**REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 07330034 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1141493**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] JULY 2025 FOR PASSION TRUST**
Jackie Bonella BSc. ACA Chartered Accountant Avonlea Bush Lane Send Surrey GU23 7HP
## **PASSION TRUST**
## **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] JULY 2025**
**.**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees Annual Report|2 to 4|
|Company Information|5|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|6|
|Statement of Financial Activities|7|
|Balance Sheet|8 to 9|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|10 to 11|
|Detailed Statement of Financial Activities|12|
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**Passion Trust Annual Report**
## **Constitutional information**
The charity was registered with the Charity Commission in 2010 and entered on the Register of Charities in 2011 with registration number 1141493. The charity is governed by its memorandum and articles of association dated 8 October 2010
## **Objectives, organisation and activities**
The Passion Trust promotes the arts and education through free productions of the Easter Passion story and related artistic events in local communities around the UK. As a Christian charity we work with people of all faiths or none through educative and non-confrontational live performances.
The past ten years have been formative in the resurgence of Passion Plays. Passion Plays are now far more popular and Easter performances are performed all over the UK drawing the largest outdoor audiences of live theatre in any given year. Even larger numbers of people watched the plays online, with more than 1,000,000 viewing digital performances (each year, for example, around 60,000 people watch the biggest Passion Plays online). In addition, individual Passion Plays all now have social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram which each generate creative content and much interaction on social media.
## **Vision, mission and values**
Our vision is to see a Passion Play in every town and city across the UK, with an increase in both the number and quality of these performances across the UK. Free Passion Plays offer an experience of the Easter story while creating opportunities to understand and explore the central event of the Christian faith. Our key focus is to transform the way Easter is experienced through free, live performances and we value Bible-based explorations of the Easter story that grow organically from local churches and communities.
## **Trustees**
The trustees are: Alex Stewart-Clark Suzanne Lofthus James Burke-Dunsmore David Robinson
Our Trustees have decades of experience in producing, directing or performing in Passion Plays in the UK and around the world. They understand the unique challenges and potentials of live outdoor theatre and their past and present contributions have made Passion Plays the largest outdoor audiences of live theatre in the UK.
None of the Trustees have any beneficial interest in the company. Trustees comply with the duty imposed upon them by Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006/2011 to have due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission including the guidance issued in respect of public benefit. Trustees meet to manage the charity’s affairs and delegate most of the work to administrative staff and volunteers.
## **Responsibilities of Trustees**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards. The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs in the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period.
As Trustees, they act in the charity’s best interests, manage the charity’s resources responsibly, and act with reasonable care and skill. In addition, they make considerable contributions to new and established productions, as well as to ongoing education and research that is available online. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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## **Public benefit**
The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and on the advancement of religion when considering the charities aims and objectives so that all people across the UK can have access to live experiences of the Easter story in their local community. Local city councils are very supportive of the free performances as it adds to the cultural and educational events in their calendar.
Passion Plays make Jesus known through a combination of arts projects and faith communities that have as their heart embodied exploration of the central Gospel message. Through non-confrontational story-telling and opportunities for volunteering, they transform communities by making Jesus known and giving opportunities for building communities and equipping the people involved with employable skills, greater confidence and stronger faith.
The Passion Trust maintains an online presence which provides resources free of charge and helps promote Passion Plays by providing financial support and advice, workshops, and conferences. Our website is a repository of this creativity to continue to inspire other Passion Plays and we provide:
- Practical blogs and online seminars
- Personalised helps with fundraising and PR
- Access to curated guide to grant funding
Our future projects will include free mentoring for directors and producers who will take Passion Plays into the future. Our trustees are exploring ways of investing their expertise and practical experience so that those who take over from them in the future have the support and mentoring they need.
‘The Quiet Revival’ report published by the Bible Society (2025) shows that where there once was apathy or even hostility to Christianity, we are seeing increased openness, especially among young adults, and particularly young men. The report highlights that 26% of the population are interested in discovering more about the Bible, including 18% of non-churchgoers. This shift in spiritual climate in our society has brought into sharper focus the need to provide accessible opportunities for Christians as well as non-churchgoers and people of other faiths to experience the Easter story in a non-confrontational way and to be in communities where they can grow in faith, confidence and mutual understandings across denominations and across different faiths.
