1 ## The Saints’ Projects Trust ‘To advance the Christian faith and relieve poverty’ Trustees’ Annual Report for year ended 31 December 2022 1 2 ## Contents Legal and Administrative Information …………………………………………………………………………. 3 Structure, Government, Management ……………………………………………………….………………..… 5 Examiner’s Report ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8 Financial Report …………………………………………………………………………………………….….………… 9 2 3 ## Legal and Administrative Information ## Charity Address The Saints’ Projects Trust 97 Warren Close Cambridge CB2 1LE Charity Number 1115724 Other Contact Information Phone: 07735 393151 Email: hello@saintsprojectstrust.org Website: www.saintsprojectstrust.org ## Governing Document The Saints’ Projects Trust was established on 20 July 2006. ## Coordinators Sampson Okyere, International Coordinator, Ghana Bharat Bhattari, Deputy International Coordinator, Nepal Employees Caleb Howard, CEO Patrons Lord Alton of Liverpool Rt Rev Dr Christopher Cocksworth Daniel Hodson Grace Natoli Baroness Stroud Patrick Whitworth 3 4 ## Trustees Rev Michael John Smith (chair) Rev Mark Mills-Powell Rev Dr Richard Higginson Rev Daniel Foot Rev Andrew Wadsworth (retired 1 May 2023) LingLing Parnin Rev Tim Mills Obiageliaku Rocque Ully-Lange Orobor Sampson Okyere (joined 29 November 2022) ## Bankers NatWest Bank RationalFX 21 Petty Cury One Canada Square, 32[nd] Floor Cambridge CB2 3NE London E14 5AB ## Independent Examiner Tim Richardson 8 Emsons Close Linton Cambridge CB21 4NB 4 5 ## Structure, Government, Management ## Governing Document The Saints’ Projects Trust original deed was written and approved by the first group of trustees on 20 July 2006. Shortly thereafter, the Charity Commission granted Registered Charity status under registration number 1115724. Set forth in the Trust Deed are the strategic aims and goals of the charity: Strategic Aims – (1) To enable Christian prayer, teaching, and ministry service; (2) to support ministry to widows, disabled, orphans and students by supplying clothing, food, medicine, shelter and education; (3) supporting Christian ministry in local churches and teaching the Christian religion in the UK and overseas; (4) establishing and strengthening houses of prayer in the UK and overseas; (5) organizing pilgrimages and retreats. CORE Goals– Ministry to Churches, Orphans, Relief, and Education. Our desire is to work with local pastors and Guild members to impact and heal their communities, plus funding education and small businesses for brighter futures. ## Organisational Structure The charity is governed by a group of trustees who meet quarterly to set policy and review the activity of the charity. Trustee meetings are facilitated by the Chairperson and minutes are taken and reviewed at each meeting. New trustees are proposed by existing trustees when they have satisfied themselves both of the need for further trustees, and that the person proposed meets the necessary qualifications as determined by the current trustees. In the year ending December 31, one new trustee was added: Sampson Okyere. He was approved at the Trustee Meeting on 29 November 2022. ## Review of Activities and Impact for Public Benefit The mission of SPT is to ‘advance the Christian faith and relieve poverty.’ We deliver this vision by building relationships with individuals around the world and then working with them to build schools, start businesses and heal their communities. This is all supported and directed by our unique Guild prayer network that has thousands of members around the world. There are several different well-documented and successful strategies for aiding communities in poverty alleviation. The model that SPT has chosen to follow is to focus our funding on educational and small-business opportunities. The hope is that by funding these areas, we are helping to create consistent and long-term income for those in need. In the calendar year 2022, SPT sent nearly £100,000 in grants to foreign countries. These funds were used for a wide variety of projects, educational opportunities, small business ventures, and travel for our members. 