**Growing Young Disciples Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)**
**Trustees' report and financial statements**
**for the year ended 30 June 2024**
**robinson+co**
**Chartered Accountants**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Contents**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Legal and administrative information|**1**|
|Trustees report|**2 - 4**|
|Independent examiners' report|**5**|
|Statement of financial activities|**6**|
|Balance sheet|**7**|
|Notes to the financial statements|**8 - 13**|
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Legal and administrative information**
|**Charity number**|1178450|
|---|---|
|**Registered office**|10 South Downs|
||Knutsford|
||WA16 8ND|
|**Trustees**|T Thornborough|
||T J Wickham|
||S A Chaplin|
||D Woods|
||M J Lacy|
||T W D Johnston|
|**Accountants**|robinson+co|
||28 Lowther Street|
||Whitehaven|
||CA28 7DJ|
**Page 1**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Report of the trustees**
## **for the year ended 30 June 2024**
The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2024. The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 1.
## **Objects of the charity**
The charity, governed by a trust deed, seeks the advancement of the Christian faith in accordance with the basis of faith, by resourcing and training people to teach the Christian faith to children and young people.
## **Summary of the charity's main activities and achievements**
To further the above object, the charity's main activities and achievements were as follows:
## **Training**
Growing Young Disciples continues to strengthen its mission of equipping and training those engaged in the discipleship of children and young people in the local church. Recognising the vital role of both paid and volunteer leaders in this work, GYD provides training through bespoke in-person sessions, structured courses such as Raising Kids for Christ and Understanding Generation Z, and an increasing range of online learning opportunities. The GYD team travels extensively across the UK and Ireland to deliver training and consultancy to churches and para-church organisations, responding to specific invitations and offering tailored support.
A significant expansion of our training provision has been the Fortify Programme, which is specifically designed to encourage, equip, and strengthen volunteer leaders who serve in children's, youth, and family ministry. In the past year, we hosted five Fortify Days across the UK and Ireland, bringing together volunteer leaders for a day of encouragement, resourcing, and practical training. Additionally, four Fortify Courses provided structured, interactive online learning, engaging 800 volunteer leaders in deepening their understanding of ministry and sharpening ministry skills. Both Fortify Days and Courses are designed to be accessible, affordable, and rich in biblical teaching, offering practical insights that leaders can immediately apply in their church contexts.
Alongside these developments, the Growing Young Disciples Academy remains central to our work. Since its launch in 2021, the Academy has continued to serve around 70 children's and youth workers weekly, providing a three-year structured theological and practical training programme. With 48 hours of instruction delivered across 24 weeks per academic year, the Academy equips leaders to think biblically and minister effectively. Notably, the Academy has now expanded to include international students accessing GYD training online.
Additionally, GYD continues to host Talk Labs, focused on equipping leaders to teach the Bible with passion and clarity. The Growing Young Disciples Reading Challenge has also been a significant initiative, encouraging children and young people to engage with well-chosen Christian books, fostering theological depth and reflection.
We continue to enjoy a strong partnership with Crosslands, ensuring that those involved in children's, youth, and family ministry have access to high-quality theological education at a seminary level.
**Page 2**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Report of the trustees for the year ended 30 June 2024**
## **Resourcing and Equipping**
Growing Young Disciples is committed to resourcing and supporting those engaged in ministry to children, young people, and families. Throughout the year, we have provided individualised support through in-person and virtual meetings, helping leaders navigate challenges and grow in their ministry skills. These meetings focus on resourcing, advising, and equipping church workers while also offering pastoral care and encouragement.
A key aspect of our resourcing work is the GYD Mentoring Programme, which provides both individual and group mentoring to help leaders grow in their confidence and effectiveness. This has proved particularly valuable for those seeking regular, ongoing support in their ministry.
GYD also continues to offer a consultancy service, helping local churches think strategically about their ministry provision for children, youth, and families. Through this service, churches receive guidance in shaping their ministry to be biblically faithful and practically effective, ensuring that young people are discipled in the gospel and equipped to stand firm in their faith.
Through all these initiatives, Growing Young Disciples remains committed to equipping the local church for the essential task of passing on the faith to the next generation.
## **Staff**
Growing Young Disciples has four full-time employees and three part-time employees.
## **Financial Review**
We have continued to expand our operations as a charity which has seen both income and expenditure rise, this is due to taking on additional staff and providing more training events. Income has increased to £340,906 (2023: £297,346) but expenditure has risen to £382,536 (2023: £318,508) Our final cash balance is £33,586 (2023: £78,378). This is a significant reduction which will need to be addressed going forward.
## **Reserves Policy**
The trustees' objective is to establish unrestricted funds to cover 3 months of ordinary operating expenses (excluding the cost of one off events such as annual conferences). As at year end, 3 months of ordinary operating expenses was approximately £75,000. However we currently only have £24,753 in unrestricted funds. Due to the nature and age of the charity (as well as its rapid growth) this is not unexpected, but as trustees financial stabilisation is a priority. Our expansion in operations should increase our donor base and create opportunities to approach trusts and other organisations who will support the work. Therefore we are optimistic that this situation can be stabilised in the short to medium term.
