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THE BIBLE FOR LIFE DISCIPLESHIP TRUST
Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025
THE BIBLE FOR LIFE DISCIPLESHIP TRUST: Charity Commission number 1197943
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THE BIBLE FOR LIFE DISCIPLESHIP TRUST
Trustees:
Matthew Wood (Chair) Julian Springer Susannah Steel Deborah Munn Rollo Hope
from 21/04/21 from 21/04/21 from 21/04/21 from 09/11/22 from 22/12/23
Chief Executive (volunteer)
Reverend Nick Crawley
Objectives and Activities
The purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document
As set out in its governing document, the object of the charity is for the public benefit through the advancement of the Christian Faith in the UK and overseas particularly but not exclusively by:
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producing or distributing Christian Literature including video or audio recordings and other related media; and
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encouraging the education, mentoring, coaching, training, teaching of the Christian faith.
Summary of the main activities
The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
The charity provides a free Bible discipleship tool through its ‘ Bible for Life ’ website.
‘ Bible for Life ’ developed from Nick Crawley’s teaching in the churches he led over 30 years of ministry. It is designed to help men and women engage with scripture, discover its treasures for themselves, put Jesus’ teaching into practice, and live by the Spirit in His kingdom. Since 2014 the material on the website has been developed to include a combination of different learning approaches and levels of engagement. Several guest scholars have contributed to the development of the site by providing material on the Bible books they are experts in.
The ‘Bible for Life’ website was generously donated to the Bible for Life Discipleship Trust when the trust was established as Charitable Incorporated organisation on 16th February 2022. The Trust aims to continue to maintain, develop and publicise the website.
THE BIBLE FOR LIFE DISCIPLESHIP TRUST: Charity Commission number 1197943
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Achievements and Performance
All aspects of the Bible for Life ministry developed strongly in the twelve months to 31st March 2025, including …
1) The appointment of two members of the BfL Team. Matt Donaldson started working for BfL one day a week on 1st June 2024, and Rich Lush joined the team in July 2024 invoicing for the work he did each month. Matt has handled the routine matters and from early in 2025 has managed the YouVersion account. Rich has played a key consultancy role researching and advising in matters relating to publicity, marketing and technical matters. Both Matt and Rich have made significant contributions to the development of the ministry.
2) Metrics. It is difficult to measure the growth of this ministry, but in as much as we are able to measure progress there seems to have been a 40% growth across the different BfL ministries; for example the number of subscribers to the ‘BfL-Coms’ grew by around amount.
3) YouVersion. This has been the most significant area of development. We launched our first plan on YouVersion in September 2024 and by the end of March 9 plans had been uploaded, and 11,200 plans had been completed representing a third of the 33,700 subscriptions). The overall rating on YouVersion is currently 4.6*.
4) Discipleship page on Website . We started planning the creation of a second Website page which will focus on Discipleship with the intention that this will be active before Christmas.
Financial Review
In the year, the trust raised £8,218 from the Trustees and friends of the charity, and from donations through the website.
The charity spent £13,588, with £80 spent on creative content for the website, £6,907 on website management and development, and £6,601 on administration.
The basic cost of continuing to maintain and add content to the website is around £1,000 a month and the Trustees’ policy is to hold a reserve of at least three months basic cost, currently amounting to £3,000.
As at 31[st] March 2025, the charity had unrestricted general funds of £3,426, more than covering the minimum target in the reserves policy.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Bible for Life Discipleship Trust was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales on 16[th] February 2022.
The charity is recognised by HMRC for gift aid, has set a policy for safeguarding beneficiaries, and did not employ staff or own or lease land or property during this period.
THE BIBLE FOR LIFE DISCIPLESHIP TRUST: Charity Commission number 1197943
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The charity is overseen by five trustees and supported by Reverend Nick Crawley, the original founder of the Bible for Life website, who acts as chief executive of the charity in a voluntary capacity.
Administrative details
Email: info@bibleforlife.co.uk Website: www.biblefgorlife.co.uk Principal address 27 Carnarvon Road, Bristol, BS6 7DU
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.
Matthew Wood Chair of Trustees 23[rd] June 2025
THE BIBLE FOR LIFE DISCIPLESHIP TRUST: Charity Commission number 1197943
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The Bible for Life Discipleship Trust Statement Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2025
| 2025 £ | 2024 £ | |
|---|---|---|
| Donations | 8,218 | 5,612 |
| Total income | 8,218 | 5,612 |
| Expenditure on | ||
| Creative costs | 80 | 281 |
| Website management and development | 6,907 | 3,914 |
| Administrative costs | 6,601 | 2,030 |
| Total spend | 13,588 | 6,225 |
| Operating deficit for theperiod | -5,370 | -613 |
| Total funds at the start of the period | 8,796 | 9,409 |
| Total funds at the end of theperiod | 3,426 | 8,796 |
THE BIBLE FOR LIFE DISCIPLESHIP TRUST: Charity Commission number 1197943
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The Bible for Life Discipleship Trust Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025
| 2025 £ | 2024 £ | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank balance | 3,426 | 8,796 |
| Gift Aid receivable | 0 | 0 |
| Total Assets | 3,426 | 8,796 |
| The funds of the charity: | ||
| General unrestricted funds | 3,426 | 8,796 |
| Total Funds | 3,426 | 8,796 |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 23[rd] June 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Matthew Wood Chair of Trustees 23[rd] June 2025
THE BIBLE FOR LIFE DISCIPLESHIP TRUST: Charity Commission number 1197943
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The Bible for Life Discipleship Trust Note to the Financial Statements for the period ended 31 March 2025
1 Accounting policies
The Financial Statements are drawn up on an accruals and prepayments basis in respect of income or expenses and have been prepared following the guidance for accounting for smaller charities issued by the Charities Commission.
The Financial Statements are not subject to Independent Examination or audit as the charity’s annual income is under £25,000.
Funds held by the charity are:
Unrestricted general funds – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects of the charity at the discretion of the trustees.
2 Cash funds
| 2025 £ | 2024 £ | |
|---|---|---|
| Trust bank account with Lloyds Bank | 3,426 | 8,796 |
| Bank and cash | 3,426 | 8,796 |
3 Debtors
| 2025 £ | 2024 £ | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax due ongift aid donations | 0 | 0 |
| Debtors | 0 | 0 |
4 Trustees’ remuneration and expenses
No remuneration or benefits or expenses, directly or indirectly, out of the funds of the charity, were paid or payable in the period to any Trustee or to any person connected with any of them.
THE BIBLE FOR LIFE DISCIPLESHIP TRUST: Charity Commission number 1197943
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5 Employees
There were no employees during the year.
THE BIBLE FOR LIFE DISCIPLESHIP TRUST: Charity Commission number 1197943