Lives restored, community rebuilt
Trustees’ Annual Report
for the period ending
31[st] December 2024
Charity Name: Beacon Evangelical Church Registered Charity Number: 1163097
Principal address: 47 Sandwell Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 8NH
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2024 Beacon Evangelical Church Trustees Annual Report
Trustees who manage the Charity
Name
Office (if any)
Dates in office if not for the whole year
Timothy Turner Pastor and Elder
Elaine Salmon Deacon and Secretary
Philip Evans Deacon and Treasurer Veronica Johnson Deacon
Structure and governance
Beacon Evangelical Church is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members other than its charity trustees and is regulated by a constitution.
Trustees are elected by the members of the church and together constitute the “Leadership Team” of the church. Within the Leadership Team, there are Elders who are responsible for the spiritual and pastoral care of the members and Deacons who assist the Elders in their duties.
The trustees meet on a monthly basis to consider the spiritual and pastoral affairs of the church and on a quarterly basis to manage matters requiring financial and procedural decisions.
The church is a founder member of the Charity, Handsworth and District Christian Outreach also known as Hands Outstretched, a collaboration between local churches for the advancement of the Christian faith.
Objects
The church’s objects, for the public benefit, are to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Faith detailed in the church’s constitution.
To this end, the Leadership Team is committed to enabling the members of the church to communicate the Christian gospel with as many people as possible. This is understood to take place verbally and also by practical demonstration of God’s love through compassionate care for members of the community, the provision of services from the base of the church building on Sandwell Road and through the members’ lifestyle within the community.
In overseeing and developing the activities of the church, the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.
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2024 Beacon Evangelical Church Trustees Annual Report
Activities
The activities of the church are open to the public.
Worship - Our theme for 2024 was our ‘God of hope’.
The church holds one service of worship each Sunday. Members are encouraged to participate in running the service, building their faith and growing their confidence and skills. Our services were live streamed to YouTube during 2024. This has benefitted not just those who cannot leave their homes for reasons of health and vulnerability but has strengthened our connection with many people we might not otherwise have met.
Prayer
The church meets regularly to pray as well as having a week of prayer in January and July, with meetings every evening. An Intercessors prayer group met weekly.
Bible Study
The church provides Bible Study through weekly Fellowship Groups, one-off studies and by studying a theme or Bible book in the Sunday Service. In Sunday services during 2024 we have greatly benefitted from completing our study of Matthew’s Gospel, studying Galatians and began to study people of faith in the Bible.
Fellowship groups
The church runs several small groups on weekday evenings for study of the Bible, to develop individual Christian faith and engage in community outreach. From time to time, groups run events to bring the community together and explain the Christian faith. At the end of 2024 there were four evening groups and a daytime group, including a new evening group for young adults.
Drop-in days
With activities, free refreshments and lunch, these days help us welcome and get to know people from our community, especially those who are lonely, isolated or vulnerable in some way. It is a welcoming space with a listening ear. We help people to fill in forms, issue foodbank vouchers and have a ‘Dementia Café’, run by a Dementia UK ambassador. Representatives of the local DWP, Birmingham City Council’s Housing department, or health professionals are invited to visit to provide advice and information. We work with the local Prison Link charity, welcoming some of their service users on occasion, as well as residents at a local men’s hostel.
Children and young people
-
The church runs a Sunday Club for children from Year 1 to 11, teaching Bible knowledge and explaining the Christian faith. We also provide a creche during Sunday services.
-
The 12+ group for young people in year 7 to mid-teens, meets fortnightly for games and topical study, once a month for a physical activity in the community, such as climbing, bowling etc.
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Our young people and children are encouraged to take part in ‘Family Services’ once a month and sometimes lead the whole service.
Food bank
The church continued to support The Handsworth Food Bank, a Trussell Trust Food Bank based locally, providing funds, food and volunteers to staff the food bank.
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2024 Beacon Evangelical Church Trustees Annual Report
Sisters of Strength Women’s group (SOS)
Sisters of Strength is a women’s group which met several times during the year for an evening of worship, teaching and celebration.
Beacon Brothers Together
Brothers Together is an informal group for men, which meets for meals and seeks to support men in the church and outside, in putting their faith into action. It also operates as a support network for men via social media. The group ran a Mother’s Day service in 2024.
Safe Families
The church had one volunteer helping with the Safe Families charity during 2024.
