**Charity Registration No.  1173851 / SC047797** 

## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **CONTENTS** 

||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Reference and Administrative Details of the Charity, its Trustees and Advisers|1|
|Trustees’ Report|2 – 11|
|Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities|12|
|Independent Auditor’s Report|13 – 16|
|Statement of Financial Activities|17|
|Balance Sheet|18|
|Statement of Cash Flows|19|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|20 – 38|





## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS** 

|**Current trustees:**|David Brown||
|---|---|---|
||Sharon Durrant|(appointed 23 March 2021)|
||John Gamble|(Vice-chair to 26 January 2021)|
||Hugh Burns Mitchell||
||James Pirie McGregor||
||Fiona McPhail|(appointed 23 March 2021)|
||Simon Prince|(Vice-chair from 26 January 2021)|
||Alan Hay Smith||
||Stephen Shaw||
||Paul John Young|(Chair)|
|**Charity registered number:**|1173851|(Charity Commission for England and Wales)|
||SC047797|(Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator)|
|**Principal office:**|124 Wells Road||
||BATH||
||BA2 3AH||
|**Executive Directors**|John Aitken, General Director||
||Rupert Abbott, Missions Director||
||Jim Armstrong, Operations Director||
|**Auditor:**|Johnston Carmichael LLP||
||227 West George Street||
||GLASGOW||
||G2 2ND||
|**Bankers:**|National Westminster Bank plc||
||24-25 Stall Street||
||BATH||
||BA1 1QF||
|**Solicitors:**|Loosemores||
||Alliance House||
||18/19 High Street||
||CARDIFF||
||CF1 2BP||
|**Investment Managers:**|Rathbone Investment Management Limited||
||Port of Liverpool Building||
||Pier Head||
||LIVERPOOL||
||L3 1NW||



Page 1 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** 

The Trustees present their annual report and audited financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2020. This annual report represents the third report for Echoes International, a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission with charity number 1173851 on 18th July 2017. Echoes International is also registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) with charity number SC047797. 

Echoes International started operating from 1 January 2018 through the merger of Echoes of Service (charity number 234556) and Interlink (Scottish charity number SC008063). The merging charities prepared their previous financial statements to 31 December 2017. On 1 January 2018, all the assets and undertakings of Echoes of Service and Interlink were transferred into Echoes International. 

The Trustees confirm that the annual report and the financial statements of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity’s governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements. 

## **Public benefit** 

The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission’s requirement that each charity carries out its activities with a view to Public Benefit. We believe that this can be clearly demonstrated, not only by the advancement of the Christian Gospel around the world, but also in our regular support of many social, educational, medical, relief and development projects overseas. The three objectives listed in our review of activities are all carried out for the benefit of the public we serve. 

## **Objectives and activities** 

## **Policies and objectives** 

Policy decisions are taken at our regular Trustees’ meetings. These include decisions regarding the compilation of the Daily Prayer Guide, which involves the addition and deletion of mission partners, the allocation of funds for personal support and specific purposes, the administration and maintenance of the office, and contact with mission partners and local churches. In accordance with regulator’s guidance, safeguarding is considered and discussed at every Trustee Meeting. 

## **Strategies for achieving objectives** 

In addition to our regular Trustees’ meetings, we have planning days when we review the main objectives for the charity set out in our vision statement and assess how well we have managed to achieve them. These three targets are: 

1. To be an informed, efficient and sensitive mission service group; 

2. To be an influence in the promotion of mission in local churches; and 

3. To develop partnerships with similar groups throughout the world. 

As part of the merger the Trustees agreed a 3-year strategy which was designed to bring our new vision to life. 2020 was the third year of our strategy. Echoes International’s vision is: 

## **“To see Churches who are enthusiastic about mission sending new generations of workers into diverse models of Gospel ministry”.** 

Page 2 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

The strategy was developed to initiate the delivery of this vision. 

- **2018** To better **engage** with stakeholders, churches and those Echoes of Service and Interlink had contact with. 

- **2019** To **enlarge** our influence and reach relevant churches and organisations who are either unaware of the role of Echoes International or had little contact with the previous 2 charities. 

- **2020** To continue our activities from 2019 & 2018 and **review** the effectiveness of the strategy in the realisation of our vision and decide on the way forward. 

Whilst we were able to evaluate the existing 3-year strategy and revise our position for the years ahead there is no doubt, with the Covid19 pandemic, our other activities were impacted considerably. 

Prior to the beginning of 2018, the Trustees took the important step to evaluate the levels of investments retained in comparison to the levels of reserves required as part of the 3-year strategy.  As a result of this review which demonstrated there was a noticeable surplus over the reserves in place, the Trustees took steps to deliberately increase the levels of funds used in the furtherance of the Charity’s Objectives. The Trustees believed that it was more important to invest in the vision set for the charity, than simply retain these as surplus to the required Reserves. 

## **Activities for achieving objectives** 

As you read through the activity for 2020, Covid19 severely impacted those serving in cross-cultural mission and the whole operation of Echoes International. As a result of investment in IT at the beginning of 2018 which enabled all our data to be stored digitally, we were able to adapt to the conditions imposed by the restrictions. Much of the activity was done via video conference and from the middle of March 2020 all our staff were working from their homes. Trips to the office etc were to allow mail to be picked up and distributed electronically, donations banked or for specific purposes. 

Although the medium of our activity changed from physical meetings to a digital medium, Covid19 has not impacted the level of our activity nor the number called by God into full-time and short-term cross-cultural mission. 

- The Daily Prayer Guide and monthly Mission magazine continue to be produced in line with our strategy. The theme of the monthly magazine in 2020 was ’That they might have life!'. In 2020, magazines were charged at an early bird rate of £15 (£20 full-rate), plus donations of over £18k. Subscriptions continue to decrease, probably due to the age range of our core readership, and we are working to address this gradual decline. However, our weekly prayer email mailing list has increased from around 1,000 in 2018 to just under 1,400 in 2020. We were determined that Lockdown would not impact the production of the monthly Mission magazine and we give God thanks that this was achieved during the year. 

- The success in engaging and enlarging our audience continued throughout 2020 through our digital channels. We are active in our chosen channels – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and podcasts. During 2020, Facebook followers increased by 1,000 and, due in some part to our conferences moving online, our YouTube channel got around 12,000 views in 2020. The website continues to show growth both in visitors and page views, with nearly 85,000-page views in 2020. 

- Commending church and new church visits have proven fruitful in developing our relationships with churches and in the numbers of people coming forward for service and being listed in the Daily Prayer Guide. Throughout 2020, we continued our visits by moving them to Zoom. We had meetings with 37 churches over the year (in the previous year it was 36 visits). 

- We also arranged Zoom calls with all of the Mission Partners listed on the Daily Prayer Guide at the beginning of lockdown in April/May 2020 to specifically identify issues the Mission Partners were having as they dealt with Covid19 in their own locations. 

Page 3 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

- We created a special Covid19 fund to help indigenous groups cope with the restrictions imposed by the virus. Over last year we provided £122,000 of gifts to 27 countries across 4 continents The countries were - Fiji, India, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Albania, France, Italy, Kosovo and Turkey. 

- Emergency funding totalling £139,000 was sent to 34 countries across 5 different continents to help alleviate suffering caused by natural disasters, wars, economic hardship and refugee migration. 

- In addition to the Zoom calls we carried out 53 Mission Partner debriefs – mostly via Zoom. These debriefs are essential as we interact and better understand the opportunities and challenges of crosscultural mission across the world. 

- There were another 10 mission partners added to the Daily Prayer Guide last year. This means that in the last 2 years 20 new Mission Partners have been added to the Daily Prayer Guide. This has resulted in the overall numbers of Mission Partners on the list increasing from 181 last year to 185 at the end of 2020. This is the first time in over 17 years the number of mission partners has increased. 

- Our short-term programme has been equally encouraging. At Echoes International, short-term service is between 2 months and 2 years. In 2020 we had 10 people serving in short-term placements and of these 5 have transitioned to long-term service or are in the process of doing so. As this indicates, some apply to serve short-term to gain an experience of mission while for others, it is a route into long-term service. Of these 10, one was intending to be on the field for 6 months, but her time was curtailed to 4 months due to Covid-19, one term was 12 months, another 18 months, and all the rest were or will have been for the full 2 years. Countries and areas of service include South Africa, Pakistan, India, The Middle East, Zambia, Kenya and the Caribbean Islands. 

- We would normally have 4 conferences a year with a couple of seminars held in England and Scotland. This was significantly impacted by the pandemic. Our last physical conference was in Kirkintilloch in March 2020. We held our first on-line conference in October last year and we were delighted by the response and numbers connecting to the event. 

