2025-03-31-accounts - The Evangelical Christian Leadership In Southern Africa Trust

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Registered Charity number

1089599

The Evangelical Christian Leadership in Southern Africa Trust (ECLISA Trust)

Report and Accounts

31 March 2025

The Evangelical Christian Leadership in Southern Africa Trust

Report and Financial Statements Contents

	Page
Legal and administrative information	3
Report of the trustees	4 - 6
Independent examiner's report	7
Statement of financial activities	8
Balance sheet	9
Notes forming part of the financial statements	10 - 13

The Evangelical Christian Leadership in Southern Africa Trust Legal and Administrative Information

Reference and administrative information

Charity name: The Evangelical Christian Leadership in Southern Africa Trust Charity working name: ECLISA Charity registration number: 1089599 Correspondence address: Mr Robert Greenfield ECLISA Treasurer 7 St Georges Close Heybridge Basin Maldon Essex CM9 4RZ eclisa1@gmail.com www.eclisa.org Trustees: Martin Morrison, Chair Mark Burkill Pieter Odendaal Jerry Gule Roger Wiles

Independent Examiner:

Dudley Nasland 20 Starboard View South Woodham Ferrers Chelmsford Essex CM3 5GR

Bankers

Lloyds TSB Bank plc Pall Mall St James 8-10 Waterloo Place London SW1Y 4BE

Solicitors Monro Fisher Wasbrough 8 Great James Street London WC1N 3DF

The Evangelical Christian Leadership in Southern Africa Trust Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 March 2025

The Trustees are pleased to present our report together with the independently examined financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Legal and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, including the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

Structure, governance and management.

Governing document

ECLISA Trust was formed by a declaration of trust on 23 April 2001, and was registered as a charity on 30 November 2001. The Trust Deed establishes the objects and powers of the charity under which it is governed.

Management and governance arrangements

The trust deed provides for new Trustees to be appointed at any time so that the total number of Trustees shall at no time exceed five. This was amended during 2013 such that the maximum number of Trustees should be eight.

The chair of trustees is responsible for the induction of any new trustee, which involves awareness of a trustee’s responsibilities, the governing document, administrative procedures, the history and philosophical approach of the charity. A new trustee receives copies of the previous year’s annual report and accounts and an electronic copy of the Charity commission leaflet ‘the Essential Trustee: What you need to know’.

Risk Management

The trustees review annually the risks that the charity faces. In looking to the future the trustees are aware of risks associated with making grants, for example fraud and charities seeking two grants for the same project. They have documented procedures to reduce risk in this area by ensuring that projects comply with the Trust’s policies and that project managers are independently vouched for.

Objectives and activities

The trust deed defines the objects of the Trust as the advancement of the Christian faith for the benefit of the people of Southern Africa and beyond. This is expressed in activities defined by UK charity law as “charitable” which:

Relieve poverty in such ways as may be thought fit;
Alleviate suffering;
Promote Christianity; and
Such other charitable purposes as the Trustees in their absolute discretion think fit.

We are mindful of the public benefit tests for charities, and confirm that we have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

Procedures and policy for grant making

The trust deed gives the trustees the power to apply the funds in such a manner as they think fit to or for the benefit of any charitable object or purpose. The trustees currently have a policy of supporting three types of activity: relief of poverty; alleviating suffering; promotion of Christianity.

The trustees identify projects and organisations they wish to support especially where the work is well known to them. The Trust has a policy of not making grants to people or organisations who apply speculatively.

A formal Trust review meeting including all trustees is held once a year. At other times two or more trustees may hold informal meetings or electronic meetings are held to make decisions on new grants and to review on-going regular grants and their effectiveness. Whenever possible, grants are made to organisations working in the appropriate field, which themselves hold charitable status or the equivalent overseas and therefore have their own accountability procedures. Grants to other organisations, or to overseas non-profit organisations are made only when the Trust has personal contact and is able to verify the correct accountability for the use of the grant.

