The Alliance Manchester (TAM) End of Year Report
Year Commencing 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023
Purpose and Aims
The Alliance Manchester (TAM) is, for the public benefit, the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the TAM Statement of Faith.
Our vision is to be:
“A multicultural, Jesus-centred family, sharing life together and sharing Jesus’ life with others.
We actively seek to promote and advance the Christian faith through various activities including; regular church meetings, training, outreach events and ministries run from our community centre and cafe, The Giving Tree (TGT), Moss Side, Manchester.
We seek to ensure that activities are open to those who can’t afford to contribute financially and, where costs are necessarily involved, we seek to assist those of lesser means by providing subsidies and scholarships.
Taking into consideration the Charity Commission’s publication on the Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit , TAM seeks to:
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Invite as many people as possible to be an active part of our church community and reach out to new people through various events, activities and regular meetings
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Provide regular prayer and worship services for all to attend and take part.
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Provide Christian gospel teaching for spiritual and moral education, to help develop trust in Jesus and become faithful disciples.
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Provide pastoral support, spiritual guidance, prayer and practical support, including those suffering with difficult circumstances, poor health and to the bereaved.
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Undertake community projects that pass on skills and benefit individuals from all nations, in order to be faithful to the teaching of Jesus and to live out our Christian values.
Delivering our aims
The Trustees consider the performance of the charity for this year to have been a success. The community centre has connected us with hundreds of people, allowing us to invest into their lives through the programmes we run and the relationships that are formed.
This year was a year of consolidating and further developing the various community activities.
TAM church held a range of regular services/ meetings/ activities and events during the year that benefitted the public and local community in various ways and through the TGT community centre we were able to host various nationalities at a diverse range of events whilst equipping them with skills and providing an open invite for the public to further explore the Christian faith.
Regular Meetings
TAM held a regular Sunday gathering each week including multi-lingual worship, prayer, bible teaching and fellowship. Communion services were held monthly and the community regularly eat together with multiple cultures represented.
Every Sunday, Christian Bible teaching is delivered to promote the Christian faith, inspire trust in Jesus and provide sound moral teaching. Attendance at the Sunday service varied across the year between approximately 40 and 70 people each week. The church Pastor and leaders/facilitators generally deliver the teaching with occasional input from visiting speakers or friends and partners of the community.
This year has seen a large increase in attendees from Hong Kong who have various spiritual and practical needs related to their migration journey and has created challenges with the language barrier. We have been encouraged that many of the arrivees are keen to be part of an English speaking community and have enjoyed connecting with our diverse community. Further discipleship is required and key individuals are being identified who can assist in helping us navigate the language and cultural barriers.
In addition to those from Hong Kong various individuals have been attending the church for the first time or have been invitied by friends to some of the activities taking place.
Special services were held at Christmas with over 70 people sharing a Christmas meal together at TGT. Many of them do not have family in country or nearby and so appreciated being able to meet with others on Christmas day when a lot of British families would be celebrating with their own families.
Children’s Ministry
Each Sunday there is a Sunday school ministry with 5-12 children regularly attending between the ages of 5 and 11 to receive Christian teaching and take part in various activities including crafts and games.
Support for those from non-British backgrounds
One of our core values is to be a multi-lingual and multi-cultural community with many of those attending coming from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The community has continued to attract and reflect a variety of cultures including Latino/Spanish, East Asian, Middle Eastern, European, North American and African.
All cultures are invited to participate in Christian worship with members befriending, sharing information and, praying for each other, supporting each other in practical ways such as providing food, directing to free English classes and providing pastoral visits where appropriate.
English Classes and Conversation Classes
On Tuesday and Thursday we run free weekly English classes from The Giving Tree which are well attended, with between 15-40 people attending throughout the year. We host both a beginners group and intermediate group with various volunteers from our community helping to teach and practice with the students. English language learning continues to be a great need in Manchester, those who attend have particularly benefited and appreciated the provision of free classes.