- One of the normal activities which was significantly impacted as a result of Covid19 was our travel which normally takes place when visiting mission partners/organisations and for specific conferences. During 2020 after Covid19 was announced as a pandemic, our international travel activity was suspended. There were trips to India and Greece prior to lockdown in March. 

- In 2018 the Trustees established a fund to sponsor students through Tilsley Bible College. Since this fund was established, we have sponsored a total of 9 students. 5 have graduated and another 4 are attending the academic year 2020/21. It is hoped that these students will be a rich pipeline for Mission Partners in the years ahead. 

- At the start of 2020 six FirstServe participants were preparing to commence placements in France, Greece, India, Israel and Peru. Two more participants commenced in the February. All of these programmes were significantly impacted by the pandemic. Five of the participants then overseas were repatriated in March, with one remaining in Peru until July due to border closures and flight cancellations. The two new starters halted their programmes after their UK placement. However, of these eight, two requested that their FirstServe programme be placed on hold rather than cancelled and hope to recommence in summer 2021. Three new participants began in September 2020. One subsequently transferred permanently to Tilsley College at the conclusion of her placement there. The others continued with the FirstServe programme which was modified to allow for the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Nevertheless, it was possible to continue FirstServe. 

- Throughout the year we look for opportunities to use gifted Bible teachers from the UK to get involved in bible teaching abroad. Over 2020 we facilitated bible teaching via Zoom in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Greece and Peru. 

- In September 2020 we established our member care programme. This is a pilot which was established by the Trustees as a result of best practice picked up from our sister charities in the US (CMML) and 

Page 4 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

Canada (MSC). The ethos of the programme is to better service the needs of Mission Partners associated with Echoes International. Better care for Mission Partners will help support them during their time of service for the Lord and hopefully minimise negative impacts on their ministry. 2 Mission Partners on the Daily Prayer Guide are assisting us with this programme, and it will be evaluated by the Trustees in September 2021. 

- When Interlink and Echoes of Service came together, we identified at some point after the merger, we would need to replace the legacy financial system used by Echoes International. The old system was installed in 2004 and was badly needing replaced. This was done and completed at the end of 2020. The project took longer than expected mainly due to Covid19 as the various parties were completing all the tasks remotely. It was also our intention to ensure our financial system linked to our CRM database – this was more complicated than first anticipated. The new system has been installed and will give us much greater functionality and efficiency compared to the legacy system we were using. 

- The final activity which took up a significant part of 2020 was to evaluate the 3-year strategy established when Interlink and Echoes of Service came together in 2018. The Directors and Trustees have revised the strategy in light of the progress the charity has made since 2018 to continue our journey for the charity over the next 3 years D.V. This was completed in November 2020. 

## **Safeguarding –** 

Our safeguarding policy was established in 2018. The Directors have worked hard at implementing this policy to clearly demonstrate the seriousness with which the Trustees are taking this important issue. Echoes International is a member of Disclosure Scotland and Thirtyone Eight. 

Our activity in 2020 was twofold – a) We carried out a self-audit to identify improvements we could make, and b) We also completed an external review of our policy and framework. These 2 activities highlighted a number of changes and improvements. The revised policy was completed at the beginning of 2021. 

## **Plans for 2021 –** 

We plan to carry out another self-audit of our safeguarding progress and identify further actions from this. Safeguarding is an on-going exercise for Echoes International. It is not something we complete and then put on a shelf. 

## **Risk and Security –** 

Mission partners are spread across the world and we recognise that some of the countries in which they serve represent a higher risk compared to others. We have developed services which will better equip sending churches and mission partners to mitigate the risks they face. These services include running HEFAT courses (Hostile Environment and First Aid Training) – 2 in 2020. Quarterly risk reports on the main risks in each country, are sent to mission partners and commending Churches. The provision of Health and Travel Insurance which takes into consideration the challenge of cross-cultural mission. We also have established access to a professional risk consultant who is able to advise the Trustees and Directors in times of difficulty. 

In the main, our activity over the year can be summarised in the four undernoted priorities: **Pray** prayer remains the foundation of the work of Echoes International. Our communication plan is primarily in place to help churches and supporters associated with the charity to pray. This covers print, digital and face to face activity. 

- **Support** We exist to do three things. a) Support sending churches as they recognise and commend those called into service by God. b) Support those called to cross-cultural mission through prayer, gifts, advice, practical support, safeguarding, risk and security etc. c) Support our indigenous brothers and sisters in Christ, across the world where there is a missional need. 

- **Mobilise** The need for people to serve in mission is greater today than it ever has been. The standing command from our Lord and Saviour has not changed. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Much of the world have not heard the Gospel. Nor do they have access to God’s Word. 

Page 5 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

Over 42% in this world don’t know who Jesus Christ is. We have the opportunity to communicate this need across all our mediums. 

- **Equip** Training and Equipping for mission is vital in a cross-cultural context. Our Tilsley sponsorship programme, volunteers using their gift in the majority world, the FirstServe programme, the Mission Orientation Programme and the seminars we hold are all aimed to help fulfil this key activity. We also support indigenous Christians in assisting with leadership and discipleship training as they see the need. 

2020 has been a difficult year for a number of reasons – mostly caused by the pandemic. At the same time, we have been able to support mission partners on the Daily Prayer Guide, other individuals and organisations involved in cross-cultural mission world-wide. We know our heavenly Father was not surprised by this virus and we also know His ways and thoughts are much higher than ours. We continue to depend on Him and look to Him for the days ahead. 

## **Grant making policies** 

Any funds received which are designated for mission partners, full time evangelists/preachers or specific ministries are transmitted directly (with no deductions) on a monthly basis. The Trustees allocate gifts at their discretion each month from their undesignated funds to all mission partners listed on the Daily Prayer Guide. Funds are also transmitted to short term partners as well. The amount of the gift is determined by the marital status of the mission partner, the size of their family & the UN cost of living index in the country in which they are based. 

Gifts are also made in the following circumstances: 

- One off and fellowship gifts using the delegated authorities given to the Directors 

- Bi-annual gifts to various individuals/ministries agreed by the Trustees 

- Ad-hoc gifts in response to disaster situations as the need arises. 

- Strategic projects – Key ministry areas of indigenous workers are supported by Echoes international for a stated period (normally between 3-5 years) to help equip them in establishing their work. Overall, we are supporting 95 different projects in 33 countries, amounting to a sum of just under £500k each year. In 2020 4 new projects were started in 7 different countries. Projects covering: 

   - support for medical ministries in Egypt and Lebanon 

   - support for migrant ministry in Greece 

   - provision of discipleship in Madagascar 

   - support of Eastern European church leaders 

## **Financial review –** 

Total funds held on the balance sheet at 31[st] December 2020 were £7.6m (2019: £8.6m), of which £1.3m (2019: £1.5m) relates to Restricted Funds and Endowment Funds. The remainder of the reserves relate to the charity’s long-term expenditure requirements. The reduction in funds is in line with the strategy referred to earlier. 

Gift income was £5.0m (2019: £4.5m). There was a 23% decrease in gift income from Assemblies. Income from Legacies increased by 181% while gifts from Individuals and Trusts were in line with 2019.  The level of Restricted gifts decreased to 64% (2019: 77%) of total gift income. One of the biggest impacts on the charity from a Covid19 perspective is the reduction in giving from Assemblies. The postponement of services and moving on-line for many has resulted in a reduction in giving to cross-cultural mission through Echoes International. 

Page 6 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

Total charitable distributions, in the form of grants made to institutions and individuals amounted to £5.2m (2019: £5.6m), as shown in note 5 to the financial statements.  Overall, total charitable expenditure decreased by £0.5m from £6.8m in 2019 to £6.3m in 2020 mainly because of the fall in Restricted gifts. 

As part of the charity’s pastoral responsibilities and networking with global mission groups, and sending churches, travel by Trustees and Executive Directors amounted to £0.01m during the year (2019: £0.04m). The significant decrease is due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

The number of mission partners on the Daily Prayer Guide at the end of 2020 was 185 (2019: 181). These partners serve in 34 countries. There are also links with other Institutions and individuals in a number of other countries. 

## **Investment policy and performance –** 

The Trustees have the power to invest all amounts not needed for immediate working capital.  During 2020, Rathbones continued to manage the investment portfolio.  In line with the investment policy approved by the Board during the year, these funds are invested, with Medium Risk profile, in a range of companies and funds designed to achieve a balance of capital growth and income. 

The main portfolio had investments with a cost of £6.1m (2019: £7.0m) at the year-end. This portfolio was valued at £6.8m (2019: £7.5m) at 31st December 2020. A further £0.02m was held in cash on investment at the year end.  During the year, £0.9m (2019: £1.9m) was withdrawn from investments to help fund the charities activities. 

