2025-03-31-accounts - The Bridge Trust Ltd

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Annual report and financial statements

1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025

Charity number 1142658 Company number 07556101

The Bridge Trust Ltd Trustees’ Report Year ended 31 March 2025

The trustees present their annual directors’ report and financial statements for the charity for the year ending 31 March 2025, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities.

Chair’s report

This has been a year of significant change for Bridge. Dave Day set up the charity in 2011, and he and his wife Rhi have been involved ever since. They finally stepped down as trustees in March 2025. During this time, we have achieved a lot which would not have happened without their vision and leadership. We are very grateful for the significant contribution Dave and Rhi made over the years. I now chair the trust and look forward to it being able to build on their foundation.

The other major change is that Bridge has taken over from Care for Zambia the responsibility for the Mutende project in Zambia. This means that we have doubled in size overnight. As well as the funds of Care for Zambia being transferred to Bridge, we have benefitted from several of their trustees becoming trustees of Bridge and bringing with them their experience, expertise and enthusiasm.

The trustees’ annual report and financial statements below set out the factual details. What they don’t easily portray is the lives of those in India and Zambia, what challenges they face and the difference our work with them makes. I have been able to visit both countries with teams from Bridge and have seen for myself the difference this work makes.

Finally, I want to thank both our staff and my fellow trustees for all their efforts in making sure the trust is well run and achieves so much. I am particularly grateful for the support I have received personally since becoming chair in March 2025.

Lesley McAllister

Our purposes and activities

Objects

The objects of the charity are

to advance the Christian faith, mainly but not exclusively, by teaching about Christian faith and action, and through training and mentoring church leaders, in the United Kingdom and overseas.
to relieve those in need by reason of poverty, illness, disability, social exclusion or age in the United Kingdom or overseas by raising awareness of needs, by making grants to persons in such need and to those working to relieve poverty in such a way, and by training others to do the same.

We achieve these objects through support of work mainly in India and Zambia. We employ two members of staff, Colin and Cara Medus, on a job-share basis. Details of the work we support are provided below under the heading Achievements and performance .

The trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. We consider that our activities provide public benefit because the health, welfare and educational work we support in both India and Zambia, and the ministry of the churches whose leaders we support, are open to all, and make a tangible difference to the lives of ordinary poor people in both countries.

Achievements and performance

India

We have continued supporting orphans in foster homes across India . (£2,837 this year.)
We continued funding the work of 30 health workers in a slum area of Delhi. (£16,550 this year.)
Our partners in India, run schools in two slum areas of Delhi, between them teaching and feeding some 4,000 children every day. Many of the children’s families came to Delhi to find work, and live in slums where there is no other educational provision. Thanks to donors who regularly give us the money to fund two of these schools, we sent £11,398 for this work this year.
We provided funds totalling £1,350 to assist three young women in higher education, whose families could not have afforded it otherwise. We also contributed £1,000 to the costs of a school in a village in the North East of the country.
Our partners in India run sewing schools to enable women who might be vulnerable to exploitation to learn a trade to support themselves. We provided £2,400 to buy sewing machines.
We support the work of the iCare rehabilitation centre for children with special needs in Jalandhar in Punjab. (£1,800 this year.)
We contributed £7,275 towards the support of pastors and other leaders who help administer the projects listed, and whose church members play a vital role in this work.

Zambia

We have taken over from the charity Care for Zambia a project in Chingola, Zambia. This comprises a children’s village (Mutende) providing a home for over 40 children and young adults, and a primary school (HMMA) with over 400 pupils serving the local community. There are three family houses, each with a house mother, who look after up to 12 children. There is one house for the younger children and separate houses for the older boys and girls. All children have been placed in the home by the Zambian government and will have typically lost one or both of their parents. Some of the children would have been living on the street.

The electricity supply at Chingola is very unreliable and since the end of this financial year we have received donations enabling us to fund the installation of solar panels and battery storage.

