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2025-05-31-accounts

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1194520 COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: CE026298

SIGNIFICANCE

Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements

Year ended 31 May 2025

STEPHENSON COATES AUDIT LIMITED

Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditor West 2, Asama Court Newcastle Business Park Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7YD

SIGNIFICANCE

Financial Statements

Year ended 31 May 2025

Page
Chair’s statement & Trustee’s annual report 1
Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees 6
Statement of financial activities (incorporating the income and expenditure
account) 7
Balance Sheet 8
Statement of cash flows 9
Notes to the financial statements 10

SIGNIFICANCE

Trustees' Annual Report

Year ended 31 May 2025

Chair’s statement

The Trustees of Significance are dedicated to continuing and developing the work and legacy of its founder, Fr Dermott Donnelly. At its core, the charity believes that when young people discover their worth and significance, this discovery ignites their capacity to serve others, enrich communities and inspire the wider world to become kinder, more just and more hopeful.

Once again, we wish to record our sincere thanks to the Sisters of Mercy for their generous donations which enable grant funding to be given to the Youth Ministry Trust for the refurbishment and redevelopment of the Emmaus Youth Village. The work is ongoing and it is hoped that the project for the new building will take place in 2026. The Sisters have undertaken to support the project to its completion.

We also wish to thank all our other supporters and donors for the kind and generous donations, be that one-off donations, regular monthly giving, fundraising on behalf of the charity, or volunteering and supporting our work. As Trustees, we commit to be responsible stewards and to ensure that the charity meets its objectives by continuing to provide grants for projects that support and encourage the development of young people.

In June 2025, we hosted the annual Significance Festival which allowed us to share the vision of Significance and to showcase and promote its work so that we can support further projects and opportunities for young people. We were able to share the stories of some of those we have supported. These included a summer camp for Guides and Scouts, a project for young women with additional needs and granting a subsidy to more than 900 young people to attend ‘Flame’, the national biannual Catholic Youth Congress at Wembley Arena in March 2025.

.

Mar Hu hes y g

…………………………….. signed on 10/02/2026, 16:03:22 GMT

……………………………..

Mary Hughes Chair Date: 7 February 2026

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SIGNIFICANCE

Trustees' Annual Report

Year ended 31 May 2025

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 May 2025.

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name SIGNIFICANCE Charity registration number 1194520 Company registration number CE026298

Principal Office

Emmaus Village Pemberton Road Allensford Consett DH8 9BA

The Trustees

M Hughes (Chair) Dr R Stanley (Resigned 1 September 2025) D Robinson (Resigned 16 October 2025) A Lawless S Donnelly (Appointed 13 June 2024) Fr J J Dodds (Appointed 19 September 2024)

Independent examiner

John Oswald BA FCA Stephenson Coates Audit Limited West 2, Asama Court Newcastle Business Park Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7YD

Bankers

NatWest 12 Market Place Durham DH1 3NG

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SIGNIFICANCE

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 May 2025

Structure, governance and management

Governing document

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) established on 18 May 2021, governed by its constitution. The Charity Registration number is 1194520 and the Company number is CE026298.

Recruitment and appointment of Trustees

Recruitment of trustees is undertaken by the trustees as the need arises to ensure that charity trustees collectively have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience for the effective administration of the CIO.

The trustees who served during the year were:

Induction and training of trustees

New trustees are briefed on the powers and responsibilities of the trustees and are provided with a copy of the charity’s current constitution. They are also briefed on the grant making process and the recent financial performance of the charity, as well as being provided with a copy of the latest Trustees’ Annual Report and statement of accounts.

Organisation

The charity is managed by the trustees, who meet at least quarterly, or more frequently if the need arises. The number of trustees may not be less than three and is subject to a maximum of 12. The quorum for the transaction of business is one third of the trustees or two trustees, whichever is greater.

Risk management

The trustees have carried out a risk assessment to identify the major governance, financial, operational and compliance risks which the charity faces and this is reviewed each year. Procedures have been established to enable the trustees to monitor and mitigate those risks.

Objectives and activities

SIGNIFICANCE was formally established as a CIO on 18 May 2021. Prior to this, in 2017, Fr Dermott Donnelly, on his Silver Jubilee, marking 25 years of priestly ministry working with young people in the region, began the work of SIGNIFICANCE on a personal level. “Young people have so much to give to our society and our world and I want to give them every opportunity to develop their potential. Through the projects SIGNIFICANCE will support, young people will be inspired to reach high and achieve their best” (Fr Dermott Donnelly). At the heart of SIGNIFICANCE is the belief that young people are not called to live lives of survival or even lives of success, but to live lives of happiness and significance. Once they come to know their ‘significance’, they can go on to enable others and inspire the world to be a better place.

