DISCOVERY CHURCH TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025
Charity registered number 283533
DISCOVERY CHURCH TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025
Trust information
| Trustees | Mrs Jillian Hall |
|---|---|
| Timothy Hill | |
| Bruce Townsend | |
| Managing trustee | Bruce Townsend |
| Address | 11 Bloxham Crescent |
| Hampton | |
| Middlesex | |
| TW12 2QF | |
| Bank | Lloyds Bank Plc |
| Independent examiner | E H Goater |
| 71 Burtons Road | |
| Hampton Hill | |
| TW12 1DE | |
| Charity registered number | 283533 |
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DISCOVERY CHURCH TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025
Trustees' report
Structure, governance and management
The Trust was set up with a declaration of trust date 6th July 1981 under the name Teddington Christian Fellowship, with a supplemental deed date 10th November 1981. For some period subsequently the Trust operated under the name Thames Christian Community. The Trust has been registered with HMRC as a charity for many years.
Objectives and activities for the public benefit
The objects under the Constitution are focused on the advancement of the Protestant and Evangelical tenets of the Christian faith, either in the UK or overseas. Additionally there are objects relating to the furtherance of religious or secular education, relief of the poor and needy, and help and comfort of the sick and aged.
The Trust currently supports Christian mission, relief work, and education in Eastern Africa, primarily Uganda; also teenage mental health work in the UK. The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.
Activities
In 2024-25 the Trust continued to support Gichuru Jeremy and the Quality Discipleship Church network in East Africa, and Elevate Life in the UK.
East Africa
A further cross-denominational mission to the Ssese Islands took place in June 2024, co-ordinated and led by Gichuru Jeremy but involving missionaries from many different churches and denominations. This outreach focussed on Kilugu, Kyewerwa and Butulume Islands.
New church structure at Kiwiri, Kilugu Island, Uganda
(continued)
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DISCOVERY CHURCH TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025
Trustees' report ( continued)
Activities (continued)
On 27th June Gichuru met the Mayor of Kalangala, the islands' capital, and gained her support and that of her husband, who is a pastor there. He also gained the support of the senior traditional tribal chief Mr Augustine Kasirye.
The mission lasted from 4th-7th June. 91 missionaries from the main island, Bugala, and mainland Uganda were involved, along with Stephen Appleton, a key Discovery Trust supporter from the UK. Two new churches were planted as a result, and structures provided for them to meet in, and two existing churches were strengthened. Over 140 people made new or renewed commitments to God, and 36 were baptised. People and churches in Uganda gave generously towards the costs, with supporters in the UK also making contributions.
Unfortunately Gichuru was injured in a fall at the end of the mission, which limited his activity for some time.
In July he was nevertheless able to meet the local Member of Parliament and gain his support support for the continuing mission into the islands.
During the year Gichuru's car reached the end of its life, developing multiple problems and being no longer cost-effective to repair and maintain. Supporters in the UK were able to contribute enough funds for a 4x4 replacement of good age and condition.
New vehicle provided by Discovery Trust supporters
In October Pastor Moses Tumwesigye, a key leader in the Quality Discipleship Church network network and the Ssese Islands evangelism project, required a major operation on his knee, for which supporters of the Discovery Trust raised funds.
In February 2025 Stephen Appleton visited Kenya to participate in a mission there, which passed successfully.
Gichuru was involved in a number of other conferences and ministries throughout the year: Leaders' conference in Meru, Kenya in August Ministering to churches in Meru, Kenya in September Mission to Western Uganda in March
(continued)
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DIsCORy CHURCH TRUST Indepen(lent Exarnin•rfs r•portto the Tru¥tee• of DI¥Very Church Tnmt I reFth to the Trustees myexaninth.on ofthe acwjnts and notes of Dsv Churth Trust for the w endd 31 2025. Re•pon•lbllltle• and basls of rw As tharity trust you are reSpontIe for weparatth ofthe K£OLmts in )rdance with the r8quir•ments ofthe charib.es Ad 2011 (the Ad). I rewt in TesFect of my exami110n of the Trusfs acCjnts carried out under seth.on 145 of the 2011 Act. In cann9 ¢)ut my examinalion I have fc41owed 811 the applib]e Directions givan by th• Charity c(MisSi under se(on 14Sl5llb) olthe A( Ind•pond•nt Examln•rf• Stt•rnffit I havè wnr4trted my examirth. I confimi thal no motri81 matte13 have ccrfne lo my attention in connedion wilh the examtn8tM gIrj rne cause to believe Ihat in any m81¢ri81 Tespe(a.' 1. oc¢ountkng re¢w¢ts ware rKrt kept in respecl dthe Tntyt as roquired by 8e(ori 130 of the 2. the accounts and notes do noi a¢ctyd wlth th068 re(y)rd8. I hove kK¢ CC8 and have come a(Jos8 no cthr matters in o)nrtion wilh the examination to vthich attenlion should be drawn in this rewt kn t¥der to enable a Fffoper uThJerstgnding of Ihe accthints and notw to b* ie¥thed. Slgned 6th Jarwary 21f28 E H Goater Chartered Accountant 71 Burtons Road Hampton Hil Middle5¢X TW12 1DE
| FIECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACcollNT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year to | Yeartt} | |
| 31st March 2025 | 31st March 2024 | |
| Restricted Funds | Restricted Funds | |
| £ | £ | |
| Fteceipts | ||
| Donations | ||
| Sponsor collection | ||
| Gift aid tax claimed | ||
| Total inc;oming resources | ||
| Payments | ||
| Charitable actlvities | ||
| Grant payments | 51,036 | 38,234 |
| Governance casts | ||
| Bank charges | ||
| Trustee expenses | ||
| 195 | 240 | |
| Total payments | 51,231 | 38,474 |
| Nat (payments) for the year | (19,456) | |
| Cash funds last year end | 29,629 | |
| Cash funds this year end | 10,173 | |
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES | ||
| 31st March 2025 | 31st March 2024 | |
| F`estri cted Funds | Restricted Funds | |
| £ | £ | |
| C]sh funds | ||
| Banl{ balance | 7,228 | 29.629 |
| Total cash fiind§ | 29,629 |
DISCOVERY CHURCH TRUST
Notes on the Receipts and Payments account Year to 31st March 2025
1. Restricted funds
| Year to 31st March 2025 Uganda and East Africa Elevate Life Totals Year to 31st March 2024 Uganda and East Africa Elevate Life Totals |
Balances Correction Receipts Payments 1st April (Note 2) 3,547 (251) 48,076 49,894 6,626 251 210 1,337 10,173 - 48,286 51,231 24,513 15,726 36,692 5,116 3,292 1,782 29,629 19,018 38,474 |
Balances 31st March 1,478 5,750 7,228 3,547 6,626 10,173 |
|---|---|---|
2. Restricted funds correction
In previous years several Donations, and associated Gift Aid receipts, were allocated to the wrong Restricted Fund. The above correction is to put that right.
3. Related party transactions
Trustee Tim Hill is a partner, together with his wife Anita Hill, in Elevate Eleven, which is a tutoring and consulting business aimed at helping children. As part of Elevate Eleven they have set up Elevate Life, which runs clubs that support teenagers who have anxiety and mental health issues, through a varied programme.
For Elevate Life to apply for grants it needed to be part of a registered charity. The Trustees agreed that the Trust would help obtain funding for this work. During the year the Trust raised £3,292 for Elevate Life and paid £1,782 to Elevate Eleven for work with troubled teenagers.
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