## **Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust** Charity No. 1194345 The charity who bring to you: ## Report & Accounts For the year: 01 April 2024 – 31 March 2025 **Bringing young people together, to discover, and share, life in all its fullness** **echoyp.org** ## **Contents** ||Page| |---|---| |Charity Commission Registration|2| |Governance, Employees, and Volunteers|3| |Overview: A Christian Children and Youthwork Trust for Greater Didcot|4| |Outline Strategy for Engagement|6| |Looking Back: April 2024 – March 2025|8| |Looking Forward: Key Priorities 2023 – 2026
|11| |Financial Statement|12| 1. ## **Charity Commission Registration** ## **Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust Charity No. 1194345** CIO - FOUNDATION Registered 05 May 2021 ## **Charitable objects:** The objects of the CIO are: 1. To advance in life and relieve the needs of young people in the Didcot and surrounding area through: - a. The provision of recreational and leisure time activities provided in the interest of social welfare, designed to improve their conditions of life. - b. Providing support and activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals. 2. The advancement of the Christian religion in Didcot and the surrounding area. **Principal Office:** c/o Didcot Baptist Church, 43 Wantage Road, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0BS ## **Foundation Partner Churches:** - St Matthew’s Harwell with All Saints’ Chilton, HCC (Church of England) - Didcot Baptist Church, DBC (Baptist) - Ridgeway Community Church, RCC (Independent) - Great Western Park Church, GWPC (Church of England) - The King’s Church, Didcot, TKC (OCC[1] ) ## **ECHO - Cannot be Contained:** ECHO is brought to you by the Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust. A ‘young persons’ shaping group’ chose the name and helped to generate ideas for the ‘ECHO - Cannot be Contained’ logo. > 1 OCC – Oxfordshire Community Churches, who are a part of a wider family of churches – Salt & Light Advance 2. ## **Governance, Employees, and Volunteers** ## **Governing Document:** CIO Foundation Model Constitution ## **Trustees:** ## **Appointed:** ## **Type:** Pastor William Joseph Bassett MTh 10 September 2021 Rev Brian Mark Bodeker 05 May 2021 Malcolm Keith Edge 15 July 2024 Sara Green 24 February 2025 Damien Miller 15 July 2024 Rev Jeremy Douglas Adam Parsons 25 September 2023 Susan Margaret Sennewald 10 September 2021 Pastor Nicholas Frederick White 05 May 2021 RCC Ex-officio GWPC Ex-officio Appointed DBC Ex-officio TKC Nominated HCC Ex-officio DBC Nominated TKC Ex-officio The following were trustees for part of the year and their date of resignation is recorded below: Rev Louise Brown Revd Dr Jonathan Mobey 05 May 2021 DBC Ex-officio until 24 February 2025 5 April 2022 Appointed until 7 June 2024 **Diocese of Oxford Mentoring and Support:** The Venerable David Tyler, Archdeacon of Dorchester **Employees:** Hannah Field **Volunteers:** Over 40 people have volunteered and helped, along with the employees of the Trust, in the provision of a wide range of activities for children and youth, over the last year. ## **Governance and funding:** - As per the Trust Constitution, the charity trustees manage the affairs of the CIO. - Trustees come from each partner church (up to 1 ex-officio trustee and up to 1 nominated trustee). In addition to this, the Trust has appointed Trustees (up to 4) who can bring additional experience and expertise in e.g., areas like finance. - Partner churches can contribute financially to the work of the Trust and also ‘in kind’ through the use of e.g., premises and resources. - The Trust seeks additional funding from grant-awarding bodies and donations from those who would like to contribute to the work. - The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. 3. ## **Overview: A Christian Children and Youthwork Trust for Greater Didcot** The Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust, was born out of a shared vision for churches across the area working together to serve the spiritual, social, and emotional needs of local young people; providing opportunities for them to discover ‘life to the full’. Through churches in Didcot, and the surrounding villages, working collaboratively, we are better positioned to engage with the rapidly growing numbers of young people in our area, and their ‘felt’ and ‘unfelt’ needs, as we look to provide a range of holistic opportunities for them to explore, grow in, and share life and faith. In establishing an independent Trust (in 2021), we are able to pool resources, expertise, and people, as well as be joined up in our approach and strategy. This is particularly important in a growing area, with a range of needs and opportunities. ## **A Growing Area** According to the 2011 Census, Didcot (which was awarded Garden Town Status in 2015) had a population of around 25,000 people. In figures sourced from South Oxfordshire District Council, this is predicted to more than double and rise to 62,000 by 2031.[2] ## **Growth Potential:** **Source: South Oxfordshire District Council[3]** > 2 https://www.southoxon.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/Delivery-Plan-Chapter-9-10th-October-2017web-q-5.pdf p.14 > 3 https://www.southoxon.