Aim and purposes
This is a Christian ministry aimed at spreading the gospel and equipping Christians in the U.K. This ministry does not belong to any church denomination and is a non-profit making organisation. The organisation’s objectives are as follows: to serve, mainly, but not limited to overseas Chinese and students through Bible teaching, publishing, worship and conferences; to serve the local communities and to support and care for those in need.
Objectives, Structure, governance and management
Management Structure
Governed by the Strings of Life (SOL)’s constitution, the Management Committee (MC), which is the decision making and executive authority, was elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May 2022. The duties were officially handover on 9th August 2022 from the provisional management committee.
The Trustee Board consists of six members, three of them were current or previous MC members appointed at previous AGMs. The appointed Trustee members usually continue to service unless they resigned.
Objectives and Activities
SOL was registered with the Charity Commission in July 2017 (charity number: 1139898). Initially set up as a training centre, SOL serves the Chinese-speaking Christians in the continent of Europe through its Bible teaching, music worshiping and youth training ministries and etc. In 2010, the Leeds Sunday Worship Ministry of SOL evolved to become the Leeds Chinese Gospel Church (LCGC), providing weekly Sunday services to the Christians in Yorkshire.
Achievements and Performance
During the year of 2021, a large number of Hong Kong people relocated to the U.K. through the BNO visa scheme. SOL provides Sunday services in Cantonese that meets the need of the Christians from Hong Kong. The number of the congregation had been growing significantly throughout the year. To meet the increasing number of churchgoers, SOL employed four full-time pastors and
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converted a part-time pastor to full-time in July.
A new office venue was rented in May. The place is used as a centre for community ministry and venue for training and meeting.
In order to equip and develop young believers’ gifts, a 3-week training program was held for 12 secondary students during the summer vacation. All participants enjoyed the activities and were willing to commit their time and gifts to serve God.
In October of 2022, a new service venue was rented for afternoon Sunday services in order to accommodate a bigger congregation.
On 21 January 2023, SOL organised Leeds Friendship Festival to celebrating the Lunar New Year with local new Hong Kong friends. There were game booths, performance, Hong Kong style snacks, and traditional Lunar New Year activities. About 300 visitors participated in the program.
Plans for future periods
SOL has fulfilled most of its objectives. More community ministry meeting the needs of the local community will be considered. In addition, it is also the vision of SOL to help the new immigrants through BNO visa scheme adapt to their new lives in the U.K. More activities will be planned to provide spiritual support to the new comers. In order to accomplish these tasks, it was considered to employ a full-time community officer.
We keep looking for a bigger venue to cope with the increasing size of congregation.
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Financial review
All the income of SOL is from donations of the members. The total income of the year was £137,692. The total yearly expenditure was £145,183. Total funds have decreased from £57,144 to £54,952 from 2022 to 2023. For details, please refer to the Financial Statement attached.
Administrative infromation
The trustees and management committee for the year ended of January 2023:
The Trustees
Mr. K F Shek Dr. T Y Wong Dr. F K Ng Rev. C K Cho Ms. Y P Cheung Mr. P L Fung
Management Committee for the period from January 2022 to July 2022
Senior Pastor: Rev. C K Cho Pastor: Rev. M S Wong Chairman: Mr. W S Lui Internal Vice-chairman: Dr. T Y Wong External Vice-chairman: Dr. W Y Ng Secretary: Ms. L K S Chan Accountant: Mr. W T Yee Treasurer: Mr. K F Shek
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Provisional Management Committee for the period from August 2022 to January 2023 Senior Pastor: Rev. C K Cho Pastor: Rev. M S Wong, Rev. F P Yin, Mr. L F Mak, Ms. W M Ip Chairman: Mr. P L Fung Vice-chairman: Mr. W S Lui Secretary: Dr. W Y Ng Treasurer: Ms. Y P Cheung Accountant: Mr. W T Yee General affairs: Ms. C M Tsang, Mr. P F Hui, Mr. S P To Community ministry: Ms. W C Chan, Mr. C L Yip IT: Mr. K C Lam
Approved by the Strings of Life on 21 January 2024 and signed on their behalf by the Mr. P L Fung (Trustee)
Mr P L Fung Trustee
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STRINGS OF LIFE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
| RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Receipts Voluntary Receipts Regular Giving Employers' National Insurance Allowance Receipts for CCDF Payments Church activities Additional Equipment Consumable items Legal and Professional Fee Ministry Cost Payments for CCDF Salaries and Allowance Speaker fee Sundry Expenses Venue hire Excess of Receipts over Payments Net Assets, Beginning of The Year Net Assets, End of The Year |
Total Total 2022.12.31 2022.01.18 £ £ 118,644 63,252 6,411 1,332 12,637 - |
|---|---|
| 137,692 64,584 |
|
| 2,638 2,831 1,402 371 858 723 1,476 - 9,900 - 113,136 20,178 1,180 9,877 1,894 1,093 12,699 5,308 |
|
| 145,183 40,381 |
|
| (7,491) 24,203 52,526 28,323 |
|
| 45,035 52,526 |
|
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| Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022.12.31 | 2022.01.18 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES | |||
| Cash Funds | |||
| Bank current account | 52,330 | 57,144 | |
| Cash on Hand | 2,622 | - | |
| 54,952 | 57,144 | ||
| Assets retained for Strings of Life use | 54,952 | 57,144 | |
| Liabilities - Account Payables | 9,917 | 4,619 | |
| Net | Assets, End of the Year | 45,035 | 52,526 |
Approved by the Strings of Life on 21 January 2024 and signed and signed on their behalf by the Mr. P L Fung (Trustee)
Mr P L Fung Trustee
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Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Strings of Life
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Strings of Life for the year ended 31 December 2022.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: Sik Wai Chan
The Assoication of Chartered Certified Accountants Member No.: 4942465 Address: Studio G04, 1 Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1HR Date: 23 January 2024
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