The Hope Trust Oxford
Financial Statements and Trustees’ Annual Report
1st July 2022 to 30th June 2023
Charity registration number: 1190127 (England and Wales)
The Hope Trust Oxford
Financial Statements and Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 30th June 2023
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| General information | 2 |
| Objectives and activities | 3 |
| Achievements and performance | 4 |
| Financial review | 4 |
| Structure, governance and management | 5 |
| Declarations | 6 |
| Accounts | 7 |
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The Hope Trust Oxford General Information
Registered charity name The Hope Trust Oxford Charity number 1190127 Principal and registered office address 1-2 Roger Bacon Lane Oxford OX1 1QE
Trustees
Rebecca Pillar (Chair) Robin Cooper (resigned Dec 2023) James Paterson Georgina Prineppi Andrew Turnbull Andrew Butterworth (joined Feb 2024)
Independent Examiner
SPX Oxford Ltd Peace House 19 Paradise Street Oxford OX1 1LD
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The trustees are pleased to present their annual report and accounts for the period ending 30th June 2023.
Objectives and Activities
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document
The purposes of The Hope Trust Oxford are the advancement of the Christian faith in the UK or abroad, with a primary focus in Oxford, in accordance with a Basis of Faith including, but not limited to, the support of charitable or other organisations which, or individuals who, are involved in any of the activities set out in the following clauses as an expression of the Christian life and faith:
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the relief of those in need, hardship or distress;
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the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life;
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the promotion of Christian education and faith through evangelism, preaching, Bible teaching or training.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts
The trust’s main means of relieving poverty and supporting the advancement of the Christian faith in Oxford currently is its sponsoring of St Ebbe’s Christians Against Poverty (CAP) debt centre. We employ a Debt Centre Manager for three days a week and she works with a team of befriender volunteers. We give a monthly contribution of £600 to CAP. The CAP ministry’s expenses for this financial year included the costs of continuing to run a community café, and providing a weekly hot lunch for the Life Skills group members from January 2023.
The café continues to run weekly. It is a hub for clients and people interested in the work of CAP to socialise and talk through debt issues in a more informal setting, as well as find out a bit more about church and Christianity if they would like. The café is based at a church in Oxford called Grace Church Cowley.
In June 2022 we interviewed for and appointed a new member of the CAP team – a Life Skills Manager and Debt Coach. This role is a four day a week position and entails supporting the Debt Centre Manager as a debt coach, as well as running Life Skills courses. In addition to this, a Life Skills Coach was appointed to work one day a week to assist with the Life Skills Manager with the Life Skills courses. These are 8-10 week courses which aim to support and empower people living on a low income by equipping them with many practical money saving techniques, such as cooking on a budget and making their money go further. We plan to run three courses a year with up to ten people on each course.
As of Sept 2022, the Hope Trust fulfilled its obligation to support the parish worker. His work is focused on local community, in the deprived area of our local estate, while working in close partnership with St Ebbes Church. St Ebbes Church is his formal employer but the Hope Trust supplies his lion share through monthly gifts through St Ebbe’s.
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Medhurst Ministries is a Christian charity based in the north of England and specialises in gospel work on estates. The Hope Trust Oxford sponsored Medhurst to visit St Ebbes for a weekend and engage in training with local community outreach team and city centre congregation.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
All trustees have read and had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Contribution made by volunteers
The Debt Centre has a team of 8 befriender volunteers. They accompany the Debt Coach on visits and focus on the non-debt related needs of the client, such as facilitating bringing the client into the community and helping with practical tasks. There are also 2 volunteers who assist with Life Skills, befriending and supporting the group members, and helping with practical tasks.
Achievements and Performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.
The CAP Debt entre has made a huge difference to people’s lives in the way that the Debt Centre Manager, Life Skills Manager and Life Skills Coach, as well as the volunteers, have shown practical care, empathy and a listening ear, and worked hard to strengthen community relationships. Many clients have made significant progress on their journey towards becoming debt free. Life Skills members have learned new ways to lift the pressure of life on a low income, as well as gained valuable benefits from being in community with each other.
The Debt Centre and Life Skills Course has had referrals from all over Oxford - Cowley, Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys, Barton, Marston, Headington and from St Ebbe’s parish. Referrals come from the Jobcentre, Turning Point, Crisis, social services, GP Social Prescribers, and word of mouth. There is a mix of employed, unemployed and retired people, as well as those unable to work due to poor physical or mental health. There is a mixture of ages and ethnicity. With the debt clients is a variety in debt: some only have debt from one source, some have debts from several. The amount of debt varies from a few thousand pounds to many thousands of pounds.
Most debt clients are on repayment plans or going through a Debt Relief Order. While a major aim of the centre is to help clients with their finances so that they might become debt free, the Christian motive behind the charity is made explicit right from the start. Clients are asked if they would like prayer and the Centre’s links with churches are made known. Clients and Life Skills members are invited along to church events, and several have shown interest, attended services, and have gone further into discipleship courses.
In January 2023, the first Life Skills course was launched. It is an 8-10 week course and consists of three components: the course itself, which includes sessions on budgeting, shopping on a budget, eating healthily, staying on top of home energy bills, and maintaining healthy relationships during stressful times; Community - each session includes a lunch
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where members can chat, make friends, learn from each other and support each other; and Coaching - each member is encouraged to set personal goals and work towards them with one-to-one support from the Life Skills Manager and Life Skills Coach. The first course started with 14 members, and a stable core of 10 continued. A great sense of community developed over the course of the meetings, and members commented on how much it had helped to lift the pressure, encouraged them to reach out and get the help they need, and helped them come out of isolation and into community.
Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period
The final sum in the bank account at the end of our financial year (30th June 2023) was £48,328.36 (2022: £42,720.46).
Total income was in the form of both restricted and unrestricted donations and interest and amounted to £71,778.95 (£41,154.03 restricted to the CAP work, £30,435.00 unrestricted, £103.67 interest and £82.25 gift aid) (2022: £33,836.60 restricted to the CAP work, £42,301.93 unrestricted, £3.63 interest). As part of this figure, a seed donor gave £30,000 and a Harvest fund from St Ebbe’s Church raised just over £23,500. The remaining income came from both trusts and foundations and individuals.
Total expenditure was £66,171.05 (2022: £37,346.26).
At the end of the financial year, the Trust held £48,328.36 of reserves (2022: £42,720.46).
There are no material uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern.
Structure, Governance and Management
The type of governing document for The Hope Trust Oxford is a constitution that is based on the Charity Commission foundation model for a CIO. The constitution also includes a 1-page ‘Basis of Faith’ to which all trustees are asked to agree to on appointment to the trustee board.
The charity is a charitable incorporated organisation.
Trustee selection methods
Apart from the first three charity trustees (named in the constitution and the founding members), every charity trustee must be appointed for a maximum of three years by a resolution passed by at least a 75% majority at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.
In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity.
In accordance with the constitution, a charity trustee whose term of office has expired shall be eligible for reappointment for up to two further three year terms, but a trustee who has served nine years in total shall not be eligible for reappointment until at least one full year has elapsed.
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| Trustees | Date of appointment |
|---|---|
| Rebecca Pillar | 25th May 2020 |
| Robin Cooper | 7th December 2020 (resigned December 2023) |
| James Paterson | 10th July 2021 |
| Georgina Prineppi | 19th July 2022 |
| Andrew Turnbull | 25th May 2020 |
| Andrew Butterworth | 19thFebruary 2024 |
The charity’s key management personnel are trustees, who are all volunteers.
The charity entered into a non-legally binding Memorandum of Understanding with St Ebbe’s Church and the congregation leaders of St Ebbe’s are invited to recommend individuals who may be considered appropriate for the position of trustee.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature | |
| Full name | Andrew Turnbull |
| Position eg. secretary, chair etc. |
Trustee |
| Date | 3 April 2024 |
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Accounts
1st July 2022 - 30th June 2023
Receipts and payments
| Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds 2023 to the nearest £ |
Total funds 2022 to the nearest £ |
|
| Individual donations |
435 | 25,254 |
25,689 | 63,975 | |
| Trust and foundation donations |
30,000 | 15,900 | 45,900 | 12,164 | |
| Interest | 104 | - | 104 | 4 | |
| Gift Aid | 86 | 86 | |||
| Sub total | 30,625 | 41,154 | 71,779 | 76,143 |
| Payments | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds 2023 to the nearest £ |
Total funds 2022 to the nearest £ |
|
| Admin support salary |
6,250 | 6,250 | 7,114 | ||
| Payroll provider | 420 | 420 | 420 | ||
| Bank charges | 75 | 75 | 102 | ||
| HMRC | 5,899 | 5,899 | 4,365 | ||
| NEST pensions | 4209 | 4209 | 2,513 | ||
| Insurance | 282 | 282 | 269 | ||
| Website | 226 | 226 | 403 | ||
| Parish worker salary |
6,667 | 6,667 | |||
| Christians Against Poverty debt centre manager salary |
13,955 | 13,955 | 13,648 | ||
| Christians Against Poverty |
13,318 | 13,318 |
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| life skills manager salary |
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| Christians Against Poverty life skills coach salary |
2,668 | 2,668 | ||
| Christians Against Poverty contribution |
7,200 | 7,200 | 7,200 | |
| Christians Against Poverty ministry |
Hampers, café etc (expenses) |
1,288 | 1,288 | 836 |
| Medhurst Ministries contribution |
2500 | 2500 | ||
| Accountancy fees (incl. Independent Examination) |
360 | 360 | 360 | |
| Marketing | 47 | 47 | 12 | |
| Office supplies | 434 | 434 | 14 | |
| Staff expenses | 54 | 54 | 90 | |
| Innovista partnership |
321 | 321 | ||
| Sub total | 18,256 | 47,917 |
66,173 | 37,346 |
| Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
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| Net of receipts/(payments) |
12,369 | -6,763 | 5,606 | |
| Cash funds last year end |
30,569 | 12,153 | 42,722 | |
| Cash funds this year end |
42,938 | 5,390 | 48,328 |
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Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees:
| Signature | |
| Full name | Andrew Turnbull |
| Position eg. secretary, chair etc. |
Trustee |
| Date | 3 April 2024 |
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ The Hope Trust Oxford members of
On accounts for the year 30 June 2023 Charity no 1190127 ended (if any)
Set out on pages 1-2 of Receipts and Payments accounts
Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsibilities of The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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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
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• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given examiner’s statement 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 the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my examiner's statement attention (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Name: Sheila Parry Relevant professional FCCA qualification(s) or body (if any):
Date: 9 April 2024
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IER
December 2018
Address: Peace House, Paradise Street, Oxford OX1 1LD
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
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IER
December 2018