ANNUAL REPORT for the year ended 31 March 2023
GOVERNANCE & ADMINISTRATION
HOPE GARDENS CHARITABLE TRUST: Registered charity number 1100868
Declaration of Trust: 5 October 2003
Deed of Amendment: 4 December 2017 (to change the Name)
List of Trustees-
Richard Lloyd (Chairman) Anthony Simmons (Deputy Chairman) Pippa Satchwell-Smith Sarah Sellen Christine Steeds Robert Glendenning (Deputy Chairman USA) Tanya Bray (USA) Alan Ritchie (Hon Treasurer) Resigned September 2022
How Trustees are appointed, inducted and trained.
Trustees are appointed by the decision of the board. All Trustees have been appointed because they have an on-going relationship with, and take an active interest in, the projects Hope Garden supports.
Two part time staff members in UK; Director: Hilary Atherton (from January 2020) Financial Controller: Tracey Hall (September 2022)
Bankers: HSBC, 17 The Marsh, Hythe, Southampton, SO45 6ZB
Independent Examiner: David Steeds, FCA
OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES
Aims & Objects as per Trust Deed:
“To further the religious and other charitable works of the Christian Churches in India with particular reference to the spiritual and material needs of the poor, the sick and those suffering from forms of social deprivation and in the training of ministers to serve those in need”.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit
Hope Gardens only supports two Indian charities that run projects consistent with our objects and which benefit the public. The Rachel Mercy Sugantha Trust (RMS) oversees social projects supporting orphans, the disabled and providing access to free primary health care. The Rhema Religious and Charitable Trust (RRCT) trains ministers to serve the poor and establish new churches.
Policy on grant making/ Distributions
Hope Gardens only makes grants to these two Indian Charities known intimately by all trustees. A lot of income we receive is restricted to one of the projects run by one of these charities. Unrestricted income is distributed to projects run by these charities as discerned by the trustees.
Contribution made by volunteers
Hope Gardens receives support from volunteers. The Chairman, The Deputy Chairman and Treasurer are entirely voluntary. Some people travel from the UK to the projects in India and volunteer to work.
The Chairman & Deputy Chairman visited the Hope Gardens Programmes and inspected key capital projects in India in January 2023. They met the India board members and held a pastors meeting to understand more about the communities that the projects serve.
A team from the United States, led by Deputy Chairman Bob Glendening also visited the projects in Cumbum, Tamil Nadu, in January 2023.
The next visit is scheduled for January 2024
Bob continues to manage the American entity which raises funds in the US, most of which is sent via this UK Charity to projects that Hope Gardens supports in South India. This team both witnessed and participated in the work of the RMS and RRC Trusts.
As well as in person visits, regular video conferences with the Director, Chairpersons and Trustees has enabled excellent communication and monitoring of projects during this period. Supporters have also been able to connect with our projects in India and the project leads through zoom meetings and videos. The next supporter visit will be in January 2024
ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE
How we achieved our Aims & Objectives
We attain our aims and objectives in two ways. First, we continue to forge very close relationships with our partners in India with regular visits by board members, weekly email and call updates. These close relationships enable the board to have great confidence in the projects we support together with strong financial accountability. Secondly, we have raised substantial sums of money from supporters in the UK and USA to enable these projects in India to flourish and benefit many poor people.
Post Covid there has been a need to increase our investment in education and the after school clubs. As a result we have proactively fundraised for our existing clubs to ensure that we were able to provide additional resources and hot meals and increase the salaries of our tutors.
Safeguarding is paramount to all that we do and in line with the recommendations of the Theni District Welfare Office we have enhanced our school with a sensory room and playground and built a more substantial compound wall around our school and hostel.
Our church ministry continues with the completion of Pastor Thomas Church in Koodakovil and Rev Barnabus Church in Thiruvannamalai. We are delighted that post Covid the bible college numbers have increased and this year we have been able to offer places to students who require additional learning support.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The principal sources of funds for Hope Gardens are individual donations, contributions from grant-making trusts and fundraising events and appeals.
All expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity. Administrative costs are for direct charitable purposes. Governance is provided by trustees and the Independent Examiner on a pro bono basis.
Hope Gardens’ operating costs in the UK don’t require us to hold large reserves. We try to ensure that there is a level of Unrestricted Reserves to cover ongoing costs. There are no substantial balances held in Restricted Reserves for any major Capital project in India.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Richard Lloyd,20[th] September 2023
Hope Gardens Charitable Trust: Charity Number 1100868
Signed on Behalf of the Trustees
Richard Lloyd, Chair
Tony Simmonds, Deputy Chair
IndL'pLndent ex¢imineVs report to the tru51ees of the Hope Gtirdens Chtiritiible Ttust (the "Trust") I P(l on Ihe accojnts of the Trust for the pericwj 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, which a set out on page 1. Ki%iKYIIvL rcsp0115ibiliiic.b of Iru51Lrs and cxamincr The charilY8 trustees are re8ponsitAe for the prepar8ts.on of the acuunts. The charitys trustees ccnsider that an audit is nol required for this year under section 144121 of the Charities Acl 2011 lthe 2011 Act) and Ihat an indndent examination Is needed. It is my r•srx)rtsibility lo.. examine the accounts urKSer section 145 01 the 2011 Act." lo fdlow the procedures laid down in the glweral Directs)ns gi by the Charity Commisgon undw secti( 14515llbl of the 2011 Act.. and to slate ether PartUl8[ mattws have ccthe to my aitention. Basis of InWdeAl ¢uMIr'S My examinatvjn was carried out in *coriJance wlh the general Direcon5 given by the Charity Cornmissiorn. An examinatN)n IrKludes a VIeW of the accounb.ng rec¢yds kepl by the chanty and a mpariSOn of the accounts presente¢J with those records. 11 also indudes considerat of any unusual items or disclosu in the accounts. an¢J seeking explanations from y(¥J as trustees conceming any S[h rnatters. The procedures undertaken do ntst provide all the eviderte that would be required in an audit and consequently no oplnion is given as to whetherthe accyJJnts present a'true and fair Vie and the reFKJrt is limited to Ih)Be rnatters sel out in the stalemenl below. In connecb.on th my examinatson, no matter has come to my 8ttenti¢)n'. 111 whi¢h gives me 3$Onable eaus¢ lo beliève Ihat in any m8tÈiial respÈct the requirÈments.' to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act, and lo prepare accounts which acurd with the aCCUntrng records and cc¥npJy the OUnty'r1j requirernents of the 2011 Act have not been met.. of 121 lo vthich, in my OPinK)n. attention sh¢MJld be dr8wn in (xdef to en8trAe a prwr under5tandirvJ ol the tlntS to bè ached. DavK1 St•8ds MA FCA l Lituewtsrth Avenue. Eshef. Kf10 9PB 7 November 2023