Company Registration Number 06751712 Charlty Reglstratlon Number 1127204 T,he Ascension Trust Report and Financial Statements 31 December 2023 ASCENSION The Aseension Tru8t Report and account$ for the year endetl 31 De¢ember2023 Contents Page Charty Informatron Trustees, Annual Report Statement of directors. responsibilities Indopandènt Examlner's Rèport Funds Stattmènts.. ststemenl of Flnanci8lActivrties Sterernent of FinancialActiviEi8s-. Prior Y8ar Balafice sheet Cash Flow Statement Notes to the accounts 11 13 14 15 18 19 The AS￿nSIon Trust Annual Report 2023 Reference and Admlnlstrative Detsils Company Registration Number 06751712 Charity Registration Number 1127204 Trustees: Mr O Lad6ga. Chalr Dr C C Ekhator Depltty Chair Rev L W Isaac OBE (President) Mrs C C8to Mr T Mathias-Nwaulune Ms J Hedman Rev A M Bacon r C R Donnan (Appointed on 28 November 20231 Mr J O Ogunji {Appointed on 28 Novetnber 20231 Se¢retsry: MrAWHCrow Chlèf Exéeutive Officer: MrBHPa Ragist8red Office: Alpha Hous8 Alpha Place. 58 Garth Road, M(Kden, Surrey SM4 4TQ Independent Exarniner: Freé Larnptsy & Co, Chartered Certified Accountants, 28 Felstead Way Luton. LU2 7LH The Ascension Tnjsl Anntjal Report 2023 Tyustees. Report Th8 truste8s, who are directors for the purpooes of company law, present the annual report l¢)ggther wtt) the financ￿81 staternents and Independent Examinels r6port of The Ascension Trust Ihereinafter called 'AT'I for the year ended 31 December 2023. This RerM)rt snd the Accounts hava been pre￿red to comply wlh the SORP FRS 102. strUC￿re. govÈrnance and management AT is a ch8ri1able company limited by guaranteè, govemed by ils Mernorandum an(J Articles of Assouation adopted on the 8 October 2008. It has no share capital and the liability of each member in the event of winding-up is limited to £10. Piior lo this, AT was 8 ¢h8ritable trust but Converted to a Ch8rilable C￿npanY limited by guarantee duè lo the rapid expansion of the Trust. Recrultment and appolntment of trustees AT is run by a board of directors whi¢h comprises nine directors (frust88sI. The Trustees are both Trusteas of thè Charity and Directors of the Con)psny. whe￿ there is a need for new Trustèas. these would be identified and appointed by the Current Trustees. Organisational Structure At present, the nlne Trustees come from 8 variely of professional backgrounds, e8eh relevant to Ihe activities of the charity. The Board ol Trustees meets 81 least four limes a year, receiving reports frorn the Chief Executive Offi¢er ICEOI about the acUvlties ol the charity through its various proje¢ls set out below. Th8 day-to-day management of the organisalion 1$ shouldered by a staff team, headed by the CEO. Such day-lo-day managèmént is supervised by the C,EO and a Senior Management Team ISMTI that includes the Chief Operations Officer. the Legal & Policy Officer, Financ8 Manager. Office Manager and a volunt86r legal consultant. the Company Secretary. The SMT re￿iVeS regular reports lat least monlhlyl from thg FInan￿ Manager and serious (x>nsideration 15 giv8n to the stale of the charills finances wilh 8ppropriate reports being mad8 to the Board of Dir8Ctors for decisions to be made for the continuing financial viabilily of the ¢harity. The r8muneralion of the paid SMT members is r8viewed annually by the Board of Trustees who t8k8s into consideration the level of pay accorded lo peopl6 in similar positions within the Third Sector. The (*8rity wholly owns ils subsidiary trading cornpany, Ascension Comtnercial Ltd, of which the CEO is also a director. The principal business of the tradlng subsidiary is the supply of unrfoms to Street Pastors, School and College Pastors, Rail Paslors, and R&spon8e Pastors iogether with merchandise that womot8S the work of the charity trrough Its various inrtiatwes. The Ascension Trust Annual Report 2023 Induction and tralning of tTUStees Th8 chair of Trustees is r88ponsible for the induction of any new Trustee. This involves awareness training of a Trustee's duties and r•sponsibili118S, the governing docJJment, administrative pr￿edUres. as well as the history and ethos of the charity. A new Trustee will also receive a copy of the charity's goveming do¢umenl and the previous yea¢s annual report and a copy of tha Chadty Commi$8ion leaflet