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2025-04-05-accounts

Charity registration number: 1161973

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 5 April 2025

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Contents (continued)

Reference and Administrative Details 1
Trustees' Report 2 to 5
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities 6
Independent Examiner's Report 7
Statement of Financial Activities 8
Balance Sheet 9
Notes to the Financial Statements 10 to 15

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Reference and Administrative Details

Chairman Mr Martin Fleck Trustees Mr Charles Hathorn Mr Martin Fleck Mr Timothy Boyt Mr Robert Saunderson Mr Randall Paul Mallinson Charity Registration Number 1161973 Principal Office Gospel Hall Heath Road Linton Maidstone ME17 4HT Independent Examiner Hinton Abbott Accountants 2 Kingsdown Orchard Hyde Road Swindon SN2 7RR

Page 1

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Trustees' Report

The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2025.

Structure, governance and management

Governing document

The charity is controlled by a deed of trust, and constitutes an unincorporated charity.

The Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust is constituted by a Deed of Trust dated 28th September 2004, amended by various Deeds and most recently by Deed of Variation dated 10th of December 2014. The Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 3 June 2015 under Charity Registration Number: 1161973.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The names of the Trustees who 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 2025 (2024: £Nil).

The Trust operates one 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 Trustees’ 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 the Invicta 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.

Page 2

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Trustees' Report (continued)

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 “Brethren”) 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.

Public benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance to charities on public benefit.

Main Activities

The Trust provides and maintains a Gospel hall 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.

Some of the community engagement/benefit work undertaken by the charity includes:

a. Providing food and drink for handicapped children,

b. Providing burgers and drinks for emergency service personel at a serious house fire,

c. Providing meals for veterans at Gurkha barracks,

Plans for Future Periods

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 400 and 450 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.

S preading the Gospel message and the life of a Christian

The Gospel hall is a base from which the regular congregation and others who attend the meetings are encouraged to spread the Christian Gospel, in word and deed.

Members of the congregation participate in a programme of street preaching and Gospel tracts are provided free of charge by the Charity to such preachers to be handed out to interested members of the public.

Page 3

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Trustees' Report (continued)

In addition to street preaching, members of the congregation usually work with Rapid Relief Team (Charity Registration No 1161586) for provision of food packs for homeless.

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:

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). 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).

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).

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.

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.

Financial review

In the year ended 5 April 2025, the Trust had a surplus of £125,739 of incoming resources over resources expended. The total voluntary income received this year was £179,941 compared to £73,924 in the previous year.

All funds held were unrestricted funds.

Policy on reserves

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. The Free reserves at the year-end are showing as £1,103,342, however, this includes the amount of £744,669 as a loan to a similar registered charity (The Invicta Gospel Hall Trust numbered 1192403) and therefore is not available funds. Although a plan is being worked on for this loan to be repaid, it currently leaves just £358,673 available. The Trustees have decided to adopt a policy of maintaining £60,000 (being twelve months expenditure) as reserves. The remaining £300,00 is there for the potential purchase of another gospel hall as the community is increasing in both number and geographically as well. The congregation is kept regularly informed as to needs for funds, and other relevant matters and the Trustees aim to ensure that the Charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure, by raising a funds appeal to the congregation.

Free reserves at the year end were £1,103,342 (2024: £975,532).

Page 4

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Trustees' Report (continued)

31 Jan 2026

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on ............................................................ and signed on its behalf by:

Martin Fleck

................................................................. Mr Martin Fleck (Jan 31, 2026, 4:08pm) Mr Martin Fleck Chairman and trustee

Page 5

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.

The law applicable to charities 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:

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 constitution. The trustees 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.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. All transactions have been reviewed and approved by two trustees.

31 Jan 2026

Approved by the trustees of the charity on ........................................................................ and signed on its behalf by:

Martin Fleck

........................................................... Mr Martin Fleck (Jan 31, 2026, 4:08pm) Mr Martin Fleck

Chairman and trustee

Page 6

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust for the year ended 5 April 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Basis of the Independent examiner's report

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 Trustees concerning any such matters. 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 statements below.

Independent examiner’s 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:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

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

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting 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 view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters 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.

Chris Pittock

................................................................ Chris Pittock (Jan 30, 2026, 4:43pm)

Chris Pittock- Senior Partner Hinton Abbott Accountants 2 Kingsdown Orchard Hyde Road Swindon SN2 7RR

30 Jan 2026 Date:................................................

Page 7

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 5 April 2025

Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
2
Investment income
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
Total Expenditure
3
Net income
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
6
Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
2
Investment income
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
Total Expenditure
3
Net income
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
6
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
179,941
2,684
182,625
(56,885)
(56,885)
125,740
125,740
2,747,457
2,873,197
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
73,924
1,487
75,411
(48,126)
(48,126)
27,285
27,285
2,720,172
2,747,457
Total
2025
£
179,941
2,684
182,625
(56,885)
(56,885)
125,740
125,740
2,747,457
2,873,197
Total
2024
£
73,924
1,487
75,411
(48,126)
(48,126)
27,285
27,285
2,720,172
2,747,457

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2025 and 2024 are shown in note 6.