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/10/Delivery-Plan-Chapter-9-10th-October-2017web-q-5.pdf p.14 4. In addition to the 12 primary schools and 4 secondary schools, there are plans to open further primary schools and a special educational needs school. According to the County Council, this area is forecast to have the fastest growing pupil population in Oxfordshire.[4] ## **Need & Opportunity** In contrast to the growing population locally, there is a backdrop of national decline in church engagement with children and youth.[5] The collaborative approach of the Trust is therefore vital; enabling new opportunities to engage with both the current young people living in the area, and the rapidly growing numbers of those who are moving in. In providing shared spaces and activities, where new and existing residents are able to mix and get to know one another, a sense of social cohesion and belonging is also able to be provided, which can be of benefit to emotional well-being. This is also particularly important, as during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the young people were needing to learn online; isolated physically from their peers, not just in a school environment, but also in a social environment too. The Children’s Society ‘The Good Childhood Report (2021)’ found that in reflecting on the pandemic children had: _‘…coped less well with not being able to see friends and family, and not being able to do hobbies/pastimes. This is not surprising, as these are all types of activities that we know are important to protecting children’s subjective well-being.’[6]_ The work of the Trust is therefore important in addressing the social isolation and loneliness experienced, and the impact upon well-being that has been observed. From shared experiences, we also recognise that young people who are Christians, often find themselves in the minority in their school classes and friendship groups. Through the various activities of the Trust, they will also have the opportunity of meeting with, and engaging with Christians of similar age, drawn together from different schools, and different churches, which can be of support and encouragement to them as they look to grow in life and faith. As a Trust, we are passionate about seeing the growing population of young people in Greater Didcot, discovering and sharing life in all its fullness. > 4 _‘Oxfordshire County Council Special Free School’,_ March 2019, p.10 > 5 ‘Disciples Together’: Diocese of Oxford Report, published in 2020; based on the research of the ‘Children, Young People, and Families Working Group’ www.oxford.anglican.org/mission-ministry/youthandchildren/disciplestogether/ > 6 https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/good-childhood-report-2021 5. ## **Outline strategy for engagement** We have embarked on the ‘Gather-Grow-Go’ cycle to develop the Trust’s strategy and approach. In 2021 this saw us undertake a ‘Snapshot Survey’ to create a picture of the Christian children’s and youthwork taking place across Greater Didcot. This was designed to help play a part in identifying: - potential needs, gaps, and opportunities, for work with and among young people. - ways in which the Trust can potentially complement and build upon what churches are already doing. Alongside this we sought the views of young people, leaders, and other Christian organisations, as we looked to discern how best we could serve needs and respond to opportunities. The key things that this helped to identify included e.g., the value of churches working together (and young people mixing with other Christians their age), the need for work taking place midweek (and not just on Sundays), the importance of ‘standing in the gap’ between primary and secondary school (and supporting with this transition, which can be challenging), and equipping young people to grow in their gifts, and live out and share their faith; providing them with opportunities to grow, lead, and serve. Alongside this, the need to be investing in volunteers / leaders as they engage in work with and among young people was also identified. Through this we have been able to prayerfully develop our: **Vision:** Young people discovering and sharing life in all its fullness. In seeking to serve and engage with young people’s ‘felt’ and ‘unfelt’ needs, we are aiming to provide a range of holistic opportunities for them to explore, grow in, and share life and faith. With those young people who discover and follow Jesus, our heart is to be cheering them on and supporting them in this, creating an ‘ECHO Effect’ as they play an active part not just in the church of the future, but the church of today, with the: **Aim:** To make disciples who make disciples. That’s why we look to provide opportunities for young people to **gather** with other Christians, to **grow** in following Jesus, and the gifts and passions He has given, and to **go** share this with others. After all, the Good News, as the Trust’s tagline shares: **cannot be contained.** 6. In response to this, our approach is one that is focused on continually **gathering, growing** , and **going** together, and from the outset we have sought to be co-creating and delivering what we do with the young people, because we believe that they too, **cannot be contained.