The Essential Twstee: What you need to know, what you need to do. Public benefit AT has a nurnber of sthemes in operation *thich actively serve the public, narnely Street Pastors, Re8ponse Pastors, School and Colleg8 Pastors, Urban Youth Missiorn. Rail Pastors, the 60140 Youth Projed, the Synergy Neiwork. Oyibi Projecl, Five2Medics and The Beacon Project, and Bridge Watch. More detkils are promded bel¢)w. Thè trustèès confim that th8y have compli8d with th8 raquirem8nis of seCt￿n 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit gU￿anCe published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Objectives and a¢tivifjes The prin¢ipal objective ol AT ¢on¢ems the advancement of the tommunity through outreach and training. Each year Ihe trustees review the objectives and activities to ensure that they continue to reflect our aims. Duririg this review, th8 trustees consider the Charity Commission's guidanc8 on public benefit The aims of AT as set out in the charity's Memorandum of Association arè summsri$8d as follows: lal To advanc8 the Christian faith. Ibl To relieve sickness and linarKial hardship. Icl To prornote and pras8rv8 good physic81, rn8ntal and emolional health. This is achieved in thg following ways.. For the beneflt of the publSc, transforming th6 dir6etknn of not only somebodys nlght but somebody's lrfe. Offering hurnan contact which r￿UCeS socsal Lsolation and provides connection within COmrnLtnthe5. Strengthening and preseNng good phy51Gal. mental and emotional health of communitie8. The AS￿nSIon Trust Annual Report 2023 By th8 usg of volunteers. influen￿ng and glvlng power to individuals over own lives and communities. Building strong ￿$ll￿ent comrnunitie8. Building positive relationships with the police, Local AUthorit￿S and those who.wish to partner with the Trust to reduce the challenge5 whirth is fa¢8d by all communities. AT has demonstrated its power and ability lo mobilise communities and build positiv8 r6latSonships with ils partners. parti¢ularfy the Police. local authorit￿$ and chu￿heS that together we call 'Th¢ Urban Trinity.. As set out below (Achievemants and PerfOr[n8n￿I. the charty aims to 8Nsure and increase the safety of communities Sn the nlght-tlrne e￿nomY, safety in schools and colleges. to pievent suicides at train stations, to support and ¢ounsel those traumatised by national tragic events, engaging young people in positwe communlty activit￿$ rather than gang-relaterl violenee and drawng out the enormous potenti81 Ihal young people have lo impact their peers and the wider cofflmunity for good, b.uilding solidarity and Gooperaion belwe8n Charities, community ag¢nc48s. the police and local authorities i addressing all the above issues. MLKe det8ils are given in the Achievements and Perfomian¢e" SÈ¢lion below. Volunteers Volunteers perform a key tssk on behalf of AT. They are therefore centr81 to meeting the aims and obje¢bves of AT. It would be impossible to deliver our mission with￿1 them. At present, there are approxlm8tely 14.000 trained volunteers in England and Wales working for bcal charilie5 opeTating under the AT umbrella as Street Pastors. School and College Pastots, Rail Pastors and Response Pastors. AT aims 10 8UStain and increase its volunteer bas8. AT aims. through its social action initiatives, to train individuals for relevant and informed interaction at local, national international levels. Achievements and perfomiance Tralnlng AT through ils so¢ial action Initbtlves alms to tr&in 1ndN￿U81s fcr relevant and informed interactDn at local, national and intemational level$. A number of new Street Pastors were added to the pool of Street Pastcts serving UK during 2023. The individua15 train1r￿ were able to attend and cOm￿ete their training through the Ascension Trust Online Training. The online training was launched in Octobei 2020 with the hope of delivering training to all for Street Pastors, School, Leadership Gourses, Equaliiy Course and other b6spok8 training courses to both our Pastor'5 iniltaliv88 and to the public in general. The Ascension Trust Annual Report 2023 New School Pastors trained online alongslde Street Pastors In mental health, youth culture listening skills in 2023. In person training events took platre across the ne¢works in the areas of