The A H Boulton Fund portfolio had investments with a cost of £0.1m (2019: 0.1m) at the year-end. This portfolio was valued at £0.1m (2019: £0.1m) at 31st December 2020. In 2019, this Fund was adjusted back to its Permanent Endowment of £0.1m and the remainder of the investments realised and distributed to General Funds. 

The Mrs H Maclean Fund and the Ramsden Trust portfolios had investments with a cost of £0.03m and £0.05m respectively at the end of 2020 and a cost of £0.03m and £0.06m respectively at the 2019 year-end. These portfolios were valued at £0.04m and £0.05m respectively at 31st December 2020 and £0.03m and £0.06m respectively in 2019. The investments in these Funds, together with the Boulton Fund, are held in a general investment trust managed by Rathbones. 

## **Reserves policy -** 

The two regulators for Scotland and England and Wales expect Trustees to decide, publish, implement and monitor their charity’s reserves policy so that they can comply with their legal duties to: 

- act in the interests of their charity and its beneficiaries 

- protect and safeguard the assets of their charity 

- act with reasonable care and skill 

- ensure their charity is accountable. 

In practice, this means that Trustees should develop a reserves policy that: 

- fully justifies and clearly explains keeping or not keeping reserves; 

- identifies and plans for the maintenance of essential services for beneficiaries; 

- reflects the risks of unplanned closure associated with the charity’s business model, spending commitments, potential liabilities and financial forecasts; 

- helps to address the risks of unplanned closure on their beneficiaries (in particular, vulnerable beneficiaries), staff and volunteers. We publish the reserves policy (even if not required to by law) and ensure it is tailored to the charity’s circumstances – it should not be just a standard form of wording. It 

Page 7 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

should explain to funders, beneficiaries, the public and the Commission exactly what reserves are kept (or not kept) for and when they are to be used. 

In addition to setting the reserves policy for Echoes International, it also details actions which will be taken to ensure the approach is re- assessed annually, taking into consideration associated risks, potential funding changes and financial climates. 

For 2020 the Trustees decided to keep the following specific levels of reserve across six operational areas: 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
 Minimum<br>Operational area  Reserve level to be held<br>reserve level<br>Office and Operating<br>1  1 year’s equivalent expenses will be retained  £1.11m<br>Expenses<br>Discretionary Allocation -<br>2  2 years equivalent expenses  £2.43m<br>Mission Workers<br>3  Other Mission Support  1 year’s normal allocation  £0.17m<br>4  Disaster and poverty relief  £250,000 to be held  £0.25m<br>5  Strategic projects  2 years allocation to be retained  £1.03m<br>6  Capital requirements  £200,000 to be held  £0.2m<br>Total  £5.19m<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


During the year, the reserve level was above the stated minimum at all times. 

The rationale for each fund is detailed in the charity reserves policy which is held on our website - www.echoesinternational.org.uk/reserves-policy. Accessing the charity’s reserves will only be approved once discussed and agreed at the relevant Trustee Meeting – where this need is highlighted. 

Actual total funds as at 31 December 2020 were £7.6m (2019: £8.6m), of which £1.3m (2019: £1.5m) was held in restricted and endowment funds which are not available for the general purposes of the charity.  In setting the reserve levels the Trustees have designated funds to ensure these are available should the need arise.  Unrestricted funds in our reserve sit at a total of £6.3m. 

The unrestricted funds of the charity at 31 December 2020 of £6.3m (2019: £7.1m) represented an excess of £1.1m (2019: £1.7m) over the total level of reserves identified in the reserves policy. These funds are available for the general purposes of the charity and are over and above the designated reserves identified above. 

These movements in balances are consistent with the 3-year strategy of the charity. 

## **Going concern -** 

In accordance with our 3-year strategy for 2018-2020 and the revised strategy for 2021-2023, the Trustees consider the resources available to the charity as well as the forecast income and expenditure for the forthcoming periods. Based on this analysis, and through the setting and holding of reserves in line with the policy set out above, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity will continue in operation for at least twelve months from the date of the approval of the financial statements. The Trustees have therefore adopted the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements, as set out in the Accounting Policies. 

Page 8 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **Risk management -** 

During 2020 the Trustees have managed the main risks facing the charity and they have delegated the task of managing these risks to the Audit and Risk Committee. The committee comprised of 3 Trustees with the Operations Director attending these meetings which are held every 3 months. The Risk Control Framework is discussed at each Trustee Meeting to ensure all risks are managed and the Trustees are kept up to date with any issues facing the charity. 

The main risks facing the charity have been identified and categorised as: 

- Reputational 

- Financial 

- Health and safety 

- Compliance 

- Strategic 

- Operational 

A number of specific risks have been identified within each of these classifications and the controls and actions to mitigate our risks are overviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee and mainly delivered and managed by the Executive Team. 

The changing trend of giving from churches, individuals, legacies and trusts is also something which is monitored across the charity from an on-going risk perspective. The reserves policy, our strategic plan and annual financial plan takes these trends into consideration. These items are discussed at Trustee Meetings and actions taken accordingly where necessary. 

We remain a faith-based charity reliant on God who is faithful. Whilst we take steps (detailed above) to ensure we are transparent and accountable to the regulators and charity law requirements; we are always conscious that the resources we have are His. We are stewards of what He has provided. 

## **Plans for the future -** 

The Trustees of Echoes International remain committed to the strategic aims of the charity established in 2017 as part of the merger. The end of 2020 was used to agree our revised strategic journey for the next 3 years DV. The Trustees and all associated with Echoes International seek the Lord’s guidance in all we do. 

## **Structure, governance and management** 

## **Constitution** 

The constitution of the charity was approved in 2017 by the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). This provides the charity with a framework and guidelines for the Trustees to administer the charity. We continue to be a mission Service Group who work for the worldwide furtherance of the Christian Gospel. 

## **Method of appointment or recruitment of Trustees** 

The Trustees of Echoes International recognise the importance of a diversified Board with a good spread of capabilities and experience in relation to the Mission Service Group. We have identified the skills and capabilities required and will use the established process to appoint new Trustees as the opportunity arises. When new Trustees are needed the Chair and Vice Chair will approach individuals identified through various sources. They will be interviewed and asked to attend Board Meetings to establish their qualifications, their fit with the Board and their comfort with the workings of the Trust. After this process and if both parties feel it is appropriate to proceed, the formal appointment will be made following the Board’s endorsement. 

Page 9 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **Policies adopted for the induction and training of Trustees** 

New Trustees will be provided with the various documents which detail the Trust’s Vision, Values, Strategy and Constitution. Information with regard to Trustee responsibilities as expected by the Charity Commission will also be reviewed. We will provide training with regard to Safeguarding and they will be subject to an enhanced police check. Police checks and personal references are taken up for the Trustees during the recruitment process. 

## **Key management personnel remuneration** 

The Board of Trustees are responsible for the running of the charity and meet regularly (normally every 2 months) to ensure the Strategic, Financial, Risk and Operational decisions are made timeously. The Chairman and Trustees are volunteers and give of their time freely. The operational day to day running of the charity is delegated by the Board to the General Director and his Executive Team – this team were the Missions Director and the Operations Director during 2020. 

Details of remuneration are disclosed in notes 10 and 11. The Board of Trustees is responsible for reviewing and approving levels of remuneration for the Executive Directors. 

## **Organisational structure and decision making** 

Details of the Trustees currently in office, together with other reference information, are shown on page 1. The Trustees who served during the period from 1 January 2020 to the date the financial statements were approved were as follows: 

Mr Paul Young Chair Mr John Gamble Vice Chair to 26 January 2021 Mr David Brown Dr John Henry Burness (retired 19 May 2020) Mr James McGregor Mr Hugh Mitchell Mr Simon Prince Vice Chair from 26 January 2021 Mr Alan Smith Mr Stephen Shaw Miss Sharon Durrant (appointed 23 March 2021) Miss Fiona McPhail (appointed 23 March 2021) 

The Executive Directors in 2020 were – 

Mr John Aitken General Director Mr Rupert Abbott Mission Director Mr Jim Armstrong Operations Director 

At the end of 2020 John Aitken stepped down from the role of General Director. After a recruitment process Jim Armstrong was appointed by the Trustees to the role of General Director. John has kept working with the charity as the Partnership Executive. Rupert Abbott continues as Mission Director. 

The revised strategy required a change of operating model for Echoes International and this was completed for the beginning of 2021. 