## **Financial Review**
The 2024-2025 financial year shows our continued commitment to give 100% of all donations directly to production and performance costs, with all administrative costs for running the charity covered by the Trust. Income appears consistent with last year and we are expecting to be slightly above the budgeted level.
## **Disclosure**
We, the Trustees of the charity, confirm, so far as we are aware, that there is no relevant audit information of which the charity’s auditors are unaware.
Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees
____________________________________
Message from Chair of Trustees
This annual report allows me the opportunity to reflect on the development of Passion Plays taking place around the UK and to thank all the people who give so selflessly of their time and dedication to make them the great success they were this past year.
Passion Plays are growing around the UK in numbers and quality - there are more of them every year and the professional standards are increasing, thanks to the sharing of knowledge and resources through the Passion Trust community.
Last Easter, hundreds of volunteers contributed thousands of hours to these incredible productions and their dedication is at the heart of what makes Passion Plays so impactful. They joined forces with professional actors and directors and thousands more Christians across various denominations come together to share their faith publicly.
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It is thanks to them that many new communities in the UK had the opportunity to learn more about the true story of Easter and to see and hear what Jesus actually said and did for themselves. Audiences included people of all faiths and none and they were given opportunity for increased positive dialogue between different faiths, as well as a vital space for exploration, dialogue and mutual understanding.
An exciting development is our 'Embodied Bible Studies' which explore key scenes from the Easter story with professional actors and directors through rehearsals with actors and directors and use a range of workshopping and rehearsal techniques to create a unique experience of bringing the Bible to life. At the end of the project there is the option of rehearsing for a large-scale Passion Play for their local community at Easter.
This project draw on the stories of the inspirational and game-changing impact on people who were part of Passion Play communities in the past ten years. Christians from many different denominations who are involved report increased faith and understanding to uphold, engage and communicate their faith in the public domain. Non-Christians involved report increased understanding of the Christian faith and take part in dialogue based on the Bible and contemporary issues that would not otherwise have been possible.
Next Easter we will also be trialling the use of QR codes to collect feedback from attendees of the Passion Plays. QR codes will be prominently displayed and promoted, enabling attendees to quickly access an online feedback form using their smartphones. The form will include questions designed to measure changes in knowledge about Jesus and his actions, understanding of the Easter story and its relevance, and likelihood of attendees seeking more information or connecting with local church communities as a result.
Our trustees continue to support with free mentoring, free resources and personal support every step of the journey.
## **Mr Alexander Stewart-Clark** Chair of Trustees
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**PASSION TRUST**
## **COMPANY INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] JULY 2025**
**.**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS**
**Registered Company Number:** 07330034 (England and Wales)
## **Registered Charity Number:** 1141493
## **Registered Office:**
Sinclaire Cottage Portsmouth Road Ripley Surrey GU23 6EW
## **Trustees**
A Stewart-Clark J L Burke-Dunsmore Miss S Lofthus D Robinson
## **Independent examiner**
Jackie Bonella BSc. ACA Chartered Accountant Avonlea Bush Lane Send Surrey GU23 7HP
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
## **Risk management**
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
5
**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF PASSION TRUST**
**.**
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31st July 2025 set out on pages six to eleven.
## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner**
The charity’s trustees (who are also directors for the purpose of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is required.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act
- to follow the procedure laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act) and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of the Independent Examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General 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 you as trustees concerning any 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 set out in the statements 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
- to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of Sections 394 and 395 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1[st] January 2015).
