**Charity Registration No: 1159101**
## **Colchester Gospel Hall Trust**
**Report of the trustees and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 5th April 2024**
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Contents**
## **Pages**
1. Reference and administrative details
2.-5. Report of the trustees 6. Independent examiner's report 7. Statement of financial activities 8. Balance sheet 9. Cashflow statement
10.-14. Notes to the financial statements 15.-21. Appendix
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Reference and administrative details for the year ended 5th April 2024**
|**Charity name:**|Colchester Gospel Hall Trust|
|---|---|
|**Registered charity number:**|1159101|
|**Trustees:**|Mr Ross Bradshaw|
||Mr Stephen Bradshaw (Chair)|
||Mr Donovan Hopkins|
||Mr Bruce Miller|
||Mr Oliver Pittman|
|**Treasurer:**|Mr Jared Doouss|
|**Principal address:**|Grayswood|
||9 Welshwood Park Road|
||Colchester|
||CO4 3JB|
|**Independent examiner:**|Sandra Thurgood FCCA|
||Eastway Enterprise Centre|
||7 Paynes Park|
||Hitchin|
||Herts.|
||SG5 1EH|
|**Accountants:**|4cast|
||Heritage House|
||Woodside Lane|
||Bell Bar, Herts.|
||AL9 6DE|
|**Bankers:**|Lloyds Bank|
||High Street|
||Colchester|
Page 1
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust**
## **Report of the trustees for the year ended 5th April 2024**
The trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 5th April 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 10 and 11 and comply with the Trust Deed and applicable law.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **Governing document**
The Colchester Gospel Hall Trust is an unincorporated trust constituted by Deed of Trust dated 15th November 1982, most recently amended by Deed of Variation dated 12th August 2014. The Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 6th November 2014 under Charity Registration Number: 1159101.
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
The names of the Trustees who have served during the year and since the year end are set out on page 1. None of the Trustees, nor any person connected with them, received any remuneration or expenses from the Charity in the year ended 5 April 2024 (2023: £nil).
The Trust operates three Gospel halls and Trustees are chosen from among the regular congregation of the halls. New Trustees are nominated by the existing Trustees or by the congregation and must be appointed by unanimous resolution of the congregation. They are selected according to their skills and experience and are expected to use both in furthering the objects of the Charity. Checks are made to ensure the eligibility to act and incoming Trustees are made aware of their responsibilities by the existing Trustees, who ensure that new Trustees read the Trust Deed and relevant Charity Commission guidance.
## **Wider network**
The Trustees maintain informal links with similar charities with a view to pooling experience considered useful in pursuing the objects of the Charity.
The charity also maintains particular links with Tendring Gospel Hall Trust with which it shares members of its congregation.
## **Risk management**
The Trustees have identified and reviewed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and confirm that they have established systems or procedures to manage and mitigate those risks. Approval of a major decision may be sought from the congregation.
## **Objectives and activities**
## **Objectives and aims**
The charitable purposes of the Charity are the advancement of the Christian religion for the public benefit, including by the carrying on of the service of God in accordance with the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible as followed by those Christians forming part of the world-wide fellowship known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (the and any other charitable purposes connected with Brethren. The core doctrine of the Brethren and proper practices in furtherance of certain aspects of doctrine are summarised in two schedules to the Trust Deed.
Page 2
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Report of the trustees for the year ended 5th April 2024**
## **Public benefit**
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 4 of the Charities Act 2011
## **Main activities and achievements**
The Trust provides and maintains three Gospel halls where religious meetings are held by the local Brethren community. Details of the origins, teachings and way of life of the Brethren can be found on the website - www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org and in the schedules to the Trust Deed.
During the period ending 5th April 2024, members of the congregation were actively involved in distributing Food Boxes and Care Packs through a separate charity; The RRT. This involved following up local schools, food banks, homeless charities and domestic abuse charities. We received several pallets of food boxes which were distributed to the various charities by our volunteers, which were used to support families experiencing hardship due to the Covid pandemic.