Activities, achievements and performance

The Trust has continued its activities this year with grants to existing projects. Covid-19 has had less of an impact on projects this year. Existing projects have continued to operate and have continued to require support. Therefore ECLISA’s work has remained consistent. The work of CESA, (Church of England in South Africa) is at the heart of many of the projects supported, including community projects such as the flagship Nokuphila school project in Midrand, Love Trust, iThemba and Trinity Children’s Centre. These projects focus on children, some providing particular support for AIDS victims and their families, but all aiming to transform South Africa’s prospects through spiritual and educational work among disadvantaged young people. The majority of donations received are restricted to specific projects, and Africa Gospel Fund was the main beneficiary in the year ended 31 March 2025, with ECLISA supporting the Church’s running costs. Christian outreach is supported through the East Mountain Church Plant, St Barnabas Cape Town, the Message Church Apprentice scheme, and missions supported by Christ Church Midrand, particularly the African Gospel Fund. In addition to restricted donations received, grants to existing projects were made from General Funds by the Trustees.

Financial Review

The Trust’s assets increased by £428 during the year to £6,980, after donations received of £166,613 and grants made and costs of £166,185. This increase is mainly due to timing around prior and current year end, of gifts made to ECLISA and of gifts from ECLISA to organisations ECLISA supports. Restricted donations totalling £165,758 (including gift aid) were received as detailed in the financial statements. The Trustees are satisfied with the position of the Trust at the balance sheet date.

Investment policy

Under the Trust Deed, the Trustees have the power to invest in such assets as they see fit. The Trust’s assets during the year were not sufficient to warrant separate investment, other than to hold surplus cash on deposit with the Trust’s bankers.

Reserves policy

The Trust Deed requires the Trustees to use the income of the Trust in promoting its objects. The use of the Trust’s reserves is therefore wholly at the discretion of the trustees, with no particular level of reserves required to be maintained. The Trustees are satisfied with the balance of General Funds held as at year end, of £2,465.

Future plans

ECLISA plans to build on this work by expanding the connections with approved projects in Southern Africa, and by encouraging approved projects to direct donors to ECLISA to facilitate support.

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its financial activities that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departure disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue on that basis.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the charity (accounts and reports) regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Members of the Trustee board

Members of the Trustee board, who served during the year and up to the date of this report, are set out on page 1.

In accordance with charity law, we certify that:

So far as we are aware, there is no relevant information of which the independent examiner is unaware; and
We have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity’s independent examiners are aware of that information

Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf on

Trustee Date

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The Evangelical Christian Leadership in Southern Africa Trust

(charity no. 1089599)

on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2025, which are set out on pages 8 to 13

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

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

The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
to follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act, and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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: 16/07/2025 Name: Mr Dudley A Nasland Address: 20 Starboard View, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, Essex. CM3 5GR

The Evangelical Christian Leadership in Southern Africa Trust Statement of Financial Activities for the year to 31 March 2025

Notes Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds: Voluntary income: Donations and grants 3 Activities for generating funds investment income Total incoming resources Resources expended Charitable Activities 4 Governance costs 2 Trustee remuneration 6 Total resources expended Net incoming/(outgoing) resources Net movement in funds Fund balances at 1 April Fund balances period end 10	2025 £ 166,613 0 166,613 166,164 21 0 166,185 428 428 6,552 6,980	2024 £ 155,862 0
		155,862
		165,168 21 0
		165,189
		(9,327)
		(9,327) 15,879
		6,552

The Evangelical Christian Leadership in Southern Africa Trust Balance Sheet at 31 March 2025

	Notes		2025		2024
			£		£
Current Assets
Debtors	8	3,225		2,711
Cash at bank and in hand		3,755		3,841
		6,980		6,552
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year	9	0		0
Net current assets			6,980		6,552
Net Assets	10		6,980		6,552
Funds	11
Unrestricted funds
General fund			2,465		1,706
Restricted funds
Nokuphila School fund			730		145
Love Trust			100		25
Christchurch Midrand			0		2,000
Trinity Children's Centre			119		459
Nnete			240		400
East Mountain Church Plant			15		30
Message Church apprentices			0		750
iThemba			14		187
Trinity Church			3,297		850
Total funds			6,980		6,552

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on

Trustee Date

The Evangelical Christian Leadership in Southern Africa Trust Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

1 Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies are summarised below.

1.1 Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and reporting by Charities (SORP2005) preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

1.2 Going concern

The Trustees conclude that the charity is a going concern as grants are only made from restricted or surplus unrestricted income and no commitments have been made for expenditure beyond the minimal costs of administration so it therefore has sufficient assets to meet its liabilities for the foreseeable future.