The Trustees, Executive Directors and other non-voting members attend Trustee meetings approximately every 2 months and annually for a strategic planning meeting. 

Accountability is maintained through robust Board reporting by the Executive team including financial, risk, operational and reputational reporting. Bi-annual meetings take place with our Advisory Council who are able to give us an external view of the operations for Echoes International. 

Page 10 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

Delegated authorities have been put in place to allow the day to day running of the charity and a financial plan is established for Income, Giving and operational expenses. These positions are monitored at Board Meetings and all aspects of control and performance are transparent to the Trustees during these meetings. 

Financial Software provides our management accounts which are viewed by the Trustees at their meetings. All our IT and software requirements are maintained by an external 3[rd] party and this gives us full resilience in the event of a major incident. They routinely visit to address operational issues and the Operations Director meets with the Senior Management of the IT company to ensure all service levels and risks are managed according to the contract in place. In addition, in 2018 we established a CRM and SharePoint filing system to provide further resilience and making sure all records and files are held in a paperless system. The IT system used is cloud based and backed up daily. 

Our websites are all maintained along with our Social Media platforms – we have policies in place for our communication strategy to ensure nothing is communicated which would impact the reputation of the charity. 

All e-transactions are made securely. Our access to IT and Internet Banking is fully encrypted and accessed via 2-factor authentication. 

We continue to make no charges for the transmitting of funds. Nothing is deducted from gifts towards the running of the charity. It would be our hope and prayer that Operating expenses are normally met from specific gifts made towards our expenses, investment income and a % of all unrestricted legacies received in the year. We do not engage in any fundraising activity. Our sustainability is dependent on a faithful God. 

In addition to the above sources of funds for operational expenses, the Trustees agreed to use a further £0.4m of discretionary reserves for the operational expenses of the charity in 2020. This was to allow them to support their 3-year strategy and see a renewed enthusiasm for mission from UK churches. 

## **Relationships with other organisations** 

Trustees are required to disclose relevant interests, and these are noted on a register and kept by the Board. In accordance with the Charity’s policy, Trustees withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest exists. 

The Trustees’ Report was considered and approved by the Trustees at their meeting on 21 June 2021 and subsequently signed on their behalf by: 


………………………………………………………………. 

## **Paul John Young, Chairman** 

22 / 06 / 2021 Date: **…………………….** 

Page 11 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** 

The Trustees are responsible 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 Scotland requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: 

- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP (FRS 102); 

- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and 

- Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable group will continue in operation. 

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose 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 Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the provisions of its constitution.  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 irregularities. 

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the financial information included on the charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

Page 12 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ECHOES INTERNATIONAL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** 

## **Opinion** 

We have audited the financial statements of Echoes International (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2020 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies.  The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

In our opinion the financial statements: 

- give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 December 2020 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended. 

- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and 

- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulation 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. 

## **Basis for opinion** 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report.  We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.  We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

## **Conclusions relating to going concern** 

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 

## **Other information** 

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon.  The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. 

Page 13 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ECHOES INTERNATIONAL (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** 

We have nothing to report in this regard. 

## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

- the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the Trustees’ Report; or 

- proper and adequate accounting records have not been kept; or 

- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

## **Responsibilities of Trustees** 

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 12, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements which give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** 

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and report in accordance with regulations made under those Acts. 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. 

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/Audit/Audit-and-assurance/Standards-and-guidance/Standards-andguidance-for-auditors/Auditors-responsibilities-for-audit/Description-of-auditors-responsibilities-foraudit.aspx. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 

Page 14 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ECHOES INTERNATIONAL (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** 

## **Extent to which an audit is considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud** 

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: 

- Based on our understanding of the charity, we determined that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to UK charity legislation, specifically the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, and UK employment legislation (including health and safety in the workplace). We have considered the extent to which non-compliance with these laws and regulations might have a material effect on the financial statements. We have also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulation 2008 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. 

- All engagement team members were briefed on relevant laws and regulations and potential fraud risks at the planning stage of the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with the trustees. 

- We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to the timing of recognition of donation and/or legacy income, as well as any restrictions on the purpose of that income which might affect recognition. We also considered the risk of the posting of inappropriate journal entries in respect of the manipulation of income or expenditure. 

- Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included: 

   - Evaluation of the design and implementation of the controls established by management and the trustees to prevent and detect irregularities. 

   - Enquiry of management and the trustees in respect of actual and potential fraud, actual and potential litigation and claims, and any instances of non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations. These enquiries included management's and trustees' own identification and assessment of the risk of fraud and where fraud may be most likely to occur. 

   - Inspection of minutes from meetings held by management and trustees for any reference to breaches of laws and regulations. 

   - Inspection of legal fees incurred in the year under audit for any indication of actual and/or potential litigation and claims against the charity, and/or indications of non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations. 

   - Obtaining an understanding and inspecting evidence for the assumptions and judgements made by management in the timing of recognition of donation and legacy income. 

   - Identifying and testing journal entries, including those relating to income and expenditure, with a focus on manual journal entries above our performance materiality assessment as well as journals meeting other predefined criteria such as journals containing round sum amounts that could be an indicator of management override of controls. 

   - Inspection of the financial statement disclosures for compliance with applicable charity law and the financial reporting framework. 

Page 15 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ECHOES INTERNATIONAL (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** 

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation.  This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. 

## **Use of our report** 

The report is made solely to the charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulation 2008 and Regulation 10 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 


……………………………………………… **Johnston Carmichael LLP** 

**Chartered Accountants** 227 West George Street **Statutory Auditor** GLASGOW G2 2ND 22 / 06 / 2021 Date: ……………………………………. 

Johnston Carmichael LLP is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006 

Page 16 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** 

|**Notes**<br>**Income from endowments from:**<br>Donations and legacies<br>2<br>Charitable activities<br>3<br>Investment income<br>4<br>Other income<br>**Total income and endowments**<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Charitable activities<br>5<br>**Total expenditure**<br>**Net (expenditure) before investment gains/(losses)**<br>Net gains / (losses) on investments<br>**Net (expenditure)/income**<br>9<br>Transfers between funds<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>**Reconciliation of funds:**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>1,793,723<br>53,506<br>173,551<br>5,642|**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>3,224,788<br>-<br>1,226<br>-|**Endowment**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>**5,018,511**<br>**53,506**<br>**174,777**<br>**5,642**|**Total Funds**<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>4,456,482<br>26,957<br>271,163<br>28,320|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**2,026,422**|**3,226,014**|**-**|**5,252,436**|4,782,922|
||2,870,583|3,408,635|-|**6,279,218**|6,812,563|
||**2,870,583**|**3,408,635**|**-**|**6,279,218**|6,812,563|
||**(844,161)**<br>36,835|**(182,621)**<br>1,992|**-**<br>7,530|**(1,026,782)**<br>46,357|(2,029,641)<br>939,011|
||**(807,326)**<br>(39,431)|**(180,629)**<br>39,431|**7,530**<br>-|**(980,425)**<br>-|(1,090,630)<br>-|
||**(846,757)**|**(141,198)**|**7,530**|**(980,425)**|(1,090,630)|
||7,148,518<br>**6,301,761**|1,311,461<br>**1,170,263**|145,329<br>**152,859**|8,605,308<br>**7,624,883**|9,695,938<br>8,605,308|



Page 17 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2020** 

|**Notes**<br>**Fixed assets**<br>Tangible assets<br>12<br>Investment property<br>Total tangible assets<br>Investments<br>14<br>**Current assets**<br>Debtors<br>15<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**Creditors:**amounts falling due within one<br>year<br>16<br>**Net current assets/(liabilities)**<br>**Net assets**<br>**Charity funds**<br>Endowment funds<br>18<br>Restricted funds<br>18<br>Unrestricted funds<br>18<br>-<br>General funds<br>-<br>Designated funds<br>Total unrestricted funds<br>**Total funds**|<br>**£**<br>**652,527**<br>**41,000**|**2020**<br> <br>**£**<br> <br> <br>**693,527**<br>**7,065,175**|<br>**£**<br>584,879<br>41,000|**2019**<br> <br>**£**<br> <br> <br>625,879<br>7,752,175|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**96,572**<br>**464,351**||127,331<br>670,671||
||**806,032**<br>**5,495,729**||||
|||**7,624,883**|||
|||**152,859**<br>**1,170,263**<br> <br> <br>**6,301,761**<br>**7,624,883**|||
||||||



The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 21 June 2021 and signed on their behalf by: 


22 / 06 / 2021 

………………………………………………………………. 

