Company No. 08321768
Charity No. 1153449
Bethesda Children’s Foundation
Trustees’ Report and Accounts
for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2023
Bethesda Children’s Foundation
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
INDEX
| PAGE(S) | |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 1 – 3 |
| Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities | 3 - 4 |
| Reference and administration | 5 |
| Independent examiner’s report | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Balance Sheet | 8 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 9 - 12 |
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
Bethesda Children’s Foundation
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
The trustees have pleasure in presenting their annual report for the purposes of the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006, together with the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2023. In preparing this annual report and financial statement the trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (the FRSSE) (effective 1 January 2015).
Objectives and Activities
The Charity’s objects are the prevention or relief of poverty among children and young people in southern India by providing grants to other charities working to prevent or relieve poverty. The charity’s activities focus on providing grants to support the Bethesda Children’s Home in Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, South India caring for approximately 100 vulnerable children and young people. In setting our objectives and planning our activities, the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. All income received by the charity has been applied to the provision of the charity’s aims.
Achievements and Performance
During the year grants totalling £24,100 (2022: £26,600) were made to Bethesda Mission Trust for the purposes of supporting the children’s home. The children and young people admitted to the home are either orphans or severely disadvantaged by poverty and whose families are unable to support them through ill health or other circumstances. The home provides a safe and supportive caring environment giving access to local education services and health provision which positively transforms the lives of those most vulnerable children in this part of Tamil Nadu, India.
The home takes new children at the start of each school year in June. Once the children reach the age of 18 years, or if circumstances change meaning they are able to return to their families, they leave the home and each school year new children are admitted to replace those who have left.
Quarterly grants are made towards the ongoing costs of the home including staffing; food and provisions; educational materials, school uniforms, medical supplies and any other items necessary for the education and welfare of the children. Grants may also be made as a contribution towards any emerging needs including ongoing improvements to buildings and equipment. The home is required to meet standards required by local inspection authorities who, it has been reported, continue to regard it as a model of good practice in Tamil Nadu.
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Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
Bethesda Children’s Foundation
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT continued
Financial Review
The trustees are pleased to report that a total of £28,218 (2022 - £24,789) was raised in the year and the charity made grants totalling £24,100 (2022 - £26,600) incurring bank transfer costs of £48. No other expenditure was incurred (incidental expenses are met by the trustees personally) except for the £100 fee for the independent examination of the 2021 Report and Accounts.
Regular individual donors contributed £9,769 (2022: £9,864), other one-off donations from individuals and businesses totalled £5,481 (2022: £2,595) and churches contributed £4,522 (2022: £4,098). Gift aid added an additional £2,446 (2022: £2,232) to income. We were also pleased to receive ongoing support from the Carlile Foundation which made donations totalling £6,000 (2022: £6,000).
The main focus of fundraising continues to be to maintain and attract sponsorships for individual children of usually £24 per month. Ongoing sponsorship at the year-end provides support in respect of 34 (2022: 31) of the approximately 100 children at the home.
The charity was able to achieve a surplus for the year of £3,970 (2022: deficit of £2,051) increasing the funds carried forward to £8,117 (2022: £4,147) of which £4,047 is unrestricted, free reserves.
Risk Management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the Charity is exposed and at their meetings they carry out this duty and ensure appropriate controls are in place and any necessary action is taken to mitigate such risks.
Reserves
The trustees believe that only minimal reserves are necessary as the aim is to distribute all available funds in the form of grants on a quarterly basis. Expenditure other than grants made is minimal as incidental expenses are met by the trustees personally.
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Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
Bethesda Children’s Foundation
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT continued
Plans for Future
We will continue to seek to increase the number of child sponsorships as our first priority as this will provide long term sustainable income to provide ongoing support for the children’s home. In addition, we will seek other funding from trusts and individuals for improvements to the home; run fundraising events and encourage others to do so as well; and develop our web-site and social media platforms to raise awareness of the charity and the vulnerable children we are endeavouring to support.
Structure, Governance and Management
The charitable company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated on 6[th] December 2012. The charity commenced operations on 1[st] January 2013 and was registered with the Charity Commission on 16[th] August 2013. The trustees usually meet virtually four times a year, and are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the charity. New trustees are selected and appointed on the recommendation of existing trustees on the basis of relevant skills.
Training is provided by fellow trustees and through the various Charity Commission publications and guidance notes for trustees.
The company has taken advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the report above. The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report (including directors’ report) above.
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
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Bethesda Children’s Foundation
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT continued
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities (continued)
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. 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.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
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there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware; and
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the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
This report has been prepared having taken advantage of the small companies exemption in the Companies Act 2006.
Approved by the trustees/directors and signed on their behalf
Duncan House Chairman Date: 19/9/2024
Nicki Torrance Treasurer Date: 19/9/24
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Bethesda Children’s Foundation Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION
The Directors of the charitable company (the Charity) are its Trustees for the purpose of charity law and in the report are referred to as Trustees.