When the children reach the age of 18 they move to one of two follow-on houses, where they can continue their education or begin the transition to college or University. Often we support our young adults well into their 20s until they are able to look after themselves. Without this ongoing support many of the young people would end up unemployed or homeless. We funded a training course for one such young woman this year. (£1,400)

The school is next door to the children’s village and provides a good quality education up to Grade 7 (roughly equivalent to primary level in the UK). Over the last five years the number of children attending the school has nearly doubled, putting pressure on the existing facilities.

Since the year end, work has started to create additional classrooms and a toilet block.

We sent some financial support for Sachibondu Rural Health Centre, in Northwest Zambia. The clinic provides treatment to hundreds of people every day, some of whom walk long distances to get there. We are grateful to the donors who have enabled us to continue this support. (£2,824 this year.) We also provide some personal financial support for a young woman at Sachibondu. (£406.25)

Other activities

The Bath-based charity Mercy in Action continued sharing the profits from one of their charity shops with Bridge, but the shop has not been trading as successfully as hoped, and their contribution this year has been considerably reduced (£3,565). Nevertheless, their support has made a welcome difference to our finances.

Safeguarding

Following the safeguarding audit we conducted last year, we have

set up partnership agreements with our overseas partners.
arranged DBS checks for all our trustees and staff.
provided basic safeguarding training for all staff and trustees.

Financial review

Donations to the trust in 2024-25 were just over £220,000. This is considerably more than in the past, but a large proportion of the increase represents the one-off transfer of accumulated funds for the project in Chingola from Care for Zambia.

Like many charities, we find it easier to attract donations for specific projects than for our general costs, including staff salaries. As a result, although our total funds at the end of the year are much greater than last year, non-restricted funds are down compared with last year.

Most previous supporters of Care for Zambia (see above) are now giving towards the Chingola project through Bridge instead, but the transfer of donors is still ongoing at the time of this report.

At our present levels of income and regular commitments, we have no concerns about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The trustees consider that under the Charities Act 2011, the income of the charity falls within the range for which an independent examination of the charity’s accounts is required, but an audit is not required.

Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions requiring disclosure.

Structure• governance and management The Bridge Trust Ltd Lg a company1Smlted by guarantee. Its govemlng document 15 its Memorandum and Articles of A5soclatlon. The trustees are alsothe dirertors of the company. They may be appointed elther by a re501ution bythe members of the charity. or by the dlrectors. Dirertors must pèriodlcally retire, though they may offerthemselves for re-appolntmenL Referen and adminlstrative detalls The Charl5 name ts The 8rid8e Trust Ltd. It is re8lstered 8$ a company IrJcorporate<l in En8land and Wales Inumber075561011 and also re8iStered as a charity by the Charity Commlsslon for England and Wale5 Inumber 11426581. The companvs registered office address Is 24 Stanbury Road, Brtstol, BS3 4QG. Three trustees have left office since last yearfs report. Full detsils of the trustees and their service are set out below. Mlke Bennett Served throughout the flnanclal year and up to the date of this report. Served untll 10 March 2025. Dave Day Rhian Dav losh Edbrooke Served until 10 Mar¢h 2025. Served throughout the finaftcial year and up to the date of this report. Served throughout the flnanclal year and up to the date of this report. Served untll 25 November 2024. Lucy Heude Huang Yu Hsin Le51ey McAlllster Chri5 Matthews SeNed throughout the financial year and up to the date of thls report. Chair. SeNed throu8hout the financial year and up to the date of this report. Served throughoutthe )Inancial year and up to the datè of thi5 report. Vlce-ChaSr. Served throughout the financlal year and up to the date of this reptyt. Served throu8hout thè financial year and up to the date of thls report. SeNed thTouBhout the financial year and up to the date of this report. SeNed throuBhoutthe financlal year and upto the date of this report. Steve Perrins LSZ Sanderson lan Wllson Paul Uttlev Marlan Uttley Approved by The Brldge Trust Ltd trustees and 5i8ned on thelr behalf by lan WiLson IDirector & Company Secretsryl

The Bridge Trust Ltd Independent Examiner’s report to the trustees Year ended 31 March 2025

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the Company (and its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts carried out under sect ion 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charit y Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

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.