On Saturdays at the start of the year (Jan-June 2023) we also ran a drop-in English conversation class followed by an optional bible study which was attended by 10-30 students weekly with around 5-10 students staying regularly for the optional Discovery Bible Study after each class. During the class, we taught a basic vocabulary lesson (including English phrases) that related to the topic of the week. The topics are chosen with the view to help students grow in their confidence in conversational English with some topics that may be used in their practical day-to-day life in the UK. Following the brief vocabulary lesson, students are split into groups based on their English level, and questions related to the topic help students to practice speaking and discussion around a topic. We had a team of around 4 volunteers helping regularly with the conversation groups. During the Bible Studies, we got to explore the book of Mark with students from various faith backgrounds and asked questions that helped us to better understand what the Bible was telling us about who Jesus is. The questions help students discover for themselves as they’re reading Scripture. Following the ending of the English Saturday classes, a Summer English Club was held during the summer months for students to have opportunities to continue to connect and practice their English. The Saturday Conversation Classes are on pause at the moment until we can grow our volunteer team of helpers for the class.
Prayer meetings
Every Sunday we have a prayer meeting that is open to all to attend where we pray for areas around the world. This year we have supported a missionary family and another individual who minister in Africa. We also raised funds specifically for the Turkey earthquake appeal which we sent via our denomination (Christian & Missionary Alliance) to partners working in relief work in Turkey.
Worship
The Worship ministry thrived this year with members of our community leading training in intercultural and multi-lingual worship in the church and at events across the North of England and the UK. We seek to create a space in which all cultures feel welcome and are able to worship God in their native language.
We are grateful that in 2023, we added three new worship team members to the band and three new members to our AV team. Through 2023, we continued to grow in our worship as a community, learning more songs from each other through a Worship Jam Night (partnering with Songs2Serve) in April. Our worship team leader, Sarah, taught about Intercultural Worship and Reconciliation in November, encouraging our community to continue pressing into loving God and one another through the way we worship. We’ve seen more growth in our worship team members as some, especially our younger teammates, have grown in confidence and skill with opportunities to grow in leading worship (in the safe environment of community). As of 2023, we sing songs in a variety of languages and styles including songs in English, Spanish, Korean, Cantonese, Yoruba, Shona, Swahili, Mandarin, Farsi, Hindi, and a few more. The worship at TAM has also encouraged others around the UK because the practical outworking of intercultural worship and the lived examples have been an example in trainings on intercultural worship for churches in Leicester, Northern Ireland, Manchester, and more as Sarah has been involved in trainings in partnership with Songs2Serve. In 2024, we hope to work on incorporating the children more during the community musical worship time.
Pastoral, Prayer & Counselling support
The pastoral team has continued to meet to pray with and encourage individuals, both through home visits and through meetings arranged in The Giving Tree Centre and café.
The Giving Tree Centre & Café
The giving Tree community centre have consolidated this year with the café fully open 3 days per week for 6 hours per day, providing a safe, welcoming place where visitors can purchase drinks/food and receive invitations to the various other activities available through the café. The café continues to be run fully by volunteers who sacrificially commit a lot of their time to keep it operational. A team of supervisors cover each shift with additional volunteers serving to improve their skills and benefit from being part of and giving something back to the local community.
Neither the café or the barista training is run as a profit centre to generate an income stream for the church. Instead we are creating a multi-cultural safe space where all members of the public can come for refreshment and social interaction with invitations to prayer, to further explore Christianity, engage with English culture and language and attend regular community and church activities.
We continue to be encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive feedback we have received particularly noting the quality of the food/drink and service and particularly the atmosphere and friendliness of the volunteers.
We have had opportunities to pray for people and been able to run several events. Anyone is welcome to join in volunteering in the café, to learn skills and undertake training whilst considering the bigger questions of life.
In 2023, our volunteer team expanded to include over 60 members, with more than 10 volunteers contributing an impressive 120+ volunteer hours. Their unwavering dedication and passion for using coffee as a means to serve others are truly remarkable and inspiring.
To further empower our volunteers and enhance their skills and knowledge, we provide specialised ongoing training sessions, covering areas such as latte art, coffee brewing techniques, and sensory training. These sessions not only serve as platforms for professional development but also as opportunities for personal growth and investment in their overall wellbeing.
Small group sharing sessions are regularly conducted, encouraging open and professional discussions among members. As friendships deepen and trust grows, we delve into more indepth life sharing topics about the gospel and the meaning of life. We look forward to further expanding our “Coffee and Faith” fellowship as this community is united by our love for coffee and our shared commitment to serving others.
Coffee & Life and Barista Training
In the grace of God, 2023 proved to be a remarkable year for the Coffee Ministry, marked by numerous milestones and achievements. As we reflect on the past twelve months, we are humbled by the progress we've made and the impact we've had in our mission. None of this would have been possible without the dedicated efforts of our missionary team at The Giving Tree (TGT) and the invaluable contributions of our volunteers. We are deeply grateful for their unwavering support and commitment to our cause. In this summary, we are delighted to outline the various programs and partnerships that have shaped our journey throughout the year.
