CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examinerfs report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
GCH Trust
On accounts for the year
ended
Charity no
lrfany)
31 August 2025
1162672
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination ol the accounts of the above
charity (llhe Trusf) for the year ended 3110812025.
Responsibilities and
basis of report
As the charTty'S trusiees. you are responsible for the preparatTron of the
arxounts in accordan￿ wrth the r4uirements of the Charyties Act 2011
(Ihe Act").
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 followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charty Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Ad.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confim) that no malerial matters have
examiner's statement Come to my attents'on in connection with the examination lolher Ihan that
disclosed below ") which gives me cause to believe that in, any material
respect..
the accounting records were not kept in accordan￿ with section 130
of the Charities Ad, or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or
Ihe accounts did not compty with the applicable requirements
conceming the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities
{Accounts and Reports) Regulth'ons 2008 other than any requirement
that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view 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 to vthich attention should be drawn in this report in
order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
' Hease delete the words in the b￿ketS rf they do not apply.
Signed:
Date".
1510512026
Name:
Martin Firth
Relevant professional
quallflcation{s) or body
(if any):
FCA {ICAEW)
Address:
Chipchase Manners
384 Linthorpe Road
IER
Oct 2018

Middlesbrough
TS5 6HA
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs lo highlight material matters of concern
(see CC32, Independent examination of charity ￿Ounts.. difections and
guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of
any items that the
examiner wishes to
disclose.
IER
Oct 2018

Trustees. Annual Report for the period
Period start date
Period end dale
From
2C)24
?n?.4
Section A
Reference and administration details
Charity name
GCH Trust
Other names charity is known by
Registered charity number lif any)
1162672
Charity's principal address
9 Rillston Close
Hartlepool
Postcode
TS26 OPS
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
C>ats¥ xted if not for *thole
ear
Tru8t8e nam•
Office {rfany)
Name of ￿rsOn lor body) entitjed
oint tnBteg
Michael Hall
Chair
Scott Thomson
Ben Parker
10
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Names of the trustees for the chaTity. if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name
Dates acted if not for whole
ear
IER
Oct 2018

Names and addresses of advisers {Optional inforniation)
of adviser
Name
Address
Nam8 of chief executive or names of senior stsff members (Optional infomiation)
Section B
Structure,
overnance and mana
ement
Descripts"on of the charity's trusts
Constttution
TyFe of governing document
How the charity is constituted
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee seledion methLNJs
Appointed by existing trustees
Additlonal governance issues {Optional inforniation)
The trustees reviewed the charity's finances each quarter and met for an
AGM to evaluate performance towards the objects of the charity.
You may choose to include
additional information, where
relevant, about..
policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of Irustees.,
the charity's organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the charity
works.,
relationship with any relaled
parties",
trustees, consideration of
major risks and the system
and procedures to manage
them.
Section C
Ob"ectives and activities
IER
Oct 2018

The objects of the CIO are..
TO ADVANCE THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION FOR THE PUBLIC
BENEFIT IN PARTICULAR, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, BY.
- ENCOURAGING AND FACILITATING THE FOUNDING AND
OPERATION OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES PRIMARILY, ALTHOUGH
NOT EXCLUSIVELY. IN THE NORTH EAST AND THE REST OF THE
UNITED KINGt)OM:
Summary of the objects oftho
charity set out in its
governing document
- ENCOURAGING THE SEEKING OF NEW FOLLOWERS AND
ADHERENTS OF THE CHRIsT￿N RELIGION, AND
- FACILITATING THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF
INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHRSSTIAN
RELIGION.
During 2024-2025 GCH Trust has continued to operate Grace Church
Hartlepool.
Regular activities of the church have included..
Sunday gatherings- Gra￿ Church Hartlepool m&ts weekly on
Sunday aftemoons
Life Groups - Smaller groups that meet in a variety of formal and
informal settings during ￿ week
Events - A variety of events were hosted exploring different
aspects of the Christian faith.
The purpose of these gatherings has been lo facililate Ihe development
of individuals in their understanding of Christianity. All the meetings, and
events. were open to the general public and have seen people with a
vanety of beliefs attendir•3 throughout the year.
Summary ofthe 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
benefft}
other events that have taken place this year include:
Weekly lunch group
Christmas events including carol service
Children's holiday club
Cafe for intemational people in Hartlepool
All of these events have facilitated the exKloralion and discussion of
Christianity and have induded people with a wide variety of beliefs.
A leadership training programme is used for training and developing
leaders to accommodate the increasing number of people accessing life
groups and church events.
GCH trust continued the operation a debt ￿ntre in partnership wlth
Chnstians Against Poverty ICAPI, employing a debt centre manager and
recruiting volunteers.
The building purchased by GCH Trust in August 2023 has been
extensively renovated and has been used to host the majority of the
events descnbed atx)ve.
All these activrties Ca￿led out by GCH have contributed to the objects of
the chari
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional infonnation)
IER
Oct 2018

