Charity Registration No: 1175975
Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Report of the trustees and unaudited financial statements Year ended 5 April 2025
Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Contents
| Pages | |
|---|---|
| Reference and administrative details | 2 |
| Report of the trustees | 3-6 |
| Independent examiner’s report | 7 |
| Statement of financial activities | 8 |
| Balance sheet | 9 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 10-16 |
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Reference and administrative details For the year ended 5 April 2025
| Charity name | Streamside Gospel Hall Trust |
|---|---|
| Registered charity number | 1175975 |
| Trustees | Stephen Jay (Chair) |
| Morgan Doouss | |
| Andrew Baxter | |
| Treasurer | Andrew Baxter |
| Principal address | Fleetwings |
| London Road | |
| HEMEL HEMPSTEAD | |
| Hertfordshire | |
| HP1 2RJ | |
| Independent examiner | Sandra Martin |
| Sandra Martin FCCA | |
| 50 Rose Lane | |
| Biggleswade | |
| Beds | |
| SG18 0NB | |
| Bankers | Barclays Bank |
| 62/64 High Street | |
| Watford | |
| WD17 2BT |
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Independent Examiner’s Report For the year ended 5 April 2025
The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 5 April 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 10-11 and comply with the Trust Deed and applicable law.
Structure, governance and management
Governing document
The Charity is an unincorporated trust constituted by a Deed of Trust dated 19 May 2001, most recently amended by Deed of Variation dated 15 August 2014. The Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 28 November 2017 under Charity Registration Number: 1175975.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The names of the Trustees who served during the year and since the year end are set out on page 2. None of the Trustees, nor any person connected with them, received any remuneration or expenses from the Charity in the year ended 5 April 2025 (2024: £nil).
The Trust operates 6 Gospel halls and Trustees are chosen from among the regular congregation of the halls. New Trustees are nominated by the existing Trustees or by the congregation and must be appointed by unanimous resolution of the congregation. They are selected according to their skills and experience and are expected to use both in furthering the objects of the Charity. Checks are made to ensure the Trustees’ eligibility to act and incoming Trustees are made aware of their responsibilities by the existing Trustees, who ensure that new Trustees read the Trust Deed and relevant Charity Commission guidance.
Wider network
The Trustees maintain informal links with similar charities with a view to pooling experience considered useful in pursuing the objects of the Charity. The Charity also maintains particular links with the New Gospel Hall Trust and Heath Gospel Hall Trust, with which it shares members of its congregation.
Risk management
The Trustees have identified and reviewed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and confirm that they have established systems or procedures to manage and mitigate those risks.
Objectives and activities
Objectives and aims
The charitable purposes of the Charity are the advancement of the Christian religion for the public benefit, including by the carrying on of the service of God in accordance with the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible as followed by those Christians forming part of the world-wide fellowship known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (the “Brethren”) and any other charitable purposes connected with Brethren. The core doctrine of the Brethren and proper practices in furtherance of certain aspects of doctrine are summarised in two schedules to the Trust Deed.
Public benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance to charities on public benefit.
Main activities and achievements
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Independent Examiner’s Report For the year ended 5 April 2025
The Trust provides and maintains Gospel halls where religious meetings are held by the local Brethren community. Details of the origins, teachings and way of life of the Brethren can be found on the website - www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org and in the schedules to the Trust Deed.
The Trust’s main achievements this year have been investigating planning permission on a possible new church hall site, maintaining and improving perimeter security on existing hall sites and continuing to open the halls to the congregation and visitors.
Plans for Future Periods
Despite the increased cost of energy, the trustees feel that these increased costs are not significantly impacting on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern.
Meetings
Meetings held at the Gospel halls would normally include the Lord's Supper (Communion), Gospel preachings, Bible readings and Bible addresses. There is a structured weekly schedule of meetings and, depending on the particular meeting, between 25 and 100 people normally attend these occasions.
The meetings are attended by the regular congregation and most are open to other properly disposed visitors. The notice board outside the Hall welcomes visitors and displays the times of Gospel preachings, along with a telephone number for those seeking further information or help. Gospel tracts, which are distributed by street preachers, also display this information.
