METANOIA PROJECT
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
CHARITY NUMBER 1169470
Metanoia Project
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 August 2025
The Trustees present their report for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Public Benefit
In preparing this report the Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and believe that the objectives, activities and achievements set out below indicate that the Charity is providing a public benefit as defined by the Charity Commission guidance.
History
The Metanoia Project is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The objects of the CIO are the advancement of the Christian religion within the United Kingdom in accordance with the doctrines and policies of the Roman Catholic Church, for the public benefit.
The Metanoia Project charity was formed as a Charity in June 2016 and became a registered Charity in England and Wales on 4 October 2016. The Charity took over the work of the similarly named Metanoia Project that Ruth and Joseph White set up in 2011 in the Preston area. Ruth and Joe White transferred to the Charity their drive and vision for the future of the project and are now employed by the Charity as Project Directors.
This report and the attached accounts cover the year to 31 August 2025.
Objectives and Activities
The Vision of the Metanoia Project is to build a vibrant, faith filled, evangelistic community who help to bring about the Kingdom of God through both proclamation and service. Focussed on transforming their local area and the lives of those around them, they will become a light for, and the centre of the wider community
To further this vision The Metanoia Project carries out its purposes:
•By establishing Christian Communities, comprising both residential and non-residential members, which are a place of witness, welcome and nurture for the local community.
•By working alongside local Schools, Parishes, Priests, People and other organisations in order to offer both initial proclamation of the Christian message and on-going discipleship to help build and strengthen the local Church.
•By facilitating age appropriate groups, for people of all ages, that offer opportunities for a deeper encounter with Christ which will inspire and envision Catholics to be excited about their faith, whilst equipping and supporting them to share that faith with others through both proclamation and very practical service within their local community.
•By developing a variety of training and discipleship programmes that lead people into relationship with Christ and His Church and enable personal growth.
•By creating and sustaining a variety of initiatives that reach out to the local community and find practical ways to meet their material, spiritual and emotional needs.
•By offering opportunities for all members of the local community to engage with the project at whatever level they are comfortable in order to provide an introduction to Christian work and Christian people.
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Metanoia Project
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 August 2025
Activities and achievements
Prior to the Charity being registered Joe and Ruth White had shaped and developed and delivered activities in the spirt of the New Evangelisation, ‘new in its ardour, methods and expression’. (St. John Paul II, 1983). The projects of the charity are underpinned by the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching and by the Papal Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii - ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ by Pope Francis.
The Charity has continued to deliver these activities while continually reviewing and updating their content.
The main activities are:
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Adult Formation
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Young Leaders Formation
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Children and Young People’s Activities
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Homeless Outreach
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Leading Worship
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Leading School Programmes
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Families and Young Children’s Activities
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Providing chaplaincy services for a local high school and the local university
The Charity relies on the work done by volunteers to assist in delivering these activities and to further the aims and objectives of the Charity.
Review of Activities and Looking to the future
The Charity continues to provide Chaplaincy services to a local Catholic High School. The Chaplaincy assistant recruited in September 2022 continues in post for the academic year 2025/26 and has proved a huge asset to the project freeing up the time of the Project Directors.
The project also provides the Students at UCLAN University with Chaplaincy services and the number of Students involved has seen a satisfying increase. This is being funded jointly by Lancaster RC Diocese and St Wilfrid’s RC parish in Preston.
I January 2025 the project took over the running of a homeless service providing a cooked meal on Tuesday evening in the centre of Preston. This adds to the services for the homeless which have been provided on a Wednesday evening for several years and funds relating to both these services will be accounted for through a restricted fund.
The Charity has long had a desire to set up a community house. While this was achieved in 2022-23, it was not possible to recruit suitable participants in the year covered by this report.
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Metanoia Project
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 August 2025
Financial Review
During the period the Charity has received £12,286 which was donated specifically to fund the Homeless Outreach programme. The Trustees have decided that the Homeless Outreach funds should be accounted for in a Restricted Fund and all expenses, including staff costs, incurred in that project be set against the restricted fund donations. Monies donated to the project to help cover maintenance of the property rented by the Charity is also held in a restricted fund.
All other income and expenditure is accounted for in the Unrestricted Fund.
Unrestricted Fund
Income credited to this fund of £138,221 is made up of donations from individuals and charitable organisations and contributions received for services provided. After expenses of £131,719 have been debited the fund has increased by £6,502 as at 31 August 2025.