This year has been truly transformative for the Coffee Ministry, as we received support from the government's RSMP (BNO) funding. This funding assisted us as we welcomed 30 participants from diverse backgrounds, hailing from Hong Kong, Ethiopia, India, and Korea, into our program. Over the course of the program, each participant completed more than 30 hours of intensive coffee and life training, earning the internationally accredited SCA barista skills certificate.
They further enriched their learning experience by interning at The Giving Tree (TGT) for an additional 30 hours. Our training approach went beyond coffee skills, using it as an analogy to facilitate deep, meaningful conversations. During life sharing sessions, participants found a safe space to share their personal stories, including their encounters with God. For some, it was their first exposure to the gospel, providing them with encouragement and newfound spiritual insights.
Moreover, the training fostered a tight-knit community where friendships flourished naturally. For many participants, who were migrants adjusting to life in the UK, this community became a cornerstone in their lives during this transitional period. In this supportive environment, they found solace and connection, freely discussing their experiences and challenges.
Among the 30 participants, 7 individuals were members of the Manchester Alliance Church, attending Cantonese services. Through their involvement in the Coffee and Life program, they were equipped and empowered to support their coffee outreach ministry within their Cantonesespeaking community. This partnership not only deepened their faith journey but also extended the reach of our ministry to the Hong Kong community in Manchester. This collaboration has been a true blessing, not only to us but also to other churches, as it exemplifies the spirit of unity and cooperation in spreading God's love and message of hope.
Beyond the program, participants extended their community engagement by joining English classes, aiming to integrate more effectively into multicultural Manchester. Many also found a spiritual home at TAM church, where they continued their journey of faith and fellowship.
The BNO funding has extended its support to cover 5 shift leaders with SCA Barista Skills Intermediate Level Training. This blessing has indeed enhanced the skills and knowledge of our shift leaders, equipping them to provide better support and guidance to our volunteers during onshift sessions.
Coffee & Community engagement
In 2023, we hosted a series of engaging Coffee and Culture events, each offering a unique glimpse into the rich tapestry of coffee traditions and cultural diversity. These events included the East Africa Coffee Event, Ethiopia Coffee Event, and the Hong Kong Taste of Belonging Art and Coffee Workshop and Artwork Exhibition. Together, these gatherings drew in over 180 participants from our local community.
At these workshops and events, participants had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the traditional coffee ceremonies of Ethiopia and East Africa, gaining a deeper understanding of the cultural significance behind each ritual. Additionally, through the use of art, we creatively depicted the taste and emotional journey of our migration experiences, further enriching the cultural dialogue surrounding coffee.
Moreover, we initiated the "Coffee and Chat Series," held specifically for university students from diverse backgrounds. These sessions provided a relaxed setting for participants to discuss coffeerelated topics such as brewing techniques and sensory experiences, all while building meaningful relationships.
We also host regular "Coffee Giveaway Community Days" where our dedicated volunteers not only brew coffee but also take it out into the community, serving nearby shop owners and customers. During these outings, we engage in conversations, learning about the history of their shops and how long they've been a part of the Curry Mile neighbourhood. This initiative has fostered strong relationships with our neighbours, leading to genuine connections and a sense of community solidarity that continues to grow stronger with each interaction.
The success of these events has not only strengthened our ties within the community but has also sparked interest among participants to further engage with our mission. Some have even
expressed a desire to join our volunteer team and participate in our Coffee and Life training program, eager to continue their journey of learning and service within the TGT community.
Marriage Course
In the Autumn we welcomed a couple who visited to run a marriage course for couples in the church. This was a great time of fellowship and opportunity for couples to learn more about each other and Jesus. Attendees and community members were also able to invite other friends to attend. In addition a group from the church travelled to Germany to attend a marriage course with the view to being trained up to be able to run a marriage course in future.
Gardening Project
From March-July Volunteers from our community ran a 15-week garden project to help participants develop skills for gardening. To build friendships and to practice English. We had 12 participants and 3 helpers from 7 different countries. The group shared 3 meals together using the vegetable and fruits grown in the garden. Participants took the majority of the produce home with them.
During this time we received a grant from the co-operative bank which allowed us to purchase various materials and a greenhouse to help towards this project.
