Registered charity number: 1200065 # BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST **TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **Chanter, Browne & Curry** Chartered Accountants 1 Plato Place 72-74 St Dionis Road London SW6 4TU. BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST ## **CONTENTS** ||**Page**| |---|---| |Trustees' report|1 - 5| |Independent examiner's report|6| |Statement of financial activities|7| |Balance sheet|8| |Notes to the financial statements|9 - 11| BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** The trustees present their annual report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) (second edition - October 2019) - (Charity SORP (FRS 102) Revised). ## **Objectives and activities for the public benefit** ## **Our aims and objectives** The aims and objects of the charity are as follows:- 1) To advance the Christian faith worldwide for the benefit of the public through producing and delivering Christian messages at churches, seminars, public celebration of religious festivals and any other Christian gathering and opportunities for networking (fellowship, discussion and working together) among established as well as emerging churches and church leaders. 2) To advance the education of the pupils at Bethlehem Bible College in Bethlehem, by assisting in the provision of facilities for education at the College provided either in person or online through provision of funds and grants to the College for such purposes. 3) For the public benefit to promote the education (including language and leadership training) of people worldwide in such ways as the charity trustees think fit, including by awarding to such person’s scholarships, maintenance allowances or grants tenable at Bethlehem Bible College. 4) The prevention or relief of poverty in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories by providing humanitarian grants to Bethlehem Bible College who will then distribute the funds to those suffering from financial hardship towards the following: a) Generally paying for items and services such as food, medicine, utility bills or medical treatment; and b) For payment of tuition fees, cost of examinations or other expenses connected with vocational training of students who face financial difficulties and otherwise will not be able to complete their education at Bethlehem Bible College. The objectives of the charity are set to reflect its community aims. Each year the trustees review the charity's objectives and activities to ensure they continue to reflect the aims of the charity. In carrying out this review the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit and its supplementary public guidance on the advancement of religion for the public benefit. Page 1 ## BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **Achievements and performance** Activities undertaken during the period have included the following: - 1) To advance the Christian faith worldwide. - a) Visits to church, colleges, and the community throughout the UK to share and discuss about our work. b) Regular prayer meetings at our office. - c) The office space used for talks and to present information about the Bethlehem Bible College, Shepherd Society and the land in which they live. - d) Regular supporters can receive newsletters from Bethlehem Bible College and the Shepherd Society. - 2) To advance the education of the pupils at Bethlehem Bible College. - a) Funds are raised in the UK for the support of the running of the Bethlehem Bible College and for the students attending. - b) A UK donor provides funds, to support a Master’s student at the college. - 3) To promote education of people worldwide, including maintenance allowances or grants at Bethlehem Bible College. - a) Contributions towards operational costs provided to the college facilitate the educational activities of the college. b) One of the activities of the college is online courses. These include: Biblical Studies, and languages such as English and Arabic, which benefit people in various parts of the world. - 4) The prevention or relief of poverty in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. a) The social outreach arm of the Bethlehem Bible College is the Shepherd Society who then distribute the funds to those suffering from financial hardship. b) We raise funds for the Shepherd Society. The funds are used for emergency provision, such as food parcels, utility bills, medical costs (ie medicines and surgery costs) and job creation; as well as more durable solutions, such as micro-finance for projects for self-substainability, and help with tuition fees and other expenses connected with vocational training of students who are facing financial difficulties whilst attending the Bethlehem Bible College. Page 2 ## BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **Financial review** The attached financial statements summarise the charity's transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025. Total income for year is £71,701 (2024: £64,757). Total expenditure is £53,586 (2024: £67,794). The net surplus is £18,115 (2024: £3,037 deficit). Totals funds at the year-end was £96,896 (2024: £78,781), made up of unrestricted funds of £38,366 (2024: £23,570) and restricted funds of £58,530 (2024: £55,211). ## **Principal funding sources** The charity's principal sources of funding are from gifts and donations. ## **Reserves policy** It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted funds at a level which equates to approximately twelve months unrestricted expenditure. This provides sufficient funds to cover management, administration, and support costs. ## **Risk management** The trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining unrestricted reserves at current levels, combined with an annual review of the