5 6 Here are some of the highlights of our grants in 2022: - Kampala Uganda: helping women who are fleeing sex work. SPT has built a home for these 20+ women and their children. - £6000 sent for construction projects, health needs, furniture, educational opportunities - £3500 sent for small business startups for the women - £1000 sent to purchase farmland in a nearby village - Migori County, Kenya: building a school for children affected by extreme poverty and AIDS - £6000 sent for construction of new classrooms - In June 2022, there was a gathering in Nairobi, Kenya for a few trustees and all the National Coordinators of each country. About 25 total people gathered and shared a very important and meaningful time together. ## Monitoring and Evaluating of Funds and Projects Since SPT is still a small charity, it is very important to us that all of the funds that are spent are closely monitored. SPT has a few systems in place to do this: - (1) One of the best aspects of SPT is the relationship the trustees have built with the beneficiaries in each country. It is much easier to maintain accountability when these strong relationships exist. We are in constant communication with each beneficiary and ask them to send to the trustees updates and pictures of the progress of the project. This includes a report on budget, struggles, successes, and health of the project. - (2) SPT has established a National Coordinator in each country. These are individuals who we have met in person and with whom we have a deep relationship. They are all members of the prayer Guild and help to oversee it in their country. These National Coordinators are the ‘boots on the ground’ for SPT. It is the role of this person to periodically get updates from the beneficiary. Not only do they receive a report, but the National Coordinators encourage, pray with, and help empower the local beneficiaries to do their work. Additionally, the National Coordinators will periodically visit the site of the project if feasible. - (3) Every 4-6 months, the SPT CEO and the SPT International Coordinator meet with each National Coordinator to hear updates on the progress of each project in their respective country. - (4) SPT Trustees routinely travel to these countries to strengthen relationships and to check on projects. 6 7 ## Trustees’ Responsibilities The SPT trustees meet and converse regularly to decide on policy, fund distribution, and vision for the charity. Additionally, over the years several of them have traveled to visit our beneficiaries in Africa and India. Charity law requires trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year. We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities. ## Safeguarding SPT does have a Safeguarding Policy in place as well as a trustee who is the designated Safeguarding Officer (LingLing Parnin). Any safeguarding concerns are addressed at trustee meetings. ## Approval This report was approved by the Trustees on 31 October 2023 and signed on their behalf by: Caleb Howard CEO, Saints’ Projects Trust 7 8 ## The Saints Project Trust ## Financial Statements to 31 December 2022 Independent Examiner’s Report ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The Charity Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the Accounts. The Charity’s trustees consider an audit is not required for the year to 31 December 2022 under Section 144 of the Charity’s Act 2011, and that an independent examination is required. It is my responsibility to: 1 examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act. 2 follow the procedures laid down in the general Direction given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145 (5) of the Charities Act 2011) and 3 to state whether and particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement** My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 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 refereed to below. ## **Independent Examiner’s Statement** In connection with my examination no matter has come to my attention: 1 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements a to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act b to prepare accounts which agree to the accounting records and comply with the Charity Act have not been met: or 2 to which in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. T Richardson Tim Richardson BA ACA 8 