TRUSTEE REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Reference and Administrative Information:
Shekinah Christian Trust, Charity No 1043002 Shekinah Christian Centre, Well Head Road, Newchurch in Pendle, Burnley, BB12 9LP
Names of Trustees: For a period, Mrs Joyce Lewis, Mr Alastair MacDonald, Mr Andrew Kay, and Mrs Janet Kay. Mr MacDonald resigned, due to pressures of work; grateful thanks were expressed for his valuable service. Dr Ronnie Chikwama stepped in to replace him.
Structure, Governance and Management:
Trust Deed setting out the objectives of the Trust and the powers exercised by Trustees; provisions for appointment and retirement of Trustees and provisions for amending the Trust document.
New Trustees are appointed on recommendation of serving Trustees or Centre Manager and only by full agreement of all Trustee body. No outside party can appoint Trustees.
Objectives and Activities:
To provide an environment of peace and quiet for people to come on residential retreats – as a day retreat or overnight stay - or day courses, conferences, away-days.
Provision of facilities for other Christian organisations and/or churches to hold meetings, events, away-days etc.
Shekinah has a policy of not excluding anyone on the grounds of cost. We continue to offer facilities free of charge to various individuals and groups – in particular, those who are using the facilities for respite and/or prayerful purposes.
Financial Review:
It was agreed that the financial year should be from 1 April to 31 March, as this will simplify reconciliation with bank statements. This year, however, has a start date of 11,4,23 to follow on from the 2022-2023 declaration. Opening balance on 11.4.22 was £2939. Income for the year was £125576. Expenditure for the year was £123699. Closing balance on 31.3.24 was £4807. Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others: Not applicable.
Statement of Financial Activities:
Incoming resources from gift aid and donations £31023.20. Incoming resources from charitable activities £75734.63; reclaimed gift aid £7823.48; miscellaneous other £17665.41. Expenditure categories: Wages/pensions £77469. Catering £11958. Running costs (building, maintenance, utilities, rates, phone/internet, etc) £32804.10
Summary
The second half of the year was a financially difficult one in which ‘earned’ monthly income sometimes did not cover expenditure; a major reason was the cost of replacing failing and/or old equipment; there also seemed to be a Covid hangover with a number of ‘regular’ (in previous years) bookings not being made this year. A significant burden was caused by a long-term absence of a key worker, which meant that, as well as paying SSP, we had to employ cover workers or pay overtime to existing staff. Financial gifts from faithful individuals helped to carry us through most of the situation, but we also had to reduce the hours of two staff members.
(A footnote from 5 November 2025: bookings for August, September, October and November have recovered considerably, with most weekends being fully booked and midweek bookings being good; bookings are also in place for early 2026)
Joyce Lewis
Joyce Lewis Chair of Trustees November 2025
SHEKINAH CHRISTIAN TRUST
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| £ | |
|---|---|
| OpeningBank Balance | 4807 |
| INCOME | |
| Gift Aid Donations | 28846 |
| Donations | 2177 |
| Generated(Earned)Income via bank transfer | 75735 |
| Generated(Earned)Income via cash | 14033 |
| Income Tax Reclaimed | 7823 |
| Other Income | 3633 |
| TOTAL | 132247 |
| EXPENDITURE | |
| Expenses of Generated(Earned)Income | 12324 |
| Wages/Pensions | 89018 |
| Maintenance | 15844 |
| Utilities | 11600 |
| Rates | 1771 |
| Phone & Internet | 1280 |
| Other expenses | 2203 |
| TOTAL | 134040 |
| SUMMARY | |
| OpeningBalance | 4807 |
| Income | 132247 |
| Expenditure | -134040 |
| ClosingBank Account | 3014 |
| Capital Account represented By: | |
| Virgin Money | 3014 |
Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of
SHEKINAH CHRISTIAN TRUST
This report on the Receipts and Payments Account of the Shekinah Christian Trust for the year ended 31 March 2025
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiners
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year and that an independent examination is needed.
It is the Examiner’s responsibility to:-
-
Examine the accounts
-
To follow procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission • To state whether or not any particular matters have come to one’s attention.
Basis of Examiner’s Report
The examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directors given by the Charity Commission.
That examination includes a review of the account records kept by Shekinah Christian Trust and a comparison of the accounts and those records.
It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such any such matters.
The procedures undertaking do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Examiner’s Statement
In connection with the examination, no matter has come to my attention:-
-
1) which requires me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:-
-
To keep accounting records in accordance with the Charities Act 2011; and
-
To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the requirement of the Act have not been met; or
-
2) to which in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
E Dsilva
November 2025