Trustees
Duncan House Chairman
Christopher Parsons
John Eke
Linda Eke
Sarah Elizabeth Thomas Steven McConnell Russell Nicki Torrance Treasurer
Company No. 08321768 (England and Wales)
Charity No. 1153449
Registered Office 92 Mina Road London SE17 2QS
Bankers
Co-operative Bank plc Delf House PO BOX 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT
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Bethesda Children’s Foundation
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS
Report to the trustees of Bethesda Children’s Foundation (registered charity number 1153449) on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2023 as set out on pages 7 – 12.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31[st] December 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
Independent examiner’s statement
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.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
Robert Jesson
FCCA
8[th] September 2023
50 Canada Road Southampton SO19 9DR
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Bethesda Children’s Foundation
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (Incorporating an income and expenditure account)
| Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Expenditure: Charitable activities 3 Net Income / (Expenditure) Reconciliation of Funds: Total Funds brought forward Total Funds carried forward |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2023 £ £ £ 28,218 28,218 100 24,148 24,248 (100) 4,070 3,970 4,147 - 4,147 4,047 4,070 8,117 |
Total Funds 2022 £ 24,789 26,840 |
|---|---|---|
| (2,051) 6,198 |
||
| 4,147 |
Continuing operations
All income and expenditure has arisen from continuing activities.
The charity has no recognised gains or losses other than those dealt with in the statement of financial activities.
The notes form part of these financial statements
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Bethesda Children’s Foundation
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
BALANCE SHEET
| Note Current Assets Debtors 5 Cash at bank Net Assets Funds: Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds |
£ 1,370 6,747 |
2023 £ 8,117 |
£ 1,116 3,031 |
2022 £ 4,147 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,117 | 4,147 | |||
| 4,047 4,070 |
4,147 - |
|||
| 8,117 | 4,147 |
For the year ending 31[st] December, 2023 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under s477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies regime and in accordance with FRS102 SORP.
These financial statements were approved by the trustees/directors on xx September, 2024 and are signed on their behalf by:
Duncan House (Chairman) Nicki Torrance (Treasurer)
The notes form part of these financial statements
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Bethesda Children’s Foundation Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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 under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2019) 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 January 2019) and comply with the Companies Act 2006.
Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The nature of transactions are such that grants are only awarded on the basis of available funds and that incidental expenses are met by the trustees personally.
Income – Recognition
Income from donations and grants, including capital grants, is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably, except as follows:
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When donors specify that donations and grants given to the charity must be used in future accounting periods, the income is deferred until those periods.
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When donors impose conditions which have to be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such income, the income is deferred and not recognised until the pre-conditions have been met.
When donors specify that donations and grants, including capital grants, are for a particular restricted purpose, this income is included as restricted funds when receivable.
Income – Tax reclaims on donations and gifts
Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
Expenditure - Grant making
Expenditure is recognised when a liability is incurred. The company focuses its grant making in supporting Bethesda Mission Trust as set out in the trustees’ report. Further information is provided on the company’s web-site www.bethesdachildren.org
Debtors
Debtors are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.
The notes form part of these financial statements
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Bethesda Children’s Foundation
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
1. Accounting policies (continued)
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
2. Donations and legacies
| Donations from individuals and trusts Gift Aid |
2023 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ - 25,772 25,772 - 2,446 2,446 - 28,218 28,218 |
2022 Total funds £ 22,557 2,232 |
|---|---|---|
| 24,789 |
3. Expenditure – costs of charitable activities
| Grants made Bank transfer costs Independent examination fees |
2023 Direct costs Support costs Total costs £ £ £ 24,100 - 24,100 48 - 48 - 100 100 24,148 100 24,248 |
2022 Total costs £ 26,600 140 100 |
|---|---|---|
| 26,840 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
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Bethesda Children’s Foundation Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
4. Grantmaking
| 2023 | 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to | Grants to | Total | Total | |
| institutions | individuals | grants | grants | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Bethesda Mission Trust | 24,100 | - | 24,100 | 26,600 |
The grants are given for the purposes of supporting the work of the children’s home in Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, South India.
5. Debtors
Debtors relate to an outstanding gift aid claim for 2023.
6. Transactions with trustees and related parties
None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from an employment with the charity or a related entity.
There have been no related party transactions in the reporting period.
The notes form part of these financial statements
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Bethesda Children’s Foundation
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued
7. Comparatives for the Statement of Financial Activities
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | |
| 2022 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and Endowments from: | |||
| Donations and legacies | 2,232 | 22,557 | 24,789 |
| Expenditure: | |||
| Charitable activities | 4,283 | 22,557 | 26,840 |
| Net Income / (Expenditure) | (2,051) | - | (2,051) |
| Reconciliation of Funds: | |||
| Total Funds brought forward | 6,198 | - | 6,198 |
| Total Funds carried forward | 4,147 | - | 4,147 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
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