1.3 Changes to accounting policies and estimates

The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and in the previous year and no changes have occurred in the reporting period. No material prior year errors have been identified in the reporting period.

2.1 Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable, including any associated credit for Gift Aid. Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
Investment income is included when receivable.
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the Trustees’ annual report.

2.2 Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes VAT which cannot be recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in its grant-making activities for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.

All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the statement of financial activities on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource, costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, others are apportioned on an appropriate basis e.g. estimated usage, as set out in note 3.

Grant recipients are considered by the Trustees for suitability and concurrence of aims with the charity and grants are then made with no conditions attaching to the grant. The full funding obligation is recognised at this point.

There were no employees who received pay over £60,000

2.3 Funds structure

Restricted donations are available for the charity’s use only in accordance with the terms under which, and for the purposes which, the funds were donated to the charity.

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

Details of the nature and purpose of each fund is set out in note 11.

2.4 Related party transactions

Total donations by Trustees to the charity were £0 in the current year (2024 £0).

The Chair of Trustees is Chairman of The Gospel Coalition Africa. He is the founder of The Love Trust and is a Bishop of the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa (REACH SA) and was formerly the rector of Christ Church Midrand. No personal benefit was derived by the Trustees in the current year.

The Evangelical Christian Leadership in Southern Africa Trust Notes to the Accounts for the year to 31 March 2025

3 Donations received (including Gift aid) For Trinity Children's Centre For Nnete For East Mountain Church Plant For Grace Primary For Message Apprentices For Nokuphila School For Love Trust For Christchurch Midrand For African Gospel Fund For The Bible Talks For iThemba For Trinity Church For the Gospel Coaltion Africa Unrestricted 4 Resources expended Basis of allocation Costs directly allocated to activities Donations and grants Direct Support costs allocated to activities Audit and accountancy Usage Resources & admin Usage Bank charges and interest Usage Impairment of Debtors Usage Total resources expended 5 Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year This is stated after charging: Bank fees - audit services 6 Trustee remuneration	Grant making Govern- ance 165,744 0 0 21 420 0	2025 £ 7,101 960 450 0 1,800 7,827 3,629 0 50,000 13,750 450 79,255 536 855 166,613 2025 £ 165,744 0 21 420 0 166,185 2025 £ 0 2025 £ 0	2024 £ 7,862 960 450 1,250 1,750 11,253 1,636 10,000 79,000 25,095 450 15,946 0 210
			155,862
			2024 £ 164,913 0 21 255 0
	166,164 21		165,189
			2024 £ 0 2024 £ 0

The Evangelical Christian Leadership in Southern Africa Trust Notes to the Accounts for the year to 31 March 2025

7 Taxation

As a registered charity, ECLISA Trust is exempt from tax on income and gains to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the charity. The charity is registered for Gift aid with HM Revenue & Customs under reference number XR7067.

8 Debtors Gift Aid tax recoverable Other debtors 9 Creditors Accruals and deferred income 10 Analysis of net assets between Current assets Current liabilities 11 Movement in funds Unrestricted funds: General funds Restricted funds: Nokuphila School Love Trust Christchurch Midrand Trinity Children's Centre Nnete East Mountain Church Plant Message Church Apprentices African Gospel Fund iThemba Trinity Church The Bible Talks Gospel Coaltion Africa	funds Restricte d £ 4,515 0 1 April 2024 Incoming resources Transfers between funds £ £ £ 1,706 855 0 145 7,827 0 25 3,629 0 2,000 0 0 459 7,101 0 400 960 0 30 450 0 750 1,800 0 0 50,000 0 187 450 0 850 79,255 0 0 13,750 0 0 536 0	2025 £ 3,225 0 3,225 2025 £ 0 General £ 2,465 0 Outgoing resources £ 96 7,242 3,554 2,000 7,441 1,120 465 2,550 50,000 623 76,808 13,750 536 166,185	2024 £ 2,037 0
			2,037
			2024 £ 0 Total funds £ 6,980 0
			6,980
			31 March 2025 £ 2,465 730 100 0 119 240 15 0 0 14 3,297 0 0
	6,552 166,613 0		6,980

The general fund is to be used at the discretion of the Trustees in promoting the Trust's objectives