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← Bethel Trust Port Talbot

2025-03-31-accounts

Bethel Trust Port Talbot (CIO)

Bethel Trust Port Talbot

Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st March 2025

Charity number 1157288

Bethel Trust Port Talbot, Sandfields Road, Aberavon, Port Talbot. SA12 6LR

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Bethel Trust Port Talbot (CIO)

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees Dr Elizabeth Hill O’Shea Anthony Hill O’Shea Michele Matthews Derry Flay Steve Speakman Secretary Shaun O’Keefe Chair Dr Elizabeth Hill O’Shea Registered Bethel Trust Port Talbot, Office Sandfields Road, Aberavon, Port Talbot. SA12 6LR

Governing Document

Bethel Trust Port Talbot is governed by its Trust Deed dated 3 June 2014 amended on 28 Jan 2016 and as amended on 16 Aug 2019.

Bethel Trust Port Talbot is a CIO incorporated on 3 June 2014.

Bankers Natwest Bank Plc

Independent Examiner Mr Michael Treharne. BA, PGCE. UK National Director Bridges for Peace Ltd 23 Alma Road, Maesteg, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan. CF34 9AW

Registered Charity No. 1157288

Incorporated in England & Wales.

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Bethel Trust Port Talbot (CIO)

TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2025

The Trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

TRUSTEES OF THE CHARITY

The trustees who have served during the year were as below:

Dr Elizabeth Hill O’Shea Anthony Hill O’Shea Michele Matthews Derry Flay Steve Speakman

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The objects of the CIO are, for the public benefit, the relief of persons who are in need by reason of financial hardship, ill-health, unemployment, homelessness, education and such other economic or social disadvantage. In addition, for the public benefit, the advancement of the Christian faith in such ways as the charity trustees may from time to time decide.

The charity undertakes this work primarily through Bethel Community Church, which:

The charity operated from the former Salem Welsh Congregational Church building, which was purchased by the Trust in December 2017.

The work is supported by individuals who volunteer their time and donate their time and resources to help the charity further its objects. The Trustees would like to sincerely thank all those who have supported the charity over the year.

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Bethel Trust Port Talbot (CIO)

PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT

When planning our activities for the year, the trustees have considered the Commission's guidance on public benefit and the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.

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Bethel Trust Port Talbot (CIO)

CHAIRS’ REPORT 2024-2025 - Dr Elizabeth Hill O’Shea

I would like to begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to all our volunteers, funders and partners who make the community work of Bethel Trust possible. Without your support, the support that we provide to people experiencing hardship in our local community just wouldn’t happen.

The charity opens its doors to the community three days a week and all the practical support we provide to people experiencing financial hardship is absolutely free. We never charge anyone for any of the services we provide. This past year saw a considerable increase in the demand for our services, especially in our Baby bank and Foodbank, fuelled no doubt by the UK’s ongoing austerity condition. This past year we have provided:

Many of our clients that use our foodbank and baby bank are migrant families who hail from a number of countries including Romania, Roma Gypsy community, Ukraine, Pakistan, India, Africa, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Demand grew so much that it became evident that the Baby bank needed more room to expand and so we were so grateful to the National Lottery and People’s Postcode Lottery to secure funding to install another mezzanine floor, this time in the main church building. This meant that the shared space the Baby bank was using now became fully utilised by the Baby Bank alone whilst other projects moved upstairs into the newly-created area. Following this development, the Baby bank has expanded and grown even further and has been able to create a comfortable lounge and play area for families and children to come in and find community as well as practical support. We also received funding from NPT Council, Matthew Good Foundation and the Moondance Foundation which enabled us to create storage rooms for the benefit of the project. We have been so blessed by these funders and their generous desire to help and contribute to our community work.

Another outcome of the Baby bank is that we have been able to provide surplus clothing and other essential items to a local project that takes aid out to the Ukraine on a regular basis. We have provided hundreds of bags of clothing and other items for the Ukraine in support of this project.

In addition to this exciting development, we began a new project: Cooking on a Budget. Through our Foodbank we recognised that many families tend to choose processed food over fresh fruit and vegetables, and so we saw a need to teach people how to cook using fresh ingredients. Thanks to funding from Barchester Health Care Homes and Sainsbury, we were able to invite Fedline into our charity who led two x four-week courses, teaching people how to cook healthy and nutritious meals on a budget, which they were then able to take home. We have received positive feedback from these courses, and we hope the work will continue.

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Bethel Trust Port Talbot (CIO)

We were grateful to secure funding from the local Council to invite a Yoga instructor into our weekly Friendship Hub who delivered chair exercise classes for those wishing to begin their exercise journey and become healthier and fitter. This received positive feedback and it was a joy to see clients progress in these areas.

In the run up to Christmas, we were able to provide over 100 food hampers through our Foodbank to local families in need, together with toys that we received in donations. We are grateful to Mal’s Marauders who were able to assist with delivering many of these hampers again.

