Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year ending 31[st] December 2024
Contents
| Introduction | 3 |
|---|---|
| Reference and Administration Details | 3-4 |
| Structure, Governance and Management | 5-6 |
| Objectives and Activities | 7 |
| Achievements and Performance | 8 |
| Financial Review | 9 |
| Statement of Accounts | 10 |
| Independent examiner’s statement | 11 |
| Declaration | 11 |
2
Introduction
The Trustee’s present their report and financial statement for the year ending 31[st] December 2024. This report is presented in accordance with the statement of recommended practice, “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (SORP), issued in March 2005.
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation (the CIO) registered number 1167521 was established on 7[th] June 2016, to use the creative arts to proclaim the Good News, equip Christians through training and provide them with resources to tell the Big Story of God.
The financial year for the charity runs from January to December and this is the fourth annual report covering the period between 1[st] January 2024 – 31[st] December 2024.
Reference and Administration Details
Charity Name: The Big Story Trust
Registered Charity Number: 1167521 Registered Address: 80 Broadview Avenue Rainham Kent ME8 9DE Bankers: Lloyds Bank PLC Uttoxeter PO BOX 1000 Andover BX1 1LT
3
Trustees:
| Trustee Name | Office | Date Started | Date Ended |
|---|---|---|---|
| REV SUSAN VALLENTE-KERR | Chair | 7.6.16 | N/A |
| REV NATHAN WARD | 14.9.21 | N/A | |
| CLIVE ARUNDELL | 14.9.21 | N/A | |
| Rachel Shortland | 13.11.22 | N/A |
4
Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity is governed by a constitution and is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
The trustee’s are fully committed to safeguarding and therefore have made ‘The Big Story Trust’ a member of CCPAS (The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service) which is an independent Christian charity providing professional advice, support, training and resources in all areas of safeguarding children, vulnerable adults and for those affected by abuse.
The trustees have adopted a full set of policies and procedure which are all published on the charities website under the governance section. The policies include:
-
Volunteer management policy
-
Risk management policy
-
Reserves policy
-
Paying staff policy
-
Investment policy
-
Grant-making policy
-
Expenses Policy
-
Equal Opportunities Policy Statement
-
Conflict of interest policy
-
Complaints handling policy
-
Code of Conduct Policy
-
Anti money-laundering terrorist financing and bribery policy
-
Safeguarding Policy
5
• Volunteer Agreement
The trustees review all major risks facing the charity at each meeting of the trustee’s and believe that there are no major risks facing the charity at this time. New Trustees are provided with a copy of the Charity Commission’s leaflet “The Essential Trustee – CC3’’.
Public Benefit
The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion, when reviewing the Trust’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities and setting the grant making policy for the year. The Trustees have, in their view, met the public benefit requirement by holding a variety of events which are open to the general public and which seek, in accordance with their vision, to transform lives and thus enable people to live as responsible citizens in their community.
6
Objectives and Activities
The Big Story Trust is a Kent based charity aiming to uses the creative arts to proclaim the Good News, equip Christians through training and provide them with resources to tell the Big Story of God.
Its objective is to advance the Christian Faith by communicating the Good News through evangelism and the teaching and training of Christian disciples.
Vision
Our Vision is to transform lives by communicating the truth of Christianity.
Mission
To have an impact in every region of the UK, locally and nationally
-
by presenting the truth of Christianity in a way that enables people to make an informed decision about Jesus Christ.
-
by teaching and training Christians to do the same
-
by developing resources to support the above
The Big Story Trust has done this through:
-
Proclamation – communicating Christianity using the creative arts
-
Training – equipping Christians to communicate Christianity and Disciple others
-
Producing resources for evangelism and discipleship
7
Trustees have continued to implement the operational plan to deliver key projects. Over the past year:
-
Fragile Wonder has been completed and is now awaiting a final structural edit. Writer and performer Jonny Donahoe has been commissioned to produce the script for the one-man show adaptation, Fragile Wonder .
-
The Wacky Science Show continues to be performed in schools and at holiday camps, engaging children with creative, faith-based science experiences.
-
The ProKids Show also continues to be delivered in a range of educational and community settings, supporting positive values and character development.
-
The Trust’s digital presence, including Life at the Vicarage and related media output, continues to grow as a means of engagement and outreach.
These projects are now well established within the Trust’s ongoing programme and will continue to develop in the coming year.
Financial Review
The charity had sufficient resources to deliver the objectives within the financial year without seeking external support.
Policy on reserves
Due to the small size of the charity and the fact that it does not own any assets or buildings and has no employed staff, the trustees have concluded that it does not need to hold any reserves however this policy will be continually be reviewed as and when the charity grows.
Deficits
The charity does not have any deficits at the time of reporting.
8
Statement of Accounts CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO ANO WAiES Ttr Blg Skny Tnxt Recelpts and payments accounts CC16a Forth• p•rfod from To 1.1.24 31.12.24 S•¢tlon A Rocolpts and pa monts Vnrnstrlct•d fund• R#trtd•d fvnd• Endowrn•nl fund• to IhD £ Total lund La•t y•ar t•th• n1•1• t A1 R•c•l t• 15• Orw19 hw Sub tot•l{Gmss income lorAR) A2 A•Mt and InvMtm•nl •al tot•1 Totlr•¢•lpts Iso A3P• PMixrt• ffxT 714 0•5 tot•1 11.1•2 A4 A•#•t Inv•8tm•n¢ puhH•. {••• t•bl•l Sub toe•i aaaz Totalp•ym•nt• 9,109 11,092 N•e dr•¢•Wp•ym•nls) AS Tr11• b•tw••n fundi Al Cuh fund¥ 1•8t y•w •nd C•sh lunds thls y••r •nd 9,80• 9,10• 11,542 J4.514 J4,$14 24,705 24,705 11,542
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report and annual accounts above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Rev’d Sue Vallente-Kerr 28[th] October 2024
10