Staffing and safeguarding
In July 2024, the church employed a full time Community Development and Outreach Leader, to assist our vision to be more outward looking, to take the good news of Jesus to our community in word and compassionate action to help the most vulnerable.
Full time Community Development & Outreach Leader recruited
Apart from this role and one part-time
91
Volunteer hours per week = 2.4 full time workers
cleaner, our activities are organised and staffed by volunteers. It was estimated that in 2024, on average, 91 volunteer hours per week were contributed, the equivalent to 2.4 full time workers.
The church’s safeguarding officer ensures that those working with children and vulnerable adults are selected, trained, checked and supervised in accordance with the church’s safeguarding policy.
Achievements and performance
Advancement of the Christian Faith
As explained above, the Object of the Church, for the public benefit, is to advance the Christian faith in accordance with the Statement of Faith. For many this might be seen simply as the provision of worship services, prayer and Christian teaching. However, our ethos recognises that the Christian faith encompasses all aspects of life, so that Christians share their faith both verbally but also by practical demonstration of God’s love through compassionate care for members of the community. This is demonstrated in the way we measure achievement and performance, as below, in accordance with the Church’s Objects.
Sunday Worship
The church livestreamed 49 Sunday Services via YouTube, allowing members who are housebound, working shifts, sick or away, to remain connected and even take part through the YouTube messaging facility. Service videos remain available after the event, allowing new people to connect with us. Family members and people with past connections have also watched after the event.
112
Adults attended Sunday Worship onsite or online
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2024 Beacon Evangelical Church Trustees Annual Report
The number of adults attending Sunday Worship in person was 41, on average in 2024 (42 in 2023) but grew towards the end of the year to around 50. Around 13 others watched live (12 in 2023) and 58 watched afterwards (60 in 2023). Online numbers include host users who interact with those online.
The total number of people joining in with our Sunday Services in some way during 2024 averaged 112, compared to 114 in 2023.
This involved a huge amount of creativity, energy, volunteer hours and commitment from the Sunday Technical and Worship teams.
Figure 1 – 2024 Hybrid Sunday worship attendance
The church also conducted a baby dedication, a marriage blessing and 2 adult baptisms in 2024.
The 2020 pandemic left a legacy of people who had ceased to be active members but had not formally resigned. Ten of these were removed from membership in 2024. Nine new members were welcomed in 2024, giving a membership of seventy-two people at the end of 2024 (73 at the end of 2023). This has 9 been a healthy change giving us a much more active membership than New previously.
9 New members in 2024
Strengthening the Church
Our new Community Development Leader implemented measures to strengthen the church and prepare the members for more active participation in community outreach. He initiated:
-
A ‘Discipleship’ course to prepare people to volunteer for services provided to the community and the church. A group of 7 young adults completed their training in November and were ‘commissioned’ in December.
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A pastoral care network with leaders supporting 6 groups. 12 leaders were commissioned in December and meet from time to time for training and support.
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2024 Beacon Evangelical Church Trustees Annual Report
Prayer & Bible Study
In 2024 we have increased our prayer as a church. The monthly prayer meeting on a Friday now takes place every week. Bible study has also increased. In January/February we had four sessions, on Sunday evenings on the subject of, ‘What is the Gospel?’. This was repeated in seminar format in April, on a Saturday.
More prayer and Bible Study in 2024
Our young adults followed a discipleship course in the autumn and have formed a new group which meets weekly.
Children and young people
The total number of children and young people attending Sunday Club and other events increased a little during 2024, especially in the secondary age group. We have restarted a creche during our Sunday morning service and have several babies in attendance. Sunday Club enjoyed one of their sessions out in the community.
Our 12+ group grew in 2024 and can be attended by up to 14 children.
The youth and young adults had a successful weekend away at the end of the autumn half-term, at the Whitemoor Lakes Outdoor Activity Centre, near Lichfield.
One of our members ran a summer holiday club for children onsite, ‘Refocus for Kids’. It was mainly for non-church children and funded by Awards For All, through the Prison Link Charity.
SEND training was organised for all the volunteers and members from local churches attended.
The Beacon Centre Project
This now incorporates both the Beacon Centre Building Project and our new Beacon Community Project .
The project team expanded from four to six members in 2024 adding much valuable experience and new skills.