** In 2021 we therefore identified six key provisions, all designed to link with one another, in order to provide a joined-up but diverse range of opportunities for the young people of Greater Didcot, to be discovering and sharing life in all its fullness. Over a period of five years (2021-26) we seek to develop and deliver these provisions, with the young people playing an active part in this. To enable this to happen we are grateful for the support of grant funding, local churches, and individuals who generously give to our work. ## **Planned Activities (2021-26)** **1. Discipleship Hub (ECHO Events)** : a regular gathering for 11-18s featuring times of worship, Bible study, prayer, teaching, and eating together; providing opportunities to deepen relationship with God, and with one another. Through this, young people can be equipped and encouraged to play an active part, not just in this provision, but in other provisions, and their ‘home’ churches and communities too. **2. Training and Inspiration (ECHO EQUIP)** for volunteer leaders / workers, to equip and encourage them in their work among young people. We know they give so much, and our heart is to be giving back to them in their important work. It is hoped too that this will aid the sustainability and growth of children’s and youth work in the area. **3. School provision** of Collective Worship; including a focus on Year Sixes and supporting their transition to Secondary School through a ‘School Transition Programme’. We are also looking to provide further support, through Secondary School based ‘pop up’ Youth Cafes. **4. Youth Cafe** open after school on a weekly basis near to a local Secondary School, focused on bringing young people together ‘for food, for friendship, for good.’ Alongside providing a relaxed space to rest and recharge, space will also be provided, for the youngsters to engage with as they wish, to reflect, and to also pray. **5. Sports Outreach (Soul Sport)** regular sessions for young people to encourage physical fitness and friendship, whilst also providing the opportunity for them to explore faith. We are also looking to develop special sport-related events which can be opened up to a wider group of people, to build relationships and encourage a deeper exploration of faith. **6. Youth Alpha (ECHO EXPLORE & ECHO EXPLORERS)** courses and activities provided for young people who would like to explore more about the Christian faith. 7. ## **Looking Back: April 2024 - March 2025** We continue to be encouraged by how the young people have engaged with the Trust - growing in their gifts and passions, and playing an active part in the shaping and delivery of its work, in both local churches and the wider community. As we look back over the last year (01 April 2024 - 31 March 2025) a range of activities and developments have taken place, as we have engaged with our charitable objects. Examples of progress made, and impact had, include the following: ## **ECHO Events (Discipleship Hub)** ECHO Events have been provided for those in School Years 6-13, giving them the opportunity to gather together for food, worship, games, and lots of fun. These events have kindly been hosted on the premises of a local church. - Two ECHO Events took place over the course of the year on 12 May 24 and 17 November 24. - Young people have helped to co-create and deliver these events, providing them with the opportunity to develop skills in areas such as planning, leadership, and communication. - These regular gatherings see an average of around 35 young people coming together on a Sunday afternoon; providing them with the opportunity to form friendships, and to explore and grow in their faith, skills, and passions. - Highlights from the last year have included: ‘Wild & Wacky’ Games, UV Glow in the Dark Football, and Arts & Crafts, as well as times of prayer, teaching, and worship together. - At the ECHO Event in May, young people played an active part in the Communications Team, as they helped to capture footage sharing our story as part of the ECHO Engage programme. ## **ECHO YP Worship Group** Linked to this, and in keeping with our desire to be investing in the young people, and actively involving them in the delivery of the work, we have an ECHO YP Worship Group. It’s been great to see them grow in their gifts and passions and to provide them with opportunities to play an active part in leading worship at the ECHO Events and at our first ECHO **Celebration Sunday** which saw around 120 people of all-ages gather for a time of prayer, teaching, worship, and giving thanks to God. 8. ## **ECHO Engage** We were excited to launch ECHO Engage in 2024, which focuses on providing workshops/projects that help equip young people with the skills, and understanding, to help them live out and share their faith. This year we focused on the area of creative communication, and collaborated with the Creative Communications Agency Stone Barrell on this, to look at narrative and visual storytelling. Through workshops and filming sessions, we worked together with the young people to cocreate two films to help share ECHO’s story, and encourage people to be part of, and support, what we’re doing. The young people did an excellent job, and their films can be viewed on the following page of the **ECHO website:** echoyp.org/films which was also launched this year. ## **Youth Cafe** From April 24 - March 25, we held a total of 33 after-school Youth Cafe drop-in sessions, which saw 2,756 visits (an average of 84 secondary and sixth form visitors on a weekly basis). It’s been encouraging to see the numbers continue to grow, as the young people have invited their friends. Between January 25 - March 