus Trust

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period Period start date Period end date T 6 April 2024 5 April 2025 pS | ~~Ss~~ From o

Section A Reference and administration details ~~ee~~

Charity name The Damascus Trust

Other names charity is known by

Registered charity number (if any) ~~|~~ 1013236

Charity's principal address 27 Prospect Street Tamworth Staffordshire Postcode B79 7EU

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Dates acted if not for Name of person (or body) entitled Trustee name Office (if any) ~~TT~~ whole year to appoint trustee (if any) 1 Mr Robin Swan Chair ~~es Oe rs nr nn~~ 2[Mr Peter ] Harrington ~~ee ee ee ee a ie~~ 3 ~~a~~ Mr Floyd Davis ~~rs ts~~ 4 ~~es ie rs nn ts~~ 5 ~~a ee es~~ 6 ~~es Oe es nn~~ 7 ~~a ee esrs~~ 8 ~~es ee es~~ 9 ~~es ee rs rr I~~ 1 0 ~~a ee ee en~~ 1 ~~a~~ 1 1 ~~ee~~ 2 1 3 ~~a ee es~~ 1 ~~ee~~ 4 1 ~~ee~~ 5 ~~ee~~ 1 ~~es~~ 6 1 ~~ee~~ 7 ~~ee~~ 1 ~~ee~~ 8 1 ~~ee~~ 9 ~~eeee~~ 2 0 Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) ~~a~~

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Name Dates acted if not for whole year

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser	Name	Address
Accountant	Mr Nigel Smith
Bankers	Lloyds
	Cooperative Bank
	Virgin Money

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document Trust Deed (eg. trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted Charitable Trust
(eg. trust, association, company)
Trustee selection methods Appointment by resolution passed by trustees meeting where there is a
(eg. appointed by, elected by) majority of trustees present

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

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Section C Objectives and activities

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Summary of the objects of the In accordance with the Trust Deed section 4. charity set out in its governing document

	In accordance with the Trust Deed section 4.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)	Bible teaching in partnership with the local Church both in the UK and overseas. Providing online Bible teaching courses for people in the UK and overseas. Evangelistic activities in partnership with the local Church both in the UK and overseas. Providing teaching and training resources for the local Church both in the UK and overseas. Teaching, training and support for Christian workers through partner organisations both in the UK and overseas. Inclusion of volunteer team workers both in the UK and overseas. Providing help and relief from hardship and poverty in other countries through partner organisations. Working with partners on new initiatives to help people socially and spiritually both in the UK and overseas. Financing the provision and installation of Water-Harvesting Projects in Rwanda. Sale of hand-made cards, baskets and bags in the UK in support of widows, orphans and related projects in Rwanda.

In accordance with the Trust Deed section 4.

Summary of the main
activities undertaken for the
public benefit in relation to
these objects (include within
this section the statutory
declaration that trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit)

Bible teaching in partnership with the local Church both in the UK and
overseas.
Providing online Bible teaching courses for people in the UK and
overseas.
Evangelistic activities in partnership with the local Church both in the
UK and overseas.
Providing teaching and training resources for the local Church both in
the UK and overseas.
Teaching, training and support for Christian workers through partner
organisations both in the UK and overseas.
Inclusion of volunteer team workers both in the UK and overseas.
Providing help and relief from hardship and poverty in other countries
through partner organisations.
Working with partners on new initiatives to help people socially and
spiritually both in the UK and overseas.
Financing the provision and installation of Water-Harvesting Projects in
Rwanda.
Sale of hand-made cards, baskets and bags in the UK in support of
widows, orphans and related projects in Rwanda.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

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Section D Achievements and performance

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Section D	Achievements andperformance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year	In 2024/25 we were able to visit our overseas partners in Romania (October). In Romania, Path of Life Association continues to work with young people in teaching guitar as well as Bible teaching ministry. Numbers attending fluctuate but two classes are held each week to provide guitar tuition for both beginners and advanced levels. Path of Life has been running their mentoring programme in Oradea Prison with around 20 Apprentices. There has been a very good response with some of the Apprentices wanting to follow Jesus and be baptised. The Path of Life team continued to distribute food and essentials on a regular basis to some of the poorest families. They also provide practical help and support as well as share the Christian gospel through Bible readings / teaching, testimony and prayer for individual needs. We are actively working towards ACV becoming independent of DT , financially and managerially, by December 2025. In Rwanda, the Support A Parish programmes has continued in partnership with our CPOs. DT supports 20 parishes in Byumba diocese and 8 parishes in Gasabo diocese. The changes that were implemented in 2023 have reduced the amount of admin needed by having just two updates each year instead of four. The Water Harvesting Projects continue to provide water. However, new government legislation has meant that parishes have to offer the water to the local community without charge. This makes the WHP Scheme redundant. DT Bible teaching continues online. DT now runs a Bible teaching course online in the spring and autumn. Attendance continues to grow, with new people joining each course, which is encouraging. The Tamworth Men’s Breakfast / Extra continues to meet each month. Numbers have remained small but stable and allows for more interaction between members. It has been good to visit various churches over the year and to share news of the work as well to preach and teach from the Bible. Regular mailings have been produced and mailed to partners in the UK and abroad. The majority of our mailing is done electronically so saving paper and postage. ‘ENGAGE with the Bible‘ in both text and audio versions, continues to grow as more people subscribe. We continue to get positive feedback from subscribers. It is now available on the DT website. We have also set up an audio teaching page on the website that will provides short and longer teaching series for download. This will be developed over the coming years. The website continue to provide a ‘shop window’ for the work and ministry of DT. We continue to make slight adjustments and developments as time and skills allow.