Rdes & Responsibilities, Ref￿$her coursEs and School Pastors. Projects Street Pastors Streèt Pastors arè trained volunteers who typScalty patrol Ihe Streets between the hours of 10pm and 4am lallhough this varies in som8 areas according to local needs). Ai pr8sent there are approximately 230 local initiatives up 8nd down the country and more intèrnationally. Iwebsite.. ww.str88t astors.or Rosponso Pastors Response Pastors deliver hdp lo those tho are traum8tised by major disasters at evenis such as terrorist 8tt8di$, crashes and other incidents. They werelgsl deployed for the Queen's lying In stste anf ff nanclal adivities ISOFAI on a receivabb basis. when 8 transaction or other event Tesults in an increase in the charity's assets or a redu¢tion in ils liabilities and only when the charity ha¥ legal enlillement, the income is probable and can be measured reliably. Infjome subject lo terms and Conditions which must be rnel beforè the Charity is entitled to the resources is not reoognised until the conditions have be8n met. All inwme is accounted for gros5, before deducting any related fees or costs. 1.4 Deferred incorne Where terms and Cond￿10n$ relating to income have not been met or uncertainty exists as to whether the charity can meet any temis or conditlons othen￿lSe wllhln its control, income is not recognised bul is deferred as a liabilrty until it is probable that th8 terms or condibons imposod can ￿ mel. 1.5 Fund accountin9 Unrestricted funds are available for uso at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives ol the cherity. Restricted funds are donations which donors have spe¢ified are solely used for a partlcular areas of the charty work or for spectfic projects béing undertaken by the charity. 1.6 Recognillon of liabillues and expenditur8 A liablllty, 8nd the related expenditure, is recognised whèn a legal or constru¢tive obligation exists es a rgsull of a past event. and when it is more likely than nol that a transfer of economic benefits will b8 requirèd in settlemènt, and when the amount of the obligation can be measured or reliably eslitnated. All liabilitses are measured al fair value. 1.7 Allocating Costs to activities Diroct costg th3t arg spocifically relat￿ to an acb'vity are allocated to that activity. Shared direct cost5 an support costs are apportioned betsveen activities. Th8 basis for appDrtionmenl. which is consistently applied, and proporlionale lo the cireumslances, is'.- Staffing - on a per capita basis. based on the number of people employed within any particular activity. Pigtnises related and non-specific 5UPPOrt COStS on the basis of a certain percontage based on the estimation ol time spent in th8 office and work Carried out during the year. 1.8 Volunteers In accordance with the SORP. and in recognition of the difficulties in placing a monetary vslue on the contribution from volunteers, the conlrlbution ol volunteers is not included within the income of the charity. 1.9 Tangible fixed asse15 Tangible fixed assfris are rneasured al their original ¢ost value, or siJb5equenl revaluation, or rf donated, as desciibed above. Cost value includes all oosls expended in bringing the asset into ils intended working condition. 19 The Ascgnsion Trust Annual Report 2023 Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 Freehold premlsès Office Equipment Furniture & Fixtures 2% strèighl line 15Vo Straight linè 20% reducing balancg 1.10 Cash al bank Cash held by the charity is included in the atnounl actually held and counted at the year end. Bank balances, whether in credit or overdrawn, are shown al amounts properly reconciled lo the bank slat&manls. 1.11 Debtors Debtors ar& maasured al their r8coverablè arnounts al the balance sheet date. 1.12 Pensions defined contribution schemes The charity operates a defined contribution pension schemè. Contributions are charged to tho profit 8nd loss ae¢ounl as they become payable in accordance wtth the rules of the ￿herne. 1.13. Creditors Trade eredilors are retognised initialty at the transaction price and subsequentty measured at arnortised ¢osl using effective interest m8lh(Kl. 2. Legal status of thg ¢harity The charity b a company limited by guarantoe and has no shar¢ capital. The liability of 8ach membei in the event ol winding-up is limited to £10. 