## Gateway into Life ## _(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)_ ## _Charity number 1184557_ Annual Report Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025 ## CONTENTS Administrative Information Annual Report of the Trustees 2025 Financial Report and Accounts ## **Gateway into Life Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31[st] December 2025** The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2025 ## **Administrative Information** **Charity Name:** Gateway into Life **Charity registration number:** _1184557_ **Charity Registration:** 23[rd] July 2019 **Registered Office and operational address** : Ryehill Farmhouse Thropton Morpeth Northumberland NE65 7NG ## **Trustees** Mr Paul Allen Chair Initial appointment 23/0719 renewed until 22/07/2026 Dr Joss Bray Initial appointment 01/03/2021 renewed until 01/03/2027 Mr David Harbertson DBS recruiter and Safeguarding Officer Initial appointment 23/07/19 renewed until 22/07/2027 Mr Steve Hardwick Initial appointment 24/04/22 until 23/04/2025 Mrs Susan Pearsons Treasurer Initial appointment 24/01/2022 until 13/01/2028 ## Resignations No trustees have resigned ## **Independent Examiner of Accounts** Mr J Archer ACA, Chartered Accountant, 4 Willoughby Park, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1ET **Bankers** – Current Account: Lloyds Bank (TSB) Deposit Account: Kingdom Bank ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Governing Document** The organisation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered as a charity on 23[rd] July 2019. The charity was established with a constitution with charity trustees as the only voting members. ## **Change in the Constitution** The constitution allows for between 3 and 12 trustees. A resolution to change the constitution was passed on 13[th] January 2025. This removed section 10/2 entitled “Nominated Trustees” from the constitution. It was agreed that the charity was now fully established on Christian principles so the protection of up to 7 of these being appointed by Gateway Church Northumberland was no longer needed. ## **Recruitment and Appointment of the Trustees** Under the requirements of the Constitution, except for the initial Trustees, every Trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Trustees. There shall be a minimum of three and a maximum of twelve Trustees. Any person retiring as a Trustee is eligible for reappointment. All member of the Trustees give their time voluntarily and received no benefits from the charity. ## **Responsibilities of the Trustees** The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the charity is true to the objectives, fulfils all legal requirements, account for all giving to the charity and ensures that funds are used appropriately. To this end the treasurer prepares financial statements for each Trustee’s meeting which give a true and accurate view of the state of the finances of the charitable company. The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose accurately at any time the financial position of the CIO and to enable the trustees to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 1985. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the CIO and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. In addition to the above responsibilities the trustees recognise their legal responsibility to safeguard all vulnerable people who are beneficiaries, volunteers or paid workers. As the CIO’s Trustees, we certify that so far as we know, there is no relevant financial information of which the charity’s reviewer of accounts is unaware. We have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the charity’s reviewer also knows that information. ## **Chair of Trustees** Mr Paul Allen has continued in the role of Chair throughout 2025 ## **Treasurer** The treasurer, Mrs Susan Pearsons, was appointed as a Trustee early in 2022 and took over full responsibility for the charity accounts at the start of 2023. She has continued in this role since that date. ## **Purposes and Objectives** Our charity's purposes as set out in the objects contained in the CIO’s constitution: ## **The Objects of the CIO are, for the public benefit:** - 1. The advancement of the Christian religion in the United Kingdom in accordance with the statement of faith produced by the Evangelical Alliance - 2. To relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind, including the provision of accommodation, in Northumberland and other such parts of the United Kingdom as the Trustees from time to time may think fit - 3. To advance the rehabilitation of vulnerable adults including ex-offenders, people with addiction problems and the homeless, in such ways that the trustees think fit, including through the provision of mentoring, advice and supervision to assist them to break the cycle of reoffending, relapse and homelessness by developing their capacity, skills and experience in such a way that they are better able to identify and meet their needs and to participate more fully in society. ## **Hope into Action UK** Since the