The charity made a grant towards object 1- the founding and operation
of Christian churches, through a finanual contribLrtions to Covenant Hope
Church Dubai.
The operations of GCH Trust are supported by a large group of
volunteers who perfom various roles_ The contribution of these
individuals enables the church to cary out the 0￿"eCtS of the Trust.
You may choose lo include
further slalements, where
relevant, about-.
policy on grantmaking.,
policy programme relaled
investment.,
ontribution made by
volunteers.
Section D
Achievements and performance
IER
Oct 2018

Section D
Achievements and performance
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity
during the year
The achievements of the chanty this year have been the ongoing
operation and expansion of the adivities of Grace Church Hartlepool in
line with the objeds of the charity. The activities of GCH support the
charty in delivering benefit to the public.
Object 1- FoundiThJ and operation of Christian Churches
Operation of Grace Church Hartlepool
Financial contribution to the operation of Covenant Hope Church Dubai
Object 2 - Seeking new followers of the Christian religion
A number of people have explored the beliefs of Christianity through the
activities outlined above and some of those going on to identty as
Christians
Object 3- Facilitating developfflent and training in understanding of the
Christian religion
The activities described above have reached a large number of people
throughout Ihe year, a group of 80-90 adults and children accessing
most of those activities on a regular basis, facilitating the development of
understanding of Christianity.
IER
Oct 2018

Section E
Financial review
The trustees have adopted a poI￿Y to maintain reserves equal to 3
months total salary costs.
Brief statement of the
charity's policy on reserves
Details of any funds materially
in deficit
Furthèr financial review details {Optional inforniation)
GCH Trust has raised funds through individual and church donations in
order to deliver the objects of the charrty.
You may choose to include
additional infomiation, where
relevant about..
the charity's principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising),.
how expendtture has
supported the key objectives
of the charity.,
investment policy and
objectives including any
ethical investment policy
adopted.
GCH trust also received a grant towards the salary of the CAP debt
centre manager.
GCH Trust employs BP (trusteel in a leadership role for Grace Church
Hartlepool. The charity constilution states thal trustees can receive
remuneration from the charity {not for carrying out their role as a trusleel
as long as the majority of trustees do not receive any payment from the
charity. Decisions on pay scales and structure were made by a majority
of trustees without BP present to avoid conflict of interest.
All experKliture has supported the obJ"ectives of the charity through the
planning, oFeration and practical costs associated with the activities
described in this re
Section F
Other optional information
Section G
Declaration
The trustees declare that they havè approvèd the trustees, report above.
IER
Oct 2018

Signed on behalf of the Charity's trustees
Signature(s)
Full namels)
osition (eg Secretary.
Chair, etc
,'r
Date
IER
Oct 2018

## Annual Financial Summary 2024 

|Opening Balances||
|---|---|
|Opening Bank Balance|47150.27|
|Total Opening Cash Available|£47,150.27|
|Income||
|Gifts Eligible for Gift Aid|39368|
|Gifts Not Eligible for Gift Aid|3204.44|
|Gifts from Redeemer (not Gift Aid Eligible|3948|
|Gift Aid claimed this year|9064.93|
|Building rental income/other income|37810.8|
|Building Grants|400|
|FIEC Grants|0|
|CAP Grants|250|
|Staff Grants|8931.96|
|Total income|£102,978.13|



## Outgoings 

|Outgoings||
|---|---|
|Ministry expenses|35461.64|
|Insurance|2881.74|
|Equipment|2557.76|
|Admin|884.82|
|Mission giving|3825.00|
|Events|5084.56|
|Building general running costs|11210.83|
|Building maintainance and rennovation|28227.47|
|CAP|17773.55|
|Total outgoings|£107,907.37|



## Closing Balances 

|Closing Balances||
|---|---|
|Final Bank Balance|42221.03|
|Total Year End Cash Available|£42,221.03|