25, we saw an average of 103 visitors a week. On 13 February 2025 we had 127 students visit. Young people have shared how much they value the opportunity to relax and meet with friends from other schools, as well as time to unwind from exams. In addition to the weekly sessions, we have also had the Youth Cafe at ECHO Events. ## **Soul Sport (Sports Outreach)** Soul Sport is an opportunity for youngsters to play sport and explore faith. Over the year we’ve had three different blocks for those in primary school, and have focused on football and rounders, as well as engaging with a variety of faith exploration series, including looking at some of Jesus’ miracles in the Bible, and the area of prayer. It’s been great to see the friendships develop among the young people, as they cheer each other on to be the best they can, both on, and off, the pitch. 9. ## **ECHO EXPLORE** As part of the ECHO Taster Activities on 8 May 2024 an ECHO EXPLORE for those in School Years 7-13 took place, providing the opportunity to look at who Jesus is, and difference He makes. This get together consisted of a range of fun activities including interactive games, film, and faith exploration. It was good to gather to share experiences, ask questions, and explore what Christians believe. ## **ECHO EXPLORERS** ECHO EXPLORERS is an opportunity for primary school youngsters to get active, have fun, and explore life and faith! During the summer of 2024 this happened through a series of free activity mornings for those aged 5-11 years old with their parents / carers. A special space was also provided for those families with children who are under 5. Sessions focused on the theme ‘Deep Sea Divers’ and included opportunities to hear, and explore, stories from the Bible, and engage with a range of arts and crafts, games, and songs. 78 people joined in over the summer (50 children and 28 parents/carers) and it was encouraging to hear families share how much they enjoyed taking part and meeting new people. ## **Step Forward (Primary to Secondary School Transition)** ‘Behind the scenes’ lots of work has been taking place to develop a new programme called ‘Step Forward’, ready for schools to be part of in June 2025. This will see ECHO, and volunteers from local churches, supported by the charity BeSpace, providing a week-long prayer and reflection space, designed to help Year 6s as they ‘step forward’ into Year 7. Alongside this we will be looking to provide a time of equipping and vision sharing for volunteers and helpers, focused on the areas of e.g. Year 6-7 transition, and facilitating prayer and reflection **We’re looking forward to building on the work that has taken place in the coming year(s), as we work together to see young people discovering, and sharing, life in all its fullness.** 10. ## **Looking Forward: Key Priorities 2023 - 2026** A key aspect of our work moving forwards will be the development, embedding, and growth of the planned activities mentioned on page 7, which are as follows: - **Discipleship Hub (ECHO Events)** - **Training & Inspiration (ECHO EQUIP)** - **School Provision** - **Youth Cafe** - **Sports Outreach (Soul Sport)** - **Youth Alpha (ECHO EXPLORE & ECHO EXPLORERS)** To complement this, as we look to grow and develop the work of the Trust to see young people discovering and sharing life in all its fullness, the following have been identified as key priorities: **1. Growing the Team.** In order to consolidate existing work, develop new work, and extend our reach, it will be important to expand our team. As well as paid children’s and youth work related posts, we will also be looking to grow the number of volunteers. **2. Developing Younger Leaders.** We are keen to build on the enthusiasm already seen and experiences already had of working with and co-creating with the young people. We would therefore like to further invest in them; giving them opportunities to grow in their gifts and passions, and to use these in the work of the Trust, their ‘home’ churches, and wider community. **3. Developing a Summer Programme of Activities.** The Trust is well-positioned to respond to the need for summer activities for young people during the school holidays. This also provides the opportunity to be reconnecting with students back from university, who could be interested in being part of the team delivering the activities; thus encouraging the development of their gifts and aiding the sustainability and growth of the work. **4. Engagement with Creative Communication.** We are looking to engage with a range of creative communication tools (including e.g., film, photography, and online); equipping young people in their use of these, in order to co-create material that helps young people (and their parents/carers) to connect with the Trust’s work, and to discover, and share, life in all its fullness. Underpinning the above planned activities, and key priorities, are resources like funding. Therefore, the Trust will continue to seek funding from e.g., grant-awarding bodies, churches, and individuals, in order to further develop, embed, and grow its work. We are extremely aware of the importance of, and are really grateful for, the support received in terms of people’s time, prayers, and gifts. 