registration of Gateway into Life (G2L) as a charity on 23rd July 2019, the Trustees have worked to fulfil the Charity Objectives by establishing a franchise with Hope into Action UK (HiAUK). HiA is a national housing charity with a similar Christian ethos to G2L. We are indebted to HiAUK for the excellent support they have given to us. Our franchise gave us access to a model that enabled us to quickly establish our first house and also policies, guidance and regular support both remotely and through face to face meetings. As part of the franchise agreement, HiAUK routinely assesses the quality of our work, every 6 months, using a Location Health Check (LHC) Matrix. One check is carried out remotely to ensure that our records and compliance are up to date. The other check is an in person visit when different partners and users are interviewed. The resulting LHC provides a clear picture of what we are doing well and if necessary action points to improve our operation. The Franchise agreement with HiAUK runs until 1[st] May 2029. ## **Houses** The Alnwick house that opened in March 2020 continued in early 2024 to provide supported accommodation for ex-offenders. During 2024 the house investor indicated that they needed to sell the property. A new investor was found who took over ownership of the house in September 2025. Meanwhile, the house has been empty since the final tenant left in October 2024. The Alnwick house was ready to receive tenants late October and a Business Lease was signed with the new owner commencing 1[st] November 2025. The proposed house in Rothbury did not come to fruition. After many months of the house being empty and the search for a suitable family not resulting in tenants, it was decided jointly by the supporting church, the trustees and the investor to “close” the house. The investor subsequently sold the property in August 2025. ## **Empowerment Worker (EW)** The Empowerment Worker provides professional support to tenants. In July 2023 we appointed a new EW following the resignation of the existing EW. The EW hours were reduced from 22 hours a week to 18 hours a week in November 2024 due to there being no tenants in the houses at that time. The EW hours have remained at 18 hours throughout 2025. These comprise 11 hours for administering G2L’s links with HiAUK and 7 hours for supporting one house. Although the house has been empty these 7 hours have been profitably used to get administration and training updated. ## **Volunteers** In addition to the Trustees, volunteers from local churches have been supporting the work. All volunteers receive safeguarding training and role specific training. This has meant that the church Friendship and Support Group have been ready to receive a tenant. ## **Church Support** During 2025 both Alnwick Baptist Church in Alnwick and Armstrong Hall Christian Fellowship in Thropton have Friendship and Support Groups ready to receive tenants. As the Rothbury house is no longer available, the AHCF group has disbanded. ## **Safeguarding** The charity takes safeguarding seriously although technically the adults that we work with are not classed as vulnerable. Nevertheless, all trustees, workers and volunteers are recruited using recognised safer recruitment procedures. All that require checks are formally vetted and DBS checked. Safeguarding training is undertaken on a regular basis. ## **Finances** The charity has a number of individuals who generously give to G2L each month with much of this being gift aided. A number of local churches also give generously to our work. When houses are occupied we receive housing benefit payments direct from Northumberland County Council. Tenants also pay a personal charge. This helps to pay for TV licence and water charges whereas the tenants are responsible for other utilities. ## **Reserves** In keeping with Charity Commission recommendations, the trustees have agreed to aim for a 6 month running cost reserve. At the end of 2024 we held £13,599 in a Kingdom Bank deposit account. Some of this has had to be used to enable the charity to continue functioning while the Alnwick house has been empty. At the end of 2025 £3708.65 was held in reserves. ## **Plans for the future** 2025 has not been the easiest of years due to there being no tenants supported in any house. It is hoped that with the change of ownership for the Alnwick house and a new 5 year agreement signed, this house will again be occupied early in 2026. Trustees are still committed to supporting ex-offenders but are also looking to support families if there is a need for this. ## **Independent Examiner of Accounts** Mr J Archer ACA, Chartered Accountant,has examined our accounts and these are attached as an appendix. This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (issued in March 2005) and in accordance with the special provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 relating to small entities. Approved by the Trustees on 10/08/26 and signed on its behalf by Mr Paul Allen (Chair) **APPENDIX 1: G2L Annual Accounts 2025 & Examiners Report** ## ## ##