3. Income from donations and l•ga¢ies un￿striCted Restricted Total 2023 Total 2022 Public donation8 25,410 15,595 41,005 37,425 Grants." Govt & public bodles Private sectors donations 331,525 31,125 362,650 341,543 47,799 26,291 74,090 45.303 Misslon Income 14,165 14,165 4,190 Gift Aij Recelvable 5,307 5,307 6.351 424,206 73,011 497,217 434.812 4. Incom from charltable activltles- Tr8ding actlvlties Unr8slrthd Raslricled Total 2023 Total 2022 Licence fve 232,920 232,920 237.972 Training Income Other trading incomg 30,672 30,672 41.937 126,522 126,522 53,483 390,114 390.114 333,392 20 The Ascension Trust Annual Report 2023 Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 De￿mbe1 2023 S Inromg from other non-¢harltable actlvEtles Unrestricted Restricted Total 2023 Total 2022 Income frc¥n various events Income from letting from charitable purpose 32,677 32,677 26.198 11,215 11215 10,084 43,892 43,892 36,282 6. Investm•nt Income Unrestrided Restrlcted Total 2023 Total 2022 Bank Interest 7,780 7,780 1,474 7,780 7,780 1.474 7. Other Income galn Unr8sthcted Restrlcted Total 2023 Total 2022 Employment Mlowancè 2,374 1374 2,332 2,374 2,374 2.332 8. Expendlture on charltsble actlvltles- Direct spendlng Unrestrict8d Restrictéd Total 2023 Totsl 2022 Bridge Watch Operation Restoration 11,293 11,293 10,283 10,283 9,956 Synergy Network 420 420 828 Oppralion Savo Jamaica 60=40 Youth Project Street Pastors 1,885 1.885 2,257 2.257 2,628 50.857 50,857 53,933 Prayer Paslots 464 464 854 51.321 26.138 77,459 68.199 21 The Ascension Trust Annual Report 2023 Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 g. Expendlture on charitable activities- Charitablo tradlng Unrestricted Restricted Total Total 2023 2022 Tr8lnlng Expendthre Annual events cost 9,099 9,099 10.479 21,232 21.232 869 Gross wag?s and salarl&8 Employers, Nl Definèd contribution pensiors ¢08ts UK Vision 2D30 180,833 48,562 229,395 171.822 14,011 4.190 18.201 13,372 2,251 1,078 3,330 3,162 4,952 4,952 Mission 13.805 13,805 241,231 58,T82 300,013 199.704 10. Support costs for charitable activities Unrèstricted Restricted Total 2Q23 Total 2022 Employees cogls not included in direct costs: Salaries- Administratlve staff 198,550 198,550 170,202 Defined contribution pension costs Employers, Nl f& Insuranc 5.580 5.580 3.896 17,683 17,683 16,798 300 Volunteeis cost 450 450 727 Premises expenses AdminislratNe overheads 21,337 660 21,997 19,342 34,758 1.073 35,831 32,774 Legal & Professlonal fee Bank charges Depreciation Bank intaresl payabl8 637 547 3,560 110 3,670 3.049 9.543 295 9,838 9.837 754 23 T77 1,019 292.852 2,172 295,024 258,489 22 The Ascen8ion Trust Annual Report 2023 Notes lo the Accounts for the year ended 31 D8￿mber 2023 11. Oth*r Expendlture- Governjnce costs Unrestricted Restricted Total 2023 Total 2022 Independent Examiner's fees Trustges, remunèration 1,800 1,800 1.8(X) 42,500 42,500 43,700 NIC on Trustees remuneration 4,687 4,687 4,973 Trustees defined contribution Pènslon costs 816 816 Benefits paid to trustees Profrssional & Consultancy feo 55,980 55,980 57.092 7,044 7.044 3.061 112,827 112,827 110,626 12. Total Expènditure 2023 2022 Dir&¢t charitable cost 51.321 26,138 77,459 68,199 Trading cost Support cost Govemance cost 241,231 58,782 3LIO,013 199,704 292,852 2.172 295,024 258,489 112,82T 112,827 110,626 Total 698,231 87,092 T85,323 637,018 13. Expenditure on raising funds and cost of projèct managèment UnrBstricled Reslrlcted Totsl Total 2023 2022 AT Beacon Project 136,241 136,241 74,213 136,241 136.241 74,213 23 The Ascension Trust Annual Report 2023 Notes lo the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 14. Net Income lor the year Thls Is stsled after charglng: 2023 2022 Depreciation ol own8d fixed assets 9.838 9,837 Independent Examinerfs fee Pension costs 1.BOO 1,800 8,910 7.058 20,548 18,695 15. Staff Numbers The average monthly headcounl was 20 staff12022.. 17 staff) and th& av&rag8 monthly number of full- limè equivalent employees lincluding part-time staffl during the year a5 ftsllows= 2023 2022 Number Numbèr Average number c>f full-tiFlle employees in the year was No employee r8ceiv@d èmoluments18xcluding pènsion Costs) in @xcass of £60,OOCI per annuffl. 