We were able to continue our Cost-of-Living project for another year and we able to deliver budget advice, cost of living advice and debt referral support to our many clients experiencing financial crisis that we see each week through our various community projects.

To close, I would like to formally thank everyone who has supported the work of Bethel Trust Port Talbot this past year, especially to the committed team of leaders, volunteers and Trustees who work selflessly for the benefit of the charity and local community. It just wouldn’t be possible without them.

We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to Fareshare, Neighbourly, local supermarkets including Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl, Neath Port Talbot Council, social services, Local Area Coordinators and local PSOs, all of whom have either provided practical, advisory or financial support for the work of the charity. We are also grateful for our relationships with local agencies including Thrive Women’s Aid, The Wallich, Citizens Advice, Shelter Cymru, Crosslight, Housing Associations, the Job Centre and other local charities and businesses who enable us to do what we do. Thank you.

Dr. Elizabeth Hill O’Shea

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Bethel Trust Port Talbot (CIO)

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The work of the Trust is led on a day-to-day basis by Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Hill O’Shea (Founding Director), Mr Anthony Hill O’Shea (Centre Manager) and Rev. Shaun O’Keefe, together with other Project Leaders appointed by them and the other trustees.

The Trustees meet regularly to review the work of the Trust, give future direction, oversight and to ensure good governance.

FINANCIAL REVIEW (INCLUDING RESERVES POLICY)

The trustees recognise that a financial reserve would be good practice. We aim to have around £3000 as a financial reserve.

RISK STATEMENT

The trustees have conducted their own review of its major risks to which the charity is exposed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks.

TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

Charity law 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 Trust as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure for the financial year.

In preparing those financial statements the trustees should follow best practice and select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently, make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the Trust will continue on that basis.

The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records, which disclose at any time the financial position of the Trust and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with charity legislation. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Trust and hence for taking responsible steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

APPROVAL

The report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf on 31[st] January 2026.

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Hill O’Shea Founding Director and Trustee

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Bethel Trust Port Talbot (CIO)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF BETHEL TRUST PORT TALBOT (CIO)

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2025, which are set out in the attached statements.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the charity 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 as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the charity’s gross income was below £250,000 I am competent to undertake the examination as a competent person.

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 that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. 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

  4. 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.

There are no concerns that I have come across 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.

Mr Michael Treharne BA, PGCE. UK National Director Bridges for Peace Ltd 23 Alma Road, Maesteg, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, CF34 9AW

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Bethel Trust Port Talbot (CIO)

Receipts andpayments accounts Receipts andpayments accounts Receipts andpayments accounts Receipts andpayments accounts Receipts andpayments accounts Receipts andpayments accounts Receipts andpayments accounts
For the period
from		 01/04/2024 To 31/03/2025
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 Total funds Last year
to the nearest
£		 to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Charitable Activities 1,528 - 1,528 -
Donations andgifts 8,124 - 8,124 3,810
Gift Aid recovered - - - -
Grants - 65,432 65,432 34,271
Donation from organisations - 200 200 500
- - -
- - -
- - -
Sub total(Gross income) 9,652 65,632 75,284 38,581
A2 Asset and investment sales
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - -
Total receipts 9,652 65,632 75,284 38,581
A3 Payments
Church Ministry 1,648 - 1,648 694
Social Action and Community 32 15,301 15,333 19,677
Buildings and Maintenance 4,268 39,704 43,972 13,378
Travel 1,010 400 1,410 366
Staff and Volunteers 372 - 372 6,009
Running and Support Costs 1,808 1,027 2,834 3,397
Charitable Donations 2,061 58 2,119 1,849
Other expenditure 400 - 400 411
- - -
- - -
- - -
**Sub total ** 11,598 56,489 68,088 45,781
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - -
- - -
**Sub total ** - - - -
Totalpayments 11,598 56,489 68,088 45,781
Net of receipts/(payments) - 1,946 9,142 7,196 - 7,200
A5 Transfers between funds - - - -
A6 Cash funds lastyear end 2,998 7,628 10,626 17,826
Cash funds thisyear end 1,052 16,770 17,822 10,626

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Bethel Trust Port Talbot (CIO)

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories Details Details Details Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Cash at bank 1,052 16,770 -
- -
- -
Total cash funds 1,052 16,770 -
(agree balances w ith receipts and payments
account(s))		 OK OK #REF!
Unrestricted
funds		 Restricted
funds		 Endowment
funds
Details to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B2 Other monetary assets - - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
Details Fund to which
asset belongs		 Cost (optional) Current value
(optional)
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use		 - -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Details Fund to which
liability relates		 Amount due
(optional)		 When due
(optional)
B5 Liabilities -
-
-
-
-
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees		 Signature Print Name Date of
approval

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Bethel Trust Port Talbot (CIO)

Trustees' responsibilities

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 31[st] January 2026 and signed on their behalf.

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Hill O’Shea Founding Director and Trustee

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