Cuba para Cristo – Trustee’s Annual Report For the period ending 31 March 2022
Reference and Administration Details
Address: 1 Curates Walk, Wilmington DA2 7BJ Trustees: Carl Chambers (appointed 28 January 2016) Mark Richardson (appointed 28 January 2016) Vanessa Jones (appointed 28 January 2016) Heather Shuk Ping Lim (appointed 31 October 2022) Rev Daniel Justin Paton Kirk (appointed 31 October 2022)
Charity Registration number: 1165339
Structure Governor and Management
Cuba para Cristo was registered as a charity on 28 January 2016, having previously been run as a branch of Latin Link, a charity with similar aims. The charity is run by the trustees who meet on a regular basis to discuss the work of the charity in supporting its work in Cuba.
Objectives and Activities
Our aim is to serve the Church in Cuba, particularly in word ministry, without forgetting the wider needs of the church. We continue to be a small network of people in the UK, serving as volunteers in our spare time, seeking to use the relationships we have developed with Cuban Christians and others to promote these ends.
As well as supporting the local church we work in two main areas:
-
Biblical training during the period have been working with Tyndale House in Cambridge to run a languages programme (Greek and Hebrew) for Cubans and also wider training of Cuban pastors by equipping them to teach MA modules in the seminaries in Cuba.
-
Supporting MOCLAM (Moore College Extension courses in Latin America) in Cuba
We continue to pray that the Lord may open the door for us to support initiatives relating to the sending of medical items.
Achievements and Performance
The Charity had a quiet year in terms of activity as we continued to adapt to post-Covid realities.
A key factor was the surprise closing of our bank account, held with Barclays Bank for some twenty years (so from years before we were an independent registered charity). We were given minimal warning. We undertook due diligence to find a new bank account, as the trustees agreed criteria for a new bank. The first bank took several weeks to work through our application, but finally declined our application. This meant that the last two months of the financial year were conducted without access to our bank account.
In reality, this did not affect us, because we had made payments in 2022 to cover expected needs in Cuba in early 2023.
As we analysed reasons for not being able to open a bank account, we determined that it was possible the link with Cuba (in the name of the charity) was a factor. We have certainly seen this affect us over the years. The reach of US sanctions is great and fearsome. We took the decision to change our name to ‘Latin America for Christ’, which is consistent with our charitable aims but somewhat broader in our reach. For instance, we very much hope that our ministry with biblical languages has an impact throughout Latin America, including people visiting Cuba to study. The Charity Commission accepted our new name and constitution. We also successfully opened a new bank account during 2023.
A visit was agreed and planned for 2023, to spend 10 days travelling to hear how MOCLAM was progressing without substantial input from outside. The plan would include two trustees (one of whom had never been to Cuba before, but had substantial mission and MOCLAM experience in Latin America) and the new MOCLAM director for Cuba, Revd. Chris Overhall, an Australian missionary in Chile. Part of the aim of the visit was also to seek to understand how best to invest the MOCLAM money wisely.
Ministry in supporting biblical languages in Cuba has ‘ticked along’ through occasional messages and sharing of information. Much has been to encourage and seek to lay foundations for the opening up of ministry opportunities in 2023. We have also been able to send books, including commentaries, to help people in the preparation of courses they run in Cuba. The team of biblical language tutors was planned to be visited during the visit in 2023.
Looking ahead
The trustees continue conversations as to the best way to ensure we serve the church in Cuba. We’ve been working under various organizational structures for some 25 years. However, with the substantial drop in income because of the end of both the biblical languages and MOCLAM intensive trainings, we need to be vigilant. Our concern now and always has been to serve the church in Cuba, with humility and trust in God to lead and guide us.
We expect to need to find a new treasurer, following Mark Richardson’s desire to step down after some 15 years’ faithful service. We are very grateful for all his ministry in serving the church in Cuba.
Financial Review
Approved by the Trustees on 19[th] November 2023.
Carl Chambers (Chair)
CUBA PARA CRISTO
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2023
REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 1165339
Page 1 of 6
CUBA PARA CRISTO
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2023
| INCOME Donations Interest TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES EXPENDITURE Pastoral Support Moclam One-off projects Other expenditure TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME (EXPENDITURE) FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD AT 31 MARCH 22 |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ 2,390 12,810 15,200 57,831 95 - 95 6 |
|---|---|
| 2,485 12,810 15,295 57,837 |
|
| 160 500 660 823 - 4,508 4,508 525 1,879 15,144 17,023 58,849 195 340 535 584 |
|
| 2,234 20,492 22,726 60,781 |
|
| 251 (7.682) (7,431) (3,394) 14,026 52,996 67,022 70,416 14,027 45,314 59,591 67,022 |
Page 2 of 6
CUBA PARA CRISTO
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 MARCH 2023
| Cash Debtors Current Assets Current Liabilities Net Assets Represented by: Unrestricted funds Restricted funds |
2023 £ 2022 £ 58,819 66.939 262 83 |
|---|---|
| 59,091 67,022 - - 59,091 67,022 |
|
| 14,277 14,026 45,314 52,996 |
|
| 59,091 67,022 |
Page 3 of 6
CUBA PARA CRISTO
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2023
1 Accounting policies
1.1 Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note to these accounts.
Unrestricted funds are the general funds of the charity that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the charity.
The accounts include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the charity is responsible in law.
1.2 Income
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income, when the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy and receipt is probable.
1.3 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as and when a legal or constructive obligation arises.
The charity's objects are:
-
the advancement of the Christian faith particularly (but not exclusively) in Cuba;
-
the advancement of education;
-
and prevention or relief of poverty or financial hardship by providing grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organizations working to prevent or relieve poverty or financial hardships;
All grants and any expenditure are made in line with these objects and are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year they are approved.
1.4 Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
1.5 Liabilities
Page 4 of 6
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
CUBA PARA CRISTO
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2023
1 Accounting policies (continued)
1.6 Accumulated funds
Restricted funds are funds subject to specific trusts, which may be declared by their donors, or with the authority such as in a public appeal, or created through legal process, but still within the wider objects of the charity. Restricted funds may be restricted income funds, which are expendable at the discretion of the Managing Trustees in furtherance of particular aspects of the objects of the charity.
2. Movement in Funds
| Free Reserves Restricted Funds Moclam Languages Other Total Restricted Funds Total Funds |
Balance at 31 March 2022 14,026 48,101 1,963 2,932 52,996 67,022 |
Incoming Resources £ 2,485 - - 12,810 12,810 15,295 |
Resources Expended £ (2,334) (4,508) (242) (15,742) (20,492) (22,726) |
Balance at 31 March 2023 £ 14,026 43,593 1,721 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45.314 | ||||
| 59,591 |
3. Related party transactions
Trustees were reimbursed £0 (2022: £0) for expenses relating to their work as trustees.
Page 5 of 6
4. Prior year Statement of Financial Activities
| INCOME Donations Interest TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES EXPENDITURE Pastoral Support Moclam Languages project One-off projects Other expenditure TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME (EXPENDITURE) FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD AT 31 MARCH 2022 |
2022 2021 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total £ £ £ £ 5.725 51,656 57,381 15,290 6 - 6 28 |
|---|---|
| 5,731 51.656 57.387 15.948 |
|
| 823 - 823 6.258 - 525 525 6.627 - - - - 5.157 53.692 58.849 2.289 359 225 584 336 |
|
| 6.339 54,442 60,781 15,510 |
|
| (608) (2.786) (3,394) 438 14.634 55,782 70,416 69,978 14,026 52,996 67,022 70,416 |
Page 6 of 6