## **Paul John Young, Chairman** 

The notes on pages 20 to 38 form part of these financial statements 

## **English Charity No: 1173851 Scottish Charity No: SC047797** 

Page 18 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** 

|**Notes**<br>**Cash flows from operating activities:**<br>Net cash provided by operating activities<br>20<br>**Cash flows from investing activities:**<br>Dividends, interest and rents from investments<br>Purchase of tangible fixed assets<br>Sale of investments<br>Purchase of investments<br>Proceeds from sale of tangible fixed assets<br>Movement in cash held as investment<br>**Net cash provided by investing activities**<br>**Change in cash and cash equivalents in year**<br>Cash and cash equivalents brought forward<br>**Cash and cash equivalents carried forward**<br>21<br>**Relating to:**<br>Bank balances and short-term deposits|**2020**<br>**£**<br>(1,031,976)<br>174,777<br>(107,894)<br>1,907,719<br>(1,158,831)<br>-<br>9,885<br>825,656<br> <br>**(206,320)**<br>670,671<br>**464,351**<br>**464,351**|**2019**<br>**£**<br>(1,941,345)|
|---|---|---|
|||271,163<br>(43,445)<br>3,513,116<br>(1,761,541)<br>482<br>364,189|
|||2,343,964|
|||402,619<br>268,052|
|||670,671|
|||670,671|



Page 19 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **1 Accounting policies** 

## **1.1 General information** 

Echoes International is a charitable incorporated organisation, registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales (charity number 1173851) and in Scotland with OSCR (charity number SC047797). The registered office is 124 Wells Road, Bath, BA2 3AH. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are set out in the Trustees’ Report. 

## **1.2 Basis of preparation of financial statements** 

Echoes International constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. 

The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair’ view. This departure has involved following the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (“the Charities SORP”), rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn. 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain financial instruments and investment property and fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below. 

The financial statements are prepared in £ sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £. 

## **1.3 Going concern** 

At the time of approval of these financial statements, the Trustees have considered the resources available to the charity as well as the forecast income and expenditure for at least 12 months from the date of approval. Based on this analysis the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity will continue in operation for at least twelve months from the date of the approval of the financial statements and have not identified a material uncertainty in relation to the going concern position of the charity. The Trustees have therefore adopted the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements. 

## **1.4 Fund accounting** 

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. 

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes.  The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. 

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes.  The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund.  The aim and use of each restricted fund are set out in the notes to the financial statements. 

Page 20 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **1 Accounting policies (continued)** 

The charity holds two endowment funds, which are those resources received by the charity which represent capital.  One of the funds is a permanent endowment, while the other fund is expendable. Income arising on the endowment funds can be used in accordance with the objects of the charity and is included as unrestricted income.  Any capital gains or losses arising on the investments form part of the fund. Investment management charges and legal advice relating to the fund are charged against the fund.  Investment income, gains and losses (other than endowment fund income) are allocated to the appropriate fund. 

## **1.5 Income** 

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. 

For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained, then income recognition is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled. 

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably, and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution.  Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material. 

Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. 

## **1.6 Expenditure** 

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. 

Support costs comprise staff and other costs incurred directly as a result of the charity making grants and allocations, the publication of the magazine and the support of missionaries and projects. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.  These costs include costs related to the statutory audit and Trustees’ meetings. 

Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is made except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year-end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure. 

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT. 

Page 21 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **1 Accounting policies (continued)** 

## **1.7 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation** 

- All assets costing more than £300 are capitalised. 

A review for impairment of a fixed asset is carried out if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of any fixed asset may not be recoverable.  Shortfalls between the carrying value of fixed assets and their recoverable amounts are recognised as impairments.  Impairment losses are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities. 

Tangible fixed assets are carried at cost, net of depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual values, over their expected useful lives on the following basis: 

Freehold property 2% straight line Fixtures and fittings 15 – 33% reducing balance + 25% straight line Computer equipment 33.33% straight line Freehold property improvements 10% straight line 

## **1.8 Investment properties** 

- Investment property, which is held to earn rentals, is measured at fair value at each reporting date with changes in value recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities. 

## **1.9 Investments** 

Fixed asset investments are a form of financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction cost and subsequently measured at fair value at the Balance Sheet date, unless fair value cannot be measured reliably in which case it is measured at cost less impairment.  Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and shown in the heading `gains/(losses) on investments’ in the Statement of Financial Activities. 

## **1.10 Interest receivable** 

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank. 

## **1.11 Debtors** 

Other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. 

## **1.12 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. 

## **1.13 Liabilities and provisions** 

- Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance Sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or at the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide. Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised within interest payable and similar charges. 

Page 22 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **1 Accounting policies (continued)** 

## **1.14 Financial instruments** 

The charitable company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments. 

Financial instruments are recognised in the balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. 

## **Basic financial assets** 

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised. 

## **Impairment of financial assets** 

Financial assets are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date. 

## **Derecognition of financial assets** 

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the charity transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity. 

## **Basic financial liabilities** 

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, are initially recognised at transaction price and are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised. 

## **Derecognition of financial liabilities** 

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled. 

## **1.15 Employee benefits** 

The cost of employee benefits, including any unused holiday entitlement, is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received. 

## **1.16 Pensions** 

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the charity to the fund in respect of the year. 

## **1.17 Tax** 

The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charity for UK corporation tax purposes. The charity is registered with HMRC as a charity. 

Page 23 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements** 

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. 

## **Key sources of estimation uncertainty** 

## **Depreciation** 

The depreciation of tangible fixed assets is a key area of estimation. The useful life and residual value of fixed assets is considered, and a depreciation rate applied accordingly. Details of the depreciation policies applied can be found in the accounting policies section of the notes to the financial statements. The depreciation charge for the year amounts to £40,246 (2019: £32,025). The carrying value of tangible fixed assets at the year-end to which depreciation applies amounts to £652,527 (2019: £584,879). 

## **2 Income from donations and legacies** 

|Assembly gifts<br>Other collective gifts<br>Individual gifts<br>Trusts<br>Legacies<br>**Total donations and legacies**<br>Total 2019<br>**Income from charitable activities**<br>Publishing<br>Total 2019|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£ **<br>59,764<br>13,107<br>212,345<br>158,432<br>1,350,075<br>**1,793,723**<br>966,597<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br> <br>**£ **<br>**53,506**<br>**53,506**<br>26,957|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£ **<br>59,764<br>13,107<br>212,345<br>158,432<br>1,350,075<br>**1,793,723**<br>966,597|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£ **<br>59,764<br>13,107<br>212,345<br>158,432<br>1,350,075<br>**1,793,723**<br>966,597|**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br> <br>**£**<br>682,906<br>451,122<br>1,184,941<br>756,364<br>149,455<br>**3,224,788**<br>3,489,885||**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£ **<br>**742,670**<br>**464,229**<br>**1,397,286**<br>**914,796**<br>**1,499,530**<br>**5,018,511**<br>4,456,482<br>**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£ **<br>**53,506**<br>**53,506**<br> <br>26,957|**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2019**<br> <br>**£**<br>965,072<br>648,946<br>1,412,157<br>896,587<br>533,720|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||||4,456,482|
||||||||**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2019**<br> <br>**£**<br>26,957|
||||<br>|**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>-<br>**-**<br>-||||
||||||||26,957|
|||||||||



## **3 Income from charitable activities** 

Page 24 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **4 Investment income** 

|Rental income<br>Dividend income<br>Bank interest<br>Total 2019<br>**5**<br>**Charitable expenditure**<br>Grants to organisations (note 6)<br>Grants and allocations to individuals<br>Publishing, mobilisation & equipping<br>Support costs (note 7)<br>Governance costs (note 8)<br>**Total**<br>Total 2019|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£ **<br>**£**<br>**£ **<br>1,948<br>-<br>**1,948**<br>171,069<br>1,160<br>**172,229**<br>534<br>66<br>**600**<br>**173,551**<br>**1,226**<br>**174,777**<br>269,520<br>1,643<br>271,163<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2020**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2020**<br>**Total**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>780,401<br>1,262,234<br>**2,042,635**<br>1,084,878<br>2,106,602<br>**3,191,480**<br> <br>201,574<br>5,550<br>**207,124**<br>781,897<br>34,249<br>**816,146**<br>21,833<br>-<br>**21,833**<br>**2,870,583**<br> **3,408,635**<br>**6,279,218**<br>3,106,976<br>3,705,587<br>6,812,563|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£ **<br>**£**<br>**£ **<br>1,948<br>-<br>**1,948**<br>171,069<br>1,160<br>**172,229**<br>534<br>66<br>**600**<br>**173,551**<br>**1,226**<br>**174,777**<br>269,520<br>1,643<br>271,163<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2020**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**2020**<br>**Total**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>780,401<br>1,262,234<br>**2,042,635**<br>1,084,878<br>2,106,602<br>**3,191,480**<br> <br>201,574<br>5,550<br>**207,124**<br>781,897<br>34,249<br>**816,146**<br>21,833<br>-<br>**21,833**<br>**2,870,583**<br> **3,408,635**<br>**6,279,218**<br>3,106,976<br>3,705,587<br>6,812,563|**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2019**<br> <br>**£**<br>2,006<br>267,836<br>1,321<br>271,163<br>**Restated**<br>**Total**<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>1,900,711<br>3,724,584<br>221,482<br>925,293<br>40,493<br>6,812,563|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
|||||



During 2020 the Trustees have reviewed the classification of costs and identified £95,293 of costs that were previously included in support costs and then allocated to charitable expenditure which should have been directly allocated to publishing, mobilisation & equipping. The 2019 comparatives for publishing, mobilisation & equipping and support costs have been restated to provide consistency in presentation following this reclassification. 