Restricted Fund - Homeless Project
This is the fund set up to account for monies donated for the Homeless Outreach. Income of £12,286 was received. After expenses of £8,037 have been debited the fund has a balance at 31 August 2025 of £4,249.
Restricted Fund – Maintenance
This is the fund set up to account for monies received for the maintenance of the property rented by the Charity. Income of £1,500 was received in the year and the balance at 31[st] August 2025 was £1,500.
Balance Sheet
The Total of the Unrestricted and Restricted Funds of £33,294 are represented by Bank and Cash balances and monies due to the Charity less short-term liabilities which include a loan from Joe and Ruth White of £178
Going concern
The Trustees consider that the Charity is a going concern.
Reserves
The reserves carried forward at the end of the period are £33,294 and are considered by the Trustees to be adequate to cover the short-term needs of the Charity.
Gift Aid
The Charity relies heavily on donations and where individual donors have signed appropriate gift aid declarations gift aid is reclaimed from the Inland Revenue. It is intended to apply for grant funding to fund future projects.
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Metanoia Project
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 August 2025
Structure Governance and Management
The Charity is governed by a trust deed signed on 28 June 2016 which sets up the Charity as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The first Trustees were appointed for varying terms of office, but any further Trustees will be appointed for three-year terms of office. Trustees are to be appointed by majority resolution at a properly convened meeting of the Charity Trustees. The Charity was registered by the Charity Commission on 4 October 2016.
Reference and Administrative details
The Charity name is - Metanoia Project Registered Charity number – 1169470 The principle address is – 1 Chapel Street, Preston, PR1 8BU
The Charity’s Trustees who acted during the period are as follows:
Appointed Retired Canon Luiz Ruscillo Chairman 19 July 2018 Mrs Helen Cross Treasurer 28 June 2016 Miss Christine Burgess 30 July 2020 Mr David Alcock 22 October 2020
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature ___ Full name __ Position ____ Date _______
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Metanoia Project
Independent Examiners’ Report for the year ended 31 August 2025
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner
As the charity’s Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trusts accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act ; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
K M Whittle Templus Ltd Longley House Curwen Lane Goosnargh Preston
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Metanoia Project
Statement of Financial Affairs for the year ended 31 August 2025
| Year to 31 | August 2025 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Homeless | Maintenance Total | Total | |||
| Fund | Fund | Fund | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ |
£ |
£ | £ | ||
| Note | ||||||
| Incoming Resources | ||||||
| Income from: | ||||||
| Donations | 1 | 43380 | 12286 | 1500 | 57166 | 35624 |
| Charitable activities | 2 | 94841 | 0 | 0 | 94841 | 84320 |
| ______ | ____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ||
| Total | 138221 | 12286 | 1500 | 152007 | 119944 | |
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ||
| Resources expended | ||||||
| Expenditure on: | ||||||
| Charitable activities | 3 | 131719 | 8037 | 0 | 139756 | 117779 |
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ||
| Total | 131719 | 8037 | 0 | 139756 | 117779 | |
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ||
| Net Income/(expenditure) | 6502 | 4249 | 1500 | 12251 | 2165 | |
| Extraordinary items | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Transfers between funds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ||
| Net movement in funds | 6502 | 4249 | 1500 | 12251 | 2165 | |
| Reconciliation of funds | ||||||
| Total funds brought forward | 21043 | 0 | 0 | 21043 | 18878 | |
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 27545 | 4249 | 1500 | 33294 | 21043 | |
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
The notes on pages 9 to 11 form part of these financial statements.
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Metanoia Project
Balance sheet as at 31 August 2025
| 31 August | 31 August | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Note | |||
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 4 | 20969 | 12426 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 13038 | 14664 | |
| _____ | _____ | ||
| Total current assets | 34007 | 27090 | |
| _____ | _____ | ||
| Creditors | |||
| Amounts falling due within one year | 6 | (713) | (6047) |
| _____ | _____ | ||
| Total net assets | 33294 | 21043 | |
| _____ | _____ | ||
| Funds of the Charity | |||
| Restricted funds | 7 | 5749 | 0 |
| Unrestricted fund | 27545 | 21043 | |
| _____ | _____ | ||
| Total funds | 33294 | 21043 | |
| _____ | _____ |
The notes on pages 9 to 11 form part of these financial statements.
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Metanoia Project
Accounting policies for the year ended 31 August 2025
Basis of preparation and assessment of going concern
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with The Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011. Exceptions to the requirements therein have been noted within the notes to the financial statements. The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of land and buildings and investments.