Summary
This year has been a year where we have been able to minister holistically to many people, providing practical skills through the worship ministries, English classes and barista training whist also deepening the faith of those who profess to be followers of Jesus and inviting others to come to know Jesus. Our prayer is that others would be blessed through the time and efforts that our volunteers have given and that many people would come to find out about the good news of Jesus, just as we have.
Future Goals
This year the charity will continue to advance the Christian faith by:
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Continuing to meet regularly and develop the current ministries
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To look to expand home groups further into local areas to reach out to new people outside of the current community and to meet locally
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To further develop the Café and Coffee and Life ministries
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To continue to run the English class and look to restart the conversational class ministries as service and outreach to the public.
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To continue to utilise TGT centre as a hub for training related to Christianity, interculturalism and outreach to the local community.
Financial Review
Having initiated a fundraising target of £150k over 2021-2023 to cover the setup costs for the venue and café we praise God that we were able to achieve this target in 2023 due to the various grants provided and sacrificial giving of many people inside and outside our community.
Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £40,786. Total receipts on restricted funds were £38,469. This gave a total income of £79,225 from voluntary gifted donations provided by attendees, partners, grant funding (including BNO funding from Manchester City Council) and those linked to the church community. We raised some funds through charitable activities related to the Community centre and café and also benefitted from gift aid on donations. Restricted funds were given specifically towards Global Giving, the work of the community centre/café, marriage courses and the gardening project. A particular thank you goes to Manchester City Council and the Rank Trust, who supported the work through their grants.
The net result for the year was a deficiency of receipts over payments on unrestricted funds of -£116 and an excess of receipts over payments of £3,380 on restricted funds resulting in an overall excess of £3,264. This year we were able to pay off the 2-year interest free loan against the coffee machine which has reduced our monthly expenditure going forward.
Adding bank balances brought forward at the beginning of the year of £21,117, the balances carried forward at 31st December 2023 on unrestricted funds totaled £24,381.
Reserves Policy
It is TAM policy to seek to maintain a minimum balance of £6,000 to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. At the year end the charity held unrestricted cash of £16,176 complying with the charity policy for holding reserves. The amount in excess of £6,000 is held to help fund the development of the charity’s activities.
Investments
TAM does not invest its capital; it is retained in a charity bank account for regular access: Co-Operative Bank,
Cross Street, Manchester M2 4JG
Structure, Governance and Management
Trustees
TAM is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) whose only voting members are its charity trustees. It is governed by a constitution document and was registered with the Charity Commission on 1st March 2017.
Trustees are appointed or re-appointed by the members of the CIO. The details of appointment are set out in the TAM constitution. The charity trustees manage the affairs of TAM and are
responsible for deciding how the funds of TAM are spent. The trustees aim to meet each quarter in order to fulfill their duties and obligations as trustees.
Recruitment, induction and training of new trustees
In appointing trustees we seek to bring a range of skills and expertise to the management of the Charity.
New trustees are introduced to the charity and provided with relevant documentation in order to be able to understand and fulfil their role. They are kept updated through regular trustee meetings and communications throughout the year.
Communications
Whatsapp social media groups have been set up and attendees/visitors of the charity/church are invited. This allows for the sharing of prayer requests and announcements about events.
The charity has a website at www.alliancemcr.com and also uses facebook and Zoom. The community hub and café also has a dedicated website www.thegivingtreehub.com.
Volunteers
TAM has a number of different ministries that are overseen by the trustees. Outside of the group of trustees, a number of committed volunteers dedicate a large amount of time to helping to run the church and the various activities. This includes the core leadership group and various ministry facilitators and volunteers. We want to use this opportunity to thank them for their service on behalf of the charity beneficiaries.
Staff
TAM did not employ anyone this year, all operations and administration of the charity were undertaken by volunteers and the trustees on a voluntary basis.
Administrative Information
Charity number: 1171833 Registered address: 508 Moss Lane East, Manchester, M14 4PA
TAM church is associated to the Christian & Missionary Alliance Great Britain (CMA-GB) denomination which is further affiliated to the worldwide organisation known as The Alliance World Fellowship which was born out of the work of The Christian & Missionary Alliance in some 50 countries.
| Names of Charity Trustees (who manage the charity): | Names of Charity Trustees (who manage the charity): |
|---|---|
| Juan Carlos Parodi | (Trustee) |
| Sandro Oliveira | (Trustee) |
| Barnabas Kwant | (Trustee) |
| Odong Ochaya | (Trustee) |
Some trustees have taken on specific responsibilities in the administration of the charity, as follows:
Juan Carlos Parodi Chairman, Pastoral Team lead Sandro Oliveira Pastoral Team & Finance support Barnabas Kwant Treasurer / Finance lead Odong Ochaya
Risk management
The trustees are aware of their duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
Policies in place
Equal opportunities statement - TAM is a Christian organisation committed to social justice and opposed to discrimination in society.