Page 25 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **6 Material grants to organisations (> £50,000 in current or prior year)** 

|Chitokoloki Hospital<br>Christian Mission Charitable Trust (CMCT)<br>Gospel Literature Outreach (GLO)<br>*SRG<br>Gospel Fellowship Trust of India<br>Total of smaller grants paid to other organisations|**2020**<br>**£**<br>**78,563**<br>**65,385**<br>**59,593**<br>**15,000**<br>**54,549**<br>**1,769,545**<br>**2,042,635**|**2019**<br>**£**<br>83,781<br>24,661<br>80,348<br>77,264<br>52,618<br>1,582,039<br>1,900,711|
|---|---|---|



***** Grants awarded to this organisation were specifically for the purpose of disaster and poverty relief. Grants to other organisations are made in line with the policy described in the Trustees’ Report. 

## **7 Support costs** 

|Staff costs<br>Rates, light, heat and insurance<br>Cleaning, decorating and repairs<br>Travelling – Trustees<br>Travelling – Other<br>Printing, telephone, stationery and advertising<br>Equipment renewals and maintenance<br>Professional fees<br>Bank charges<br>Sundry expenses<br>Depreciation|**2020**<br>**£ **<br>**505,960 **<br>**25,008 **<br>**24,329 **<br>**966 **<br>**8,566 **<br>**16,937 **<br>**52,407 **<br>**84,417 **<br>**12,157 **<br>**45,153 **<br>**40,246 **<br>**816,146 **|**Restated**<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>485,432<br>18,122<br>23,572<br>4,225<br>31,924<br>21,349<br>83,030<br>117,747<br>13,510<br>94,357<br>32,025|
|---|---|---|
|||925,293|



## **8 Governance costs** 

|Auditor’s remuneration<br>Auditor’s non-audit services<br>Trustee meetings<br>Advisory group<br>Legal fees<br>Board of reference<br>Strategic planning|**2020**<br>**£ **<br>**16,680 **<br>**377 **<br>**3,005 **<br>**1,378 **<br>**- **<br>**- **<br>**393 **<br>**21,833 **|**2019**<br>**£**<br>20,100<br>3,875<br>10,224<br>4,141<br>1,451<br>702<br>-<br>40,493|
|---|---|---|



Page 26 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **9 Net (expenditure)/income** 

Net (expenditure)/income is stated after charging: 

|Net (expenditure)/income is stated after charging:|||
|---|---|---|
||**2020**|**2019**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Depreciation of tangible fixed assets:|||
|Owned by the charity|**40,246**|32,025|
|Auditor’s remuneration – audit|**16,680**|20,100|
|Auditor’s remuneration – other services|**21,414**|33,072|
|Operating lease rentals|**19,502**|12,432|



Other services provided by the auditor in the current year include taxation compliance services totalling £nil (2019: £5,490) and other financial services of £21,414 (2019: £27,582). 

## **10 Staff costs** 

|Staff costs were as follows:<br>Wages and salaries<br>Social security costs<br>Pension contributions|**2020**<br>**£**<br>**422,883**<br>**38,480**<br>**44,597**<br>**505,960**|**2019**<br>**£**<br>408,912<br>35,356<br>41,164<br>485,432|
|---|---|---|



The average number of persons employed by the charity during the year was as follows: 

||**2020**|**2019**|
|---|---|---|
||**No**|**No**|
|Administration|**21**|18|



No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year. 

Key management personnel include the Trustees and Executive Directors. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £141,209 (2019: £137,477). Trustees are not remunerated (see note 11). 

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the fund and amounted to £44,597 (2019: £41,164). 

Page 27 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **11 Trustee remuneration and expenses** 

No trustees were remunerated during the current or prior years and no pension contributions were made by the charity to its defined contribution scheme in respect of any trustees. 

The following expenses were incurred on behalf of, or reimbursed to, eight trustees (2019: 9 trustees): 

|Meals/hotels<br>Travel (including overseas)<br>Sundry|**2020**<br>**£**<br>**899**<br>**3,850**<br>**69**<br>**4,818**|**2019**<br>**£**<br>2,218<br>13,727<br>25<br>15,970|
|---|---|---|



## **12 Tangible fixed assets** 

|**Cost**<br>At 1 January 2020<br>Additions<br>Disposals<br>**At 31 December**<br>**2020**<br>**Depreciation**<br>At 1 January 2020<br>Depreciation charge<br>Disposals<br>**At 31 December**<br>**2020**<br>**Net book value**<br>**At 31 December**<br>**2020**<br>At 31 December 2019|**Freehold**<br>**Property**<br>**£**<br>766,118<br>-<br>-<br>**766,118**<br>245,152<br>15,322<br>-<br>**260,474**<br>**505,644**<br> <br>520,966|**Fixtures**<br>**& Fittings**<br>**£**<br>30,106<br>-<br>-<br>**30,106**<br>19,768<br>2,513<br>-<br>**22,281**<br>**7,825**<br>10,338|**Computer**<br>**Equipment**<br>**£**<br>110,159<br>107,894<br>(3,245)<br>**214,808**<br>77,709<br>19,951<br>(3,245)<br>**94,415**<br>**120,393**<br>32,450|**Freehold**<br>**Property**<br>**Improvements**<br>**£**<br>24,659<br>-<br>-<br>**24,659**<br>3,534<br>2,460<br>-<br>**5,994**<br>**18,665**<br>21,125|**Total**<br>**£**<br>931,042<br>107,894<br>(3,245)|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**1,035,691**|
||||||346,163<br>40,246<br>(3,245)|
||||||**383,164**|
||||||**652,527**|
||||||584,879|



Page 28 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

|**13**|**Investment property**||
|---|---|---|
|||**Freehold**|
|||**Investment**|
|||**Property**|
|||**£**|
||**Valuation**||
||At 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2019|41,000|
||The valuation was initially based on an independent professional valuation of fair value. The Trustees||
||are satisfied that there has been no material change in this fair value in the current and prior year.||
|**14**|**Investments**||



|**Market value**<br>At 1 January 2020<br>Purchase of investments<br>Gift in specie<br>Sale of investments<br>Realised and unrealised gains/(losses)<br>Movement in cash held<br>**At 31 December 2020**<br>**Historical cost**<br>Investments at market value comprise:<br>Listed investments<br>Cash held as part of investment portfolio|**2020**<br>**£**<br>**7,042,015**<br>**23,160**<br>**7,065,175**|**Total**<br>**£**<br>7,752,175<br>1,158,831<br>25,416<br>(1,907,719)<br>46,357<br>(9,885)|
|---|---|---|
|||**7,065,175**|
|||6,311,864|
|||**2019**<br>**£**<br>7,728,494<br>23,681<br>7,752,175|



## **Material investments** 

At the year end, the charity had the following spread of listed investments by nature. 

|Fixed interest<br>UK equities<br>Overseas equities<br>Alternative holdings|**2020**<br>**£**<br>**1,524,048**<br>**1,923,283**<br>**2,088,589**<br>**1,506,095**<br>**7,042,015**|**2019**<br>**£**<br>2,185,381<br>2,456,222<br>2,217,630<br>869,261<br>7,728,494|
|---|---|---|



Page 29 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

|**15**<br>**Debtors**<br>Other debtors<br>Prepayments and accrued income<br>Tax recoverable<br>**16**<br>**Creditors**<br>Trade creditors<br>Other taxation and social security<br>Other creditors<br>Accruals and deferred income<br>**17**<br>**Financial instruments**<br>**Financial assets**<br>Measured at fair value through profit or loss|**2020**<br>**£**<br>**32,970**<br>**22,712**<br>**40,890**<br>**96,572**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>**137,279**<br>**10,074**<br>**450,091**<br>**97,298**<br>**694,742**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>**7,042,015**|**2019**<br>**£**<br>46,032<br>67,803<br>13,496<br>127,331<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>171,595<br>21,477<br>267,959<br>109,717<br>570,748<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>7,728,494|
|---|---|---|



Financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss comprise fixed asset listed investments, whose fair value is determined using quoted market prices in an active market. 