## **Plans for future periods**
The Trust plans to continue all the current activities.
Despite the increased cost of energy, the trustees feel that these increased costs are not significantly impacting on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern.
## **Meetings**
Meetings held at the Gospel halls include the Lord's Supper (Communion), Gospel preachings, Bible readings and Bible addresses. There is a structured weekly schedule of meetings and, depending on the particular meeting, between 50 and 400 people normally attend these occasions.
The meetings are attended by the regular congregation and most are open to other properly disposed visitors. The notice board outside the Hall welcomes visitors and displays the times of Gospel preachings, along with a telephone number for those seeking further information or help. Gospel tracts, which are distributed by street preachers, also display this information.
Bibles and an extensive range of other Christian reading material are on display at the halls and visitors are free to help themselves.
Page 3
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust**
**Report of the trustees for the year ended 5th April 2024**
## **Objectives and activities**
## **Spreading the Gospel message and the life of a Christian**
The Gospel halls are a base from which the regular congregation and others who attend the meetings are encouraged to spread the Christian Gospel, in word and deed.
In addition to street preaching, the trust also keeps in contact with prison chaplains to provide gospel tracts and bibles as required. The Trust also operates a programme of providing regular packs of nutritious food and gospel literature to homeless and needy persons through local charities or homeless societies. In addition members of the congregation volunteered to participate in events organised by the Rapid Relief Team; Charity no. 1161586.
In carrying out this work, the congregation considers itself to be living out its faith in practice, as particularly exemplified in the following extract from the schedule to the Trust Deed on living a Christian life:
1. We seek and are encouraged to live exemplary lives in all our relationships with others in the wider community (including former Brethren), in accordance with the teachings of Holy Scripture (1 Tim 2:2)
2. We regularly go out from our homes to preach on the streets, to distribute Christian literature and engage with the wider community (including former Brethren) in order to present eternal salvation, available to all men by faith in Jesus Christ. (2 Tim 4:2).
3. We seek as members of the public to lead Christian lives as husbands and wives, parents, children, employers, employees and neighbours. (Col 3:22-25, Col 4:1).
4. The preservation and protection of the family unit is fundamental and children are prized as a blessing from God. (Psalm 127:3-5). The elderly are valued members of the community, for whom both their family and the wider community are expected to care.
5. Holy Scripture commands us to be good neighbours to others, and deal with all other people (including former Brethren) openly, honestly and fairly and consistent with these principles, we should give our time, talents and money to assist those in need in the wider community, in so far as reasonable given our abilities and our available resources. (Matt 7:12, Matt 22:39, Eph 4:28).
## **Funding**
Funding is sought through gifts from the congregation and Gift Aid is claimed on eligible donations. Funding is sometimes received from other charitable trusts with complementary objectives.
Loans were obtained two years ago to in turn facilitate a loan to Tendring Gospel Hall Trust who are an affiliated trust. The loans received and advanced are on a five year term and are all interest free.
## **Financial review**
## **Financial position**
In the year ended 5 April 2024 the Trust had a surplus of incoming resources over resources expended. Total voluntary income received this year was £275,659 compared to £186,440 in the previous year.
All funds held were unrestricted funds.
Page 4
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust**
**Report of the trustees for the year ended 5th April 2024**
## **Reserves policy**
The Trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity's needs, based on its size and the level of its financial commitments. The Trust has no employees and its regular outgoings are minimal. The trustees have agreed that the Trust should aim to develop and maintain unrestricted reserves at a minimum level which equates to 6 operating costs. This would enable the trust to continue its activities in the event of a sudden loss of funding. However, the members of the Congregation have always recognised their responsibility to fund the running costs of the places of worship which they regularly attend. Therefore the trustees do not ever expect a shortfall in funding to be other than temporary. Free reserves accumulated in excess of the minimum can be used at the discretion of the trustees for the strategic development of the Trust. The trustees will review the minimum level of reserves every three months.
