Trustee Annual Report for Lifewaters Ministries Charity Number: 1201277
The trustees of Lifewaters Ministries are pleased to present the annual report for the year ending 08/12/2022 - 31/12/2023. This report outlines the charity’s activities, achievements and the impact we have made in advancing our charitable objectives. Our mission remains to support and uplift our community focusing on youth development, mental health support and providing essential services to those in need through our outreach programs.
Objectives and Activities
Lifewaters Ministries remains committed to upholding the objectives outlined in our constitution. As a Christian organisation and ministry, our charity is established for the following purposes:
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The Advancement of the Christian Religion and Education:
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We uphold our Christian mission through the teachings of Jesus Christ, evangelistic outreach, and worship events. We seek to plant churches, support local and international missionary work, and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by sharing the gospel and God's love.Our charity also supports charitable deeds aimed at alleviating poverty and fostering equal opportunities, caring for individuals holistically—body, spirit, and soul.
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Support for Christian Missionary Work:
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Actively supporting mission work, both locally and internationally, to spread the Christian faith and demonstrate God’s love through service and compassion.
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Charitable Deeds and Equal Opportunity:
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Supporting initiatives that alleviate poverty, promote equal opportunity, and address both the physical and spiritual needs of individuals.
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Advancement of Education and Mentorship:
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Establishing schools, training centres, and supporting educational projects that help mentor both the young and old. In the coming year, we also aim to advance Christian religious education by offering weekly Bible study sessions and holding worship and evangelistic events throughout the year.
Lifewaters Ministries has been committed to the following key activities:
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Youth Development: Providing education, fellowship and personal growth opportunities for youth aged 4-18 years through various programs, including youth nights, holiday clubs, skills workshops and educational programs.
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Soup Kitchen: Offering free, nutritious meals and beverages to individuals and families facing food insecurity, especially the homeless. Our aim is to foster a sense of community, dignity and hope.
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Mental Health Support Groups:Facilitating men’s and women’s mental health groups that offer a safe space for participants to share their thoughts, feelings and challenges, providing support and encouraging mental well-being.
The trustees confirm that the activities of Lifewaters Ministries are carried out in line with our charitable purposes and provide a clear public benefit. Through our youth programs, soup kitchen and mental health support groups, we directly address the needs of vulnerable populations, foster community and contribute to the overall well-being of those we serve.
Achievements and Performance
This year, we have made strides in each of our core areas:
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Youth Group: - Our youth nights have seen consistent attendance of 10 children, who engage in fun, interactive activities and learn about the teachings of Jesus Christ. The holiday club has also been a highlight offering baking, games and socialising opportunities for the youth.
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Despite financial constraints, we were able to run the holiday club for 2 weeks during the school holidays. However, we aspire to extend this to cover more of the 13-week school holiday period in the future.
2. Soup Kitchen:
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We launched our first soup kitchen this year, serving 15 meals to those in need, with a positive response from the community. Local individuals donated food and clothing, allowing us to meet the immediate needs of the homeless and vulnerable.
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We plan to expand this initiative making it a regular service and potentially developing into a food bank and clothing distribution centre with sufficient resources.
3. Men’s and Women’s Mental Health Groups:
- Our mental health support groups started small but have had a significant impact. With 5 participants in the men's group and 3 in the women's group, we’ve created a safe environment for individuals to express their feelings and receive emotional support. We aim to grow these groups in the coming year, helping to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
The primary challenge faced this year has been the financial strain due to higher rental costs and the increased cost of living, which has limited our ability to provide as many services as we had hoped. The reduction in donations and contributions from families for the holiday club has also impacted our ability to run these programs to their full potential.
Future Plans
Looking ahead, Lifewaters Ministries plans to:
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Expand the Soup Kitchen: We hope to offer more regular sessions and provide additional services such as food distribution and clothing for the homeless. Our goal is to become a central resource for vulnerable populations in the community.
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Advancement of Christian Education and Worship: As part of our commitment to the advancement of the Christian religion, we will introduce weekly Bible study sessions and hold more frequent worship and evangelistic events throughout the year. This will give our community the opportunity to deepen their faith and understanding of the gospel.
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Youth Program Expansion: We plan to extend the holiday club to offer more weeks of activities for the youth, providing much-needed childcare and engagement during school holidays. Additionally, we are organising a seaside trip for youth, their families and the wider community, aiming to make it accessible to those on low incomes.
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Mental Health Group Partnerships: We aim to partner with local bodies in Leeds and the wider community to grow our mental health groups, providing better support and breaking the stigma around mental health.
Financial Review
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Income: The charity's main source of income has been donations, which have covered the core expenses of the organisation, including rent and operational costs.
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Expenditure: The most significant financial challenge this year has been the increase in rent due to acquiring a larger premises, which has quadrupled in cost. Most donations have gone towards covering rent, limiting our ability to expand services and run additional programs like the holiday club for more weeks.
The increase in the cost of living has impacted families’ ability to contribute to holiday club events, affecting the frequency of our activities. We aim to secure funding to offset these challenges and ensure we can continue providing valuable services.
Our work is supported by 3 dedicated volunteers who assist in running the youth group and soup kitchen. Their contributions have been invaluable, helping us plan and execute fun, engaging activities for the youth, as well as ensuring the smooth operation of our soup kitchen initiative.
All income received were used for the charity’s operational expenses and to further the work of the charity in reaching communities and expanding the Kingdom of God.
All trustees give their time voluntarily to support the management and development of Lifewaters Ministries, no benefits, gifts nor remuneration were paid to trustees this year from the charity neither for work carried out for and on behalf of the charity except for receipt of reimbursements/out of pocket expense for and on behalf of the charity.
Governance and Structure
There have been no changes in the composition of our trustee board this year. The charity continues to be governed by its existing trustees, who oversee all activities and ensure good governance. We have safeguarding policies in place, particularly to protect vulnerable adults and children involved in our programs. We are committed to adhering to the highest standards of ethical and responsible charity management.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lifewaters Ministries has made meaningful strides this year in providing critical services to our community. Despite financial challenges, we remain committed to our mission and are determined to expand our offerings in the coming year with the necessary resources and support.
Approved by all trustees.
Signed by: Nestfield Lopez
Signature: Date: 8th October 2024
Registered Address: 14A Woodsley Road, Leeds, LS3 1DT Charity No. 1201277
LIFEWATERS MINISTRIES - charity number 1201277 Statement of Income & Expenditure 8/12/2022 - 30/12/2023
| Opening Balances | 7/12/2022 |
|---|---|
| Llyods Bank Cash in Hand |
£357.55 £0.00 |
| £357.55 |
| INCOME | ||
|---|---|---|
| Donations Grants Tithes & offerring Other Income (events & other) |
£9,193.84 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 |
|
| Total Income | £9,193.84 | |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Programme Costs Ministry Expenses Food/Refreshments Volunteer Expenses Premises Cost/Rent Equipment & Furniture |
£1,087.37 £705.00 £445.99 £0.00 £6,625.00 £563 |
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| Total Expenses | £9,426.36 | |
| Closing Balances Llyods Bank Cash in Hand |
||
| £40.03 £0.00 |
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| Total Closing Balances | £40.03 | |
| NET Income | -£232.52 |