2023-09-30-accounts - Congress Wbn

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1089807

Faith-Based Global Human Development

CONGRESS WBN 1089807

REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023

Congress House 250-256 Kingsland Road

Hackney London E8 4DG 0207 249 6633

1089807

CONGRESS WBN 1089807

LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023

REGISTERED ADDRESS

Congress House 250-256 Kingsland Road Hackney London E8 4DG

CHARITY NUMBER 1089807 GOVERNING DOCUMENT Declaration of Trust dated 1 September 2000 TRUSTEES Dr Noel Woodroffe Paul Humberstone Paul Lindo

PRINCIPAL BANKERS HSBC Bank PLC INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

George A Kitcher FCA

Regus 15th Floor, Brunel House 2 Fitzalan Road Cardiff CF24 0EB

1089807

INDEX

Pages 4 – 6

Pages 4 – 6 Trustee Report Page 7 Independent Examiner’s Report Page 8 Statement of Financial Activities Page 9 Balance Sheet Pages 10 – 13 Notes to the Accounts

1089807

CONGRESS WBN 1089807

TRUSTEE REPORT YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023

The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report for the year ended 30 September 2023.

OBJECTS

The objectives Congress WBN are focused on effecting human, social and national transformation through the propagation of clearly defined faith-based, moral, ethical, and values-based principles, patterns, and approaches. The organisation is composed of eight sectors of strategic global initiatives involving networks of professional groups, educational institutions, businesses, churches, individual national leaders, university students, and global technology initiatives.

STUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The trustees consider the board of trustees in charge of directing and controlling the charity. Meetings of the trustees are quorate and regular with additional communication between meetings. Routine discussions include the wellbeing of volunteers, the development of new philosophical & operational platforms, upcoming programmes or events, the level of reserves, the financial position and risk management.

The operational management of the charity is delegated to Paul Lindo. With a leadership team of volunteers, regular leadership meetings are convened to review the charity's programmes and set targets to be achieved in line with the objects of the charity.

REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

The past year has been another significant one for the charity, marked by impactful initiatives and unwavering support for our communities. One of the year's highlights was hosting a youth retreat specifically for individuals under 20 years old. This retreat brought together hundreds of young people from the Global Borderless Kingdom core community, Elijah Centre. It provided a unique opportunity for these youths to deepen their faith, renew their commitments, and prepare themselves to be the future resources for the Congress. The event was a powerful time of spiritual growth and fellowship, helping to forge lasting connections and inspire the next generation.

Our support for our Ukraine based community has also been steadfast, even as the situation there grows increasingly perilous due to the ongoing conflict. Despite the challenges and dangers, our efforts to provide aid and encouragement have not wavered. The community members in Ukraine, continue to display remarkable resilience and strength in their faith, even while living in battle-torn areas. Their unwavering spirit and perseverance serve as a testament to the enduring power of our Christian faith in times of extreme crisis.

1089807

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Income Generation

The charity does not undertake fund raising activities. Instead, it is funded by the financial contributions of individuals and connected communities committed to its values and objectives.

Financial Performance

Total Incoming resources for the year to 30[th] September was £267k. c83% (£223k) of this is made up of individual charitable donations (see page 8). Individual donations continue to grow, increasing by 9% over the previous year. Donations overall increased by 4% between years.

Operating Expenditure was £238k for the year, (£227k in 2021/22). Increase in expenditure was primarily due to hyperinflation impacting on building lease, travel costs and general expenditure (see page 12). Investment into seminars and conferences has also increased as the Charity returned to full post-pandemic function.

Investment Policy

The trustees undertake an annual review of the operations of the charity to determine opportunities for investment. By default, the charity holds in reserve funds intended for future events and activities in the coming months.

Risk Management

The trustees have considered the relevant operational, financial and compliance risks for the charity and have taken steps to mitigate:

a. Financial Risks

This includes unplanned tapering of financial contributions thereby causing the trust to be unable to meet its financial obligations. This has been mitigated by the trust through the regular convening of the finance committee wherein the trust receives regular up to date financial information to enable the trustees to plan accordingly.

b. Operational Risks

This includes the inappropriate management of volunteers leading to defamation and damage to reputation. This is mitigated by reporting structures being in place to enable trustees to review operational issues in a timely manner. A constantly managed culture of values-based functionality embedded in the operational structures of the organisation also mitigates against this risk.

c. Compliance Risk

The trustees recognise the risk of becoming non-compliant either to changes in statute or by outdated policies and procedures. The risk is mitigated by the work of their compliance team who routinely report and advise on changing legal/policy requirements.

Reserves Policy

The trustees aim to maintain current assets at a level which equates to a month of unrestricted charitable expenditure. With robust cash and account monitoring systems in place, the trustees consider that this level provides sufficient funds to enable financial obligations to be met and allow for sufficient time to review and revise its ongoing commitments should a decrease in income be recognised. The level of current assets at 30[th] September 2023 was £197k. Unrestricted charity expenditure is £21k a month on average. The current level of reserve is therefore adequate as per the above policy.

1089807

TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements in each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

i. Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
ii. Observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP;
iii. Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
iv. State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
v. Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue operations.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that 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 applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial information may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

APPROVAL

This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf on 29[th] July 2023 by:

Paul Lindo

1089807

CONGRESS WBN 1089807

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 30 September 2023

Note	Unrestricted Funds	Total Funds 2023	Total Funds 2022
1 3	£ 222,551 44,184 692 267,427 17 267,444 237,769 237,769	222,551 44,184 692 267,427 17 267,444 237,769 237,769	£ 203,704 54,353 27
			258,084
			2
			258,086
			226,904
			226,904
		29,675
	29,675		31,182

	167,151 196,826	167,151 196,826	135,969
			167,151

The above funds are unrestricted as to purpose.