Free reserves at the year end were £ 88,453 (2023 £ 48,770).
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
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:
- a) select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- b) observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP (FRS 102);
- c) make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- d) state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- e) prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
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 Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. 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. All transactions have been reviewed and approved by two trustees.
On behalf of the board:
Mr Stephen Bradshaw
Date
Page 5
Colchester Gospel Hall Trust
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report to the trustees of the Colch•st•r Gospel Hall Trust on tho flnanelal statements
for the year ended 5th April 2024 sot out on pages 7 to 12.
Respective responsibilitlos of trustses and •xamlnar
Th8 charitys tnJste9s are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the
requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Acr).
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 foll0vd all the applicable Directions given by the
Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the ACL
Basis of independent examinerfs statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity
Commission. 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 consideration of any
unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking of explanations from you as Truste8S
conceming any such mattars. The procedures undert8k8n do not provide all the evidence that Vuld
be required in an audit, and consaquently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present
'true and fair view ' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statements below.
Indapendent examlnerfs statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the
Act; or
The accounts do not accord with those records: or
The accounts do 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 Vie which is not a
matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo
which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the
accounts to be reached.
Signed:
omLug5
Date:
zo2
Name: Sandra Thurgood FCCA
Eastway Enterprise Centre, 7 Paynes Park, Hitchin, Herts., SG5 1 EH
Page 6
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure account) for the year ended 5th April 2024**
|**NOTES**
**Incoming and endowments from:**
**Donations and legacies:**
Collections
Contributions from the congregation
Non Gift Aid donations
Gift Aid donations
Income tax recoverable
Donated services
**4.**
Payroll giving
Grants received
Legacies received
Other income
**Investment income and interest**
Interest
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
**Charitable activities**
Running of meeting halls
**6.**
Wider community outreach
Congregation support
Cost of donated services
**4.**
Loan interest
Grants made
**5.**
Other costs
**Governance and support costs**
Legal & professional costs
Training
Printing and stationery
Computer costs
Independent Examiner's fee
Bank charges
**Total**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
Gains/(losses) on revaluation of fixed assets
**Net movement in funds**
Funds at 6th April 2023
**Total funds at 5th April 2024**
**8.**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
31,561
173,232
51,768
12,942
-
517
-
-
-
24
270,044
74,207
1,305
-
38,514
-
115,000
-
2,558
1,608
-
1,193
1,260
-
235,645
34,399
-
34,399
2,612,685
2,647,084|**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Funds**
**£**
-
5,639
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5,639
-
-
5,639
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5,639
-
-
-
-
-|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
-
37,200
173,232
51,768
12,942
-
517
-
-
-
24
275,683
74,207
1,305
5,639
38,514
-
115,000
-
2,558
1,608
-
1,193
1,260
-
241,284
34,399
-
34,399
2,612,685
2,647,084|**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
-
40,600
106,465
31,500
7,875
-
-
-
-
-
4
186,444
66,030
307
12,320
7,251
-
130,000
-
3,887
-
-
503
1,290
-
221,588
35,144
-
-
35,144
-
2,647,829
2,612,685|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 10 to 14 form part of these financial statements. All of the above activities are classed as continuing and there are no gains and losses other than those included above.
