Section A
Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year From 01 04 2024 To 31 03 2025
Reference and administration details
Charity name The Sussex Gospel Partnership
Other names charity is known by
Registered charity number (if any) 1197506
| Charity's principal address | Three Bridges Free Church | Three Bridges Free Church |
|---|---|---|
| Three Bridges Road, Crawley | ||
| West Sussex | ||
| Postcode | RH10 1LS |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Noel Alan Hobbs |
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| Rory Malise Graham |
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| Adam John Thrift | ||||
| Roger James Barden |
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| James Russell Knowles |
Chairman | |||
| Samuel Nicholas Cato Carter |
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Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document
CIO constitution
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
- (eg. trust, association, company)
Trustee selection methods
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
New Trustees are elected from the charity’s Steering Group by resolution of the Trustees
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
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policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees.
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the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works.
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relationship with any related parties.
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
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 Chairs to the Steering Group. The Steering Group is appointed at an Annual General Meeting of the Partnership and normally consist of the Trustees plus a full-time director who is an exofficio member of the Steering Group. The Partnership is served by a small staff team comprising of a full-time Director, a part-time Administrator and a 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. The position of full-time Director was vacant from 1 Jan 2024 until 5[th] Jan 2025. A new Full-time Director was appointed on 6[th] Jan 2025.
- The Trustees / Steering Group appointed a volunteer treasurer to advise & assist the Director and them on 7[th] May 2025.
Section C Objectives and activities
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 Summary of the objects of the establishment of a partnership of Bible-centred churches in Sussex charity set out in its working together to train Christian leaders to strengthen and plant governing document 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 youth work, 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 noncoercive 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.
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
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policy on grant making.
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policy programme related investment.
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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 progress 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. After significant repeatedly advertising the post nationally and interviewing a number of candidates, the Trustees finally interviewed and unanimously agreed to offer the role to John Spencer Shaw in September 2025 which he accepted. His appointment started on 6[th] January 2025 working with the support of Victoria Donougher as administrator and Jon Hobbs as part-time associate trainer. 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 Associate Trainer had 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. Both Jon’s and others returned to the more normal working pattern as Spencer to settled into his new role. 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 2024 with two year-groups. A new iteration of the two-year Saturday Course began in Crawley in September 2024 with over 30 students enrolled. The Saturday Course in Angmering (2023-25) likewise continued into the second year with 13 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 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 2024 and women's retreat primarily for ministers' wives was run at Ashburnham in the October 2024 with Jane McNabb speaking on Psalm 84 under the title ‘A Pilgrim’s Love and Longing’. Again, the Bible teaching and fellowship was greatly appreciated at both these popular events. In addition, a successful Annual Conference was held in November 2024 with over 300 adults, young people and children attending. The theme was ‘Heaven’: was shared by main speaker, Paul Mallard and a number of seminar leaders. In February 2026 there was a partnership meeting at which Adam Thrift helpfully spoke in two sessions on engaging the next generation. This was followed by an AGM and separate meetings for those engaged in Anglican and free church ministry. In March 2025 over 60 gathered for a partnership training day considering puritan devotional life with Mike Milmine which was very well appreciated. 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.
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Section D Achievements and performance
The Trustees are grateful to the Lord for sustaining and continuing to prosper the life and ministry of the Partnership another year and are deeply grateful for the appointment of a new full-time director as detailed above.
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| SectionE |
Financial review |
|---|---|
| The charity's policyisto hold in reserve, as a minimum, sufficient funds | |
| Briefstatement ofthe charity'spolicy onreserves |
topaythree months of self-employment costs (currently 818,000) |
| Detailsofanyfunds materially | |
| indeficit | |
| Furtherfinancialreviewdetails | (Optional information) |
| Furtherfinancialreviewdetails | (Optional information) |
|---|---|
| Youmay choose toinclude additional information, where relevantabout: rthe charity'sprincipal sourcesoffunds (including any fundraising). |
The charity's main sourcesoffundingare: odonationsfromthe Churches which are Partnersofthe Partnership odonations for lndividual Partners .grants or donations from Charitable Trusts and lndividual Supporters ofees chargedforthe training courses and otherevents. |
| .how expenditurehas | |
| supported thekeyobjectives | |
| ofthecharity. | |
| oinvestmentpolicy and | |
| objectives including any | |
| ethical investmentpolicy | |
| adopted. |
| Charity Name | No (if any) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sussex Gospel Partnership (CIO) | 1197850 | |||
| Receipts and payments accounts | CC16a | |||
| For the period from |
Period start date 01/04/2024 |
Period end date To 31/0/2025 |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 25,287 18,499 42,430 - - 1,181 - - 87,397 - - - 87,397 43,726 4,981 25,665 - - 4,658 - - - 79,030 - - - 79,030 8,367 - 2,000 57,361 63,728 |
Restricted funds (FTW) to the nearest £ 3,250 - - - - - - - 3,250 - - - 3,250 3,250 - - - - - - - 3,250 - - - 3,250 - - - |
Restricted Funds (RGP) to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3,096 - - - - 3,096 - - - 3,096 - 3,096 2,000 1,096 - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 28,537 18,499 42,430 - - 1,181 - - 90,647 - - - 90,647 46,976 4,981 25,665 - 3,096 4,658 - - - 85,376 - - - 85,376 5,271 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| Church Donations | 25,287 | 35,357 | ||||
| Individual and Trust Donations | 18,499 | 16,190 | ||||
| Course and event income | 42,430 | 40,206 | ||||
| RGP Dev Officer Donations | - | 6,050 | ||||
| RGP Fund Income | - | 3,742 | ||||
| Other Income | 1,181 | 14,879 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
87,397 | 116,424 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 116,424 | ||||||
Staff Costs |
43,726 | 70,431 | ||||
| Administration and Publicity | 4,981 | 6,046 | ||||
| Course and event costs | 25,665 | 21,745 | ||||
| TrainingBursaries | - | - | ||||
| RGP Fund Expenditure | - | 2,440 | ||||
| Other Expenses | 4,658 | 3,799 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 79,030 | 104,461 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases (see table) |
||||||
| , | - | |||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
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| 104,461 | ||||||
| 8,367 | - | - 3,096 | 5,271 | 11,963 | ||
| - 2,000 | 2,000 | - | - | |||
| 57,361 | - | 1,096 | 58,457 | 46,494 | ||
| 63,728 | - | - | 63,728 | 58,457 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
28/01/2026
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Categories Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 63,728 - - - - - 63,728 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets Details B2 Other monetary assets Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Cash at Bank Petty Cash B1 Cash funds Details Details Details Print Name James Knowles Jonathan Hobbs Signature |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Categories Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 63,728 - - - - - 63,728 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets Details B2 Other monetary assets Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Cash at Bank Petty Cash B1 Cash funds Details Details Details Print Name James Knowles Jonathan Hobbs Signature |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Categories Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 63,728 - - - - - 63,728 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets Details B2 Other monetary assets Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Cash at Bank Petty Cash B1 Cash funds Details Details Details Print Name James Knowles Jonathan Hobbs Signature |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Cash at Bank Petty Cash Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 63,728 - - - - - 63,728 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name James Knowles Jonathan Hobbs |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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| James Knowles | |||
| Jonathan Hobbs |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
28/01/2026
2
The Sussex Gospel Partnership CIO
Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
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 2025 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:
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Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 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 2011 Act; and
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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:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities act 2011; and
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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: 27[th] January 2026 Name: Amy Beecroft Relevant professional qualification or body: FCA Address: 19 Newton Road Lindfield RH16 2NB