Bibles and an extensive range of other Christian reading material are on display at the halls and visitors are free to help themselves.
Spreading the Gospel message and the life of a Christian
The Gospel halls are a base from which the regular congregation and others who attend the meetings are encouraged to spread the Christian Gospel, in word and deed.
Members of the congregation participate in a programme of street preaching and Gospel tracts are provided free of charge by the Charity to such preachers to be handed out to interested members of the public.
In carrying out this work, the congregation considers itself to be living out its faith in practice, as particularly exemplified in the following extract from the schedule to the Trust Deed on living a Christian life:
-
We seek and are encouraged to live exemplary lives in all our relationships with others in the wider community (including former Brethren), in accordance with the teachings of Holy Scripture (1 Tim 2:2).
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We regularly go out from our homes to preach on the streets, to distribute Christian literature and engage with the wider community (including former Brethren) in order to present eternal salvation, available to all men by faith in Jesus Christ. (2 Tim 4:2).
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We seek as members of the public to lead Christian lives as husbands and wives, parents, children, employers, employees and neighbours. (Col 3:22-25, Col 4:1).
-
The preservation and protection of the family unit is fundamental and children are prized as a blessing from God. (Psalm 127:3-5). The elderly are valued members of the community, for whom both their family and the wider community are expected to care.
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Independent Examiner’s Report For the year ended 5 April 2025
- Holy Scripture commands us to be good neighbours to others, and deal with all other people (including former Brethren) openly, honestly and fairly and consistent with these principles, we should give our time, talents and money to assist those in need in the wider community, in so far as reasonable given our abilities and our available resources. (Matt 7:12, Matt 22:39, Eph 4:28).
Funding
Funding is sought through gifts from the congregation and Gift Aid is claimed on eligible donations. Funding is sometimes received from other charitable trusts with complementary objectives.
Financial review
Financial position
In the year ended 5 April 2025, the trust had a surplus of incoming resources over resources expended. The Trust had a total voluntary income of £425,703 compared to £212,986 in the previous year.
All funds held were unrestricted funds.
Forthcoming commitments
The trust is committed to providing and maintaining additional gospel halls donated from affiliated trusts during the financial year.
Reserves policy
The Trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity's needs, based on its size and the level of its financial commitments. The Trust has no employees, and its regular outgoings are minimal. Accordingly, the Trustees have decided to adopt a policy of maintaining no significant reserves. The congregation is kept regularly informed as to particular needs for funds, and other relevant matters and the Trustees aim to ensure that the Charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure, by raising a funds appeal to the congregation.
Free reserves at the year-end were £537 (2024: £1,096).
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the 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:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
-
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Independent Examiner’s Report For the year ended 5 April 2025
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 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. All transactions have been reviewed and approved by two trustees.
On behalf of the Board:
Andrew Baxter Trustee
Date: 27/01/2026
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 5 April 2025
| Unrestricted | Designated | Restricted | Total Funds | Total Funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments from: | ||||||
| Donations and legacies: | ||||||
| Donations | 10,500 | 10,500 | 7,035 | |||
| Gift Aid donations | ||||||
| Income tax refunds | ||||||
| Donated services | 4 | 22,658 | 22,658 | 28,010 | ||
| Payroll giving | ||||||
| Legacies | ||||||
| Grants from Heath Gospel | 392,545 | 392,545 | 177,941 | |||
| Hall Trust | ||||||
| Investments | ||||||
| Bank interest | ||||||
| Other | ||||||
| Profit on sale of assets | ||||||
| Total | 425,703 | 425,703 | 212,986 | |||
| Expenditure on: | ||||||
| Charitable activities | ||||||
| Running meeting rooms | 19,993 | 19,993 | 26,791 | |||
| Professional costs | 13,724 | 13,724 | 7,219 | |||
| Total | 5 | 33,717 | 33,717 | 34,010 | ||
| Net income/(expenditure) | 391,986 | 391,986 | 178,976 | |||
| Gains/(losses) on revaluation of | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| fixed assets | ||||||
| Net movement in funds | 391,986 | 391,986 | 178,976 | |||
| Reconciliation of funds | ||||||
| Total funds brought forward | 925,127 | 925,127 | 746,151 | |||
| Total funds carried forward | 8 | 1,317,113 | 1,317,113 | 925,127 |
The notes on pages 10 to 16 form part of these financial statements. All of the above activities are classed as continuing and there are no gains and losses other than those included above.