11. ## **Financial Statement** The Trust started the year with a balance of £6k, and thanks to our generous supporters, ended the year with a figure of £29k. On 22 September 2024 we held Celebration Sunday - an opportunity to worship, pray, and give thanks for all God has been doing. During this, we shared how an anonymous donor would very kindly match fund donations received between then and 31 March 2026, up to a total of £20k. Within a few weeks, we had received several substantial one-off gifts from churches and individuals to the value of £10k, which we received the match funding for within the year. This has meant we are now able to recruit an additional Youth Worker to the team, in partnership with The King’s Church Didcot, and have advertised this role during the year. We hope to have that additional person in post early in May 2025. Alongside this, our on-going work with Hannah, as our Lead Youth Worker, has been covered financially in the year by the partnership with Didcot Baptist Church, the continuing grant from the Diocese of Oxford Development Fund, and several generous and continuing donations from churches and individuals, for which we are very grateful. Our anonymous donor has also very kindly funded our ECHO Engage programme this year, where young people had the opportunity to participate in workshops, and filming sessions; co-creating two ECHO films, using filming equipment bought with the generous gift in memory, mentioned in last year’s accounts. Our financial resources are such that at the moment we do not have scope to allocate any funds to reserves. Once we have obtained additional resources and are able to consider a reserves policy, we will do so. We continue to be supported in non-monetary ways by the use (for free) of the Didcot Baptist Church premises for various meetings and activities during the year, and by the skills and time generously given by helpers and volunteers from local churches. They all play an important part in ECHO’s provision of different activities and events for young people. The trustees also play an important role in these activities and events, and in the running of the charity, and the helpful skills and understanding they bring are much valued. We also thank David Hawkins, the treasurer of one of the local churches, for agreeing to be our independent examiner this year. As a charity, we are both dependent upon, and thankful for, the support given - details of how people can give, can be found on: echoyp.org/give. We are grateful for the opportunity to work together across the Greater Didcot area to serve the spiritual, social, and emotional needs of local young people; providing opportunities for them to discover, and share, ‘life to the full’. 12. CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Charity Name .' Greater DId￿t Chris￿an Children and Youthwork Trust 1194345 Annual accounts for the period Peiiod start date 0110412024 31103r2025 Section A Statement of financial activities Restricted income funds Rocomrnended categories by activity Unrestricted funds Prioryear funds Total funds Incoming resources {Note 4) Income and endowments from.. Donations and lega(ies charitab￿ actniities 26,821 744 26,821 17,015 13,669 26,513 16,271 other trading actNthes Investments Sepamte material itern of incorr Other 20.300 45 47,910 6,090 26,390 45 70,271 3,424 631 44,237 Total Resources expended (Note S) Expenditure on: Ralsing funds 22,361 460 5,591 8,961 460 38,126 9,829 charitab￿ actNities 32,535 868 46,234 Separat8 material item of ejpense Other 287 46,521 Total 15,012 33,403 48,415 Net incomellexpenditure) before inveslJnent gainsl(losses) 32,898 11.042 21,856 2,284 Net gain511105sesl on investments Net incomel{expenditure} Extraordinary items Transfers between funds Other recognised gainsl(losses): 32.898 11,042 21,856 2,284 10,174 10,174 Gains and 105ses on revaluatK)n of assets forthe thawiws use other gain511105sesl Net movement in fiinds 22,724 21,856 2,284 Reconciliation of fiinds." Total fvnd$ broughtfopward Total funds carried fonvard 6,110 28,834 1.250 382 7,360 29,216 9,644 7,360 Section B Balance sheet Restricted Unrestricted incomè funds fund5 Totsl last year Total this year Fixed assets Intangible assets Tangible assets Heritage assets Investments F01 F02 F04 F05 Total fixed assets Current assets Stocks Debtors Investments Cash at bank and in hand (Note 11) Total cuffent assets (Note 9) 670 670 663 8,935 9,598 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (Note 10) 524 1.526 2,050 2,238 Net current assets/(lIa￿"I1tsesj 7,360 Total assets less current liabilities 7,360 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year Provisions for liabilities Total net assets or liabilities Funds of the Charity Endowment funds 28,834 382 29.216 7,360 Restricted income funds (Nots 12) Unrestricted funds Revaluation reserve 382 382 1,250 6,110 28.834 28,834 Total funds 7.360 Signed by one or iwo trustees on behalt of all the ttustees Date of approval ddlmml SKJnature Prinl Narne Malcolm Ed Sara Green CC17a (Excell 1711212025 Greater Didcot Christian Children and Youthwork Trust- Charity No 1194345 Notes to the accounts for the period ending 31 March 2025 l. Basis of preparation These accotjnts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value urkless otherwise stated in the relevant notelsl to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reportin8 by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued on 16 July 2014, and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021. The charity constitute5 a public benefit entity as defined by FRSIO2. 