## **Governance**
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the trustees who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Trust. The trustees and the employee are responsible for the implementation of the trustees' decisions. New trustees may be appointed by a resolution of the trustees passed by a majority of the trustees.
## **Risk Assessment**
The trustees have reviewed the risks to which a small charity operating in areas of education and The Children Act of 1989 are exposed. Appropriate procedures are in place to identify, monitor and review these risks on a regular basis.
**Page 3**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Report of the trustees for the year ended 30 June 2024**
## **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).
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that year. 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;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK 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 charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which 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. 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.
On behalf of the board
T Thornborough
## **Trustee**
15 April 2025
**Page 4**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees on the unaudited financial statements of Growing Young Disciples.**
I report on the accounts of Growing Young Disciples for the year ended 30 June 2024 set out on pages 6 to 13.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent examiner**
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that the audit requirement of section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) does not apply and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(i) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep proper accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act
have not been met; or
- (ii) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
...........................................................
## **Mr Jason Spires FCA DChA**
## **Independent examiner**
robinson+co Oxford Chambers New Oxford Street Workington CA14 2LR
15 April 2025
**Page 5**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Statement of financial activities**
## **For the year ended 30 June 2024**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**Income**
Donations
2
47,955
85,514
Charitable activities
3
207,112
325
**Total income**
255,067
85,839
**Expenditure**
Charitable activities
4
259,902
122,634
**Total expenditure**
259,902
122,634
**Net incoming/(outgoing) resources**
**before transfers**
)
(4,835
)
(36,795
Transfer between funds
)
(27,898
27,898
**Net income/(expenditure) for the year**
)
(32,733
)
(8,897
Total funds brought forward
57,486
11,830
**Total funds carried forward**
24,753
2,933|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
133,469
207,437
340,906
382,536
382,536
)
(41,630
-
)
(41,630
69,316
27,686|**2023**
**Total**
**£**
142,787
154,559
297,346
318,508
318,508
)
(21,162
-
)
(21,162
90,478
69,316|
|---|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses in the year.
**The notes on pages 8 to 13 form an integral part of these financial statements.**
**Page 6**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **-**
## **as at 30 June 2024**
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
8
**Current assets**
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: amounts falling**
**due within one year**
10
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Funds**
11
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted income funds
**Total funds**|**2024**
**£**
**£**
953
8,057
33,586
41,643
)
(14,910
26,733
27,686
2,933
24,753
27,686|**2023**
**£**
**£**
1,669
8,604
78,378
86,982
)
(19,335
67,647
69,316
11,830
57,486
69,316|**2023**
**£**
**£**
1,669
8,604
78,378
86,982
)
(19,335
67,647
69,316
11,830
57,486
69,316|
|---|---|---|---|
||||69,316|
||||11,830
57,486|
||||69,316|
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 15 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by
## **T Thornborough Trustee**
**The notes on pages 8 to 13 form an integral part of these financial statements.**
**Page 7**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Notes to financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2024**
## **1. Accounting policies**
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and the preceding year.
## **1.1. Basis of accounting**
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in UK Sterling which is the functional currency of the entity.
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
## **1.2. Cashflow**
The charity has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS1 from the requirement to produce a cashflow statement because it is a small charity.
## **1.3. Income**
All income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable. Grants where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included.
Gifts donated for resale are included as incoming resources within activities for generating funds when they are sold.
## **1.4. Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
## **1.5. Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
- Fixtures, fittings and equipment 25% straight line
**Page 8**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Notes to financial statements**
## **for the year ended 30 June 2024**
## **1.6. Defined contribution pension schemes**
The pension costs charged in the financial statements represent the contribution payable by the charity during the year.
## **2. Donations**
|**Donations**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2024**|**2023**|
||**funds**|**funds**|**Total**|**Total**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Donations|43,493|74,373|117,866|130,675|
|Gift Aid|4,462|11,141|15,602|12,112|
||47,955|85,514|133,469|142,787|
In 2023 of the donations £83,457 was attributable to restricted income funds, with the balance of £59,330 being unrestricted.
## **3. Charitable activities**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
Conference income
105,578
-
Training income
101,534
325
207,112
325|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
105,578
101,859
207,437|**2023**
**Total**
**£**
97,325
57,234|
|---|---|---|
|||154,559|
In 2023 all of the income from charitable activities was attributable to unrestricted income funds.
## **4. Costs of charitable activities - by fund type**
|**Costs of charitable activities - by fund type**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
Conferences and training
259,902
122,634
259,902
122,634|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
382,536
382,536|**2023**
**Total**
**£**
318,508|
|||318,508|
In 2023 of the costs of charitable activities, £96,658 was attributable to restricted funds, with the balance of £221,850 being unrestricted.