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Balance Sheet
For the year ended 5 April 2025
| Notes Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets 6 Current assets Debtors: Prepayments and accrued income Cash at bank and in hand Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year: Other creditors Accruals and deferred income Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year: Loan Net assets Funds Unrestricted income fund Restricted funds Total funds 7 |
2025 £ 1,316,576 537 0 537 0 1,317,113 1,317,113 1,317,113 |
2024 £ 924,031 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,096 | ||
| 0 1,096 |
||
| 0 | ||
| 925,127 | ||
| 925,127 | ||
| 925,127 |
The unaudited financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the by Trustees of Streamside Gospel Hall Trust on 01/01/2025 and signed on their behalf by
Andrew Baxter Trustee
The notes on pages 10 to 16 form part of these financial statements
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 5 April 2025
1. Accounting policies
1.1 Basis of preparation financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Second edition of the 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) issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and UK Generally Accepted Practice.
The functional currency of the charity is sterling (£).
The Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
1.2 Income
Donations are recognised in the year in which there is entitlement and probability of receipt and the amount can be measured with reasonable certainty. Income is only deferred when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future year. Gift aid is added to the value of the donation to which it relates.
Donated services are recognised as income and expenditure in the financial statements when organisations or individuals offer their services and support pro bono. The value of these donated services to Streamside Gospel Hall Trust is considered to be equal to market value which would be paid were the service formally procured. This includes services paid for by other trusts.
Investment income is accounted for on a receivable basis.
1.3 Expenditure
Expenditure is included on an accruals basis. Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
Charitable activities comprise those costs directly attributable to the fulfilment of the charitable objects.
1.4 Governance and support costs
Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other support costs. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and costs related to statutory requirements. Governance and support costs are allocated to charitable activities on the basis of capacity used.
1.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Property owned by the trust is not currently being depreciated.
1.6 Taxation
The Trust is a registered charity and is not liable to United Kingdom income or corporation tax on charitable activities, provided income falls within the charitable exemptions and is spent on charitable purposes.
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 5 April 2025
1.7 Funds
The general unrestricted fund is free for the Trustees to use for any purposes in furtherance of the trust’s charitable objects.
Restricted funds arise from donations to the trust, which are made for a specific purpose. Restricted funds can only be used for the purpose for which funds were given.
1.8 Preparation of consolidated financial statements
The Charity does not have a trading subsidiary and there is no requirement to prepare consolidated accounts
1.9 Going concern
The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
1.10 Significant estimates and judgements
The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.
2. Trustees’ remuneration and expenses
No Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits from an employment with the charity and no Trustees were reimbursed for expenses (2024: None).
3. Wages and salaries
There are no employees (2024: none).
4. Donated services
| Received from: New Gospel Hall Trust |
2025 £ 22,658 22,658 |
2024 £ 28,010 |
|---|---|---|
| 28,010 |
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 5 April 2025
5. Resources expended
| Direct costs - Repairs and Maintenance - Insurance - Rates - Light and heat - Water - Rent - Telephone - Depreciation - Legal and professional costs Support costs Governance |
Meeting rooms Other charitable activities 2025 £ £ £ 9,995 7,679 1,846 473 0 13,424 9,995 7,679 1,846 473 0 13,424 300 300 |
Meeting Rooms Other charitable activities 2024 £ £ £ 20,972 3,227 2,592 0 7,219 20,972 3,227 2,592 0 7,219 0 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 33,717 33,717 |
34,010 34,010 |
|
Governance costs include £300 (2024: n/a) in respect of independent examiner’s fees.