The Beacon Centre Building Project aims to rebuild the premises in Sandwell Road to better facilitate our vision to serve the community and give more space for services of worship. The general vision includes expanding or providing for the first time some of the following services:
-
counselling and support to address mental health needs
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facilities and support for parents with young children
-
signposting and language learning to support incomers
-
a place for young people to belong, learn and play
-
a place for older people to socialise and obtain help
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2024 Beacon Evangelical Church Trustees Annual Report
Three phases planned
Our Architects helped us devise a structure for the building project, in three phases:
-
Phase 1 Prepare - building some retaining walls, some excavation, and preparation of utility connections, along with fulfilling some of the essential planning conditions.
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Phase 2 Build the main two-storey part of the building at the front of the site whilst retaining and using the old building during the build.
-
Phase 3 Demolish the old building and build the final part of the Beacon Centre in its place, whilst using the Phase 2 building for most activities.
We began Phase 1 in 2024 and fulfilled several planning conditions such as a ground drainage investigation, topographical and geo-technical surveys. Draft plans were created for new retaining walls on two sides of the site and a new manhole and drainage connections to the Severn Trent system. We plan to complete this phase in 2025.
PHASE 1
of our building project began
Beacon Community Project
This new project runs alongside the Building Project and incorporates our existing services – i.e. Drop-in days, Food Bank support, individual and family support, 25:35 fund and partnership with the Birmingham City Mission (BCM) for the Christmas Toylink project. This allows our Community Development Leader to focus on developing new community outreach services regardless of the status of the building project.
Drop-in Days
In 2024 we expanded our monthly Community ‘drop-in day’ to be fortnightly, planning to make it weekly in Doubled 2025. It has continued to be popular, attracting 20 to 30 people, most of whom The number of we have never met before and who would drop-in days not have come to the church for a service. This is helping us learn about the needs and aspirations of our community as we look to develop the new Beacon Centre. Some of those who come to the Drop-in initially,
do visit services on a Sunday sometimes. We arranged a Summer trip to Stourport on Severn and invited the community to a special Caribbean Brunch.
General Community Support
Week by week, the Church supported individuals and families in need with contact, food parcels, food bank vouchers, practical help (via our 25:35 fund), transport to appointments, assistance with forms, moving home or to helping to prevent people becoming homeless. We also
helped with shopping and contributions to gas and electricity needs. In December we distributed Christmas presents to 25 families via the BCM Toylink scheme. We continue to link with the local primary school by providing advice and practical help for parents and families.
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2024 Beacon Evangelical Church Trustees Annual Report
Preparations for new Community Outreach in 2025
In 2024 our Community Development Leader began preparations for several new projects and services planned for 2025. He also began recruiting volunteers for these projects. Plans were made for:
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A weekly seniors’ lunch club
-
A CAP Job Club
-
Partnership with Age UK to expand our Drop-in days to a weekly provision
-
Community Chaplaincy to support newly released prisoners
-
A children’s music school to proactively address mental health
-
A potential partnership with local churches to run a Street Pastors Group
Financial Review
A full statement of accounts has been prepared by Data Developments (UK) Ltd, First Floor, The Chubb Buildings, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1HT. Data Developments act as the church’s independent examiners.
Beacon Church’s principal source of funding is donations from members.
The church makes use of the gift aid scheme to claim tax on donations.
Policies and procedures
Prior to 2024 the Church had policies for Health and Safety , Data Protection and Safeguarding .
In 2024 we added:
Reserves Policy:
The Trustees agreed a new Reserves Policy in 2024, at a meeting on 07/05/2024, that the church’s reserve level be set at six months of the typical expenditure required to operate the church. This is calculated using a monthly average from the previous financial year.
In the process of employing a full time Community Development and Outreach Leader we added a Church Worker Code of Conduct , Church Worker Disciplinary Procedure , Church Worker Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement , Church Worker Employee Expenses Policy and Church Worker Grievance Procedure
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the report above
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Date: 20/05/2025
Signature Date: Full Name: Timothy John Holden Turner Position: Chair
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2024 Beacon Evangelical Church Trustees Annual Report
Beacon Evangelical Church Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024
Beacon Evangelical Church 47 Sandwell Road Handsworth Birmingham B21 8NH
Page 1
Independent Examiner’s report to the trustees/members of Beacon Evangelical Church
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024 which are set out on the following pages.
Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility
-
to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner's 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 explanations from the 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 statement below.