The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charities ability to continue as a going concern in the foreseeable future. The Trustees have addressed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing the accounts. The Trustees have made this assessment in respect to a period of one year from the date of approval of these accounts. The view of the Trustees’ is that they believe that the Charity is well placed to negotiate the current conditions and they are of the opinion that the Charity will have sufficient resources to meet its liabilities. After consideration of all the factors, the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
Funds Structure
Within the Unrestricted Fund the trustees have established a restricted funds to account for funds donated to the Charity to provide services to the homeless in Preston area and for funds donated for the renovation of the community house.
Income Recognition
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably. Donations, Legacies and Other Voluntary Income are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities as they become receivable. Where funds are received for a specific purpose as defined by the donor, these are credited to a restricted fund, and are matched against expenditure incurred with the purpose specified.
Expenditure Recognition
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.
Allocation of Expenditure
Allocation of expenditure to cost of generating funds, direct charitable costs, governance costs, and other resources expended have been made on a basis consistent with the nature of the expenditure giving consideration to the application, directly or otherwise, to external charitable causes.
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Metanoia Project
Accounting policies for the year ended 31 August 2025 (cont)
VAT
Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading on which it was incurred.
Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation
All tangible fixed assets of the charity are considered by the Trustees as having a useful life of less than 5 years and are therefore written of in the year of acquisition.
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Metanoia Project
Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025
| Year to 31 | August | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Homeless | Maintenance Total | Total | |||
| Fund | Fund | Fund | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ |
£ | £ | £ | ||
| 1. Income from Donations | ||||||
| Donations from individuals | 40780 | 1444 | 1500 | 43724 | 34624 | |
| Donations from other charities | 2600 | 4542 | 0 | 7142 | 1000 | |
| Donation from Local Authority | 0 | 6300 | 0 | 6300 | 0 | |
| ______ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ||
| 43380 | 12286 | 1500 | 57166 | 35624 | ||
| ______ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ||
| 2. Income from charitable Activities | ||||||
| Contributions received for | ||||||
| Services provided | 87699 | 0 | 0 | 87699 | 81699 | |
| Sundry income | 7142 | 0 | 0 | 7142 | 2621 | |
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ____ | ||
| 94841 | 0 | 0 | 94841 | 84320 | ||
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ____ | ||
| 3. Resources expended on charitable Activities | ||||||
| Expenses incurred on activities | 12887 | 3365 | 0 | 16252 | 12224 | |
| House renovation costs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Staff costs | 106744 | 4672 | 0 | 111416 | 94687 | |
| Premises and office costs | 12088 | 0 | 0 | 12088 | 10587 | |
| Trustee expenses | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Professional expenses | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 281 | |
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ||
| 131719 | 8037 | 0 | 139756 | 117779 | ||
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ||
| 4. Debtors | ||||||
| Monies due to be received | 19428 | 0 | 0 | 19428 | 9749 | |
| Gift aid claim due | 1472 | 0 | 0 | 1472 | 1473 | |
| Prepayments | 69 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 1204 | |
| ______ | ____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ||
| 20969 | 0 | 0 | 20969 | 12426 | ||
| ______ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
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Metanoia Project
Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025
| Year to 31 | August 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Homeless | Maintenance Total | Total | ||
| Fund | Fund | Fund | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ |
£ |
£ | £ | |
| 5. Cash at bank and in hand | |||||
| Cash at bank | 7130 | 4249 | 1500 | 12879 | 14568 |
| Cash in hand | 159 | 0 | 0 | 159 | 96 |
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | |
| 7289 | 4249 | 1500 | 13038 | 14664 | |
| _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | ______ | |
| 6. Creditors | |||||
| Accrued expenses | 80 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 600 |
| HMRC and Pensions | 455 | 0 | 0 | 455 | 2535 |
| Short term loan | 178 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 2912 |
| ______ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ | |
| 713 | 0 | 0 | 713 | 6047 | |
| ______ | _____ | _____ | _____ | _____ |
7. Restricted fund
The restricted fund represents the remaining funds held for the continuation of the homeless outreach programme and the funds received for maintenance to be carried out in late 2025.
8. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Current | Current | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Assets | liabilities | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| General fund | 28258 | (713) | 27545 |
| Homeless fund | 4249 | 0 | 4249 |
| House maintenance fund | 1500 | 0 | 1500 |
| _____ | _____ | _____ | |
| 34007 | (713) | 33294 | |
| _____ | _____ | _____ |
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