Sophie Berry ACCA 131 Ashley Road Montpelier Bristol BS6 5NU

23 December 2025

The Bridge Trust Ltd

Statement of financial activities for the year ending 31 March 2025

Note Income: Donations 3 Other income 4 Fund-raising events 5 Total income Expenditure: Costs of raising funds 5 Expenditure on charitable activities 6 Total expenditure Net income/(expenditure) and net movement in funds for the year Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ Total funds 2024-25 £ Total funds 2023-24 £ 39,484.51 181,211.72 220,696.23 87,161.30 1,323.37 1,323.37 443.42 980.00 980.00 2,282.30
	41,787.88 181,211.72 222,999.60 89,887.02
	405.27 405.27 1,399.52 44,528.48 103,944.25 148,473.07 103,056.73
	44,933.75 103,944.25 148,878.00 104,456.25
	(3,145.87) 77,267.47 74,121.60 (14,569.23) 15,338.77 6,189.89 21,528.66 36,097.89
	12,192.90 83,457.36 95,650.26 21,528.66

The Brldge Trust Ltd Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025 Note 2025 2024 Flxed ass•ts 524.25 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 95,588.76 2184.46 Credltors falling due within one year li 1462.75 1355AOI N•t Current A55ets 95,iZ6.01 21.528.66 Net Assets 95,650.26 21,528.66 The funds ofthe tharfty Restricted income fund5 12 83,457.36 6,189.89 Unrestrfcted funds 12,192.90 15338.77 Total charlty funds 95,650.26 21.528.66 For the flnan¢ial year in question, the company was et)tStled to exemption undersection 477 of the Companles Act 20C6 relating to small companles. No members have Tequlred the company to obtsin an audlt of Its accounts for the year in question in accordan with sectlon 476 of the Companles Att 20J6. The dlrectors acknowledge their responsibility for complylng wlth the requirements of the Act wlth respect to accountlng records and for the preparation ofthe accounts. These accounts are prepared In accordance with the provislons appllcable to companies subjÈ¢t to the small companies. regime. The notes at pages 8- 10 forni part of these accounts. Approved bythe trustees and signed on their behalf by Lesley M¢Allister Ichairl Le51ey McAlllster

Notes to the financial statements

1. Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a. Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102, second edition 2019) as applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the Micro-entities Regime (FRS 105, January 2022) and the Companies Act 2006. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes. Charities SORP 2026 published in October 2025 does not apply to these accounts.

b. Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis The financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the trustees consider the company to be a going concern.

c. Income recognition policies

Income from donations is only recognised when it has been received. Gift aid is not recognised until it has been received from HMRC. Interest on funds held on deposit is recognised upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

d. Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be used solely for particular areas of the trust’s work.

e. Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and bank balances, as well as balances held at PayPal, Stewardship and CAF.

f. Depreciation of fixed assets

IT equipment is depreciated at 25% per annum on a straight-line basis.

2. Legal status of the trust

The trust is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the charity.

3. Donations received

Donations received include donations from individual supporters (plus gift aid where applicable), and grants from other charities and similar bodies (analysed below).

Grants from other charities Burnham Christian Fellowship Care for Zambia Dayspring Church, Chippenham Four Winds Trust George Müller Charitable Trust Linden Church Trust (Swansea) Mercy in Action Resound Bristol Trust Station Hill Baptist Church Thornbury Baptist Church	Total Restricted Unrestricted £ £ £ 620.00 620.00 - 56,569.46 56,569.46 - 5,681.25 5,681.25 - 500.00 500.00 620.00 620.00 - 32,378.09 32,378.09 3,565.43 3,565.43 5,625.00 5,625.00 - 990.00 810.00 180.00 2,400.00 2,400.00 -
	108,949.23 104,703.80 4,245.43

4. Other income

Other income consisted of bank interest received of £1,323.37

5. Fund-raising events

£405.27 represents the costs of catering and publicity for a fund-raising event (an Indian meal) and the costs of producing Bridge Christmas cards for sale. The proceeds of these were £980.00, yielding a surplus of £574.73.