Independent Examiner's Statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the with the accounting records
I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Date: 10[th] April 2025
Stephen Hendy Data Developments (UK) Ltd, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT
Page 2
Beacon Evangelical Church Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2024
| Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endowment Total Prior year funds funds funds funds funds total funds |
|
|---|---|
| Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income Investment income Total income Resources used Charitable activities Other resources used Total expenditure Net income / (expenditure) resources before transfer Other recognised gains / losses Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward Represented by Unrestricted General fund Designated 25-35 Fund Distress Fund New Beacon Fund Restricted Building Fund |
51,428 35,834 — — 87,262 80,877 21 — — — 21 200 |
| 51,449 35,834 — — 87,283 81,077 16,263 595 — — 16,858 13,841 29,660 9,882 — — 39,542 18,046 |
|
| 45,923 10,477 — — 56,401 31,887 |
|
| 5,525 25,357 — — 30,882 49,190 |
|
| 5,525 25,357 — — 30,882 49,190 |
|
| 592,383 313,732 56,065 — 962,180 912,990 |
|
| 597,909 339,089 56,065 — 993,062 962,180 597,909 — — — 597,909 592,383 — 996 — — 996 1,040 — 1,973 — — 1,973 1,036 — 336,120 — — 336,120 311,656 — — 56,065 — 56,065 56,065 |
Statement of assets and liabilities - 2024
| General Designated Restricted Endowment This year Last year |
|
|---|---|
| Fixed assets - Heritage assets Church Premises - Totals Current assets - Cash at bank and in hand Beacon CafCash - Beacon Gold - CAF - Scottish Widows Term deposit - Cambridge & Counties Bank - Lloyds TSB - Redwood Bank - United Trust Bank Limited - Totals Grand total |
440,433 — — — 440,433 440,433 |
| 440,433 — — — 440,433 440,433 30,485 2,980 2,860 — 36,324 123,154 54,824 156,455 1,063 — 212,341 108,044 57,857 20,579 (22,857) — 55,579 52,897 7,656 9,387 75,000 — 92,043 88,069 6,654 (621) — — 6,033 5,823 — 56,407 — — 56,407 54,363 — 93,902 — — 93,902 89,398 |
|
| 157,476 339,089 56,065 — 552,629 521,747 |
|
| 597,909 339,089 56,065 — 993,062 962,180 |
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Statement of assets and liabilities - 2023
| General Designated Restricted Endowment This year Last year |
|
|---|---|
| Fixed assets - Heritage assets Church Premises - Totals Current assets - Cash at bank and in hand Beacon CafCash - Beacon Gold - CAF - Scottish Widows Term deposit - Cambridge & Counties Bank - Lloyds TSB - Redwood Bank - United Trust Bank Limited - Totals Grand total |
440,433 — — — 440,433 440,433 |
| 440,433 — — — 440,433 440,433 75,169 45,125 2,860 — 123,154 84,911 4,824 102,157 1,063 — 108,044 105,891 57,857 17,897 (22,857) — 52,897 51,650 7,656 5,5412 75,000 — 88,069 84,849 6,654 (621) — — 5,823 4,983 — 54,363 — — 54,363 52,721 — 89,398 — — 89,398 87,551 |
|
| 151,950 313,732 56,065 — 521,747 472,557 |
|
| 592,383 313,732 56,065 — 962,180 912,990 |
Fund movement by type – 2024
| Opening Incoming Outgoing Transfers Gains/losses Journals Closing | |
|---|---|
| 25-35 - 25-35 Fund Designated Sub-total for 25-35 BF - Building Fund Restricted Sub-total for BF Distr - Distress Fund Designated Sub-total for Distr General - General fund Unrestricted Sub-total for General NBF - New Beacon Fund Designated Restricted Sub-total for NBF Tra - Travel Fund Designated Sub-total for Tra Grand total |
1,040 551 595 — — — 996 |
| 1,040 551 595 — — — 996 56,065 — — — — — 56,065 |
|
| 56,065 — — — — — 56,065 1,036 937 — — — — 1,973 |
|
| 1,036 937 — — — — 1,973 592,383 51,449 45,923 — — — 597,909 |
|
| 592,383 51,449 45,923 — — — 597,909 311,656 34,346 9,882 — — — 336,120 — — — — — — — |
|
| 311,656 34,346 9,882 — — — 336,120 — — — — — — — |
|
| — — — — — — — |
|
| 962,180 87,283 56,401 — — — 993,062 |
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Fund movement by type – 2023
| Opening Incoming Outgoing Transfers Gains/losses Journals Closing | |
|---|---|