Section D

Achievements andperformance

Summary of the main
achievements of the charity
during the year

In 2024/25 we were able to visit our overseas partners in Romania
(October).
In Romania, Path of Life Association continues to work with young people
in teaching guitar as well as Bible teaching ministry. Numbers attending
fluctuate but two classes are held each week to provide guitar tuition for
both beginners and advanced levels.
Path of Life has been running their mentoring programme in Oradea
Prison with around 20 Apprentices. There has been a very good response
with some of the Apprentices wanting to follow Jesus and be baptised.
The Path of Life team continued to distribute food and essentials on a
regular basis to some of the poorest families. They also provide practical
help and support as well as share the Christian gospel through Bible
readings / teaching, testimony and prayer for individual needs.
We are actively working towards ACV becoming independent of DT ,
financially and managerially, by December 2025.
In Rwanda, the Support A Parish programmes has continued in
partnership with our CPOs. DT supports 20 parishes in Byumba diocese
and 8 parishes in Gasabo diocese. The changes that were implemented in
2023 have reduced the amount of admin needed by having just two
updates each year instead of four.
The Water Harvesting Projects continue to provide water. However, new
government legislation has meant that parishes have to offer the water to
the local community without charge. This makes the WHP Scheme
redundant.
DT Bible teaching continues online. DT now runs a Bible teaching course
online in the spring and autumn. Attendance continues to grow, with new
people joining each course, which is encouraging.
The Tamworth Men’s Breakfast / Extra continues to meet each month.
Numbers have remained small but stable and allows for more interaction
between members.
It has been good to visit various churches over the year and to share news
of the work as well to preach and teach from the Bible.
Regular mailings have been produced and mailed to partners in the UK
and abroad. The majority of our mailing is done electronically so saving
paper and postage.
‘ENGAGE with the Bible‘ in both text and audio versions, continues to
grow as more people subscribe. We continue to get positive feedback from
subscribers. It is now available on the DT website.
We have also set up an audio teaching page on the website that will
provides short and longer teaching series for download. This will be
developed over the coming years.
The website continue to provide a ‘shop window’ for the work and ministry
of DT. We continue to make slight adjustments and developments as time
and skills allow.

April 10/11

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Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s In accordance with the Trust Deed sections 7 & 8. policy on reserves Details of any funds materially in deficit ~~_—~~ Further financial review details (Optional information) You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about: • the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); • how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity; • investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. Section F Other optional information ~~i~~ Section G Declaration ~~___~~ The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s)

Full name(s) Andrew J Paine

Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Secretary to Trustees etc)