Grant making policy - put in place to ensure that gifts are given in accordance with the charity aims, objectives and priorities. Particular safeguards have been put in place in proportion to the expenditure.
Safeguarding policy & procedures - put in place to protect vulnerable persons and children. A safeguarding action plan, procedure and log book are all stored centrally/electronically with restricted access. DBS checks have been undertaken throughout the year for ministry leaders and volunteers.
GDPR - TAM has put additional systems in place to meet their obligations under GDPR.
Volunteer Policy & procedure - This clearly defines the volunteer role within the charity and ensures that volunteers understand their role and how to raise any concerns.
Representation in Court policy - This policy states that the charity/church will not represent its members or members of the public in court.
Report Approval
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by Barnabas Kwant (Trustee):
Signed:
Date: 10/06/2024
Appendix 1 - Receipt and Payments Accounts Statement of Assets and Liabilities
----- Start of picture text -----
The Alliance Manchester 1171833
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 01/01/2023 31/12/2023
To
from
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations & Legacies 23,983 - - 23,983 35,472
BNO Grant Funding - 17,500 - 17,500 15,750
Gardening Project - 1,000 - 1,000 396
Global Giving - 715 - 715 1,710
The Giving Tree - 12,976 - 12,976
Coffee Machine Gift 1,461 - 1,461
Building Repairs fund 2,189 - 2,189
Turkey & Syria Eathquake Appeal 590 - 590
Marriage Course 2,038 - 2,038
Charitable Activities 14,779 - - 14,779 12,859
Gift Aid Received 1,864 - - 1,864 2,985
Refunds 160 - - 160
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
AR) [ 40,786 ] 38,469 - 79,255 69,172
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
Loan for purchase of equipment - - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 40,786 38,469 - 79,255 69,172
A3 Payments
Building Repair & Maintenance 2,176 - - 2,176 2,362
Café/TGT equipment - - - - 4,652
Rent, Bills, Rates (excl. Grant funding) 9,091 11,389 - 20,480 22,125
TAM Ministry costs 12,655 - - 12,655 8,877
Gardening Project 287 1,396 - 1,683
BNO Grant Fund expenses - 17,500 - 17,500
Insurance & bank/legal fees 1,577 - - 1,577 1,544
Grant making - - - - 6,734
Café & Barista costs 8,542 - - 8,542 13,627
Global Giving 914 715 - 1,629 1,774
Turkey & Syria Eathquake Appeal - 590 - 590
Marriage Course - 2,038 - 2,038
Building repairs fund - - - -
Loan Repayments (Coffee Machine) 4,380 1,461 - 5,841 5,841
Sub total [ 39,622 ] 35,089 - 74,711 67,536
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
Intruder Alarm 877 - - 877 -
Laptop 403 - - 403 -
Sub total [ 1,280 ] - - 1,280 -
Total payments 40,902 35,089 - 75,991 67,536
Net of receipts/(payments) - 116 3,380 - 3,264 1,636
A5 Transfers between funds 0 - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 16,292 4,825 - 21,117 21,117
Cash funds this year end 16,176 8,205 - 24,381 22,753
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
12/06/2024
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Petty Cash Cash in co-op bank account Details Details Coffee machine & 2 grinders Music instruments/sound equipment Furniture Café Equipment & Furnishings Office Equipment & Furnishings Intruder Alarm Laptop Details Independent examiner's fee Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 80 - 16,096 8,205 - - 16,176 8,205 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Unrestricted - Unrestricted - Unrestricted - Unrestricted - Unrestricted - Unrestricted - Unrestricted - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) Unrestricted - - - Print Name Barnabas Kwant Sandro Oliveira |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval 10/06/2024 10/06/2024 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
12/06/2024
2
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The Alliance Manchester Charitable Incorporated Organisation (‘the CIO’)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the CIO’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the CIO as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of 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.
Joel Williams 1 Montrose Avenue Stretford Manchester M32 9LN