2. Income and Expenditure Income is included in the accounts on receipt, apart from income tax to be recovered on personal donations, which is listed as debtors. There were no funds pending recognition or definition. The value of volunteer help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees report. Expenditure is included in the accounts at the point of expense. Items expended after the year end which refer to activities or liabilities Ifor example work done but not paid for} in the financial year are included as creditors. 3. Assets The charity has bought items of equipment either on its own or in partnership with local churches. Equipment to the value of £5￿ or less is written off as expenditure in the year it 15 purchased. 4. Analysis of Income Analysis Donations and Gifts Gift Aid Grant.. Diocese of Oxford Contributions to activities Contributions to cost of staff Anonymous donations via Stewardship Other Total Unrestricted Restrirted Total 24789 24789 2032 2032 6090 744 16271 20300 45 70271 Last Year 11724 2289 3424 666 6090 744 16271 26134 20300 45 47910 22361 44237 5. Analysis of Expenditure Analysis Staff Costs (note 71 Equipment, printing etc Publicity & ICT Insurance Activity & Event Expenses Staff Training Venue Hire Other Expenses (note 131 Totals Unrestricted Restricted Total 164 32535 32699 206 206 460 460 354 354 3398 3398 593 876 8961 15012 Last Year 41690 215 255 354 2993 593 876 9829 48415 105 885 868 33403 25 46522 6. The independent examiner generously provided his examination at no cost to the trust. 7. Staff costs Analysis Salaries and wages Social security costs Defined Contribution Pension payments Life Assurance payments via pension scheme Total This year 31,287 Last year 40,611 1,248 164 195 41,690 32.699 No employee received employee benefits forthe reporting period of more than £60.000. The trust receives the benefit of the National Insurance Employers Allowance, and as a result paid no employers National Insurance in the year lor last yearl. There was l employee forthe year and so no ex-grdtia or redundency payments were made. 8. Defined contribution pension scheme The charity provide5 employee5 access to the CofE Pension scheme PB2014. This is a hybrid scheme where the value of contributions made is guaranteed not to fall in value, and where bonuses may be added depending on the performance ofthe scheme. Contributions at the statutory minimum rate of 8% of salary are shared between the employee and the trust. The trust additionally pays for life assurance for the members of the scheme while they are employed by the trust. 9. Debtors Debtors of total £670 represents gift aid not yet claimed on personal donations of £616 (last year £6631 and cash for activities paid in after the year end of £54 Ilast year £nill 10. Creditors Creditors of£2,050 represents HMRC and pension scheme payments due of £1,526 and expenses of £524. Last year this was £2,239 made up of HMRC and pension scheme payments of£l.539 and expenses of£700. 11. Cash at bank and in hand The trust hold5 a single bank account with the Co-op Bank. The balance at the start of the year was £8,920, and at the end of the year £30,581. There was cash of £15 held at the end of the year, the same as the Start. 12. Funds Apart from its unrestricted fund, the charity maintains a restricted fund for staff costs. This is maintained because grants received and contributions towards staff costs are given specifically towards the costs of employed staff. In the year this fund started at £zero, received £22,361 and spent £32.535 leaving a balance of £-10,174. A transfer from unrestricted funds of £10,174 wa5 made to bring the fund to £zero at the end of the year. During last year, a gift in memory of £l(X)O plus gift aid was donated, to be used for specific purpose5 as agreed with the donor. This money was used during the year to buy youth bibles and equipment associated with the ECHO Engage programme Isee note 13 below) The remaining balance of £382 is retained to be used as agreed by the donor. 13. Other Expenses There were no transattions with trustees or related parties Ilast year £251 In 2024 an ECHO Engage programme developed video material and stories created by the young people and brought together by Stone Barrell, a creative cornmunications agency. The total cost of the work bythe company was was £8,961, which was covered by a donation from an anonymous donor. CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the truste members of -)rrf rust On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 Charity no (if any) 1194345 Set out on pages I report LO ttie trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above harity (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the acGounts in accordan￿ with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Yhe Acf). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's aGGounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Dirertions given by the Charty Commission under section 145{5)(bl of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any malerial respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wth the accounting records I have no concems and have come across no other matters in ¢onnection Wtth the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Independent examinerfs statsment Date: Name: lJÈYVi Relevant professional qualificationls) or body (if any): Address: IER October 2018