controls over key financial systems, will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The trustees have also examined other operational and business risks faced by the charity and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks. ## **Structure, governance and management** ## **Governing document** Bethlehem Development Trust is an unincorporated public benefit entity and was established in England under a trust deed dated 28 May 2021, as amended by a resolution dated 1 August 2022. It became a registered charity on 15 August 2022. ## **Recruitment and appointment of trustees** The trust deed of the charity requires that there must be at least 3 trustees. Apart from the first trustees every trustee must be appointed for a term of 3 years by a resolution of the trustees passed at a special meeting (held before or after an ordinary meeting). The board of trustees is authorised to appoint new trustees to fill vacancies arising through resignation or death of an existing trustee. Trustees have the right to co-opt members to serve as trustees between special meetings. ## **Trustee induction** The trustees receive documents relating to the rules and obligations of trustees as set out by the Charity Commission and are supported appropriately. ## **Organisational structure** There is a chairperson and other trustees. These officers and the other trustees were appointed on 15 August 2022 and serve for 3 years at a time. ## **Going concern** Albeit, with the uncertainty of the region of Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories, there is still much need for funds for the support of our work. There is no reason to believe that this need is not required for the foreseeable future. Page 3 BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **Reference and administrative information** |Chair person|Tanas Alqassis| |---|---| |Trustees|Tanas Alqassis| ||Jacob Sara| ||Andrew Paget| ||Mojisola Olu-Oyeyemi| ||Anne Plested| |Registered charity number|1200065| |Registered office|Post Office House| ||Hambridge| ||Langport| ||Somerset TA10 0AU| |Independent Examiner|Chanter, Browne & Curry| ||Chartered Accountants| ||1 Plato Place| ||72-74 St Dionis Road| ||London SW6 4TU.| |Accountants|Elizabeth Sanders Limited| ||25 Gordon Road| ||Windsor| ||Berkshire SL4 3RG.| |Bankers|Lloyds Bank PLC| ||24-26 High Street| ||Wells| ||Somerset BA5 2SJ.| Page 4 BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements** The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and 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 and Wales requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each 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 period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; • prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. This report was approved by the trustees on …........................ 2025 and is signed on their behalf. ……………………………………… Tanas Alqassis Chair Person Page 5 BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST INDEPENDENT EXAMNER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES I roport to the trustees on my ￿aMina￿On of th8 linancial statements of the above charity for ihe year ended 31 March 2025. which comprise the statement of finan¢i818CtNtties. the b8￿n￿ sheet and tho r¢latad Th)tes on pag8s 9 to 11. R8spon$ibll￿les and ￿?12 of rèport As the charitVs trustees, you are responslble for Ihe prgpardtion £rf ts finandal statements In accAYdance wilh the requiremgnls gf th8 Charthes AGI 2011 1lh& Acri. I report In respect of rny ex¥mSnath)n ol Ihe tru5t'5 fflnandal ststements carried out und8r 50dlon 145 of tre Act and in carTring out my examination, I have folowèd all the apphcable dir8Ctions given by Ihe Charity C(￿￿45510Th undgr section 14515llbl of the Act. Independ•nt •xamlner* statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matsrial rnatters have come to my att9ntion in ￿Trnection wth the gxaminath?n which glve me rgasonable Cause lo believe thal in. any Material respect.. + the accounting records wer6 Th)t kept in accordhnce ￿th sectlon 130 of the Ac(. or . the financlal statements did not accord with Ihe accountin9 records.. or . th? Itnancial stalements not compty with th8 appluble requiremgnts con¢eming the form and content of financial st8ternents set out In the Charitie5 IA¢counls and Reportsl RegulatH)ns 2008 other than any reqtrrirement that the financial statements give a aThJ la* view which 15 not a mattar consldered as part of an Independen¢ examinaiion. I have no ¢oncems and have come a(xoss no other matters in connection with tha examination to which attention shoukl be drawn In this report In order to enable a proper understanding of the financial Statements to b8 reached. P.G. 8rowno FCA CTA Chanter. Brown• & Curry Chartered Accountants 1 ￿al0 Place 72-74 St Dlonls Road LoNlon SW6 4TU. Date.. h1￿￿ . 2025 Page 6 ## BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **SUMMARY INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT** |**Notes**
**INCOME**
1.3
Gifts and donations
2
Interest received
**Total income**
**EXPENDITURE**
1.4
Charitable activities
3
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Total funds brought forward**
**Total funds carried forward**
6|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
20,943
359
21,302
6,506
6,506
14,796
23,570
38,366|**2025**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
50,399
-
50,399
47,080
47,080
3,319
55,211
58,530|**Total**
**£**
71,342
359
71,701
53,586
53,586
18,115
78,781
96,896|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
64,757
-
64,757
67,794
67,794
(3,037)
81,818
78,781| |---|---|---|---|---| The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses in the period. All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities. The notes on pages 9 to 11 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 7 ## BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST **BALANCE SHEET AT 31 MARCH 2025** |**Notes**