Page 7
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Balance sheet As at 5th April 2024**
|**NOTES**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets
**7.**
**Current assets**
Debtors:
Prepayments & accrued income
Cash at bank and in hand
Loan to affiliated trust
**Current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year:
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income
Net current assets
**Total assets less current liabilities**
Assets: Loans due after more than one year
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than
one year
**Net assets**
**Funds**
Unrestricted income fund
Restricted funds
**Total Funds**
**9.**|**2024**
**£**
**£**
2,515,631
2,515,631
6,278
95,066
-
101,344
-
12,891
12,891
88,453
2,604,084
83,000
40,000
-
**£**
2,647,084
2,647,084
-
**£**
2,647,084|**2023**
**£**
**£**
2,517,915
2,517,915
10,203
42,460
-
52,663
-
3,893
3,893
48,770
2,566,685
183,000
137,000
-
**£**
2,612,685
2,612,685
-
**£**
2,612,685|
|---|---|---|
The unaudited financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustee of Colchester Gospel Hall Trust on / / and signed on their behalf by
Mr Stephen Bradshaw Trustee
The notes on pages 10 to 14 form part of these financial statements
Page 8
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Detailed statement of financial activities Cashflow Statement for the year ended 5th April 2024**
|**NOTES**
**Cash flows from operating activities:**
**Net income/(-) expenditure for the**
**reporting period (as per the statement of**
**financial activities)**
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation charges
(-) Gains/losses on investments
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Loss/(-) profit on sale of fixed assets
(-) Increase/decrease in stocks
(-) Increase/decrease in debtors
Increase/(-) decrease in creditors
**Net cash provided by (-) used in operating activities**
**Cash flows from investing activities:**
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from sale of investments
Purchase of investments
**Net cash provided by (-) used in investing activities**
**Cash flows from financing activities:**
Repayments of borrowing
Cash inflows from new borrowing
Receipt of endowment
**Net cash provided by (-) used in financing activities**
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting
period
**Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the**
**reporting period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the**
**reporting period**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
34,399
3,418
-
-
-
-
103,925
8,998
150,740
-
-
1,134
-
-
1,134
97,000
-
-
-
97,000
-
52,606
42,460
95,066|**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
34,399
3,418
-
-
-
-
103,925
8,998
150,740
-
-
1,134
-
-
1,134
97,000
-
-
-
97,000
-
52,606
42,460
95,066|**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
35,144
-
3,985
-
-
-
-
126,522
4,444
-
90,919
-
-
-
-
-
-
82,500
-
-
-
82,500
-
8,419
34,041
42,460|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 10 to 14 form part of these financial statements
Page 9
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Notes to the accounts for the year ended 5th April 2024**
## **1. Accounting policies**
## 1.1 Basis of financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014, and incorporating update bulletins 1 and 2, and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The functional currency of the charity is sterling (£).
The Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
## 1.2 Income
Donations are recognised in the year in which there is entitlement and probability of receipt and the amount can be measured with reasonable certainty. Income is only deferred when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future year. Gift aid is added to the value of the donation to which it relates.
Donated services are recognised as income and expenditure in the financial statements when organisations or individuals offer their services and support pro bono. The value of these donated services to Colchester Gospel Hall Trust is considered to be equal to market value which would be paid were the service formally procured. This includes services paid for by other trusts.
Investment income is accounted for on a receivable basis.
## 1.3 Expenditure
Expenditure is included on an accruals basis. Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
Charitable activities comprise those costs directly attributable to the fulfilment of the charitable objects.
- 1.4 Governance and support costs
Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other support costs. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and costs related to statutory requirements. As there are no staff or offices the Trustees have agreed to allocate all such costs to Governance costs.
## 1.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets (costing more than £150) are stated at cost less depreciation. Freehold land is not depreciated. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset over its expected useful life as follows:
Freehold property Not depreciated Equipment 20%- Reducing balance method Fixtures and fittings 20%- Reducing balance method
## 1.6 Taxation
The Trust is a registered charity and is not liable to United Kingdom income or corporation tax on charitable activities, provided income falls within the charitable exemptions and is spent on charitable purposes.
## 1.7 Funds
Restricted funds arise from donations to the trust which are made for a specific purpose. Restricted funds can only be used for the purpose for which funds were given.
## 1.8 Preparation of consolidated financial statements
The Charity does not have a trading subsidiary and there is no requirement to prepare consolidated accounts
## 1.9 Going concern
The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the ability to continue as a going concern. of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.