All movements of funds and all recognised gains and losses are included above.

The notes on pages 10 to 13 form part of these accounts.

1089807

CONGRESS WBN 1089807

Balance Sheet as at 30 September 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
Description Note 2023 2022
Current Assets
Cash at Bank 4 195,183 165,791
Cash in Hand 1,643 1,360
Debtors & Prepayments 5
196,826 167,151
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Creditors & Accruals 6
Net Current Assets 196,826 167,151
NET ASSETS 196,826 167,151
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund SOFA 196,826 167,151
TOTAL FUNDS 196,826 167,151
----- End of picture text -----

APPROVAL

Approved by the Trustees on 29[th] July 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

Paul Lindo

The notes on pages 10 to 13 form part of these accounts.

1089807

CONGRESS WBN 1089807 Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2023

1. Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of preparation and assessment of going concern

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities published on 16th July 2014, the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (FRSSE) and the Charities Act 2011 and applicable regulations.

The accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts.

(b) Funds structure

The unrestricted funds are available to be spent on the furthering of the objects of the charity as seen fit and proper by the trustees.

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, there is sufficient certainty or receipt and so it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

Donations from members and other donations are recognised when received.

Income in respect of HMRC Gift Aid claims is recognised when the claim has been submitted to HMRC.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included upon notification of the interest payable by the Bank.

(d) Expenditure recognition

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured quickly.

All expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis.

1089807

CONGRESS WBN 1089807

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2023 – continued

(e) Irrecoverable VAT

Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure line for which it was incurred.

(f) Governance costs

Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. These costs include any costs incurred relating to trustee board meetings. For the period governance cost was £nil (2021/22£nil)

(h) Charitable activities

The expenditure on charitable activities is shown in note 3.

(i) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

The charity does not have any tangible fixed assets

(j) Pensions

The charity does not have any employees and does not pay into any pension funds on behalf of anyone.

2. Related party transactions and trustees' expenses and remuneration

The board of trustees have commissioned Portal Consulting Service Ltd (PCS) to undertake a process of capacity building, including management and operations reviews. PCS has a successful track record of delivering such capacity building programmes to its customer base. The board of trustees has commissioned Congress Global Consulting Ltd (CGC) to undertake wider reaching strategic consulting services. Paul Lindo is a director of PCS and CGC. During the year £6,000 was paid to PCS for services (£6,000 2021/22) and £9,800 was paid to CGC for services (£7,025 2021/22). These costs are included in the general cost category of the operating expenditure.

1089807

CONGRESS WBN 1089807 Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2023 – continued

3. Operating costs on charitable activities

----- Start of picture text -----
Operating Costs General Total Total
Funds 2023 2022
£ £ £
Utilities 3,534 3,534 1,511
Communication 4,404 4,404 4,432
Rents & Hires 73,328 73,328 64,532
Travel & Translation 42,043 42,043 21,537
Hotel Accommodation 4,526 4,526 1,066
Premises 8,041 8,041 55,688
Bank Charges 855 855 720
General 66,751 66,751 38,287
Gifts and Donations 12,900 12,900 16,406
Office & Admin 5,954 5,954 6,193
Seminars & Conferences 15,432 15,432 16,531
Total 237,769 237,769 226,904
----- End of picture text -----

1089807

CONGRESS WBN 1089807

Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2023 – continued

	2023 2022	2023 2022
4	Cash at Bank £ £
	HSBC - CWBN (Savings) 3,886 2,950
	HSBC - CWBN 9,945 5,067
	HSBC - ECEL 131,185 104,424
	HSBC – ORC 46,619 38,016
	HSBC – CWBN_RC 3,548 15,334
	195,183 165,791

5	Debtors & Prepayments
	Debtors 0 0
	Prepayments 0 0
	0 0
	There have been no debtors and prepayment in 2022 and 2023



6	Creditors & Accruals
	Creditors
	Accruals	0 0
		0 0

All creditors relate to unrestricted funds

1089807 Independent Examinevs Report to the Trustees ofr. CONGRESS WBN I report on the accounts of the tnjst for the year ended 30 September 2023 which are set OLrt on pages 8 to 13. Respective responsibilities of tntstees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of accounts. The charitys trustees Consider that an audit is not required for this year under sectM)n 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act), and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibilty to: Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act. Follow the procedures laid down in the general directFons gtven by the Charity Commissioners made under section 145{5){b) of the 2011 Act, and To state whether particular tnatters have (x)me to my attention. Basis of independent examinerfs report My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given byth8 Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a revtew of the acmunting 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 frotn you as trustees on any such matlers. The procedures undertaken do riot provide all the evidence that would be required by an audil and consequently, no opinion is gtven as to whether the a(xounts present a "true and fair vievf and the report is limited in those matters set OLrt in the statement below. Independent examinerfs statement In connection with my examinats'on, no matter has come to my attention: which gNes me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements (a) to keep accounting records in accordance wtth section 130 of the 2011 Act: and {bl to prepare ac(x)unts which accord with accounting rerdS and to comply with the accounting reqUIrnents of the 2011 Act have not been met" or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounting to be reached. George lQ'tcher Chartered Accountant