Emsons Close, Linton, Cambridge, CB21 4NB 30 October 2023 8 9 ## The Saints’ Projects Trust ## Financial Report for the Year Ended 31 Dec 2022 |||Unrestricted|Restricted||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||Funds|Funds|**Total Funds**|Total Funds| |||2022|2022|**2022**|2021| ||Notes|£|£|**£**|£| |**Income**|||||| |Individual Donors||11,703|50,331|**62,034**|92,103| |Church Donations||359|2,992|**3,351**|0| |Business Donations||0|600|**600**|0| |Charitable Grant||0|0|**0**|10,000| |Fundraising Events||1,433|3,316|**4,749**|0| |Legacy Gift||0|0|**0**|10,000| |Bank Refund/Interest|(a)|0|646|**646**|338| |HMRC Gift Aid||3,348|0|**3,348**|2,922| |Easy Fundraising||159|0|**159**|18| |Transfer from Guild|(b)|0|300|**300**|300| |**Total Income**||**17,002**|**58,185**|**75,187**|**115,681**| |**Expenditures**|||||| |Foreign Grants||26,116|70,990|**97,106**|49,654| |Guild Expenses||0|180|**180**|180| |Marketing||0|0|**0**|1,481| |Employee Wages|(c)|2,450|25,099|**27,549**|496| |Technology||415|0|**415**|436| |Bank Fees||507|2,250|**2,757**|524| |**Total Expenditures**||**29,488**|**98,519**|**128,007**|**52,770**| |**Reconciliation of Funds**|||||| |Funds C/F Previous Year||14,779|62,911|**77,691**|14,779| |Deficit/Surplus for the Year||-12,486|-40,334|**-52,820**|62,911| |**Funds Carried Forward**||**2,293**|**22,577**|**24,871**|**77,691**| 9 10 ## The Saints’ Projects Trust ## Financial Report for the Year Ended 31 Dec 2022 |Balance
Carried
Forward 2021
Notes
£
General Fund
(d)
-57
Necca Zimbabwe
12,619
St. Mark's Academy
488
Sisters of Rahab and Ruth
1,170
Home of Love India
116
Father Praveen India
52
Guild Travel Expenses
100
Nairobi 2022
20,163
Education Fund
380
Technology Expenses
53
Emergency Relief
68
Employee Wages
30,528
Guild of Saint John
60
Restricted Donation
(e)
11,951
**Total**
**77,691**|Restricted
Donations
Expenditures
**Balance**
**Carried**
**Forward 2022**
£
£
**£**
16,304
15,765
**481**
21,497
32,569
**1,547**
5,473
5,895
**66**
9,467
10,440
**197**
300
0
**416**
0
52
**0**
4,158
4,258
**0**
7,188
26,902
**449**
2,168
2,380
**168**
661
415
**299**
1,174
916
**326**
8,000
27,624
**10,904**
300
280
**80**
2,687
4,700
**9,938**
**79,377**
**132,196**
**24,871**|Restricted
Donations
Expenditures
**Balance**
**Carried**
**Forward 2022**
£
£
**£**
16,304
15,765
**481**
21,497
32,569
**1,547**
5,473
5,895
**66**
9,467
10,440
**197**
300
0
**416**
0
52
**0**
4,158
4,258
**0**
7,188
26,902
**449**
2,168
2,380
**168**
661
415
**299**
1,174
916
**326**
8,000
27,624
**10,904**
300
280
**80**
2,687
4,700
**9,938**
**79,377**
**132,196**
**24,871**|Restricted
Donations
Expenditures
**Balance**
**Carried**
**Forward 2022**
£
£
**£**
16,304
15,765
**481**
21,497
32,569
**1,547**
5,473
5,895
**66**
9,467
10,440
**197**
300
0
**416**
0
52
**0**
4,158
4,258
**0**
7,188
26,902
**449**
2,168
2,380
**168**
661
415
**299**
1,174
916
**326**
8,000
27,624
**10,904**
300
280
**80**
2,687
4,700
**9,938**
**79,377**
**132,196**
**24,871**| |---|---|---|---| ||||**481**
**1,547**
**66**
**197**
**416**
**0**
**0**
**449**
**168**
**299**
**326**
**10,904**
**80**
**9,938**| ||||
**24,871**| 10 11 ## Financial Report Notes Note (a): NatWest bank made an error on two of our transfers and refunded SPT £646. Note (b): The Guild is the prayer network which works with SPT. While the two organizations are deeply connected, they do maintain separate financial accounts. Therefore, there are often times that funds are sent from one account to the other. Note (c): These funds went to anyone who performed paid work for SPT in 2022. The majority of this was the CEO, but also some outside independent contractors to help with specific projects. Note (d): The General Fund began the year 2022 with a negative balance. However, this was not an error on the part of the trustees of overspending unrestricted funds; instead it was simply strange timing that a transfer left the account a day before a deposit cleared in the account. It just so happened that that took place on 31 December 2021. The following business day in January, the General Fund had a positive balance. Note (e): This was a donation given by an individual to be kept in the account and used at the discretion of the donor as needs arise. 11