2023-03-31-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 2022 31 March 2023

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 whole Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee (if year any) 1 Revd Phil Rawlings Chairman 01/06/2022 2 Revd Kim Lau To 07/09/2022 3 Grace Robinson From 01/06/2022 4 Maxim Lakissa To 05/12/2022

5 Revd John Brett
6 Dr Isabel Turley

Secretary

7 Dr Tarek Ibrahim
8 Joanie Yeung
9 Ramprasad Shresta From 01/06/2022
10 Pablo Pascoe From 7/12/2022 11 12
13
14
15
16
17
18

19 20

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

Dates acted if not for whole year

Name

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

(eg. trust deed, constitution)

Constitution

How the charity is constituted

(eg. trust, association, company)

CIO

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 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. Funding levels have remained constant and the reserves policy has also been followed. However the Alexandria relies on funding that is committed by partner churches, usually annually and policy can change. The charity takes steps to palliate these risks, including investing time in communication, and maintaining relationships with supporting churches.

trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit 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 benefit)		To advance the Christian faith/religion for the benefit of the public in accordance with the statements of belief within the Christian doctrine through education and training, the holding of prayer meetings, lectures, public celebration of religious festivals, producing and/or distributing literature, including that on Christian text and doctrines to enlighten others about the Christian religion.
		1.Public contact and communication During the course of the year, the charity opened a second site in Rochdale and this report includes information related to both of these sites. Public contact came through three principal avenues. The firstly was contact through the shops and the market stall, where Christian literature was made available to the public. The second was referrals from other agencies – this related particularly to the service elements of the charity’s work, including English classes and to a lesser extent other forms of support. Churches using the premises also acted as public contact point, inviting people into the spaces. Thirdly, effective digital platforms allowed the charity to contact potential beneficiaries, both for service activities and more specifically religious activities. Prayer Meetings These continued throughout the year, in Manchester and began in Rochdale, where they were also held regularly. Normally, we would expect four prayer meetings per week to be held at the premises or organised by the charity’s volunteers. 2.Bible Studies These were held in both spaces throughout the year – studies are usually held about three times a week in Manchester and once or twice in Rochdale. They are widely advertised, open to all, and in some cases, available in languages other than English. There is a range of volunteer leadership for these studies. 3.Supporting Churches The charity continued to provide a venue and facilities for charities, churches and community groups, in both Rochdale and Manchester. Other services to the local community The charity has continued to offer support to those in need. This support is informal, and included referrals from a job centre and other networks of public support. 4.English lessons, cultural activities. English courses have continued in Manchester and have begun in Rochdale. These draw in a large number of students, ranging from 30 or 40 per week. 5.Continuing work on structure, shop, set up costs. The structure of the shop was generally sound throughout the year. 6.Fundraising Fundraising, including that from churches, private individuals and grants continued to be adequate for the charity’s good functioning.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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. There is a now a volunteer group in Rochdale as well as in Manchester.

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

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
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 those noted in previous years:

The promotion of the Christian message through visits to both shops, the market stall in Longsight, and online contact with those seeking to use the charity’s facilities. Online contact has increased, through a highly effective digital platform.
- As in previous years, 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, although the patterns have changed, with new meetings in Rochdale and some in Manchester.
- Church groups have continued to use both 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)

Fundraising has been undertaken through four principal means.

You may choose to include additional information, where (1) Support from partner churches – Grace Church Manchester, the
relevant about: Arabic Church in Manchester, the Manchester Chinese Church,
● the charity’s principal Holy Trinity Platt (Church of England) and the Antioch Network
sources of funds (including Church. Other churches also supported the work of the trust in
any fundraising); the year under review.
how expenditure has supported the key objectives (2) Individual gifts. of the charity;
● investment policy and (3) Income from the shop and ancillary premises. objectives including any ethical investment policy (4) Grants from Christian bodies for specific areas of ministry, adopted. particularly in Rochdale.

Expenditure was in five main cost centres—

(1) Personnel costs,
(2) Costs related to the property, including rent,
(3) Stock purchase, and
(4) Other running costs. (5) Property renovation costs, particularly in Rochdale.

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

Signature(s) Full name(s) John Brett Joanie Yeung Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Acting Chair (Acting Treasurer 2022-23) Date 29/01/2024

Independent Examiner’s Report

To the Trustees of Alexandria Lightho u se, I report on the accounts of the Trust for the period ended 31 March 2023, which ar e set out on pages 9 to 11, and which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on p a ge 12.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER

As the charity’s trustees you are resp o nsible for the preparation of the accounts; y o u consider that the audit requirement of Section 144 of the Cha r ities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply but t h at an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charit y is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my res p onsibility to:

(1) Examine the accounts under S e ction 145 of the Act;
(2) Follow the procedures laid do w n in the general Directions given by the Cha r ity 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 examina t ion carried out under Section 145 of the Act, and in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charit y Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity, and a comparison of the accounts presented with thos e records. It also includes a review of the accounts and making su c h enquiries as are necessary for the purpos e of this report. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a n audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the a ccounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and th e report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT

Based on my examination, no matter h as come to my attention which gives me re a sonable cause to believe that in any material respect, accountin g records have not been kept in accordance with Section 130 of the Act, or that the accounts presented do not a ccord with those records, or comply with th e accounting requirement of the Act. No matter has come to my no t ice in connection with my examination to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn to enable a proper u n derstanding of the accounts.

29th January 2024

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 2022 – 31 Mar 2023 Funds Funds Total Last year
£ £ £ £
Income and endowments from:
Donations & grants 17,471 11,745 29,216 51,894
Charitable activities
Other trading activities shop income 19,387 19,387 15,683
Investments Bank interest 0 0 0
Other rental income 7,370 7,370 5,150
Total 44,228 11,745 55,973 72,727
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities 77,741 23,490 101,231 58,561
Other
Total 77,741 23,490 101,231 58,561
Net gains/(losses) on investments
Net income/(expenditure) -33,513 -11,745 -45,258 14,166
Total funds carried forward 25,283 0 25,283 70,541
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 2022 – 31 Mar 2023

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Activity or Activities undertaken Grant funding of
Support costs Total
programme directly activities
£ £ £ £
25,720
Rent costs
17,920 7,800
Maintenance 7,108
7,108 0
Rates 0
0 0
Utilities 9,608
8,008 1,600
Other operations 12,592
10,613 1,979
Stock purchased 14,563
14,563 0
Employment costs 31,390
19,279 12,111
Accountancy fees 250
250 0
Total
77,741 23,490 101,231
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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 2023

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Note Total funds
ref. (Unrestricted)
£
Fixed assets:
Total fixed assets
Current assets:
Stocks
Debtors Prepayment of rent
Investments
Cash at bank and in hand
26,773
Total current assets 26,773
Liabilities:
Creditors (Credit card, reviewer’s fee)
1,490
Net current assets or liabilities
25,283
Total assets less current liabilities
25,283
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more
than one year
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Alexandria Lighthouse

31 March 2023

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.