| 25-35 - 25-35 Fund Designated Sub-total for 25-35 BF - Building Fund Restricted Sub-total for BF Distr - Distress Fund Designated Sub-total for Distr General - General fund Unrestricted Sub-total for General NBF - New Beacon Fund Designated Restricted Sub-total for NBF Tra - Travel Fund Designated Sub-total for Tra Grand total |
870 569 400 — — — 1,039 |
| 870 569 400 — — — 1,039 56,065 — — — — — 56,065 |
|
| 56,065 — — — — — 56,065 1,280 129 373 — — — 1,036 |
|
| 1,280 129 373 — — — 1,036 565,689 56,006 29,312 — — — 592,383 |
|
| 565,689 56,006 29,312 — — — 592,383 289,084 24,371 1,800 — — — 311,656 — — — — — — — |
|
| 289,084 24,371 1,800 — — — 311,656 — — — — — — — |
|
| — — — — — — — |
|
| 912,990 81,077 31,887 — — — 962,180 |
Analysis of income and expenditure for the year ended 31 December 2024
| Total Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endowment This year Last year INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Incoming resources from generated funds - Voluntary income Offerings 36,726 — — — 36,726 37,372 Income tax refund 10,569 — — — 10,569 14,210 Other Income 4,033 5 — — 4,038 6,154 Distress fund — 937 — — 937 129 25-35 — 546 — — 546 570 New Beacon Fund Income 100 34,346 — — 34,446 22,442 Total 51,428 35,834 — — 87,262 80,877 Incoming resources from generated funds - Investment income Bank Interest 21 — — — 21 200 Total 21 — — — 21 200 |
Total Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endowment This year Last year INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Incoming resources from generated funds - Voluntary income Offerings 36,726 — — — 36,726 37,372 Income tax refund 10,569 — — — 10,569 14,210 Other Income 4,033 5 — — 4,038 6,154 Distress fund — 937 — — 937 129 25-35 — 546 — — 546 570 New Beacon Fund Income 100 34,346 — — 34,446 22,442 Total 51,428 35,834 — — 87,262 80,877 Incoming resources from generated funds - Investment income Bank Interest 21 — — — 21 200 Total 21 — — — 21 200 |
|---|---|
| 21 — — — 21 200 |
|
| INCOME TOTAL | 51,449 35,834 — — 87,283 81,077 |
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EXPENDITURE
| EXPENDITURE | |
|---|---|
| Charitable activities Church Gifts Distress Fund expenses 25-35 expenses Organisational Support & Events Total Other resources used Salaries:Net Salary Salaries:Pensions Salaries:Employee National Insurance Payroll:Volunteer Expenses Preaching fees Training Subscriptions Governance Costs Establishment costs Establishment costs:Light & Heat Establishment costs:Repairs and renewals Establishment costs:Cleaning & consumabs New Beacon Project cost Support Costs Total |
9,069 — — — 9,069 7,940 — — — — — 374 — 595 — — 595 400 7,194 — — — 7,194 5,127 |
| 16,263 595 — — 16,858 13,841 9,638 — — — 9,638 — 671 — — — 671 — 144 — — — 144 — 329 — — — 329 760 220 — — — 220 200 175 — — — 175 40 96 — — — 96 251 834 — — — 834 346 2,946 — — — 2,946 1,963 5,873 — — — 5,873 4,627 1,789 — — — 1,789 1,913 3,257 — — — 3,257 3,290 — 9,882 — — 9,882 1,800 3,687 — — — 3,687 2,857 |
|
| 29,660 9,882 — — 39,542 18,046 |
|
| EXPENDITURE TOTAL | 45,923 10,477 — — 56,401 31,887 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 5,525 25,357 — — 30,882 49,190 |
Comparative SOFA Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2023
| Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endowment Total Prior year funds funds funds funds funds total funds |
|
|---|---|
| Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income Investment income Total income Resources used Charitable activities Other resources used Total expenditure Net income / (expenditure) resources before transfer Other recognised gains / losses Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
55,806 25,070 — — 80,877 57,646 200 — — — 200 144 |
| 56,006 25,070 — — 81,076 57,790 13,066 774 — — 13,841 10,768 16,245 1,800 — — 18,046 48,566 |
|
| 29,312 2,574 --- — 31,887 59,334 |
|
| 29,693 22,495 — — 49,189 (1,544) |
|
| 29,312 22,495 — — 49,189 (1,544) |
|
| 565,689 291,235 56,065 — 912,990 914,534 |
|
| 592,383 313,731 56,065 — 962,180 912,990 |
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