The notes on pages 10 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

(Registration number: 1161973) Balance Sheet as at 5 April 2025

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
4
Current assets
Debtors
5
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
Net assets
Funds of the charity:
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds
6
2025
£
1,775,854
751,390
353,754
1,105,144
(1,801)
1,103,343
2,879,197
(6,000)
2,873,197
2,873,197
2,873,197
2024
£
1,777,925
750,776
226,557
977,333
(1,801)
975,532
2,753,457
(6,000)
2,747,457
2,747,457
2,747,457

The financial statements on pages 8 to 15 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on ......................................................... and signed on their behalf by: 31 Jan 2026

Martin Fleck

..............................................................

Mr Martin Fleck (Jan 31, 2026, 4:08pm) Mr Martin Fleck

Chairman and trustee

The notes on pages 10 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 9

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2025

1 Accounting policies

Statement of compliance

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 (£).

Basis of preparation

Maidstone Gospel Hall 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 notes.

Incoming Resources

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 Maidstone 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.

Grants receivable

Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.

Resources Expended

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.

Page 10

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2025 (continued)

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. Governance and support costs are allocated to charitable activities on the basis of capacity used.

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.

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets (costing more than £250) 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.

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

Asset class Depreciation method and rate
Furniture and equipments 20% on reducing balance method
Land and buildings 2% straight line

Fund structure

The general unrestricted fund is free for the Trustees to use for any purposes in furtherance of the trust’s charitable objects.

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.

Going concern

The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

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.

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 (2024: None).

Wages and salaries

There are no employees (2024: None).

Page 11

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2025 (continued)

2 Income from donations and legacies

Donations and legacies;
Gift Aid
Gift aid reclaimed
Donations
Non-Gift Aid
Total for 2025
Total for 2024
3
Resources expended
Net outgoing resources for the year include:
Depreciation of Furniture and Equipment
Gas/Electricity /Water
Insurance
Repairs & Maintenance Expense
Telephone & Fax
Office Expenses
Poverty Donations
Invicta Gospel Hall/Donated Services
Cleaning
Accountancy Fees
Legal & Professional fees
Sundry
Travelling
Depreciation of Land and Buildings
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
16,585
4,146
159,210
179,941
73,924
2025
£
966
12,597
3,928
1,981
2,262
3,023
2,750
16,332
2,559
5,982
360
-
3,041
1,105
56,886
Total
funds
£
16,585
4,146
159,210
179,941
73,924
2024
£
966
12,400
2,739
6,553
1,175
5,470
3,413
9,460
1,620
2,513
360
352
-
1,105
48,126

Donated Services

Bills paid on behalf of Invicta Gospel Hall Trust £16,332 (2024: £9,460)

Page 12

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2025 (continued)

4 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 6 April 2024
At 5 April 2025
Depreciation
At 6 April 2024
Charge for the year
Charge for the year
At 5 April 2025
Net book value
At 5 April 2025
At 5 April 2024
Land and
buildings
£
1,775,775
1,775,775
2,210
1,105
-
3,315
1,772,460
1,773,565
Furniture and
equipment
£
10,826
10,826
6,466
-
966
7,432
3,394
4,360
Total
£
1,786,601
1,786,601
8,676
1,105
966
10,747
1,775,854
1,777,925

Property Details:

Land registry titles of the above property held is K142779.

5
Debtors
Prepayments
Other debtors
2025
£
2,575
748,815
751,390
2024
£
2,600
748,176
750,776

Other Debtors include £744,669 , interest free loan given to Invicta Gospel Hall Trust.

Page 13

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2025 (continued)

6 Funds

6
Funds
Unrestricted funds
General
Unrestricted Funds
Unrestricted funds
General
Balance at 6
April 2024
£
2,747,457
Balance at 6
April 2023
£
2,720,172
Incoming
resources
£
182,625
Incoming
resources
£
75,411
Resources
expended
£
(56,886)
Resources
expended
£
(48,126)
Balance at 5
April 2025
£
2,873,196
Balance at 5
April 2024
£
2,747,457

7 Related party transactions

During the financial year, there were no transactions with related parties that require disclosure (2024: £Nil).

8 Volunteers

Maidstone 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 14

Maidstone Gospel Hall Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 April 2025 (continued)

9 Analysis of net assets between funds

9
Analysis of net assets between funds
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Creditors over 1 year
Total net assets
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Creditors over 1 year
Total net assets
Unrestricted
funds
General funds
£
1,775,854
1,105,144
(1,802)
(6,000)
2,873,196
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
1,777,925
977,333
(1,801)
(6,000)
2,747,457
Total funds
£
1,775,854
1,105,144
(1,802)
(6,000)
2,873,196
Total funds at
5 April
2024
£
1,777,925
977,333
(1,801)
(6,000)
2,747,457

Page 15

Issuer

Issuer Hinton Abbott Accountants Document generated Fri, 30th Jan 2026 16:11:18 GMT Document fingerprint 91887c8bf98f85456ba5b46f69fa34bf

Parties involved with this document

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Sat, 31st Jan 2026 16:08:26 GMT Fri, 30th Jan 2026 16:43:27 GMT

Mr Martin Fleck - Signer (ead583fb23bceea73efb9ee2afe1d50a) Chris Pittock - Signer (2df1e4fc72a6e12a36e1c97ec1094cd7)

Audit history log

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Sat, 31st Jan 2026 16:08:26 GMT

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