2021-03-31-accounts - Alexandria Lighthouse

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

From Period start date To Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year 1 April 2020 31 March 2021

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Alexandria Lighthouse Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1154327 Charity's principal address 247 Wilmslow Road Manchester Postcode M14 5LW

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Name of person (or body) Dates acted if not for Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint whole year trustee (if any)

1 Revd Phil Rawlings Chairman
2 Revd Kim Lau 3 Richard Fearnley Treasurer
4 Maxim Lakissa
5 Revd John Brett
6 Dr Isabel Turley Secretary
7 Dr Tarek Ibrahim
8 Joanie Yeung
9 Dan Challis

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name

Dates acted if not for whole year

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser

Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document Constitution

(eg. trust deed, constitution)

How the charity is CIO constituted

(eg. trust, association, company)

Trustee selection methods

Appointed from participating churches and charities.
(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

●policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
●the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
●relationship with any related parties;
●trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Trustees are appointed from the founding group of churches and leaders. One significant participating trust has also been represented. Given that the project is ecumenical, some care is taken to ensure that the trustee group is ecumenical.

Four of the nine trustees represent important donors to the charity.

Significant risks include managing the relationship with donor churches and individuals, with a view to maintaining the cash flow necessary for the working model of the charity. The involvement of those representing donor churches and organisations with similar aims is a way of managing those risks. The charity continues to benefit from the significantly lower rent payable to a sympathetic landlord, who bought the building housing its bookshop at 247 Wilmslow Road in the 2018/19 financial year.

The operational risk represented by the Covid-19 pandemic was substantial throughout the financial year with the consequential lockdowns and reduced footfall when the shop was open.

However, the strategy of placing the employed shop manager on furlough and claiming the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grant during closures, and obtaining business support grants from Manchester City Council, more than offset the adverse effects financially, and moving various services on-line allowed some services provided to be maintained.

Section C Objectives and activities

To advance the Christian faith/religion for the benefit of the public in accordance with the statements of belief within the Summary of the objects Christian doctrine through education and training, the holding of of the charity set out in prayer meetings, lectures, public celebration of religious its governing document festivals, producing and/or distributing literature, including that on Christian text and doctrines to enlighten others about the Christian religion.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public beneft in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public beneft)	1. Public contact and communication Public contact continued both directly through the charity’s shop and its market stall in Longsight, as in previous years. Numbers of contacts were inevitably substantially reduced compared to the previous year due to the pandemic, which required closure of the shop during lockdown periods and reduced footfall when the shop was open in other periods. However, some services, such as English classes, were able to continue by being moved online. The charity’s work has continued to be supported fnancially by key participating churches and, when the shop has been open, has been assisted by volunteers drawn mainly from those churches and others in contact with them. Where feasible in light of the pandemic restrictions, churches have also used the ancillary space in a number of diferent ways, which strengthens the partnership between them and the charity.Prayer Meetings Public prayer continued through the year, with special events as well as regular meetings connected to diferent networks such as Mahabba. Other prayer meetings are organised directly by partner churches. These meetings are generally held in Urdu, English and Kurdish, and Arabic. 2. Bible Studies A number of Bible studies have been held every week in the premises of the charity. These include studies in Arabic, Kurdish and English. These studies are advertised and are open to all. The team in the Alexandria Library publicise these meetings locally and through the bookshop. 3. Supporting Churches The charity continued to provide a venue and facilities for charities, churches and community groups during those periods when the shop premises could be opened. However, the public events in previous years, involving charity staf and volunteers to publicise the work of the charity, generally had to be suspended due to the pandemic restrictions. 4. Other services to the local community The charity has continued to ofer support to Syrian and other Arab refugees through the advice and guidance of staf within the limitations imposed by government restrictions during the pandemic. 5. English lessons, cultural activities. English courses have continued where possible both through online facilities and, where permitted, and with appropriate safeguards such as masks and social distancing, on the charity’s premises. These are publicised through its website and social media feeds. The classes range from beginners’ to advanced levels, and attract students from a number of diferent backgrounds. These lessons are provided free of charge. 6. Continuing work on structure, shop, set up costs. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a reduction in shop income coupled with a reduction in normal running costs. An ingress of storm water to the frst foor of the shop building resulted in unexpected repair costs but these were largely covered by an insurance claim. 7. Fundraising The charity continued to undertake the necessary work to raise funds through grants and contributions from churches and individuals, both in the UK and abroad. Funds of £63,246 were raised during the year, aside from revenue from the charity’s

shop and market stall. The bulk of these funds derived from business support grants made by/via Manchester City Council and furlough grants made by HMRC under the Coronavirus Job Support Scheme.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

●policy on grantmaking;
●policy programme related investment;

Volunteers continue to play a key role in the charity. These volunteers assist in the shop, when it is open, as the first point of contact, help with English language teaching, offer practical advice, provide information to a wider public about Christianity, organise prayer meetings and public meetings and produce literature. The charity relies largely on volunteers. During the year under review, the charity retained its single part-time worker who functioned as manager of the bookshop and, with a trustee, assisted in organising the volunteers. In addition to directing and supporting volunteers, the charity continues to focus on its partnership with churches, offering spaces for church and community volunteers to run activities related to the charity’s aims.

●contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

The key achievements of the charity follow from the objectives noted above. Briefly, these include (with compliance as necessary with the national restrictions made necessary by the Covid-19 pandemic):

The promotion of the Christian message through visits to the shop, the market stall in Longsight, and online contact with those seeking to use the charity’s facilities.
- Christian literature has continued to be distributed, both through gift and sale over the course of the year. Hundreds of people have bought or received Christian literature.
Regular and publicly accessible prayer and worship has continued.
Church groups have continued to use the premises, particularly offering services for vulnerable members of the community, such as refugees.
We have continued to disseminate our experience through a wide network of churches, particularly focusing on a multi-cultural, multi-religious environment in rapid flux.

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

The charity trustees aim to have three months’ operating costs held in reserve or firmly committed by supporting churches.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

None.

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

●the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
●how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
●investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Fundraising has been undertaken through three principal means.

(1) Support from partner churches – Grace Church Manchester, the Arabic Church in Manchester, the Manchester Chinese Church, Holy Trinity Platt (Church of England) and its affiliate Trinity Community Church. Other churches also supported the work of the trust in the year under review.
(2) Individual gifts.
(3) Income from the shop and ancillary premises.
(4) Government support grants made available to businesses affected by the pandemic restrictions through the local council and, in relation to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, HMRC.

Expenditure was in four main cost centres—

(1) Personnel costs,
(2) Costs related to the property, including rent,
(3) Stock purchase, and
(4) Other running costs.

These reflect the structure of the charity, based as it is in a publicly accessible building, with a single part-time worker, and based largely on the support and work of volunteers.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

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Signature(s)
Full name(s) Philip Rawlings
Richard Fearnley
Position (eg Secretary,
Chair, etc) Chair Treasurer
Date
21 January 2022
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Independent Examiner’s Report

To the Trustees of Alexandria Lighthouse, I report on the accounts of the Trust for the period ended 31 March 2021, which are set out on pages 10 to 12, and which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on page 13.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply but that an independent examination is needed.

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:

(1) Examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Act;
(2) Follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act;
(3) State whether particular matters have come to my attention.

BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

This report is in respect of an examination carried out under Section 145 of the Act, and in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 a review of the accounts and making such enquiries as are necessary for the purpose of this report. 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 statement below.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT

Based on my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect, accounting records have not been kept in accordance with Section 130 of the Act, or that the accounts presented do not accord with those records, or comply with the accounting requirement of the Act. No matter has come to my notice in connection with my examination to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts.

21st January 2022

Lorna Haines BSc FCA Chartered Accountant 139 Rosebery Street Manchester M14 4UU

Alexandria Lighthouse

Statement of Financial Activities

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Unrestricted Restricted
1 April 2020 – 31 Mar 2021 Funds Funds Total Last year
£ £ £ £
Income and endowments from:
Donations, grants & insurance claim
63,246 63,246 36,108
Charitable activities
Other trading activities shop income
5,186 5,186 12,697
Investments Bank interest
0 0 0
Other rental income & insurance claim
5,334 5,334 4,350
Total
73,766 73,766 53,154
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
39,338 39,338 61,021
Other
Total
39,338 39,338 61,021
Net gains/(losses) on investments
Net income/(expenditure)
34,428 34,428 (7,867)
Total funds carried forward
56,375 56,375 21,947
Other recognised gains/ (losses):
Gains/(losses) on revaluation of fixed assets
Actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit pension
schemes.
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Alexandria Lighthouse

Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

1 Apr 2020 – 31 Mar 2021

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Activity or Activities Grant funding of Support
Total
programme undertaken directly activities costs
£ £ £ £
Rent costs 16,000 16,000
Maintenance
3,857 3,857
Rates
0 0
Utilities
2,057 2,057
Other operations
5,625 5,625
Stock purchased
1,161 1,161
Employment
costs 10,439 10,439
Accountancy fees
200 200
Total
39,338 39,338
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●No remuneration was paid to any trustee during the financial period, nor to any person connected to them.

Alexandria Lighthouse Balance sheet 31 Mar 2021

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Note Total funds
ref. (Unrestricted)
£
Fixed assets:
Intangible assets
Tangible assets
Heritage assets
Investments
Total fixed assets
Current assets:
Stocks
Debtors Prepayment of rent
4,000
Investments
Cash at bank and in hand
52,575
Total current assets 56,575
Liabilities:
Accruals (Accountancy fees)
200
Net current assets or liabilities
56,375
Total assets less current liabilities
56,375
Creditors: Amounts falling due after
more than one year
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Alexandria Lighthouse

31 March 2021

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

1. Accounting Policies

The accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention, in accordance with applicable accounting standards and follow the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting for Charities 2015 . The following are the accounting policies which have been applied in dealing with material items.

(a) Donated and grant income:

Donated income and grants receivable are taken into account when received by the charity.

(b) Other income and expenditure

Investment income is taken into account when receivable and expenditure, including irrecoverable VAT, when incurred by the charity, regardless of when payment is made.

(c) Funds

Unrestricted funds are donations and other income received or generated for the objects of the charity without specified purpose and are available for purposes as directed by the trustees. No restricted funds were received during the financial period covered by these accounts.