# **Company No. 08321768**
# **Charity No. 1153449**
## **Bethesda Children’s Foundation**
## **Trustees’ Report and Accounts**
**for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2024**
## **Bethesda Children’s Foundation**
## Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **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|
## **Bethesda Children’s Foundation**
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT**
The trustees present their annual report for the purposes of the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006, together with the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2024. In preparing this report and financial statements, the trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2019) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102).
## **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 in this field. The primary focus is on supporting the Bethesda Children’s Home in Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, which cares for around 100 vulnerable children and young people.
In setting objectives and planning activities, the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. All income received has been applied to furthering the charity’s aims.
## **Achievements and Performance**
The children and young people admitted to the home are typically orphans or severely disadvantaged by poverty, with families unable to support them due to ill health or other circumstances. The home provides a safe and supportive environment, access to local education, and healthcare, helping to transform lives.
During the year grants totalling £35,550 (2023: £24,100) were made to Bethesda Mission Trust for the purposes of supporting the children’s home.
Quarterly grants covered ongoing costs such as staffing, food, provisions, educational materials, uniforms, and medical supplies. Grants also contributed to improvements and emergency needs, including:
- £7,000 towards a new road required for licensing,
- £1,750 for Christmas expenses (including new clothes),
- £1,800 for electrical damage repairs.
Local authorities continue to regard the home as a model of good practice in Tamil Nadu.
Page | 1
## **Bethesda Children’s Foundation**
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT continued**
## **Financial Review**
During the year, the charity raised £33,559 (2023: £28,218) and made grants totalling £35,550 (2023: £24,100). Bank transfer costs amounted to £50 (2023: £48). No other expenditure was incurred, as incidental expenses were met personally by the trustees.
Income sources included:
- Regular individual donors: £10,162 (2023: £9,769)
- One-off donations from individuals and businesses: £5,251 (2023: £5,481)
- Church donations: £9,744 (2023: £4,522)
- Gift Aid: £2,401 (2023: £2,446)
- Carlile Foundation: £6,000 (2023: £6,000)
Child sponsorships (typically £24/month) continue to be a key focus. At year-end, 32 children (2023: 34) were supported this way.
The result was a deficit of £2,041 (2023: surplus of £3,970), due to use of reserves. Year-end funds totalled £6,076 (2023: £8,117), of which £4,047 were unrestricted.
## **Risk Management**
The trustees regularly review the risks to which the charity is exposed, particularly in relation to income dependency, governance, and safeguarding of funds. Appropriate controls and mitigating measures are in place and reviewed at trustee meetings.
## **Reserves**
The trustees believe that only minimal reserves are required, as the aim is to distribute available funds quarterly as grants. Other expenditure is negligible, since incidental costs are met personally by trustees.
Page | 2
## **Bethesda Children’s Foundation**
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT continued**
## **Plans for the Future**
The Foundation will continue to seek new donors and child sponsors to provide sustainable income for the children’s home. Additional funding from trusts, individuals, and churches will be sought for improvements. The trustees also plan to:
- run and encourage fundraising events,
- strengthen the website and social media presence,
- raise awareness of the charity and the vulnerable children it supports.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The charitable company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association (incorporated on 6th December 2012). It commenced operations on 1st January 2013 and was registered with the Charity Commission on 16th August 2013.
Trustees usually meet virtually four times a year and are responsible for day-to-day operations. New trustees are appointed by the board, based on relevant skills and experience, in line with the Articles of Association. Training is provided through trustee mentoring and Charity Commission guidance.
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 each year that give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs and its income and expenditure. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
Page | 3
## **Bethesda Children’s Foundation**
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **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:
- there is no relevant information of which the charity’s independent examiner is unaware; and
- the trustees have taken all necessary steps to make themselves aware of relevant 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: 25 September 2025
Nicki Torrance Treasurer Date: 25 September 2025
Page | 4
**Bethesda Children’s Foundation** Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **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
Page | 5
**Bethesda Children’s Foundation** Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS**
I report on the accounts of Bethesda Children’s Foundation for the year ended 31st December 2024, which are set out on pages 7 – 12.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I have conducted my examination in accordance with section 145 of the Act and the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. My examination was limited to a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning such matters.
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that:
1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the requirements of the Act or the applicable regulations, other than any requirement for the accounts to give a “true and fair view,” which is outside the scope of an independent examination.
I have no other matters to report.
## **Robert Jesson** FCCA
25 September 2025
50 Canada Road, Southampton, SO19 9DR
Page | 6
## **Bethesda Children’s Foundation**
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **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**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
33,559
33,559
-
35,600
35,600
**-**
**(2,041)**
**(2,041)**
4,047
4,070
8,117
**4,047**
**2,029**
**6,076**|**Total**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
28,218
24,248|
|---|---|---|
|||**3,970**
4,147|
|||**8,117**|
## **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_
Page | 7
## **Bethesda Children’s Foundation**
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **BALANCE SHEET**
||||**2024**||**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Current Assets**||||||
|Debtors|5|2,177||1,370||
|Cash at bank||3,899||6,747||
||||**6,076**||**8,117**|
|**Net Assets**|||**6,076**||**8,117**|
|**Funds:**||||||
|Unrestricted funds|||4,047||4,047|
|Restricted funds|||2,029||4,070|
|**Total funds**|||**6,076**||**8,117**|
For the year ending 31[st] December, 2024, 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 25 September, 2025 and are signed on their behalf by:
Nicki Torrance (Treasurer)
_The notes form part of these financial statements_
Page | 8
**Bethesda Children’s Foundation** Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **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:
- 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.
- 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_
Page | 9
**Bethesda Children’s Foundation**
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **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|**2024**
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total
funds
£
£
£
-
31,158
31,158
-
2,401
2,401
**-**
**33,559**
**33,559**|**2023**
Total
funds
£
25,772
2,446|
|---|---|---|
|||**28,218**|
## **3. Expenditure – costs of charitable activities**
|Grants made
Bank transfer costs
Independent examination fees|**2024**
Direct costs
Support
costs
Total costs
£
£
£
35,550
-
35,550
50
-
50
-
-
-
**35,600**
**-**
**35,600**|**2023**
Total
costs
£
24,100
48
100|
|---|---|---|
|||**24,248**|
_The notes form part of these financial statements_
Page | 10
**Bethesda Children’s Foundation** Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued**
## **4. Grantmaking**
||||**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Grants to|Grants to|Total|Total|
||institutions|individuals|grants|grants|
||£|£|£|£|
|Bethesda Mission Trust|**35,550**|**-**|**35,550**|**24,100**|
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 and 2024.
## **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_
Page | 11
Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
## **Bethesda Children’s Foundation**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued**
## **7. Comparatives for the Statement of Financial Activities**
|**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
**Expenditure:**
Charitable activities
**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**|
_The notes form part of these financial statements_
Page | 12