have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Jackie Bonella BSc. ACA Chartered Accountant Avonlea Bush Lane Send Surrey GU23 7HP
Date: 4 December 2025
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## **PASSION TRUST**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] JULY 2025**
**.**
|||31.7.25|31.7.24|
|---|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted|Unrestricted|
|||Funds|Funds|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Notes|||
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**||||
|Income from donors|1|27,000|27,450|
|Donations to cover costs||26,729|19,161|
|**Total incoming resources**||**53,729**|**46,611**|
|**EXPENDED RESOURCES**||||
|Passion Plays||27,000|27,450|
|Cost of generating funds||1,673|734|
|Support costs|2|21,913|21,257|
|Governance costs||965|965|
|**Total resources expended**||**51,551**|**50,406**|
|||___ __|___ __|
|**NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES**||**2,178**|**(3,795)**|
|Total funds brought forward||(4,361)|(566)|
|||_____|__ ___|
|**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**||**£(2,183)**|**£(4,361)**|
|||______|______|
The notes on pages 10 to 11 form part of these financial statements
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## **REGISTERED NUMBER: 07330034 PASSION TRUST**
## **BALANCE SHEET AT 31[ST] JULY 2025**
**.**
|||31.7.25|31.7.24|
|---|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted|Unrestricted|
|||Funds|Funds|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Notes|||
|**CURRENT ASSETS**||||
|Debtors||239|9|
|Cash at bank||8,170|448|
|||___ __|_____|
|||8,409|457|
|**CREDITORS**||||
|Amount falling due within one year|3|(10,592)|(4,818)|
|||_____|______|
|**NET CURRENT LIABILITIES**||(2,183)|(4,361)|
|||||
|||_____|_____|
|**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**||||
|**LIABILITIES**||(2,183)|(4,361)|
|||_____|______|
|**NET LIABILTIES**||**£(2,183)**|**£(4,361)**|
|||||
|||_____|_____|
|**FUNDS**||||
|Unrestricted funds|4|(2,183)|(4,361)|
|||_____|______|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**||**£(2,183)**|**£(4,361)**|
|||_____|_____|
Continued…..
The notes on pages 10 to 11 form part of these financial statements
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## **PASSION TRUST**
## **BALANCE SHEET - CONTINUED AT 31[ST] JULY 2025**
**.**
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31[st] July 2025.
The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31[st] July 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
- (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Section 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
- (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 4 December 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
A Stewart-Clark - Trustee
The notes on pages 10 to 11 form part of these financial statements
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## **PASSION TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] JULY 2025**
**.**
## 1. **ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial Statements**
The financial Statements of the Charitable Company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)’ (effective 1[st] January 2015,’) Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
## **Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is possible that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **2. TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31[st] July 2025 nor for the year ended 31[st] July 2024.
## **Trustees’ expenses**
There were no trustees’ expenses paid for the year ended 31[st] July 2025 nor for the year ended 31[st] July 2024.
Details of support costs are shown on the Statement of Financial Activities on page 7.
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## **PASSION TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] JULY 2025**
**.**
|**3.**|**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**|**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||31.7.25||31.7.24|
||||**£**||**£**|
||Provision for Grants to Passion Plays||9,627||3,853|
||Other creditors||965||
965|
||||£10,592||£4,818|
|**4.**|**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**|||||
||||Net movement in||funds|
||||At 1.8.24||At 31.7.25|
||**Unrestricted funds**|||||
||General fund||(4,361) 2,178||(2,183)|
||**TOTAL FUNDS**||£(4,361) £2,178||£(2,183)|
||Net movement in funds, included in the above|are as follows:||||
|||Incoming|Resources|Movement||
|||resources|expended||in funds|
||**Unrestricted funds**|||||
||General fund|53,729|51,551||2,178|
|||_______|_ _____||_______|
||**TOTAL FUNDS**|£53,729|£51,551||£2,178|
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## **PASSION TRUST**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] JULY 2025**
**.**
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**
**Voluntary income from Charitable Donations**
Grants from Trusts
**OUTGOING RESOURCES**
**Passion Trust Charitable Donations**
Grants & Donations made to Passion Plays
Provision for Grants to Passion Plays
Resource Information Technology for Passion Plays
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
**Donations to cover cost of generating voluntary income**
Gift Aid received
**OUTGOING RESOURCES**
**Cost of generating voluntary income**
Project expenditure
Fundraising
Administration – office salaries
Sundry expenses
Accountancy governance fees
**Net Income/(Expenditure)**
|31.7.25
**£**
27,000
_______
**27,000**
17,040
5,774
4,186
_______
**27,000**
**20,170**
6,559
_______
**26,729**
1,356
317
21,913
-
965
_______
**24,551**
_______
**£2,178**
_______|31.7.24
**£**
27,450
_______
**27,450**
21,500
3,853
2,097
_______
**27,450**
**19,161**
-
_______
**19,161**
-
734
21,257
-
965
_______
**22,956**
_______
**£(3,795)**
_______|
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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