ANNUAL REPORT for the year ended 31 March 2024 elie¥
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) Craig Kennedy (Hon Treasurer)
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 Director and Financial Controller visited the Hope Gardens Programmes and inspected key capital projects in India in January 2024. They met the India board members and auditors and held meetings with key pastors and staff members to understand more about the communities that the projects serve.
Deputy Chairman Bob Glendening and Tanya Bray (Trustee) visited the projects in Cumbum, Tamil Nadu, in February 2023. They visited churches, saw medical camps and met with bible college students and pastors. The next UK Board visit is scheduled for January 2024
A supporter visit was carried out in January 2024 with 4 members of a key mission partner Dibden Purlieu church.
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.
We have continued our investment in Pastor welfare providing accommodation and transportation to enhance their ministry. We have continued to focus on education supporting the after school clubs and actively fundraising for more hot meals and an increase in staff salaries. Our Christmas Appeal was successful and match funded enabling us to raise key funds for these projects.
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 new physio facility and employed a full time physiotherapist.
Our church ministry continues with the completion of Rev Robin’s compound wall, and a refurbishment in Theni raising the floor for flood prevention. Bishop Prakash received a contribution towards a car for his expanded ministry, 4 other pastors received scooters for their ministry and an additional scooter for bible college students to attend their placements.
We have supported the humanitarian crisis in Manipur with fundraising efforts and teamed up with a partner charity to provide 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, 8th October 2024
FIOPE GARDENS CHARITABLE TfiuST Regist8r8d Charity . 114KI86B RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS AccouKf for th• year Ond 315t M4rch 2024 23 R•11•1 FliiMct•d R81lrKlO Un41 lurkd Pwr TOT EV>dUE RECEIPTS 121,150 DonallDTry& FuTrkaiswYJ 5,000 1P1,683 87.051 181.715 PAYMEpirs 161,959 thsLnbuf)t4 10 IrN¥ 1B.410 Adri7ls1r3L0 & Support UK le0,? 380 90.280 25.PP8 118.ZT8 25,998 25.998 94 .8 90.280 -5È,$19 SuRPLUw.F1CIr 4.4(Kl 15.78] 81,053 72,435 79,682 O Trnslercl Fur#ts CASH FUND5 c8Trd CASH FUNDS brrJht 13.837 ,424 28,0ty) -10,387 28,0 21,750 21,183 21.16J 1B.437 9,358 28,795 93.Sg8 SlgnedoD b•h•Molthe cbaTJtyS fmslees Rgv RiGlJard Lhyd rony Srfflriixp&.' Chairrn8n TN51ee
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of the Hope Gardens Charitable Trust (the 'Trusi") I report on the accounts of the Trust for the peric*J 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, which are set out on page 1. Respeciive responsibilities of iruslees and examiner The charitys trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charivs trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year undef sectlon 144{21 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an Independent examination is needed. 11 is my SPOnsibl1[ty lo.. examine the accounts urKler section 145 of the 2011 Act.. lo follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given ty the Chanty Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act. and lo stale whether particular matters have come to my attention. Baqis of indcpendeni examiner's rewrt My examination was carried out in accordance wth the general Directions given by the Charity CLNnmisslL. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the chanty and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosufes in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such mallers. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence Ihal would be requlred In an audit and consequently no opinlon Is glven as to whether the accounts present a 'lrue and fair Vie and the report is limited to those matters sel out in the statement below. Ind¥pendenl LxominLV$ $¢alLm¥nl In connection with my examination. no matter has come lo my attention- 111 which glve5 me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: lo keep accounllng records In accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Acl., and lo prepare accounts which accord wlth the accounting records and comply wllh the accountln9 requirements of the 2011 Act havè not been m8t,' or 121 to whlch, In my oplnlon. attenllon should be drawn In order to enable a proper understandlng of the accwnls to be reached. Davld Steeds MA FCA 1 Lillleworth Avenue, Esher, KT10 9PB 13 November 2024