The objective of the CIO is to advance, for the public benefit, the education (including social, physical, spiritual and mental development) of young people in the North East of England.

The main activities of the CIO is that of fundraising, so that the funds raised can be used to provide grants to other charities, ministries and organisations who are seeking to achieve materially similar objectives.

The CIO has a grant-making policy which sets out the principles, criteria and processes that govern how it awards grants. The trustees have ultimate collective responsibility for all grant-making decisions in accordance with the objectives of the charity. Eligible applicants will be from the North East of England, with a focus on the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle areas.

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SIGNIFICANCE

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 May 2025

Achievements and performance

During the year to 31 May 2025, the charity was active in its principal activity of fundraising. It continues to administer the generous donation received from The Sisters of Mercy Sunderland so that the CIO can further assist the Youth Ministry Trust (“YMT”) by providing grant funding to YMT for the primary purpose of contributing to the modernisation and development of YMT’s facilities thus enabling greater self-sufficiency.

Going Concern

The charity has reviewed its cash flow forecasts and there is a reasonable expectation that it has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least the next twelve months and on this basis the charity is considered a going concern.

Financial review

During the year ended 31 May 2025, SIGNIFICANCE received unrestricted funds from donations and fundraising of £13,323 (2024: £33,635), as well as investment income of £40,080 (2024: £32,756).

There were five successful grant applications paid from the unrestricted fund totalling £51,175 (2024: £8,800).

Free reserves are considered to be the unrestricted reserves of the charity, being £84,042 (2024: £83,786). Owing to the voluntary nature of time expended on the charity’s activities, the day to day running costs of the charity are minimal, meaning that most of the unrestricted reserves are expected to be utilised for future potential activities that advance the objectives of the CIO. As such at the year end, the trustees believe that SIGNIFICANCE is in a strong financial position.

Reserves policy

The day to day running costs of the CIO being minimal, the trustees do not feel that a formal reserves policy is currently necessary. At regular intervals, such as a meeting of the trustees, the cash reserves are noted at the same time as reviewing any grant applications received. When deciding whether to approve any grant applications, the trustees take into consideration the level of reserves, both restricted and unrestricted depending on the application received, to ensure that the CIO will retain sufficient reserves if the grant is approved. Should the activities and/or costs of the CIO change in the future, it might become appropriate for the trustees to formalise an appropriate reserves policy.

Plans for future years

Our priorities for the future are to continue to support YMT by providing grant funding, utilising the restricted funds generously provided by the Sisters of Mercy Sunderland, for the primary purpose of contributing to the modernisation and development of YMT’s facilities, thereby enabling it to have greater self-sufficiency. Further fundraising activities will also be undertaken with the aim of generating further unrestricted donations, in addition to the £84,042 at the year end (2024: £83,786), so that the charity can also seek to advance the education of young people in the North East by providing grants to help fund appropriate projects.

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SIGNIFICANCE

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 May 2025

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the 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:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that 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, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the charities governing document. 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.

The trustees' annual report was approved on 7 February 2026 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

Mar Hu hes y g

A Lawless

signed on 10/02/2026, 16:03:22 GMT signed on 11/02/2026, 18:29:05 GMT Mary Hughes Anthony Lawless Trustee (Chair) Trustee

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SIGNIFICANCE

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of SIGNIFICANCE

Year ended 31 May 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of SIGNIFICANCE ('the charity') for the year ended 31 May 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

  3. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

John Oswald FCA Member of the ICAEW

Stephenson Coates Audit Limited West 2, Asama Court Newcastle Business Park Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7YD

7 February 2026

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SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of Financial Activities

(incorporating the income and expenditure account)

Year ended 31 May 2025

Notes
Income and endowments
from
Donations, legacies and
grants
4
Other trading activities
5
Investment income
6
Other income
Total income
Expenditure on
Raising funds
Charitable activities
7, 8
Total expenditure
Net (expenditure) / income
and net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Unrestricted
funds
£
13,323
-
40,080
-
53,403
-
53,147
53,147
256
83,786
84,042
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
10,785
10,785
(10,785)
1,163,936
1,153,151
2025
Total funds
£
13,323
-
40,080
-
53,403
-
63,932
63,932
(10,529)
1,247,722
1,237,193
2024
Total funds
£
235,140
8,495
32,756
650
277,041
362
112,442
112,804
164,237
1,083,485
1,247,722

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 10 - 16 form part of these financial statements.