16. Related pat1y transactFons One of the Iruslees. Dr Ekhalor, is a director of Dr Ekhalor & As$(￿lat&s. During the year a sum of £55.98012022.' £57,092) was paid lo Dr Ekhator & Associates for services rende￿d as a GP clinical lead for AT Beacon Project. 15 13 17. Tangible fixgd assgls Cuttènt Year Land and Bulldlngs Offi¢e Equlpment Furnltur& & Fixtures Total At 1 January 2023 Addition5 283,476 50,147 3.857 4,609 338.232 3,857 At 31 Docomber 2023 2B3 476 54.004 4.609 342.089 r)epreclatlon At 1 Jznuary 2023 Chaige for th8 year At 31 December 2023 Net book value 79,262 5,670 84,932 35.121 4.084 4.188 118,569 9.839 At 31 Docèmbor 2023 1BB.544 14,799 338 213681 At 31 DecembEr 2022 204.214 15.026 423 219663 24 The Ascension Trust Annual Report 2023 Notes to the AGGounls for the year er￿ed 31 December 2023 18. Invostmgnt held as assets Invostments in stjbsidiaries Carrying value ol inv8slmenis Al 1 January 2023 At 31 December 2023 19. Debtor 2023 2022 Amounts owèd by group undertoklngs Prapayments and accrued interest Other debtors 118,507 99.644 61.958 60,301 7,045 17.312 187,510 177.25T 20. Creditors.. amounts falling due within one year 2023 2022 Bonk loans and overdraft 10,112 9.629 Accruals for grants payat)1g Trade creditors 235,463 62.740 17.225 21.lJ42 Accruals 5.140 5,196 PAYE, NIC, VAT and other tsxes 10,676 10.255 Other Creditors 8.832 1,737 287,448 110.599 21. cr￿lIOrs.. amount falling due aftor one year 2023 2022 Bank108ns and overdrdfts 15,655 26,009 25 The Ascension Trust Annual Report 2023 Notes lo the Accounts for the year ended 31 De￿rnber 2023 22. Analysls of ¢haritable funds Balanc6 0110112023 IrKoming resour Resources Fund$ expended 3111212023 Unrestricted funds 885,463 868.366 1834,4721 919.357 R¢$trictod funds.. Operation Save Jamal¢a 2,058 360 11,8851 110,2831 115,4181 110,8301 533 Operation Restr)r8tion 60=40 Methodist project Synergy Network Jerusalem Trust (1,3201 10,283 11,320) 1101 1271 10,373 15,409 1791 10,373 10,882 8ridg9 Wai¢h UK Vision 2030 31,125 131,2891 14,9521 112,43SI 1164) 4,952 ot￿r réstricted funds 29,3S9 16,924 Total restricted funds 40,390 73,011 187,0921 26.309 Total charity funds 925,853 941,377 1921.5641 945.666 Operation Save Jamaica is the umbrella body that operates Str8el Pastors initialives In Jatnaica under Master Operator Agreement with Ascension Trust. Operatlon Restoratlon Christian Sehool 1$ a School in Trench Town, Kingston, Jamaica which Ascgnslon Trust has partnered wth lo raise funds towards the school's running costs. 60..40 Pll&thodist Project IS gn initiativg gf Asc&nsDn Trust based in the London Borough of Larnbeth in partnership with the Methodi51 Church. Th& project has be6n established lo cBre ftsr, equip and empower young people in the borough of Lambeth. Jerusalem Trust provided funding for the Synergy Network initiative of Ascension Trust whtch 18ckles youth violence and knlfe crime. Synergy Notwork is the initiatives ol Ascension TIu51 together in assodation with South London Churoh Fund & Soulhwark DiDcesan Board ol Finan¢tt, Lor)don City Mission and Churches Together ill Britain nd Ireland. The aim is lo tackle and Impad in a positive manner on the levels of violence and societal dysfunction, to help vulnerable individuals and benefit society- Bridge Watrh Programme 15 an initiative of As¢ension Trust in èSSOGialion with City Bridge Trust.11 aims to provide a physical presence of t@ams ol volunteers thal patrol the areas on and around the bridges of LondDn and who have a brief lo engage with anybody Indlcating intent lo enter the walgr. Other restricted fvnds are reslricled funds from previous projects. 26 TheAs￿nSIon Trust Annual Report 2023 Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 23. Roconclliation of not movomont of net cash flow from operating activilits 2023 2022 Net movement in funds per SOFA Depreciation charges Decreasellincreasel in debtors Increaselldecreasel in creditors) Interest 19,813 97,061 9.838 9,837 110,2531 166,495 89.573 36.517 17.780) (1.4741 178,113 231,514 24. Analysis of Net Assets B8lw•&n Funds Unrestrl¢le(f Funds Restricted Funds Totsl Fund5 Tangible Fixed Assets 213.681 213.681 Investments Current Assets 1,008.605 26,302 1,034.907 Current Liabilities 1287.2681 115.6551 1287,268} Long Term Liabilities 115,6551 At 31 Dec&mber 2023 919,364 26.302 945,666 27