1 ## The Saints’ Projects Trust ‘To advance the Christian faith and relieve poverty’ Trustees’ Annual Report for year ended 31 December 2023 1 2 ## Contents Legal and Administrative Information …………………………………………………………………………. 3 Structure, Government, Management ……………………………………………………….………………..… 5 Examiner’s Report ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8 Financial Report …………………………………………………………………………………………….….………… 10 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: +44 121318 9134 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 ## President Rt Rev Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Dean of Windsor ## Patrons Lord Alton of Liverpool Daniel Hodson Grace Natoli (resigned 4 Aug 2024) 3 4 Baroness Stroud Patrick Whitworth Mr Michael Younger Dr James Orr Mr Peter Fane Trustees Rev Michael John Smith (chair) Rev Mark Mills-Powell Rev Dr Richard Higginson Rev Daniel Foot LingLing Parnin Rev Tim Mills Obiageliaku Rocque Ully-Lange Orobor Sampson Okyere Rod Levey (joined 5 September 2023) Natalie deBungard (joined 5 September 2023) ## Banker NatWest Bank 21 Petty Cury Cambridge CB2 3NE ## 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, 2023, two new trustees were added: Rod Levey and Natalie deBungard. They were approved at the Trustee Meeting on 5 September 2023. ## 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. 5 6 In the calendar year 2023, SPT sent over £60,000 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. Here are some of the highlights of our grants in 2023: - Kampala Uganda: helping women who are fleeing sex work. SPT has maintained a home for these 40+ women and their children. - £12,000 sent for construction, small business start-ups, and educational opportunities. - Migori County, Kenya: building a school for children affected by extreme poverty and AIDS - £10,000 sent to complete construction of new classrooms - Techimentia, Ghana - £5,000 sent to a school for impoverished children. This was used to pay for tuition, purchase computers, and upgrade facilities. - Multiple trustees also traveled to visit different countries and different ongoing projects. ## 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 updates to the trustees and pictures of their project’s progress. 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, National Coordinators send a report to the International Coordinator, Deputy International Coordinator, and SPT Chairman, giving a full report on activities, successes, and future needs. 6 7 - (4) SPT Trustees routinely travel to these countries to strengthen relationships and to check on projects. ## 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 (Obi Rocque). Any safeguarding concerns are addressed at trustee meetings. ## Approval This report was approved by the Trustees on 31 October 2024 and signed on their behalf by: ## Caleb Howard ## CEO, Saints’ Projects Trust 7 8 ## **Saints’ Projects Trust** ## **Financial Statements To 31 December 2023** Independent Examiner’s Report ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The Charity Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the Accounts. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for the year to 31 December 2023 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 any 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 referred to below. 8 9 ## **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. ## **Tim Richardson BA ACA** ## **8 Emsons Close, Linton, Cambridge,** ## **CB21 4NB** ## **24 October 2024** 9 10 ## The Saints’ Projects Trust ## Financial Report for the Year Ended 31 Dec 2023 |Notes
**Income**
Individual Donors
Church Donations
Business Donations
Charitable Grant
Fundraising Events
Legacy Gift
Bank Refund/Interest
(a)
HMRC Gift Aid
Easy Fundraising
Transfer from Guild
(b)
**Total Income**
**Expenditures**
Foreign Grants
Guild Expenses
Fundraiser
Employee Wages
(c)
Technology
Bank Fees
**Total Expenditures**
**Reconciliation of Funds**
Funds C/F Previous Year
Deficit/Surplus for the Year
**Funds Carried Forward**|Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
**Total Funds**
Total Funds
2023
2023
**2023**
2022
£
£
**£**
£
9,448
17,932
**27,380**
62,034
5,568
671
**6,239**
3,351
0
11,100
**11,100**
600
375
8,000
**8,375**
0
1,639
5,939
**7,578**
4,749
0
0
**0**
0
2,118
0
**2,118**
646
9,258
0
**9,258**
3,348
104
0
**104**
159
0
1,764
**1,764**
300| |---|---| ||**28,510**
**45,406**
**73,916**
**75,187**
25,661
34,461
**60,122**
97,106
0
180
**180**
180
497
2,308
**2,805**
0
0
18,397
**18,397**
27,549
395
11
**406**
415
130
525
**655**
2,757| ||**26,683**
**55,882**
**82,565**
**128,007**
2,293
22,577
**24,871**
77,691
1,827
-10,476
**-8,649**
-52,820| ||**4,120**
**12,101**
**16,222**
**24,871**| 10 11 ## The Saints’ Projects Trust ## Financial Report for the Year Ended 31 Dec 2023 |Notes
General Fund
Necca Zimbabwe
St. Mark's Academy
Sisters of Rahab and Ruth
Home of Love India
Sampson Ghana
Guild Travel Expenses
Nairobi Gathering
Technology Expenses
Education Fund
Emergency Relief
Guild of St. John
Employee Wages
Restricted Donation
(d)
Minus Internal Transfers
**Total**|Balance
Carried
Forward 2021
Restricted
Donations
Expenditures
**Balance**
**Carried**
**Forward 2023**
£
£
£
**£**
481
25,801
25,813
**469**
1,547
5,000
5,024
**1,523**
66
11,457
10,483
**1,040**
197
13,227
13,325
**99**
416
300
400
**316**
168
1,529
1,375
**322**
0
2,063
1,972
**91**
450
1,150
0
**1,600**
300
350
271
**379**
0
1,374
1,374
**0**
326
1,158
1,484
**0**
80
300
285
**95**
10,903
12,335
18,397
**4,841**
9,937
15,870
20,360
**5,447**
0
17,998
17,998
**0**| |---|---| ||**24,871**
**73,916**
**82,565**
**16,222**
| 11 12 ## Financial Report Notes Note (a): NatWest bank made an error on two of our transfers and refunded SPT £2118. 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 2023. The majority of this was the CEO, but also some outside independent contractors to help with specific projects. Note (d): 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. 12