6. Expenditure on charitable activities

6. Expenditure on charitable activities
Note Payroll costs 7 Support of overseas charitable work 8 Governance and administrative costs 10	Restricted funds Non-restricted funds Total £ 8,335.92 24,696.16 33,032.08 95,608.33 17,993.64 113,601.97 1,838.68 1,838.68
	103,944.25 44,528.48 148,472.73

7. Payroll costs

We employed Colin and Cara Medus throughout the year as joint CEOs. Payroll costs consist of their salaries, and employer’s pension contributions, as follows. £8,335.92 of the payroll costs has been met from restricted funds, for their work specifically in Zambia.

Salaries Employer’s pension contributions Total Payroll Costs	31,635.36 1,396.72
	33,032.08

As a result of the Employment Allowance for small employers, no employer’s NICs were incurred this year. No employee was paid more than £60,000.

8. Support of overseas charitable work

Expenditure on overseas charitable work is analysed as follows, showing whether it was from restricted or unrestricted funds. See Achievements and Performance in the Trustees’ Report for further information about this expenditure.

India: Slum schools Orphans Health workers Support of pastors and other Christian workers Providing machines for sewing schools Educational grants Coimbatore old people’s home iCare project (Jalandhar) Other (miscellaneous needs in the slums) Total (India) Zambia Sachibondu health centre Fire-Baptised Church Mutende Children’s Village Training etc costs Mutende – higher education students HMMA (school) general costs Support of pastors and other Christian workers Total (Zambia) Travel costs (India and Zambia) Total expenditure on overseas charitable work	Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Total £ £ £ 11,398.00 11,398.00 2,837.50 2,837.50 8,207.25 8,342.75 16,550.00 2,715.00 4,560.00 7,275.00 2,400.00 2,400.00 2,350.00 2,350.00 700.00 700.00 1,800.00 1,800.00 215.00 215.00
	32,622.75 12,902.75 45,525.50
	2,824.00 2,824.00 15,549.75 1,167.88 16,717.63 39,959.08 39,959.08 2,330.00 2,330.00 305.23 305.23 248.77 248.77 1,768.75 37.50 1,806.25
	62,985.58 1,205.38 64,190.96
	3,885.51 3,885.51
	95,608.33 17,993.64 113,601.97

9. Fixed Assets

The sum of 524.25 represents the book value of a laptop computer bought during the year for £699.00, after depreciation at 25%.

10. Governance and administrative costs

Bank charges Insurance (travel and employer’s liability) Website costs Professional advice Safeguarding training & DBS checks Depreciation of IT equipment Miscellaneous admin costs (postage) Governance (Companies House filing fee)	£ 357.16 692.99 172.83 125.00 243.00 174.75 38.95 34.00
	1,838.68

Bank charges include costs of making overseas transfers, other bank service charges, and charges from payment providers. Website costs include web hosting and domain registration. Professional advice is a subscription to the Stewardship Consultancy Helpline.

11. Creditors and accrued payments falling due within one year

HMRC (PAYE on salaries) Pension contributions Web hosting for the year	£ 171.76 118.16 172.83
	462.75

12. Restricted funds

Restricted funds comprise funds held for the following

India Orphans Slum schools Health Workers Support of pastors and other Christian workers Miscellaneous gifts for work in India Zambia Sachibondu health centre Mutende Children’s Village Mutende – higher education fund HMMA (school) general fund HMMA building fund Support of pastors and other Christian workers	£ £ 265.00 931.25 772.50 267.50 35.00 2,271.25 214.03 38,805.93 10,491.77 6,772.85 24,801.53 100.00 81,186.11
	83,457.36

The split between restricted and unrestricted funds brought forward in the statement of financial activities on page 6 differs by £45.00 from the closing figures reported last year to correct a typographical error.

13. Reserves

Our current policy is to set aside £15,000 as a reserve. However fluctuating donations obliged us to dip into that at times to meet day-to day commitments, and at the year end, we held £12,192 in unrestricted funds. The restricted funds held for work in India and Zambia comfortable exceed what is immediately needed for day-to-day operations.