Date 26.11.25

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~~=~~ ~~SSS~~	Charity Name ~~SSS~~	Charity Name ~~SSS~~	Charity Name ~~SSS~~	Charity Name ~~SSS~~	Charity Name ~~SSS~~	No(if any) ~~SSS~~	No(if any) ~~SSS~~	~~SSS~~	CC16a ~~SSS~~
	The Damascus Trust ~~SSS~~					~~SSS~~		~~SSS~~
	Receipts andpayments accounts ~~SSS~~							~~SSS~~
	For the period from ~~SSS~~		Period start date ~~SSS~~		To ~~SSS~~	Period end date ~~SSS~~		~~SSS~~
			6th April 2024 ~~SSS~~			5th April 2025 ~~SSS~~		~~SSS~~
Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year ~~=~~ ~~SSS~~
	to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £		to the nearest £
A1 Receipts ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~
General Donations ~~=======~~	10,845 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	4,341 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	15,186 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	20,992 ~~=======~~
Gift Aid Donations ~~=======~~	8,380 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	9,510 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	17,890 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	17,195 ~~=======~~
Sales ~~=======~~	404 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	404 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	340 ~~=======~~
Interest ~~=======~~	398 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	398 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	475 ~~=======~~
Tax reclaim ~~=======~~	6,549 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	6,549 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	9,119 ~~=======~~
Overseas ~~=======~~	6,382 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	6,382 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	1,355 ~~=======~~
Other ~~=======~~	76 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	76 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	74 ~~=======~~
~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~
~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR) ~~=======~~	33,034 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	13,851 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	- ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	46,885 ~~=======~~	~~=======~~	49,550 ~~=======~~
~~=======~~ ~~SS~~	~~=======~~ ~~SS~~	~~=======~~	~~=======~~ ~~SS=~~	~~=======~~ ~~SS=~~	~~=======~~ ~~SS=~~	~~=======~~ ~~SS=~~	~~=======~~ ~~SS=~~	~~=======~~ ~~SS=~~	~~=======~~ ~~SS=~~
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). ~~SS~~	~~SS~~		~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~
~~SS~~	- 0 ~~SS~~		- 0 ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	- 0 ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	- ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~
~~SS~~	- 0 ~~SS~~		- 0 ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	- 0 ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	- ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	- 0 ~~SS=~~
*Sub total* ~~SS~~	*Sub total* - 0 ~~SS~~		- 0 ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	- 0 ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	- ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	- 0 ~~SS=~~
~~SS~~	~~SS~~		~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~
*Total receipts* ~~SS~~	33,034 ~~SS~~		13,851 ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	- 0 ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	46,885 ~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	49,550 ~~SS=~~
~~SS~~	~~SS ~~		~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~	~~SS=~~
A3 Payments ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~		~~Sse~~
Staff workers ~~Sse~~	25,920 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	25,920 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	25,920 ~~Sse~~
Post & Print ~~Sse~~	275 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	275 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	150 ~~Sse~~
Vehicles / Travel ~~Sse~~	1,310 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	1,310 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	1,573 ~~Sse~~
Telephone ~~Sse~~	120 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	120 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	287 ~~Sse~~
Literature & Study materials ~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	30 ~~Sse~~
Office / Admin ~~Sse~~	39 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	39 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	400 ~~Sse~~
Professional fees / costs ~~Sse~~	1,648 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	1,648 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	1,556 ~~Sse~~
Overseas ~~Sse~~	10,184 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	11,259 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	21,443 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	19,690 ~~Sse~~
Equipment ~~Sse~~	750 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	750 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	91 ~~Sse~~
Other ~~Sse~~	286 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	286 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	298 ~~Sse~~
~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~
~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~
~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~
*Sub total* ~~Sse~~	40,532 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	11,259 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	51,791 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	49,995 ~~Sse~~
~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~
A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~
~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~
~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~
*Sub total* ~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~
~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~
*Totalpayments* ~~Sse~~	40,532 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	11,259 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	- 0 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	51,791 ~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~	49,995 ~~Sse~~
~~Sse~~ ~~SS~~	~~Sse~~ ~~SS~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~ ~~SS~~	~~Sse~~ ~~SS~~	~~Sse~~ ~~SS~~	~~Sse~~	~~Sse~~ ~~=~~	~~Sse~~ ~~=~~	~~Sse~~ ~~=~~
*Net of receipts/(payments)* ~~SS~~	- 7,498 ~~SS~~		2,592 ~~SS~~	~~SS~~	~~SS~~		- 4,906 ~~=~~	~~=~~	- 445 ~~=~~
A5 Transfers between funds ~~SS~~	1,077 ~~SS~~		- 1,077 ~~SS~~	~~SS~~	- ~~SS~~		- ~~=~~	~~=~~	- ~~=~~
A6 Cash funds lastyear end ~~SS~~	42,352 ~~SS~~		3,175 ~~SS~~	~~SS~~	- ~~SS~~		45,527 ~~=~~	~~=~~	45,972 ~~=~~
*Cash funds thisyear end* ~~SS~~	35,931 ~~SS~~		4,690 ~~SS~~	~~SS~~	- ~~SS~~		40,621 ~~=~~	~~=~~	45,527 ~~=~~
~~SS~~	~~SS ~~		~~SS~~	~~SS ~~	~~SS ~~		~~=~~	~~=~~	~~=~~
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 1

09/12/2020

Categories	Details	Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Endowment funds
		to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £
B1 Cash funds	Virgin	30,320	-	-
	Coop	433	4,492	-
	Lloyds	5,079	200
	Petty Cash	98	-	-
	*Total cash funds*	35,931	4,692	-
	(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))	OK		OK
		Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Endowment funds
	Details	to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets	Office equipment	4,000	-	-
	Other equipment	1,400	-	-
		-	-	-
		-	-	-
		-	-	-
		-	-	-

	Details	Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
B3 Investment assets			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-

	Details	Fund to which asset belongs	Cost (optional)	Current value (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-
			-	-

	Details	Fund to which liability relates	Amount due (optional)	When due (optional)
B5 Liabilities			-
			-
			-
			-
			-

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees	Signature	Print Name		Date of approval

CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 2

09/12/2020

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Damascus Trust on accounts for the year ended 5 April 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 5 April 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Trust, 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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.

Independent examiner's statement

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

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

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.

N K Smith FCA

19 Highbury Way, Great Cornard, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 0HE

13 December 2025