**Page 9**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Notes to financial statements**
## **for the year ended 30 June 2024**
## **5. Costs of charitable activities - by activity**
|**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**£**
Conferences and training
382,536
382,536|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
382,536
382,536|**2023**
**Total**
**£**
318,508|
|---|---|---|
|||318,508|
|**6.**
**Employees**
**Employment costs**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs|**2024**
**£**
202,949
15,036
6,076
224,061|**2023**
**£**
171,980
7,833
5,095|
|---|---|---|
|||184,908|
One employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 (2023 : None).
## **Number of employees**
The average monthly numbers of employees (including the trustees) during the year, was as follows:
|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|
|**Number**|**Number**|
|6|5|
Ms M Lacy, a trustee, received remuneration of £61,000 (2023 - £57,000), under employment contracts in respect of her role as Executive Director. A contribution of £1,830 (2023 - £1,710) was also made to the charity defined contribution pension scheme.
Authority for the trustees' employment is contained within the constitution of the charity.
No trustee received any remuneration in respect of their services as a trustee of the charity.
## **7. Pension costs**
The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme in respect of it's employees. The scheme and its assets are held by independent managers. The pension charge represents contributions due from the company and was as follows:
|and was as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
||**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Pension charge|6,076|5,095|
**Page 10**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Notes to financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2024**
|**Fixtures,**
**8.**
**Tangible fixed assets**
**fittings and**
**equipment**
**£**
**Cost**
At 1 July 2023 and
At 30 June 2024
2,867
**Depreciation**
At 1 July 2023
1,198
Charge for the year
716
At 30 June 2024
1,914
**Net book values**
At 30 June 2024
953
At 30 June 2023
1,669
**9.**
**Debtors**
**2024**
**£**
Trade debtors
2,610
Other debtors
5,000
Prepayments and accrued income
447
8,057
**10.**
**Creditors: amounts falling due**
**within one year**
**2024**
**£**
Trade creditors
786
Other taxes and social security
3,680
Other creditors
8,795
Accruals and deferred income
1,649
14,910|**Total**
**£**
2,867|
|---|---|
||1,198
716|
||1,914|
||953|
||1,669|
||**2023**
**£**
3,604
5,000
-|
||8,604|
||**2023**
**£**
6,823
3,216
7,592
1,704|
||19,335|
**Page 11**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Notes to financial statements**
## **for the year ended 30 June 2024**
## **11. Analysis of net assets between funds**
|**Analysis of net assets between funds**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**||**Restricted**|**Total**||
||**funds**||**funds**|**funds**||
||**£**||**£**|**£**||
|Fund balances at 30 June 2024 as represented by:||||||
|Tangible fixed assets|953||-|953||
|Current assets|35,791||5,852|41,643||
|Current liabilities|(11,991|)|)
(2,919|(14,910|)|
||24,753||2,933|27,686||
||**Unrestricted**||**Restricted**|**Total**||
||**funds**||**funds**|**funds**||
||**£**||**£**|**£**||
|Fund balances at 30 June 2023 as represented by:||||||
|Tangible fixed assets|1,669||0|1,669||
|Current assets|72,839||14,143|86,982||
|Current liabilities|(17,022)||(2,313)|(19,335)||
||57,486||11,830|69,316||
## **12. Analysis of movements in unrestricted funds**
|**Analysis of movements in unrestricted funds**||
|---|---|
|**At**
**1 July**
**2023**
**Income Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
General Funds
57,486
255,067
)
(259,902
)
(27,898
**Analysis of movements in unrestricted funds - previous year**
**At**
**1 July**
**2022**
**Income Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
General Funds
90,478
213,889
(221,850)
(25,031)
90,478
213,889
(221,850)
(25,031)|**At**
**30 June**
**2024**
**£**
24,753|
||**At**
**30 June**
**2023**
**£**
57,486|
||57,486|
**Page 12**
## **Growing Young Disciples**
## **Notes to financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2024**
## **13. Analysis of movements in restricted funds**
||**At**|||||**At**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**1 July**|||||**30 June**|
||**2023**|**Income **|**Expenditure**||**Transfers**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**||**£**|**£**|
|Restricted Fund|11,830|85,839|(122,634|)|27,898|2,933|
|**Analysis of movements in restricted funds - previous**||**year**|||||
||**At**|||||**At**|
||**1 July**|**Income **|**Expenditure**|||**30 June**|
||**2022**||||**Transfers**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**||**£**|**£**|
|Restricted Fund|-|83,457|(96,658)||25,031|11,830|
||-|83,457|(96,658)||25,031|11,830|
## **Purposes of restricted funds**
We operate restricted funds for donations that are given specifically to enable us to employ specific staff members. These funds are used to cover payroll and other associated costs incurred in relation to the employment of these individuals.
**Page 13**