THE VERWER / HESSION TRUST
TRUSTEES ANNUAL RETURN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
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a. Policies and Objectives
The Trust holds the copyright to all books and materials, both audio and hard copy formats, by the late George Verwer and Roy Hession. The purpose of the Trust is the ‘Advancement of Christianity’: ‘To proclaim and further the Gospel of God concerning His Son, Jesus Christ and the preaching of the Christian Faith around the world.’
The Trust will continue to expand the worldwide distribution of all of George Verwer’s and Roy Hession’s books and material. Either in print or by digital media.
Trustees
The Trust is managed by a small group of Trustees.
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b. Activities for achieving objectives and the financial position
The Trust made grants and donations totalling £2,538 during the year (2023: £4,007).
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c. Main activities undertaken to further the Charity’s purposes for Public Benefit
The Charity relies upon royalties from publishers, but also gift income to continue its work, to provide grants for the production, publishing and distribution of literature written by Roy Hession, Revel Hession, and George Verwer.
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The books which are printed, or permission given around the world for others to print, are inspirational in helping to improve character and personal faith. They also, when printed in minority languages, become very helpful in providing quality reading to those who wish to improve their literacy understanding.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
a. Key financial performance indicators
Income comes from Donations and Royalty receipts, and these determine the level of grants awarded during the year, whether for Book purchase or Publishing. There are no Restricted Funds, and all monies can be used for unrestricted purposes.
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b. Review of Activities. The death of George in 2023 caused the Trustees to discussed and agreed on four main areas for the Trust to focus on in the next five years.
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Focus of the Trust From 19" June 2024 1. Continue to monitor the copyright of Verwer & Hession books.
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Facilitate the distribution of Verwer/ Hession books a) with a strong emphasis on developing and uploading material onto our website as a major strategy towards distribution of materials, including PDF books in all the main languages, Audio books and key Messages. b) But also to distribute books or to give a financial donation to other mission organisations who request larger quantities of books. c) to continue to keep some stocks of books of key titles at Langham warehouse and to pay them to send out free books to individuals who request them. We will also consider loading some of the Verwer PDF books onto memory sticks so they could also be posted from Langham as an alternative to posting books abroad.
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Encouraging, and funding more publishing initiatives. Particularly into foreign languages.
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Launching a new book called “In His Grip” The Trust will find a group of talented Christians who know Verwer’s work to meet and decided on what chapters and passages from all of his books we want to include in this new book.
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The Trust continues to send out newsletters to keep our supporters and donors apprised of new events and the work the Trust does. In 2024 we sent out a Spring and Summer Newsletter. Our database is now at 460.
Due to a number of circumstances the website that had been previously developed had to be dismantled and the Trust appointed EPLS to work with the Trust Manager to produce a new website. This went live in January 2025.
The Trust was active in facilitating the publication and reprints of books in several languages, where permissions and advice were required:
Mrs Drena Verwer continues to be the Patron of the Trust and receives regular updates from the Chair of the Trust on Trust activities and funding.
The Trust held six Trustee meetings during the year, two were held in London in person and the remaining were online.
Chairperson: David Ost retired in June 2024 after ten years of service and Christa Le Vine and John Satterly have been appointed as Chair and Deputy Chair respectively.
Administrator: The Trust Administrator retired in September 2024 and a new Trust Manager was appointed.
Retired Trustee: Mr Gerry Davey sadly died in February 2024. He worked with George as a Trustee from 1993 to 2018 and was fundamental in getting many of Roy Hession’s books translated and published into 80 different languages.
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
a. Going concern
It is the opinion of the Trustees that the Charity is a going concern for the foreseeable future.
During the year the Trust received a total of royalties, donations and other income of £53,065 (2023: £58,600), it has made grants and incurred other expenses of £20,687 (2023: £22,466) resulting in a gain of £32,378 (2023: £36,134). 2024’s surplus of £32,378 added to £62,481 brought forward from December 2023 gives a total reserves carried forward of £94,859 as at 315t December 2024.
Books: The Trust spent £1,095 to print various Verwer titles to restock our warehouse levels. £2,537 was given in grants to fund printing of several Hession titles in Nigeria and to facilitate the printing of Calvary Road into Armenian.
Royalties: A total of £2,651 was received in royalties from Hession Titles published in North America, Korea and Colombia. Gifts and Donations: following the death of George, the Trust has seen its donations increase in the year. We believe that personal friends of George & Drena have started to support the Trust in his memory.
b. Reserves Policy
The Trustees keep 3 — 6 months estimated expenditure in reserve to cover unforeseen cash flow issues or other unexpected costs. For 2024 this would mean a figure of between £5,020 and £10,040; as at the end of 2024 the actual figure was £94,859 which exceeds the required level of reserves. The Trustees are mindful not to let the level of unused reserves increase unnecessarily and have discuss ways to ensure any surplus funds are utilised in fulfilling the mission of the organisation.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
a. Constitution The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees and was established by the Declaration of Trust dated 19 October 1993. It is registered with the Charity Commission in England, Reg No. 1031304. The Name of the charity is The Verwer/ Hession Trust, formally known as The Roy Hession Book Trust. The Charity is registered with the Charity Commission, Charity Number 1031304. The Trust website is: https://verwerhessiontrust.org/
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b. Method of appointment or election of Trustees
The Management of the Charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and coopted under the terms of the Trust deed. All Trustees are asked to read the book The Art of Good Governance by Dictum Press, Oxford.
c. Organisational structure and decision making
The Trustees meets regularly to discuss the Charity’s affairs. The Chair will, on occasions, ask various people to attend its meetings to discuss certain aspects of the Charity requiring specialist knowledge.
d. Risk management
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the Charity and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate our exposure to these major risks.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
a. Future Developments
The Charity will continue to promote the Roy Hession titles, and the key activity of expanding the distribution of George Verwer’s books, and the tremendous ministry legacy alive around the world.