**Current assets**
Debtors
4
Cash at bank
**Creditors:**amounts falling due within one year
5
**Net assets**
**Funds of the charity**
Restricted income funds
6, 7
Unrestricted income funds
6|**2025**
**Total funds**
**£**
2,351
98,712
101,063
4,167
96,896
58,530
38,366
96,896|**2024**
**Total funds**
**£**
1,066
80,315
81,381
2,600
78,781
55,211
23,570
78,781| |---|---|---| Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf:- …………………………….. Tanas Alqassis Chair Person Date: …................................ 2025. The notes on pages 9 to 11 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8 BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## 1 **Accounting policies** - 1.1 **Basis of accounting** - The charity is an unincorporated public benefit entity established in England under a trust deed dated 28 May 2021, as amended by a resolution dated 1 August 2022. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) (second edition October 2019) - (Charity SORP (FRS 102) Revised), The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated. - 1.2 **Going concern** Albeit, with the uncertainty of the region of Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories, there is still much need for funds for the support of our work. There is no reason to believe that this need is not required for the foreseeable future. - 1.3 **Income** Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when:- - the charity becomes entitled to the resources; - the trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and - the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. Gifts and donations are recorded as income in the accounting period in which they are received, except where the donor specifies that they should be used for a specific period. ## 1.4 **Expenditure** - Expenditure is included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of any - VAT which cannot be recovered. ## 2 **Income from gifts and donations** |Gifts and donations received
Gift Aid receivable|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
19,498
1,445
20,943|**2025**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
50,399
-
50,399|**Total**
**£**
69,897
1,445
71,342|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
63,663
1,094
64,757| |---|---|---|---|---| Page 9 BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## 3 **Expenditure on charitable activities** |**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
**Activities undertaken directly and support costs**
Printing and stationery
95
Postage and couriers
312
Consulting costs
-
Rent and rates
2,248
Travel
383
Bank charges
-
Donations paid
-
Scholarships
-
Conferences
800
Telephone and internet
80
General expenses
113
4,031
**Governance costs**
Accountancy fees
1,275
Independent examiner's fee
1,200
Legal expenses
-
Board expenses
-
2,475
6,506|**2025**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
6,000
-
-
30
41,050
-
-
-
-
47,080
-
-
-
-
-
47,080|**Total**
**£**
95
312
6,000
2,248
383
30
41,050
-
800
80
113
51,111
1,275
1,200
-
-
2,475
53,586|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
408
313
7,500
2,470
1,018
45
44,996
6,450
2,342
80
-
65,622
935
1,140
-
97
2,172
67,794| |---|---|---|---| No staff were employed by the charity during the two years ended 31 March 2025. None of the trustees (nor any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the two years ended 31 March 2025. During the year ended 31 March 2025, consulting fees totalling £6,000 and rent and rates totalling £2,248 were paid to a trustee, Anne Plested. Bethlehem Bible College covered the costs of the consulting fees for Anne Plested. ## 4 **Debtors** |**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
Gift Aid receivable
2,351
2,351
**Creditors:**amounts falling due within one year
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
Accruals
4,167
4,167|**2025**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
**2025**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-|**Total**
**£**
2,351
2,351
**Total**
**£**
4,167
4,167|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
1,066
1,066
**2024**
**Total**
**£**
2,600
2,600| |---|---|---|---| 5 **Creditors:** amounts falling due within one year Page 10 ## BETHLEHEM DEVELOPMENT TRUST **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## 6 **Statement of income funds** |At 1 April 2024
Incoming resources
Resources expended
At 31 March 2025|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
23,570
21,302
44,872
(6,506)
38,366|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
55,211
50,399
105,610
(47,080)
58,530|**Total funds**
**£**
78,781
71,701
150,482
(53,586)
96,896| |---|---|---|---| - 7 **Restricted funds** Restricted funds comprise the following: 1) Fund to support the running of the Bethlehem Bible College and for the students attending. 2) Fund for the Shepherds Society which is the social outreach arm of the Bethlehem Bible College. The fund is used for food parcels, utility bills, medical costs (i.e. medicines and surgery costs) and help with tuition fees and other expenses connected with vocational training of students who are facing financial difficulties whilst attending the Bethlehem Bible College. 3) Fund to support a master's student at the Bethlehem Bible College. 4) Funds have been raised for a Gaza Appeal, which will be administered by the Shepherds Society for Gaza. 5) Funds have been raised for a Job Creation Appeal, which will be administered by the Shepherds Society. The fund aims to support the Christian community, recent graduates, unemployed individuals impacted by the war, and to stimulate the local economy in the Bethlehem area. Page 11