Page 30 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

|**18**<br>**Statement of funds**<br>**(a) Statement of funds – current year**<br>**Reserve**<br>**category***<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>General funds (merger of funds)<br>1<br>Echoes of Service – legacy charity fund<br>1<br>Interlink – legacy charity fund<br>1<br>Investment property<br>1<br>Publishing department<br>1<br>Realised gains/(losses)<br>1<br>Unrealised revaluation gains/(losses)<br>1<br>A H Boulton fund<br>1<br>Mrs H Maclean Trust<br>1<br>Missionary work<br>2<br>MW transition fund<br>2<br>Legacy equalisation<br>2<br>Medical<br>3<br>Special projects<br>3<br>Ministry support<br>3<br>Training<br>3<br>National worker<br>3<br>Poverty and relief fund<br>4<br>Strategic initiative fund<br>5<br>Equipment and maintenance<br>6|**Balance at**<br>**1 January**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>2,225,123<br>1,743<br>10,661<br>41,000<br>4,691<br>147,057<br>385,222<br>2,020<br>1,325<br>496,115<br>53,000<br>2,000,000<br>50,000<br>90,561<br>10,000<br>20,000<br>40,000<br>250,000<br>1,120,000<br>200,000<br>**7,148,518**|**Income**<br>**£**<br>226,135<br>172,136<br>5,100<br>-<br>57,385<br>-<br>-<br>2,275<br>699<br>1,495,064<br>-<br>-<br>1,780<br>-<br>30<br>-<br>150<br>65,668<br>-<br>-<br>**2,026,422**|**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>(752,329)<br>(1,632)<br>(302)<br>-<br>(149,864)<br>-<br>-<br>(630)<br>-<br>(1,087,328)<br>(155,600)<br>-<br>(111,759)<br>-<br>(66,684)<br>(109,528)<br>(100,439)<br>(101,253)<br>(158,761)<br>(74,474)<br>**(2,870,583)**|**Transfers**<br>**In/(Out)**<br>**£**<br>(892,897)<br>(172,200)<br>(5,000)<br>-<br>140,431<br>(57,460)<br>193,741<br>(2,995)<br>(921)<br>-<br>102,600<br>-<br>109,979<br>-<br>66,654<br>109,528<br>100,289<br>35,585<br>158,761<br>74,474<br>**(39,431)**|**Gains/**<br>**(Losses)**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(89,597)<br>126,432<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**36,835**|**Balance at**<br>**31 December**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>806,032<br>47<br>10,459<br>41,000<br>52,643<br>-<br>705,395<br>670<br>1,103<br>903,851<br>-<br>2,000,000<br>50,000<br>90,561<br>10,000<br>20,000<br>40,000<br>250,000<br>1,120,000<br>200,000<br>**6,301,761**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|



*Category of reserve relates to the six operational areas for reserves described in the charity’s reserves policy, as described in the Trustees’ Report. Transfers are to/from the General Funds and relate to designations, or release of designation, by the Trustees or where funds are transferred to a restricted fund to cover a deficit in fund balance. £1.11m of the general funds are designated as a minimum reserve balance for category 1 per the reserves policy. Other designated funds consist of categories 2 through 6. 

Page 31 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **18 Statement of funds (continued)** 

|**(a) Statement of funds – current year (cont.)**<br>**Endowment funds**<br>**Balance at**<br>**1 January**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>Mrs H Maclean Trust<br>34,161<br>A H Boulton fund<br>111,168<br>**145,329**<br>**Balance at**<br>**1 January**<br>**2020**<br>**Income**<br>**Restricted funds**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>Missionary<br>3,860<br>1,611,511<br>Property<br>524,266<br>-<br>Personal needs<br>2,452<br>1,502,084<br>Beneficiary holding<br>470,390<br>41,785<br>Suspense<br>15,658<br>43,978<br>Missionaries’ Children fund<br>84,713<br>13,109<br>First Serve<br>2,707<br>12,257<br>Relief<br>117,475<br>-<br>Ramsden Fund<br>55,245<br>1,160<br>Missionary Furlough Fund<br>34,695<br>130<br>**1,311,461**<br>**3,226,014**<br>**Total of funds – 31 December 2020**<br>**8,605,308**<br>**5,252,436**|**Income**<br>**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>(1,611,509)<br>(15,922)<br>(1,503,214)<br>(102,811)<br>-<br>(38,798)<br>(22,842)<br>(112,039)<br>(1,500)<br>-<br>**(3,408,635)**<br>**(6,279,218)**|**Income**<br>**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>(1,611,509)<br>(15,922)<br>(1,503,214)<br>(102,811)<br>-<br>(38,798)<br>(22,842)<br>(112,039)<br>(1,500)<br>-<br>**(3,408,635)**<br>**(6,279,218)**|**Transfers**<br>**In/(Out)**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>**Transfers**<br>**In/(Out)**<br>**£**<br>-<br>15,965<br>-<br>13,624<br>-<br>(1,250)<br>15,000<br>-<br>(3,908)<br>-<br>**39,431**<br>**-**|**Gains/**<br>**(Losses)**<br>**£**<br>1,770<br>5,760<br>**7,530**<br>**Gains/**<br>**(Losses)**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>1,992<br>-||**Balance at**<br>**31 December**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>35,931<br>116,928<br>**152,859**<br>**Balance at**<br>**31 December**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>3,862<br>524,309<br>1,322<br>422,988<br>59,636<br>57,774<br>7,122<br>5,436<br>52,989<br>34,825|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**1,992**||**1,170,263**|
|||||**46,357**||**7,624,883**|



Page 32 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **18 Statement of funds (continued)** 

**Unrestricted and designated funds General** Monies designated to enable the trustees to administer the ongoing objectives of the charity. **Investment** Properties bequeathed under terms of donor’s will but subject to **property** “reversionary interest”. **Missionary work** Monies received for general disbursement for “The Lord’s Work Overseas”. **Medical** Monies to purchase medical supplies and equipment in hospitals and clinics. **Legacy** Monies designated by the Trustees to act as a “reserve” to supplement **equalisation** giving under the above category, missionary work unrestricted, should that important category of gift income decline. **Special projects** A fund set up to provide funding for all activities associated with the merger between Echoes of Service and Interlink from 1 January 2018. **MW transition** Monies received from third parties to augment the amounts held by **fund** insurers, on behalf of mission workers, to await their return from overseas. **Strategic** Monies set aside for the strategic funding of mission projects globally, **Initiatives** normally over a 3-year period.  The fund is used for projects outside of the course of regular gifts and finance provided by Echoes International and is limited to those within the Brethren movement or those with substantial links to the movement. **Equipment and** Monies designated by the Trustees for the upkeep of the office property **maintenance** and capital expenditure on equipment. **Publishing** Monies designated by the Trustees as a “reserve” used for the publishing **department** of books/fact files and production of the Daily Prayer Guide and Echoes magazine. **Realised gains /** Details the cumulative gains/losses of the investment portfolio administered **revaluations** by Hargreaves Lansdown. **Ministry support** Monies designated by the Trustees for a variety of Christian ministries including literature work, production and distribution of vernacular Bibles and Bible study aids, radio broadcasting and other associated activities. **Poverty and relief** Monies designated by the Trustees to provide financial help in situations of property relief and hardship. **Training** Monies designated by the Trustees to enable Bible colleges training establishments to provide national workers with training in preparation for and continuance in Christian service. **National worker** Monies designated by the Trustees to enable National Service Agencies to distribute monies amongst their own indigenous Christian workers. 