Page 10
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Notes to the accounts for the year ended 5th April 2024**
## **1. Accounting policies contd.**
## 1.10 Significant estimates and judgements
The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.
## **2. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
No Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits from an employment with the charity and no Trustees were reimbursed for expenses (2023: None).
## **3. Wages and salaries**
There are no employees (2023: none).
|**4.**
**Donated services**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
Tendring Gospel Hall Trust
**5.**
**Grants made**
Tendring Gospel Hall Trust
**6.**
**Running of meeting halls**
Repairs and maintenance of plant, buildings & grounds
Audio and amplification
Light and heat
Water rates
Telephone & broadband at hall(s)
Conference costs
Insurance- Public liability
Cleaning
Health and safety
Legal and professional
Sundry
Depreciation and revaluation- Freehold property
Depreciation- Plant, equipment & furnishings|**2024**
**£**
-
-
**2024**
**£**
38,514
38,514
**2024**
**£**
115,000
115,000
**Meeting**
**rooms**
**£**
26,566
32
22,351
475
-
-
3,926
5,307
5,018
7,114
-
-
3,418
74,207|**2023**
**£**
-
-
**2023**
**£**
7,251
7,251
**2023**
**£**
130,000
130,000
**Other**
**charitable**
**activities**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**2024**
**£**
26,566
32
22,351
475
-
-
3,926
5,307
5,018
7,114
-
-
3,418
74,207|**2023**
**£**
26,946
30
17,905
141
997
591
3,303
2,018
8,914
1,200
-
-
3,985
66,030|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 11
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Notes to the accounts for the year ended 5th April 2024**
## **7. Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost**
At 6th April 2023
Disposals
Additions
At 5th April 2024
**Depreciation**
At 6th April 2023
Disposals
Charge for the year
At 5th April 2024
Net Book Value
At 5th April 2024
At 6th April 2023|**Freehold**
**property***
**£**
2,501,961
-
-
2,501,961
-
-
-
-
2,501,961
2,501,961|**Equipment**
**£**
6,524
-
1,134
7,658
4,920
-
548
5,468
2,190
1,604|**Fixtures &**
**Fittings**
**£**
40,953
-
-
40,953
26,603
-
2,870
29,473
11,480
14,350|**Total**
**£**
2,549,438
-
1,134
2,550,572
31,523
-
3,418
34,941
2,515,631
2,517,915|
|---|---|---|---|---|
* Land Registry title numbers are; EX572085, EX498760, EX587947 and EX569027
## **8. Analysis of net assets between funds**
|**Analysis of net assets between funds**
_Current year_
Tangible fixed assets
Currents assets
Current liabilities
Long term assets
Long term liabilities
**Total funds**|**Unrestricted**
**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**funds**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
2,515,631
-
101,344
-
12,891
-
83,000
40,000
-
2,647,084
-|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-|**Total**
**funds**
**£**
2,515,631
101,344
12,891
83,000
40,000
2,647,084|
|---|---|---|---|
## _8.1 Current year_
|_Prior year_
Tangible fixed assets
Currents assets
Current liabilities
Long term assets
Long term liabilities
**Total funds**|**Unrestricted**
**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**funds**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
2,517,915
-
52,663
-
3,893
-
183,000
-
137,000
-
2,612,685
-|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Total**
**funds**
**£**
2,517,915
52,663
3,893
183,000
137,000
2,612,685|
|---|---|---|---|
## _8.2 Prior year_
## **9. Movement in funds**
## _9.1 Current year_
|**Restricted funds**
Fund
Designated funds
Unrestricted funds
**Total funds**|**Balance at**
**6 April**
**2023**
**£**
-
-
-
2,612,685
2,612,685|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
-
-
5,639
270,044
275,683|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
-
-
5,639
235,645
241,284|**Realised/**
**unrealised**
**gain and**
**losses**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-|**Balance at 5**
**April 2024**
**£**
-
-
-
2,647,084
2,647,084|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 12
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Notes to the accounts for the year ended 5th April 2024**
## **9. Movement in funds contd.**
- _9.2 Prior year_
|**Restricted funds**
Fund
Designated funds
Unrestricted funds
**Total funds**|**Balance at**
**6 April**
**2022**
**£**
-
-
4,373
2,643,456
2,647,829|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
-
-
7,947
178,497
186,444|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
-
-
12,320
209,268
221,588|**Realised/**
**unrealised**
**gain and**
**losses**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-|**Balance at 5**
**April 2023**
**£**
-
-
-
2,612,685
2,612,685|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
## **10. Transactions with related parties**
Donations received from connected parties totalled £86,450 (2023 £79,940). The Trust purchased goods from ATE (UK) Limited a company of which Ross and Stephen Bradshaw, Trustees are directors of; for £271.19 (2023 £591.90).
