Charity number: 1166831 THE PORTSDOWN GOSPEL HALL TRUST TRUSTEES, REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024 THE PORTSDOWN GOSPEL HALL TRUST CONTENTS Page Reference and administrative details of the Charity, Its Trustees and advlsers Trustees, report Independent examinerfs report Statement of financial activities Balance sheet Notes to the financial statements 9-19 THE PORTSDOWN GOSPEL HALL TRUST REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024 Trustees Lauren Moggach, Chair Adrian Smallridge, Treasurer Jared Moggach Phil Spencer Roy Stone Charty registered number 1166831 Prlnclpal office Brethren Gospel Hall Havant Road Horndean Waterloovi118 Hampshire P08 ODR Accountants Baldwln Scofield Ltd Chartered accountants 3 Newhouse Business Centre Old Crawley Road Horsham West Sussex RH12 4RU Bankers Lloyds Bank plc PO Box 1000 Andover BX11LT Page 1 THE PORTSDOWN GOSPEL HALL TRUST TRUSTEES, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024 The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the 6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024. Objecttves and actlvltles • Policies and objectives The Trust has the following Gharilable purposes.. 1. The advancement of the Christian religion for the public benefit including by the carrying on of the seNice 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") whose core doctrine and whose proper practices in furtherance of some of the aspects of that core doctrine {'Faith in Practice.) is summarised in the Iwo Schedules to the New Trust Deed which is contained in the Second Schedule to the Deed of Variation dated 15 August 2014. 2. Any other charitable purposes connected with Brethren In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including the guidance 'Public benefit: wnning charity (PB2)'. Activiti8s undertaken to achlevo objactives The Trust provides and maintains gospel halls for the religious activities of Christlans often referred to as 'Brethren'. Details of the origins, teachings and way of life of the Brethren can be found on their website wthw.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org. The charity also maintains particular links with Waterlooville Gospel Hall Trust, with which it shares members of its congregation. The Trust's main achievement this year has been to open the hall to the congregation and vlsitors and encouraging good works by them whrch benefit the wider community, as described below. The trustees have also operated an Emergency Needs fund for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic and any resultant economic downturn. This is providing limited financial assistance by the way of grocery vouchers to households, who have experienced a recent and significant decrease in income due to the pandemic. such that it is likely to impact on the health andlor welfare of members of the household. The trust has appointed a Local Welfare Panel to manage the application process and to administer the voucher5 to qualifying applicants. Page 2 THE PORTSDOWN GOSPEL HALL TRUST TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUEDI FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024 Objectives and activities Icontinued) Maln aGtivltles undertaken to further the Charlty's purposes for the public benefit The trustees of The Portsdown Gospel Hall Trust 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, examples being supporting food banks, street preaching in area5 IoGal to the meeting halls, distribution of gospe5 booklets. The life of a Christian The following points are an extract from Schedule 1 of the Trust Deed. They outline the way of life of the Brethren as supported by the Holy Scriptures and how it contribute5 to public benefit: 1. We seek and are encouraged to live exemplary lives in all our relationships with others in the wider community (including fomer Brethren), in accordance with the teachings of Holy Scripture (1 rim 2-2). 2. We regularly go out from our homes to preach on the streets. to distribute Christian literature and engage wilh 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 unlt 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 2nd 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 glve 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). Achi8V8ments and perforniance Maln actfvtties of th8 Charity Meetlngs Meetings held at the Gospel halls would normally include the Lord's Supper (Communion). 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 infomiation. Bibles and an extensive range of other Christian reading material are on display at the halls and visitors are free to help themselves. Spreading the Gospel message and the Ilfe 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. Members of the congregation participate in a programme of street preaching and Gospel tracts are provided free of charge by the Charty to such preachers to be handed out to interested members of the public. In addition to street preaching, members of the congregation volunteer wtth Rapid Relief Team in support of the emergency services dealing with crisis situations with the provision of food packs etc. Page 3 THE PORTSDOWN GOSPEL HALL TRUST TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED S APRIL 2024 Financlal revlew Going concern After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational exi5tenGe for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concem basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies. Reserves policy The Trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charit￿S needs. This is based on the charitrfs size and the level of financial commitments. The Trustees consider that no reserves policy is needed as expenditure is very minimal and infrequent. 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 incom8 or unexpected expenditure, by raising a fund5 appeal. Free reseNes at the year end were £Nil (2023: £Nil). • Financlal rlsk management objectives and policles The Trustees have identified and reviewed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and confinn that they have established systems or procedures to manage and mitigate those risks. Principal fundlng In the year ended 5 April 2024 the Trust had a surplus of incoming resources over resources expended amounting to £398,978 (2023: £1,533,374). Total voluntary income received this year was £460,291 compared to £1,556,515 in the previous year. All funds held were unrestricted funds. Structure, governance and management Constitutlon The Portsdown Gospel Hall Trust is a regtstered charity, number 1166831. and is constitLrted under a Trust deed. The Port5down Gospel Hall Trust is constituted by a Deed of Trust dated 25 February 1999, amended by various Deeds and most recently by Deed of Variation dated 15 August 2014. The Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 29th April 2016. Page 4 THE PORTSDOWN GOSPEL HALL TRUST TRUSTEES. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024 Structure, governance and management (continu8dl Methods of appointment or electlon of Trustees The management of the Charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terrns of the Trust deed. The Trustees who have served during the year and since the year end are set out on page 3. None of the Trustees, nor any person connected with them, received any remuneralion or expenses from the Charity in the year ended 5 April 2024 (2023.. £Nil). Trustees are selected according to their experience in specialised fields and are expected to use that experience in furthering the objects of the Trust, Checks are made to ensure that there are no legal or other barriers to their appointment. New Trustees are nominated by the existing trustees and appointed by unanimous resolution of the Congregation. Incoming Trustees are made fully aware of their responsibilities by the 8XlSting Trustees who ensure that new Trustees read the Trust Deed and the relevant guidan￿ for trustees published by the Charity Commission. The Trust has been operating two Gospel halls with four more added r8C8nlly and Trustees are chosen from among the regular congregation of the halls. ststement of Trustees, responslblllties The Trustees are r88ponsib18 for preparing the Trustees, report 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 Trust88s to pr8pare financial statements for each financial which give a true and fair view of the slate of affairs of the Charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure. for that period. In pr6paring these financial statements, the Trustees are required to.. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. obseNe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102)., make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent-, state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departure8 disclosed and explained in the financial statements; prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records th8t are sufficient to show and explain the Charitys transactions and dl8clo8e 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 Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 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 irregularitiés. All transactions have bean review8d and approved by at least two trustees. The financial statements have been approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees on 29 January 2025 and signed on thelr behalf by.. Lauren Moggach (Chair of Trustees) Page 5 THE PORTSDOWN GOSPEL HALL TRUST INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024 Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of The Portsdown Gospel Hall Trust ('the Charity,) I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 5 April 2024. Responsibilities and basi5 of report As the Trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Charitvs accounts Garried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the 2011 Act. Independent examiner's statement Since the Charity's gross incorne exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confsrm that l am qualified to undertake the 8xamination because l am a member of (enter body here). which is one of the listed bodie5. Your attention is drawn to the fact that the Charity has prepared the accounts in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Raporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland