2024-03-31-accounts - The Sussex Gospel Partnership

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

	Period start date			Period end date	Period end date
	Day Month	Year		Day	Month	Year
From	1 04	2023	To	31	3	2024

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Sussex Gospel Partnership

Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1197506 Charity's principal address 1 The Wilderness Lindfield, Haywards Heath West Sussex Postcode RH16 2JD

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole period
Jonathan Noel Alan Hobbs
RoryGraham
Mark David Redhouse	Chairman (to 21 Feb 2024)	Resigned 25 March 2024
Roger James Barden
Adam John Thrift
Samual Nicholas Cato Carter
James Russel Knowles	Chairman (from 21 Feb 2024)

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Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document

(eg. trust deed, constitution)

CIO constitution

How the charity is constituted Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)

(eg. trust, association, company)

Trustee selection methods

New Trustees are elected from the charity’s Steering Group by resolution of the (eg. appointed by, elected by) Trustees for the time being

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
relationship with any related parties;

The charity also operates in accordance with its Foundation Document.

The organisational structure consists of a Steering Group that provides strategic leadership and exercises operational oversight of the Partnership plus a number of Geographical Cluster Groups and Operational Task Groups that report via their Chairmen to the Steering Group. The Steering Group is appointed at an Annual General Meeting of the Partnership and normally consists of the Trustees plus a full-time Director who is an ex-officio member of the Steering Group. The Partnership is served by a small staff team comprising a full-time Director, parttime Administrator and part-time Associate Trainer. Church leaders and others from the Partnership churches serve voluntarily as Trustees/Steering Group members and on the Operational Task Groups.

Note: the position of full-time Director was vacant from 1 Jan 2024.

trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

To advance the Christian faith in accordance with the charity’s Statement of Beliefs in Sussex and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees may from time to time think fit by means of the establishment of a partnership of Bible-centred churches in Sussex working together to train Christian leaders to strengthen and plant churches and to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales and are connected with the charitable work of the trust.

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The Sussex Gospel Partnership (SGP) seeks to provide training, advice and support to existing local churches and their leaders; and to promote and support the foundation of new churches. The aim is that local churches (old and new) should be better equipped to help their members live out their Christian faith in word and deed in the context of their families, workplaces, churches and local communities. In planning the activities of the charity, the trustees have had regard to the charity commission’s guidance on public benefit, in particular the guidance for charities for the advancement of religion.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

In particular, the SGP runs one and two-year, part-time Bible Training Courses in Haywards Heath and other locations in Sussex. A wide range of men and women of all ages from a large number of churches in East and West Sussex and neighbouring counties enrol on these courses. Through these courses participants are taught the Bible and equipped to live out their Christian faith in their churches and local communities. Many individuals who attend the courses have their fees paid by their local church; the SGP also operates a welfare fund which is used to provide subsidies to those who might otherwise be denied access to the courses through lack of funds. The courses are open to all those who are in sympathy with the evangelical ethos of the training on offer.

The SGP also arranges other specific Christian ministry training events with a similar aim, particularly in relation to Christian children’s and youthwork, evangelism and training of Church leaders. The SGP also helps churches to work together in evangelism, encouraging and equipping Christians to share their beliefs with others in an engaging but non-coercive manner.

The SGP promotes ministry training placements in local churches and provides bursaries to support trainees financially. These training placements enable individuals to gain experience of serving in the local church in Bible teaching and practical ministry; and test their aptitude and desire for different sorts of Christian ministry.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

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Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

The period covered by this report has seen significant changes to the paid staff employed by the charity. After 14 years as full-time Director of the Partnership, Nick McQuaker resigned from this role and his employment with the Partnership with effect from 31 December 2023 in order to take up a new role as Ministry Director of A Passion for Life. The Trustees are thankful to Nick for his many years of faithful service, leading the Partnership. In spite of repeatedly advertising the post nationally and interviewing a number of candidates, no appointment was made during the period covered by this report. In addition, Helen Byrom who was employed part-time as Administrator and Ministry and Communications Manager, gave notice and finished in her role in mid-December 2023. The Trustees were delighted to appoint Victoria Donougher to replace Helen as Administrator/Event and Communications Manager. However, Victoria was not in a position to take up her position with the charity until January 2024. The handover, with Helen and Nick departing and no new Director in post was especially challenging. The Trustees are thankful to Victoria for her dedication and hard work through a very demanding period. In spite of these staff changes and the Director vacancy, the life and work of the Sussex Gospel Partnership continued without interruption. Jon Hobbs, the SGP’s Assistant Trainer increased his hours working in this role and a number of church leaders from within the Partnership stepped forward to maintain the teaching on the Ministry Training Courses. The Sussex Ministry Training Course (SMTC), the Saturday Morning Bible Training Courses (SMBTC) and the fortnightly Study Group continued to be run throughout the period covered by this report. For the midweek SMTC course that started in September 2023, it was good to be able to run once again with two year-groups. (In the previous academic year numbers were lower than normal, and it had not been viable to run a second-year group.) A new iteration of the two-year Saturday Course began in Angering in September 2023 with an encouraging 26 students enrolled. The Saturday Course in Eastbourne (2022-24) continued with good numbers attending. The usual programme of meetings for church leaders others involved in gospel ministry continued with Spring and Autumn Partnership Meetings and Spring and Summer Partnership Training Days. In addition, a successful Annual Conference was held in November 2023 with over 400 adults, young people and children attending. The theme was ‘Unashamed: Finding Confidence to talk about Jesus’ and very helpful Bible teaching and practical wisdom was shared by main speaker, Glen Scrivener and a number of seminar leaders. In the Summer of 2024, a 24-hour Men’s retreat was held once again at Ashburnham Place near Battle. David Jackman provided the Bible Teaching and once again a rich time of fellowship was enjoyed by those attending the retreat. For women, the Southern Women’s Convention was held at All Saints Crowborough in the June of 2023 and women’s retreat primarily for ministers’ wives was run at Ashburnham in the October 2023. Again, the Bible teaching and fellowship was greatly appreciated at both these popular events. Alongside these events for the whole region, the sub-regional cluster groups continued to operate with church leaders meeting regularly for fellowship, prayer and mutual encouragement and to explore ways of partnering locally. A number of retired ministers also continued to offer support and mentoring for younger men in ministry; and the ministers’ wives network provided another means of encouragement, advice and support. The Trustees are grateful to the Lord for sustaining and continuing to prosper the life and ministry of the Partnership another year notwithstanding the challenges presented by the staff changes referred to above.

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Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

The charity’s policy is to hold in reserve, as a minimum, sufficient funds to pay three months of staff employment costs (currently £18,000).

Details of any funds materially in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);

The charity’s main sources of funding are:

donations from the Churches which are Partners of the Partnership
donations from Individual Partners
grants or donations from Charitable Trusts and Individual Supporters
• fees charged for the training courses and other events
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

The predecessor to this charity was a Charitable Trust (Registered Charity Number 1121873) of the same name. The Trustees of the predecessor charity resolved that the interests of the Sussex Gospel Partnership would be better served by a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which is a corporate form of business that only became available to charities in 2013 (the SGP was formed in 2006). A new CIO of the same name (this charity) was registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales in January of 2022, assigned the charity number 1197506. The trustees of the predecessor charity were appointed as the first trustees of the new CIO.

As of 31 March 2022, all employees of the predecessor charity together with its financial reserves, assets and liabilities were transferred to the new CIO (this charity). At that date, all the ministry and activities of the Sussex Gospel Partnership became the responsibility of the new CIO.

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
	James Knowles	Jonathan Hobbs
	Chairman	Trustee
	28 January 2025
	28 January 2025

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CC16a

Charity Name

No (if any) 119750

The Sussex Gospel Partnership (CIO)

No (if any) The Sussex Gospel Partnership (CIO) 119750 Charity Name	No (if any) The Sussex Gospel Partnership (CIO) 119750 Charity Name	No (if any) The Sussex Gospel Partnership (CIO) 119750 Charity Name
01-Apr-23 31-Mar-24 Receipts andpayments accounts For the period from Period start date To Period end date
For the period from	01-Apr-23 Period start date	To

Section A Receipts and payments

A1 Receipts	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 32,057 16,190 40,206 0 0 1,976 90,428 0 90,428 18,283 6,046 21,745 0 0 3,737	Restricted funds (FTW) to the nearest £ note 2 3,300 0 0 6,050 0 12,903 22,253 0 22,253 52,147 0 0 0 0 62	Restricted funds (RGP) to the nearest £ note 3	Total funds to the nearest £	Last year to the nearest £ note 1
Transfer from old charity (note 1)			0 0 0 0 3,742 0 3,742	35,357 16,190 40,206 6,050 3,742 14,879	47,435 36,953 23,168 34,784 12,410 2,123 729
Church Donations (note 4)	32,057
Individual and Trust Donations	16,190
Course and event income (note 5)	40,206
RGP Dev Officer Donations(note 6)	0
RGP Fund Income(note 3)	0
Other income(note 9)	1,976
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	90,428			116,423 0	157,603
				0 0 0
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
			0 0 0		0 0

*Sub total*	0				0
*Total receipts* A3 Payments
			3,742	116,423	157,603
			0 0 0 0 2,440 0	70,431 6,046 21,745 0 2,440 3,799
Staff Costs(note 7)	18,283				78,271 7,144 19,700 0 2,329 3,666
Administration & Publicity	6,046
Course and event costs	21,745
TrainingBursaries	0
RGP Fund Expenditure(Note 8)	0
Other expenses	3,737


*Sub total*	49,811	52,209	2,440	104,460 0 0 0 104,460 11,963 0 46,494 58,456	111,109

A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table)
	0		0 0 0		0 0
	0
*Sub total*	0				0
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end *Cash funds this year end*
			2,440		111,109

	40,617		1,301		46,494
	-29,956		0 -206
	46,699
	57,361		1,096		46,494

27/01/2025

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Unrestricted funds to nearest £	Restricted funds (FTW) to nearest £	Restricted funds (RGP) to nearest £
57,361	0	1,096
0	0	0
0	0	0
57,361	0	1,096
		OK
		Endowment funds to nearest £
		0
		Current value (optional)
		0
		Current value (optional)
		0
		When due (optional)

		Date of approval
James Knowles		28-Jan-25
Jonathan Hobbs		28-Jan-25

Notes to the Accounts of The Sussex Gospel Partnership

1 These accounts are the second accounts for a new Sussex Gospel Partnership (SGP) Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which was registered in January 2022. At 1 April 2022, the entire cash funds (£47,435) held by the previous Sussex Gospel Partnership charity were transferred to the new CIO. These funds are shown as received funds in the accounts for the previous year.
2 As with the previous charity, the CIO continues to receive some donations from churches which are designated for the employment of a Full-Time Worker (FTW) who is the Director of the Sussex Gospel Partnership. These donations are shown as restricted fund (FTW) receipts in these accounts.
3 The CIO organises an annual gathering and undertakes some other administrative activities for the benefit of the national network of Regional Gospel Partnerships. The CIO receives monies for this purpose from other Regional Gospel Partnerships. These receipts are shown as restricted fund (RGP) receipts in these accounts.
4 The CIO receives regular donations from churches belonging to the SGP which are termed ‘Partner Churches’ and occasionally from other churches in the region.
5 The SGP runs weekly and monthly Bible Training courses, training events for Church leaders and workers and holds an Annual Conference.
6 From July 2020 to June 2023, the SGP's Director was released to serve the Regional Gospel Partnerships (RGPs) nationally in the role of RGP Development Officer , giving around one day per week to this role. In the period covered by these accounts, a number of the RGPs made donations to the SGP amounting to £6050 to support this ministry financially. These donations are shown as restricted fund (FTW) receipts in these accounts as they are given to fund a proportion of the employment costs of the SGP’s Full-time Director who was released for this wider ministry.
7 The payments from the Restricted Funds (FTW) are for the employment costs (excluding payments to HMRC) of the Director; those from the Unrestricted Funds are for all other staff costs, including payments to HMRC and the costs of a part-time Administrator and part-time Associate Trainer.
8 The CIO organises an annual gathering and undertakes some other administrative activities for the benefit of the national network of Regional Gospel Partnerships. Expenditure on these activities is shown as expenditure from the restricted fund (RGP).
9 From September 2023 to December 2023, the SGP's Director was seconded to work three days per week for A Passion for Life prior to his leaving the employment of the SGP at the end of the calendar year to work for A Passion for Life full-time. 60% of his employment costs for this period were paid to the SGP by A Passion for Life, amounting to £11493 included in other income.

27/01/2025

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

The Sussex Gospel Partnership CIO

Year Ended 31[st] March 2024

Report of the Independent Examiner to The Sussex Gospel Partnership CIO

I report on the accounts of The Sussex Gospel Partnership CIO for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on the attached pages.

Respective responsibilities of trustee and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to attention.

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given 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 disclosed in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as 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 provide a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities act 2011; and
to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act 2011

have not been met: or

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Date: 4th December 2024 Name: Amy Beecroft Relevant professional qualification or body: FCA Address: 19 Newton Road Lindfield RH16 2NB