## **11. Volunteers**
Colchester Gospel Hall Trust relies entirely on volunteers to carry out the management, administration and general maintenance work. The Trust has no paid staff or paid Trustees.
Page 13
**Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Notes to the accounts for the year ended 5th April 2024**
## **13 Full comparison of Statement of Financial Activities**
|**Incoming and endowments from:**
**Donations and legacies:**
Collections
Contributions from the congregation
Non Gift Aid donations
Gift Aid donations
Income tax refundable
Donated services
Payroll giving
Grants received
Legacies received
Other income
**Investment income and interest**
Interest
**Total**
**Expenditure on:**
**Charitable activities**
Running of meeting halls
Wider community outreach
Congregation support
Cost of donated services
Loan interest
Grants made
Other costs
**Governance**
Legal & professional costs
Printing and stationery
Computer costs
Independent Examiner's fee
Bank charges
**Total**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
Gains/(losses) on revaluation of fixed assets
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
32,653
106,465
31,500
7,875
-
-
-
-
-
4
178,497
66,030
307
-
7,251
-
130,000
-
3,887
-
503
1,290
-
209,268
30,771
-
-
30,771
-
2,643,456
2,612,685|**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**Funds**
**£**
-
7,947
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
7,947
-
-
12,320
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
12,320
4,373
-
-
4,373
-
4,373
-|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
-
40,600
106,465
31,500
7,875
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
186,444
66,030
307
12,320
7,251
-
130,000
-
3,887
-
503
1,290
-
221,588
35,144
-
-
35,144
-
2,647,829
2,612,685|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 14
Colchester Gospel Hall Trust – Public Benefit Report 2023/24 Charity Registration No: 1159101
15
## **Colchester Gospel Hall Trust Public Benefit Report**
The purpose of this factual report is to show how the Colchester Gospel Hall Trust community engage in many acts of public benefit and interact with the wider community in so many ways.
The Plymouth Brethren were established in 1828 when John Nelson Darby broke with the established Church in Dublin. Darby and others formed a fellowship based on the strict observance of Christian teachings as set out in the Holy Scriptures. Darby came to Plymouth in the early 1830s and the congregation grew rapidly. Early publications were produced in Plymouth, and distributed to other congregations of followers throughout the globe.
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Colchester Gospel Hall Trust – Public Benefit Report 2023/24 Charity Registration No: 1159101
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## **Introduction**
There are over 18,000 Plymouth Brethren members in the UK, spread across 87 locations. These locations can be found on the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC) UK Site.
There have been Brethren Gospel, or meeting halls in the Colchester and Tendring areas of Essex areas for over 140 years.
The Colchester Gospel Hall Trust was formed on 15 November 1982 to acquire buildings to be used for the advancement of the Christian religion by carrying on the service of God, including the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, Gospel Preachings, Bible Readings and addresses on the Word of God and other meetings of a Christian religious character according to the injunctions contained in the Holy Scriptures and the tenets and practices of those Christians forming a worldwide fellowship known as Plymouth Brethren.