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SIGNIFICANCE

Balance Sheet

31 May 2025

Notes
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
13
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Net assets
Funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total charity funds
14, 15
2025
£
1,238,693
1,238,693
(1,500)
1,237,193
1,237,193
1,237,193
84,042
1,153,151
1,237,193
2024
£
1,249,108
1,249,108
(1,386)
1,247,722
1,247,722
1,247,722
83,786
1,163,936
1,247,722

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 7 February 2026, and are signed on behalf of the board by:

Mar Hu hes y g

signed on 10/02/2026, 16:03:22 GMT Mary Hughes Trustee (Chair)

The notes on pages 10 - 16 form part of these financial statements.

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SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of Cash Flows

Year ended 31 May 2025

Cash flows from operating activities
Net (expenditure) / income
Adjustments for:
Other interest receivable and similar income
Increase in creditors
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received
Net cash used in financing activities
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
2025
£
(10,529)
(40,080)
114
(50,495)
40,080
-
(10,415)
1,249,108
1,238,693
2024
£
164,237
(32,756)
126
131,607
32,756
164,363
1,084,745
1,249,108

The notes on pages 10 – 16 form part of these financial statements.

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SIGNIFICANCE

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 May 2025

1. General information

The charity is registered charity in England and Wales and is a charitable incorporated organisation. The address of the principal office is Emmaus Village, Pemberton Road, Allensford, Consett, DH8 9BA.

2. Statement of compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.

3. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis. The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity. SIGNIFICANCE meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

Going concern

The charity has reviewed its cash flow forecasts and there is a reasonable expectation that it has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least the next twelve months and on this basis the charity is considered to be a going concern.

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. There are no key judgements or estimates that impact on the financial statements.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future projects or commitments.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to income:

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SIGNIFICANCE

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 May 2025

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes VAT, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

Grants payable are recorded once the charity has made an unconditional commitment to pay the grant which is communicated to the beneficiary or the grant has been paid, whichever is the earlier. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the balance sheet date are noted as a commitment, but not provided as expenditure.

Governance costs represents expenditure incurred in connection with the administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Investment income

Interest receivable is accounted for when receivable by the Charity.

Financial instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where it is recognised at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.

Voluntary assistance

Time is expended on the charity’s activities and governance which is donated free of charge. It is impractical to quantify the value of the time given, and accordingly it is neither recorded as donated income nor as an expense in the financial statements.

4. Donations, Legacies and Grants

Donations, Legacies and Grants
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Donations & Legacies
Donations 13,323 - 13,323
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
13,323 - 13,323
================================ ================================ ================================

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SIGNIFICANCE

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 May 2025

4. Donations, Legacies and Grants ( continued )

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Donations & Legacies
Donations 25,140 25,140
Grants
The Sisters of Mercy Sunderland 210,000 210,000
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
25,140 210,000 235,140
================================ ================================ ================================
5. Income from charitable activities
2025 2024
£ £
Social lotteries - 8,495
============================ ============================
6. Investment income
2025 2024
£ £
Interest on cash deposits 40,080 32,756
============================ ============================
7. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Grants payable (Note 9) 51,175 10,785 61,960
Other activities 276 - 276
Legal & Professional fees 1,696 - 1,696
---------------------------- -------------------------------- ----------------------------
53,147 10,785 63,932
============================ ================================ ================================
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Grants payable (Note 9) 8,800 100,000 108,800
Other activities 2,256 2,256
Legal & Professional fees 1,386 1,386
---------------------------- -------------------------------- ----------------------------
12,442 100,000 112,442
============================ ================================ ================================