Page 33 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **18 Statement of funds (continued)** 

## **Unrestricted and designated funds (cont.)** 

**Mrs H Maclean Trust** The Trust having been set up for the benefit of Echoes of Services – see also endowment fund element below. **A H Boulton Fund** The Fund having been set up for the benefit of Echoes of Services – see also endowment fund element below. **Endowment funds Mrs H Maclean Trust** The Trust having been set up for the benefit of Echoes of Services – the endowment fund is an expendable endowment. **A H Boulton Fund** The Fund having been set up for the benefit of Echoes of Services – the endowment fund element below is a permanent endowment. **Restricted funds Missionary** Monies donated for mission workers “ministry / work”. **Property** Established for the purchase and refurbishment of offices at 124 Wells Road, Bath. **Personal needs** Monies donated for mission worker’s “personal needs”. **Beneficiary holding** Monies awaiting distribution instructions from named beneficiary. **Suspense** Monies awaiting donor’s disbursement instructions. **Missionaries’** The aim of this fund is to support the children of mission workers **Children’s fund** commended from UK assemblies to help with the educational expenses incurred, until further education, while their parents are serving on the mission field. **First serve** Monies received for the First Serve gap year programme. **Relief** Monies donated to assist in relief operations following natural disasters: earthquake, famine, fire and flood. **Ramsden Fund** For the provision of accommodation where appropriate and other needs of missionaries while on leave or residing in the UK. **Missionary Furlough** The provision of gifts to missionaries on furlough in the UK. **Fund** 

Page 34 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **18 Statement of funds (continued)** 

|**(b) Statement of funds – prior year**<br>**Reserve**<br>**category***<br>**Unrestricted funds**<br>General funds (merger of funds)<br>1<br>Echoes of Service – legacy charity fund<br>1<br>Interlink – legacy charity fund<br>1<br>Investment property<br>1<br>Publishing department<br>1<br>Realised gains<br>1<br>Unrealised revaluation gains/(losses)<br>1<br>A H Boulton fund<br>1<br>Mrs H Maclean Trust<br>1<br>Missionary work<br>2<br>MW transition fund<br>2<br>Legacy equalisation<br>2<br>Medical<br>3<br>Special projects<br>3<br>Ministry support<br>3<br>Training<br>3<br>National worker<br>3<br>Poverty fund<br>4<br>Strategic initiative fund<br>5<br>Equipment and maintenance<br>6|**Balance at**<br>**1 January**<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>3,699,531<br>3,752<br>10,510<br>41,000<br>1,151<br>-<br>(391,122)<br>197,962<br>1,839<br>746,608<br>53,000<br>2,000,000<br>65,000<br>94,307<br>9,480<br>19,328<br>11,885<br>250,615<br>1,074,742<br>200,000<br>**8,089,588**|**Income**<br>**£**<br>165,572<br>275,328<br>37,717<br>-<br>29,878<br>-<br>-<br>4,394<br>858<br>720,081<br>-<br>-<br>1,209<br>-<br>11,100<br>60<br>15,909<br>6,777<br>3,000<br>-<br>**1,271,883**|**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>(654,077)<br>(277,337)<br>(37,566)<br>-<br>(146,338)<br>-<br>-<br>(953)<br>-<br>(970,574)<br>(285,600)<br>-<br>(117,120)<br>(3,746)<br>(72,250)<br>(109,887)<br>(141,709)<br>(12,500)<br>(180,844)<br>(96,475)<br>**(3,106,976)**|**Transfers**<br>**In/(Out)**<br>**£**<br>(985,903)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>120,000<br>-<br>-<br>(199,383)<br>(1,372)<br>-<br>285,600<br>-<br>100,911<br>-<br>61,670<br>110,499<br>153,915<br>5,108<br>223,102<br>96,475<br>**(29,378)**|**Gains/**<br>**(Losses)**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>147,057<br>776,344<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**923,401**|**Balance at**<br>**31 December**<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>2,225,123<br>1,743<br>10,661<br>41,000<br>4,691<br>147,057<br>385,222<br>2,020<br>1,325<br>496,115<br>53,000<br>2,000,000<br>50,000<br>90,561<br>10,000<br>20,000<br>40,000<br>250,000<br>1,120,000<br>200,000<br>**7,148,518**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|



Page 35 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

**18 Statement of funds (continued)** 

|**(b) Statement of funds – prior year (cont.)**<br>**Endowment funds**<br>Mrs H Maclean Trust<br>A H Boulton fund<br>**Restricted funds**<br>Missionary<br>Property<br>Personal needs<br>Beneficiary holding<br>Suspense<br>Missionaries’ Children fund<br>First Serve<br>Relief<br>Ramsden Fund<br>Missionary Furlough Fund<br>**Total of funds – 31 December 2019**|**Balance at**<br>**1 January**<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>30,191<br>105,000<br>**135,191**<br>**Balance at**<br>**1 January**<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>293<br>540,188<br>2,828<br>455,039<br>42,332<br>87,005<br>17,990<br>237,245<br>53,702<br>34,537<br>**1,471,159**<br>**9,695,938**|**Income**<br>**£ **<br>-<br>-<br>**- **<br>**Income**<br>**£ **<br>1,801,535<br>-<br>1,496,666<br>75,266<br>-<br>42,076<br>23,627<br>69,992<br>1,719<br>158<br>**3,511,039 **<br>**4,736,629 **|**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>**Expenditure**<br>**£**<br>(1,839,642)<br>(15,922)<br>(1,512,042)<br>(59,915)<br>-<br>(44,368)<br>(38,910)<br>(189,762)<br>(5,026)<br>-<br>**(3,705,587)**<br>**(6,766,270)**|**Transfers**<br>**In/(Out)**<br>**£**<br>-<br>(622)<br>**(622)**<br>**Transfers**<br>**In/(Out)**<br>**£**<br>41,674<br>-<br>15,000<br>-<br>(26,674)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**30,000**<br>**-**|**Gains/**<br>**(Losses)**<br>**£ **<br>3,970<br>6,790<br>**10,760 **<br>**Gains/**<br>**(Losses)**<br>**£ **<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>4,850<br>-<br>**4,850 **<br>**939,011 **|**Balance at**<br>**31 December**<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>34,161<br>111,168<br>**145,329**<br>**Balance at**<br>**31 December**<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>3,860<br>524,266<br>2,452<br>470,390<br>15,658<br>84,713<br>2,707<br>117,475<br>55,245<br>34,695|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||**1,311,461**|
|||||||**8,605,308**|



Page 36 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **19 Analysis of net assets between funds** 

## **Analysis of net assets between funds – current year** 

|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£ **<br>**£**<br>Tangible fixed assets<br>128,218<br>524,309<br>Investments<br>5,874,045<br>1,038,271<br>Investment property<br>41,000<br>-<br>Current assets<br>503,149<br>57,774<br>Creditors due within one year<br>(244,651)<br>(450,091)<br>**6,301,761**<br>**1,170,263**<br>**Analysis of net assets between funds – prior year**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2019**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2019**<br>**£ **<br>**£**<br>Tangible fixed assets<br>60,613<br>524,266<br>Investments<br>6,880,675<br>726,171<br>Investment property<br>41,000<br>-<br>Current assets<br>713,289<br>84,713<br>Creditors due within one year<br>(547,059)<br>(23,689)<br>**7,148,518**<br>**1,311,461**|**Endowment**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>-<br>152,859<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**152,859**<br>**Endowment**<br>**Funds**<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>-<br>145,329<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**145,329**|**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2020**<br>**£**<br>**652,527**<br>**7,065,175**<br>**41,000**<br>**560,923**<br>**(694,742)**<br>**7,624,883**<br>**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**2019**<br>**£**<br>**584,879**<br>**7,752,175**<br>**41,000**<br>**798,002**<br>**(570,748)**<br>**8,605,308**|
|---|---|---|



## **20 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities** 

|Net expenditure for the year (as per Statement of Financial Activities)<br>**Adjustment for:**<br>Depreciation charges<br>Losses/(gains) on investments<br>Dividends, interest and rents from investments<br>Gift of investments in specie<br>Decrease/(increase) in debtors<br>(Decrease)/increase in creditors<br>Net cash used in operating activities|**2020**<br>**£**<br>**(980,425)**<br>**40,246**<br>**(46,357)**<br>**(174,777)**<br>**(25,416)**<br>**30,759**<br>**123,994**<br>**(1,031,976)**|**2019**<br>**£**<br>(1,090,630)<br>32,025<br>(939,011)<br>(271,163)<br>-<br>(15,900)<br>343,334<br>(1,941,345)|
|---|---|---|



Page 37 



## **ECHOES INTERNATIONAL** 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020 (continued)** 

## **21 Analysis of cash and cash equivalents** 

|Cash in hand<br>Total|**2020**<br>**£**<br>**464,351**<br>**464,351**|**2019**<br>**£**<br>670,671<br>670,671|
|---|---|---|



## **22 Operating lease commitments** 

At 31 December 2020, the total of the charity’s future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases was: 

|**Amounts payable:**<br>Within one year<br>Between one and five years|**2020**<br>**£**<br>**19,502**<br>**19,502**<br>**39,004**|**2019**<br>**£**<br>20,444<br>40,888<br>61,332|
|---|---|---|



## **23 Post balance sheet events** 

The Trustees have not identified any post balance sheet events requiring either adjustment or disclosure within the financial statements. 

Page 38 