The Colchester congregation has increased in number in recent years, with 212 members living in the Tendring and Colchester boroughs; however with residents from the Chelmsford area attending services up to three times a week, together with other visitors, numbers attending services regularly approach 470 persons, from young babies to nonagenarians.
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Colchester Gospel Hall Trust – Public Benefit Report 2023/24 Charity Registration No: 1159101
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## **Our Network**
To read more on the PBCC way of life, please visit the following website:
https://www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org/
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Charity Registration No: 1159101
## **Street Preaching and Tract Distribution**
Street Preaching has been actively promoted by the Plymouth brethren for many years, at least from the 1920's, and today is enthusiastically supported by members of the Colchester Gospel Hall Trust congregation, as we seek to follow the example set out by our Lord Jesus Christ (Luke ch4 v17- 20)
The essential activity of publicly preaching the name of Jesus and God’s wonderful Gospel indiscriminately, gives joy and encouragement to our daily lives; as having personally proved the tangible benefit and immense improvement believing in Jesus brings, we seek to highlight the availability of Jesus to all mankind.
The street preaching and distribution of gospel tracts takes place Monday to Friday in Colchester Town, not far from the historic Colchester castle. We have had some very positive interactions with the public, and we also have bibles available FOC on request.
_Romans 10v13; “For everyone whosoever, who shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved”_
## **The aim of the street preaching is not to recruit additional members for the Plymouth Brethren but to present eternal salvation as available to all men by faith in Jesus Christ and His blood and His work of atonement.**
Members of the congregation have continued to hand out tracts to neighbours and people in need when they have met them.
Tracts are available for download on the below website:
https://christiandoctrineandgospelpublishing.org/
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Colchester Gospel Hall Trust – Public Benefit Report 2023/24 Charity Registration No: 1159101
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## **Outreach**
In our outreach program, we have engaged with organisations that support the homeless, domestic abuse charities, local authorities, education centres and local parish councils.
At the heart of our Community is the commitment to care and compassion, as we recognise the rights of all humanity within society. Members of the Congregation dedicate their time volunteering through our charitable arm, Rapid Relief Team(RRT) and contribute financially to many causes. As Colchester Gospel Hall Trust, we actively seek opportunities to support our local community from cleaning road signs to donating to local charities. See below statistics from our outreach program, in 2024:
**38** members of the Colchester congregation are volunteers for Rapid Relief Team(RRT)
**79** Food boxes distributed to local schools and charities **700+** Gospel Preachings **1000+** Gospel Tracts
Charities and Organisations that have been supported by the Colchester congregation include: `o` Open Door `o` Food Cycle – Clacton `o` Next Chapter `o` St Helena Hospice `o` Refugee Action (RAMA) `o` Headway Essex `o` Alresford Primary School `o` Mayflower Primary School `o` Ardleigh Parish `o` Cherry Tree Academy `o` Iceni Academy `o` Templars Academy `o` St Georges C of E Primary School `o` C of E Primary School
As a trust, we donate £100/month towards the food programme at Campus&Co, which donates food to Colchester foodbank.
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Charity Registration No: 1159101
The trust actively encourages members to volunteer for the Rapid Relief Team (RRT). The following RRT products were donated by the Colchester team during 2023/24:
**2300** Smarrt Cookie Bars
**79** Food boxes distributed to local schools and chariti
**900** Water Bottles
**8** Comfort Packs
**8** Blankets
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Colchester Gospel Hall Trust – Public Benefit Report 2023/24 Charity Registration No: 1159101
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**Registered Address:** 9 Welshwood Park Road, Colchester, CO4 3JB
## **Contact Details:**
Email – cghtrust@gmail.com Mob - 07557 230459
PUBLIC BENEFIT REPORT 2023/24