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SIGNIFICANCE

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 May 2025

8. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type

Activities Total funds
undertaken directly Support costs 2025
£ £ £
Grants payable (Note 9) 61,960 - 61,960
Other activities 276 - 276
Legal & Professional fees - 1,696 1,696
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- ----------------------------
62,236 1,696 63,932
================================ ================================ ================================
Activities Total funds
undertaken directly Support costs 2024
£ £ £
Grants payable (Note 9) 108,800 108,800
Other activities 2,256 2,256
Legal & Professional fees 1,386 1,386
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- ----------------------------
111,056 1,386 112,442
================================ ================================ ================================
9. Grants payable
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Youth Ministry Trust 44,975 10,785 55,760
Grants to other institutions – Community grants 5,000 - 5,000
Grants to individuals – Education grants 1,200 - 1,200
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
51,175 10,785 61,960
============================ ================================ ================================
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
Youth Ministry Trust 2,000 100,000 102,000
Pope John Paul II Award Ceremony 2,000 2,000
Grants to other institutions – Community grants 2,000 2,000
Grants to other institutions – Religious grants 1,000 1,000
Grants to individuals – World Youth Day Travel costs 1,200 1,200
Grants to individuals – Education grants 600 600
---------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
8,800 100,000 108,800
============================ ================================ ================================
10. Net incoming resources
Net incoming resources for the charity is stated after charging:
2025 2024
£ £
Fees payable to the independent examiner for:
Independent examination of the financial statements 1,500 1,386
================================ ================================

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SIGNIFICANCE

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 May 2025

11. Staff costs

There were no staff costs in the year (2024: None).

The average head count of employees during the year was Nil (2024: Nil).

The charity considers its key management personnel to be the trustees. See note 12.

12. Trustees’ remuneration and related party transactions

The trustees did not receive any remuneration during the year and were not paid or reimbursed for any expenses.

There are no related party transactions during the year ended 31 May 2025 (2024: None).

13. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

13. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2025 2024
£ £
Other creditors 1,500 1,386
================================ ================================
14. Analysis of charitable funds
At At
1 June 2024 Income Expenditure 31 May 2025
Unrestricted funds £ £ £ £
General funds 83,786 53,043 (53,147) 84,042
============================ ================================ ============================ ============================
At At
1 June 2024 Income Expenditure 31 May 2025
Restricted funds £ £ £ £
The Sisters of Mercy Sunderland 1,163,936 - (10,785) 1,153,151
============================ ================================ ================================ ================================
Total charitable funds 1,247,722 - (63,932) 1,237,193
================================ ================================ ================================ ================================
Comparatives:
At At
1 June 2022 Income Expenditure 31 May 2024
Unrestricted funds £ £ £ £
General funds 29,549 67,041 (12,804) 83,786
============================ ================================ ============================ ============================
At At
1 June 2023 Income Expenditure 31 May 2024
Restricted funds £ £ £ £
The Sisters of Mercy Sunderland 1,053,936 210,000 (100,000) 1,163,936
============================ ================================ ================================ ================================
Total charitable funds 1,083,485 277,041 (112,804) 1,247,722
================================ ================================ ================================ ================================

The Sisters of Mercy Sunderland – funding received to assist the Youth Ministry Trust (YMT) and provide grant funding to YMT for the purposes of meeting YMT’s ongoing operating costs and to contribute to modernising and developing YMT’s facilities, thereby enabling it to be self-sufficient and no longer reliant on grant funding from the Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle.

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SIGNIFICANCE

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 May 2025

15. Analysis of net assets between funds

15. Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Current assets 85,542 1,153,151 1,238,693
Creditors less than 1 year (1,500) - (1,500)
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Net assets 84,042 1,153,151 1,237,193
================================ ================================ ================================
Previous year
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Current assets 85,172 1,163,936 1,249,108
Creditors less than 1 year (1,386) (1,386)
-------------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Net assets 83,786 1,163,936 1,249,108
================================ ================================ ================================
16. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
2025 2024
£ £
Cash in hand 138,410 148,824
Notice deposits (less than three months) 200,123 200,123
Notice deposits (more than three months) 900,160 900,160
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
1,238,693 1,249,108
================================ ================================

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SIGNIFICANCE

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 May 2025

17. Prior period Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 May 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
£ £ £
Income and endowments
Donations, legacies and grants 25,140 210,000 235,140
Other trading activities 8,495 - 8,495
Investment income 32,756 - 32,756
Other income 650 - 650
---------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total income 67,041 210,000 277,041
============================ ================================ ================================
Expenditure
Raising funds 362 - 362
Charitable activities 12,442 100,000 112,442
---------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total expenditure 12,804 100,000 112,804
============================ ================================ ================================
---------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Net income and net movement in funds 54,237 110,000 164,237
============================ ================================ ================================
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 29,549 1,053,936 1,083,485
---------------------------- -------------------------------- --------------------------------
Total funds carried forward 83,786 1,163,936 1,247,722
================================ ================================ ================================

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