The Hope Trust Oxford
Financial Statements and Trustees’ Annual Report
1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025
Charity registration number: 1190127 (England and Wales)
The Hope Trust Oxford
Financial Statements and Trustees’ Annual Report
For the year ended 30th June 2025
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| General information | 2 |
| Objectives and activities | 3 |
| Achievements and performance | 4 |
| Financial review | 5 |
| Structure, governance and management | 5 |
| Declarations | 6 |
| Accounts | 7 |
| Independent examiner’s reports |
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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
Georgina Prineppi Rebecca Pillar James Paterson Andrew Turnbull Andrew Butterworth Douglas Watson (appointed 21 July 2025)
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 2025.
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 through providing and sponsoring the St Ebbe’s Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Debt Centre. The Hope Trust does this by employing one full-time and one part-time position, which enable the St Ebbe’s CAP Debt Centre and Life Skills works. We also make a monthly contribution of £600 to CAP Head Office as part of this arrangement.
As part of our partnership with Safe Families and St Ebbe’s Church, we also made a further contribution of £5,000 during the year to support a part-time worker for this excellent cause.
At the beginning of the 2024-25 financial year, the staffing of the Debt Centre consisted solely of a full-time Debt Centre Manager; we were then very pleased to welcome a new part-time CAP Debt and Life Skills Coach in October 2024.
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. The community 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 now based at St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford.
As well as the Debt Help service, we ran two Life Skills Courses and two CAP Money courses this financial year, despite being without a Life Skills Coach for much of the time. 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.
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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 eight 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 three volunteers who assist with Life Skills, befriending and supporting the group members, and helping with practical tasks. Some volunteers also come along to the weekly CAP Cafe hosted at St Ebbe's.
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.
In spring 2025, we were delighted to appoint our new Chairperson, Georgina Prineppi, who took over after Rebecca Pillar’s five years in this role.
The CAP Debt Centre has continued to make a huge difference to people’s lives in the way that the Debt Centre 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 and CAP Money Course 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, Barton, Marston, Headington, Littlemore, and from St Ebbe’s parish. Referrals come from the JobCentre, Turning Point, Crisis, Edge Housing, social services, GP Social Prescribers, the church, UnRebel, 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.
The Life Skills Courses continue to be a valuable support to those struggling with life on a low income, as well as providing a warm community to those struggling with loneliness and isolation Life Skills 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 where members can chat, make friends, learn
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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. A great sense of community has developed through each of the courses, and we have held periodic reunions to catch up with former members. Members have commented “Very friendly environment”…“The people are just so nice and kind”…“Helped me realise things and how to make little changes”, and “I plan to cook more to save money”
Finally, we were thrilled that members of St Ebbe’s Church Oxford sponsored Christmas hampers for CAP clients, they brought much joy and encouragement!
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 2025) was £38,621.11 (2024: £41,462.02).
Total income was mostly in the form of both restricted and unrestricted donations, grants, gift aid and interest and amounted to £66,276.20 (2024: £65,892.63). As part of this figure, a seed donor gave £10,000, and a Harvest fund from St Ebbe’s Church raised £22,160. Grace Church, Cowley also very kindly gifted £6,500.
Total expenditure was £69,117.09 (2024: £72,758.97)
At the end of the financial year, the Trust held £38,621.11 of reserves (2024: £41,462.02).
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.
St Ebbe’s PCC (registered charity 1127816) is deemed a related party of the Hope Trust Oxford since it has a common trustee. During the year, the Hope Trust Oxford received donations from St Ebbe’s amounting to £29,957 (2024: £21,243).
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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The charity’s key management personnel are trustees, who are all volunteers.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature | |
| Full name | Georgina Prineppi |
| Position | Chair of Trustees |
| Date | 8thJanuary 2026 |
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Accounts
1st July 2024 - 30th June 2025 – all to the nearest £
| Receipts Individual donations Seed donor Grants St Ebbes Donation Interest Gift Aid Other Total receipts |
Unrestricted funds 12,221 10,000 - 28,660 88 2,275 94 |
Restricted funds 2,942 - 8,700 1,297 - - - |
Total funds | Prior year 3,689 25,000 15,400 21,243 110 444 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
15,163 |
||||
10,000 |
||||
8,700 |
||||
29,957 |
||||
88 |
||||
2,275 |
||||
94 |
||||
| 53,337 | 12,939 |
66,276 |
65,893 |
|
| Payments Admin support salary Payroll provider Bank charges HMRC NEST Insurance Website Parish worker salary CAP DCM salary CAP life skills manager salary CAP LSC salary CAP contribution CAP ministry |
5,020 - 45 - - 356 303 - - - - - - |
- 490 15 5,649 4,646 - - 2,500 25,122 - 10,669 7,200 - |
3,406 350 66 6,670 4,070 325 239 10,833 14,343 14,437 3,000 7,200 1,300 |
|
5,020 |
||||
490 |
||||
60 |
||||
5,649 |
||||
4,646 |
||||
356 |
||||
303 |
||||
2,500 |
||||
25,122 |
||||
- |
||||
10,669 |
||||
7,200 |
||||
- |
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| Payments -continued | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Total funds | Prior year 266 378 - 396 90 5,000 390 - - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medhurst Ministries contribution Accountancy fees Marketing Office supplies Staff expenses Safe Families Legal fees Trustee expenses Independent examiner's fee |
- - 58 236 100 5,000 - 58 390 |
- - - - 1,260 - - - - |
- |
|
- |
||||
58 |
||||
236 |
||||
1,360 |
||||
5,000 |
||||
- |
||||
58 |
||||
390 |
||||
| Totalpayments | 11,566 | 57,551 |
69,117 |
72,759 |
| Net of receipts/(payments) | ||||
| 41,771 | -44,612 |
-2,841 |
-6,866 |
|
| Transfers between funds Cash funds last year end |
-43,877 40,727 |
43,877 735 |
- 48,328 |
|
- |
||||
41,462 |
||||
| Cash funds this year end | 38,621 | - |
38,621 |
41,462 |
Signed on behalf of all the trustees:
| Signature | |
| Full name | Georgina Prineppi |
| Position | Chair of Trustees |
| Date | 8thJanuary 2026 |
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
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Report to the trustees/ The Hope Trust Oxford
members of
30 June 2025 Charity no 1190127
On accounts for the year
(if any)
ended
Set out on pages 7-8
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The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The
Respective responsibilities The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The of trustees and examiner charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year 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 by the examiner’s statement 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.
examiner’s statement
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Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my 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.
Date: 9[th] January 2026 Signed: Name: Sheila Parry Relevant professional FCCA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Peace House, Paradise Street, Oxford OX1 1LD
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