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 5 April 2025
6. Tangible fixed assets
| Freehold Property and Refurbishment £ Cost Brought forward at 920,808 6 April 2024 Disposals Fixed Assets received / transferred from associated trusts 0 392,545 At 5 April 2025 1,313,353 Depreciation Brought forward at 6 April 2024 Charge for the year 0 Impairment 0 Disposals 0 At 5 April 2025 0 Net book value At 5 April 2025 1,313,353 At 5 April 2024* 920,808 |
Furniture, fixtures & fittings £ **3,223 0 0 3,223 0 0 0 0 3,223 3,223 |
Total £ 924,031 0 392,545 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,316,576 | ||
| 0 0 0 |
||
| 0 | ||
| 1,316,576 | ||
| 924,031 |
*Note: During the year the trust received the following properties donated from affiliated trust Heath Gospel Hall Trust for nil consideration: Hall Heath Close & Wood Land End halls, with combined written down value of £392,545.
**Cost of assets shown at year end date.
Property Details:
Land registry titles of the properties held are: Highgrove Way MX149927, Gravel Hill Terrace (part) HD345739, West Valley Road HD208821, Louvain Way HD258817, Hall Heath Close HD615720, Wood Lane End HD246870
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 5 April 2025
| 7. | Analysis of net assets between funds |
|---|---|
| 7.1 | Current year |
| Tangible fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities Total funds 7.2 Prior year Tangible fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities Total funds |
Unrestricted Funds £ 1,316,576 537 0 1,317,113 Unrestricted Funds £ 924,031 1,096 0 925,127 |
Designated Funds £ 0 0 0 0 Designated Funds £ 0 0 0 0 |
Restricted Funds £ 0 0 0 0 Restricted Funds £ 0 0 0 0 |
Total Funds £ 1,316,576 537 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,317,113 | ||||
| Total Funds £ 924,031 1,096 0 |
||||
| 925,127 |
8. Movement in funds
8.1 Current year
| Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total funds |
Balance at 6 April 2024 Incoming resources Resources expended Realised/ unrealised gains and losses Balance at 5 April 2025 £ £ £ £ £ 925,127 425,703 (33,717) 0 1,317,113 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 925,127 425,703 (33,717) 0 1,317,113 |
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 5 April 2025
8.2 Prior year
| Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total funds |
Balance at 6 April 2023 Incoming resources Resources expended Realised/ unrealised gains and losses Balance at 5 April 2024 £ £ £ £ £ 746,151 212,986 (34,010) 0 925,127 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 746,151 212,986 (34,010) 0 925,127 |
9. Transactions with related parties
There are no related party disclosures in the reporting period that require disclosure.
10. Volunteers
Streamside Gospel Hall Trust relies entirely on volunteers to carry out the management, administration and general maintenance work. The Trust has no paid staff or paid Trustees.
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Streamside Gospel Hall Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 5 April 2025
11. Comparative Statement of Financial Activities
| Unrestricted | Designated | Restricted | Total Funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2024 | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments from: | |||||
| Donations and legacies: | |||||
| Donations | 7,035 | 7,035 | |||
| Gift Aid donations | |||||
| Income tax refunds | |||||
| Donated services | 4 | 28,010 | 28,010 | ||
| Payroll giving | |||||
| Legacies | |||||
| Grants | 177,941 | 177,941 | |||
| Investments | |||||
| Bank interest | |||||
| Other | |||||
| Profit on sale of assets | |||||
| Total | 212,986 | 212,986 | |||
| Expenditure on: | |||||
| Charitable activities | |||||
| Running meeting rooms | 4 | 26,791 | 26,791 | ||
| Professional services | 7,219 | 7,219 | |||
| Total | 5 | 34,010 | 34,010 | ||
| Net income/(expenditure) | 178,976 | 178,976 | |||
| Gains/(losses) on revaluation of | 0 | 0 | |||
| fixed assets | |||||
| Net movement in funds | 178,976 | 178,976 | |||
| Reconciliation of funds | |||||
| Total funds brought forward | 746,151 | 746,151 | |||
| Total funds carried forward | 8 | 925,127 | 925,127 |
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