Once again, the Charity and Trustees would like to express their grateful thanks to all the individuals and Organisations who have given so generously to support the work of the Charity. Their support and encouragement has enabled this work to continue.
Christa Verwer Le Vine
(Chair) On behalf of the Trustees of The Verwer/ Hession Trust
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THE VERWER/HESSION TRUST (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE ROY HESSION BOOK TRUST)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Note INCOME FROM: Donations and legacies Donations Royalty income Sale of office equipment Interest TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE ON: Charitable activities Support Costs 2 Governance Costs 3 TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME / (EXPENDITURE) BEFORE OTHER RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS: Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
Unrestricted Funds £ 49,807 2,651 449 158 53,065 18,541 2,146 20,687 32,378 32,378 62,481 94,859 |
Total Total Funds Funds 2024 2023 £ £ 49,807 56,084 2,651 2,450 449 158 66 53,065 58,600 18,541 20,655 2,146 1,811 20,687 22,466 32,378 36,134 32,378 36,134 62,481 26,347 94,859 62,481 |
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The notes on the following pages form part of these financial statements.
THE VERWER/HESSION TRUST (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE ROY HESSION BOOK TRUST)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
2 SUPPORT COSTS
| Book grants Printing Costs Office costs Website Bank charges Books storage Travel Wages and salaries Management Fees 3 GOVERNANCE COSTS Independent examiners fee Trustees expenses reimbursed |
Activities £ 2,538 1,095 1,629 1,375 128 388 639 8,762 1,987 18,541 410 1,736 2,146 |
Total 2024 £ 2,538 1,095 1,629 1,375 128 388 639 8,762 1,987 18,541 410 1,736 2,146 |
Total 2023 £ 4,007 - 2,246 842 110 - 570 12,880 |
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| 20,655 | |||
| 390 1,421 |
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| 1,811 |
4 TRANSACTIONS WITH CONNECTED PARTIES
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration (2023 - nil) During the year, no Trustees received any benefits in kind (2023 - £NIL)
5 Trustees received rembursement of travel and other expenses amounting to £1,736 (2023 - 3 trustees: £1,421)
5 STAFF COSTS Staff costs were as follows:
| Wages and salaries The average number of persons employed by the charity during the year wa Administration |
Total 2024 £ 8,762 s as follows: Total 2024 £ 0.7 |
Total 2023 £ 12,880 |
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| Total 2023 £ 1.0 |
No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.
In September 2024 the 1 employee retired and the administration hassince been outsourced to a selfemployed individual, so now the organisation has no employees
THE VERWER/HESSION TRUST (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE ROY HESSION BOOK TRUST)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
6 DEBTORS
| Donation from Great Commission Foundation CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year Other taxation and social security Other creditors Accruals and deferred income |
Total 2024 £ - - Total 2024 £ 585 - 410 995 |
Total 2023 £ 1,331 |
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| 1,331 | ||
| Total 2023 £ - - 390 |
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| 390 |
7 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year
8 STATEMENT OF FUNDS
STATEMENT OF FUNDS - Current Year
| Balance at 1 January 2024 £ Unrestricted funds General Fund 62,481 STATEMENT OF FUNDS - Prior Year Balance at 1 January 2023 £ Unrestricted funds General Fund 26,347 9 Analysis of Net Assets Between Funds Current assets Creditors due within one year All funds in both years are unrestricted |
Income £ 53,065 Income £ 58,600 |
Expenditure £ (20,687) Expenditure £ (22,466) Total 2024 £ 95,854 (995) 94,859 |
Balance at 31 December 2024 £ 94,859 |
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| Balance at 31 December 2023 £ 62,481 |
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| Total 2023 £ 62,871 (390) |
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| 62,481 | |||
There are no restricted funds
THE VERWER/HESSION TRUST (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE ROY HESSION BOOK TRUST)
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
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2024 2023
Note £ £ £ £
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash at bank and in hand 95,854 61,540
Debtors 6 1,331
CREDITORS: amounts falling due
within one year 7 (995) (390)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 94,859 62,481
NET ASSETS 94,859 62,481
CHARITY FUNDS
Unrestricted funds 94,859 62,481
TOTAL FUNDS 8 94,859 62,481
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The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 30th September 2025 and signed on their behalf, by:
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Mrs Christa Verwer Le Vine, Chair
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The notes on the following pages form part of these financial statements
adventus accounting solutions Supporting Charitable Organisations
25 September 2025
Independent Examiner’s report to the Trustees of the Verver/Hession Trust Charity Registration Number 1031304
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on the pages following.
Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to
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Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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Follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met;
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or
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(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Yours sincerely
Martyn Burt
B.Sc.(Hons), ACMA, CGMA
(please note new address as below)
adventus accounting solutions 10 Walnut Lane Laceby Grimsby DN37 7BY e-mail: martyn.burt@btinternet.com or adventusaccounting@btinternet.com
Telephone: 07523 6229679