2020-12-31-accounts - Greenstones Christian Trust

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GREENSTONES CHRISTIAN TRUST

Registered Charity No 513862

Working as

Missions to Prisons

and

Friends of Prison Fellowship Ethiopia

ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED ST 31 DECEMBER 2020

Summary of the objects of the Charity

The Trust exists for the charitable purpose of the furthering of the preaching of the Christian gospel including the publication of gospel tracts the provision of places for the preaching of the gospel the worship of God and other activities for the advancement of Christianity including the outdoor preaching of the gospel Clause 1 of the Trust Deed dated 28[th] March 1974.

Trust address

PO Box 37 KENDAL Cumbria LA9 6GF England

Trustees

Mr J W Allen, Rev C D F Crombie, Mr M E Ducker, Rev R Ducker, Dr D Gilmore Rev R P Spratt MBE

Bankers

Barclays Bank 9 Highgate Kendal LA9 4DF and NatWest Bank 10 Elephant Yard Kendal LA9 4LZ

Independent Examiner

D McSharry BSc Hons, 3 Carrock Close, KENDAL LA9 7HW

GREENSTONES CHRISTIAN TRUST

Registered Charity No 513862

ANNUAL REPORT - YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

INTRODUCTION

Greenstones Christian Trust which is non denominational has continued to pursue its charitable purpose of furthering the preaching of the Christian gospel and to demonstrate the holistic nature of this Christian good news by supporting practical projects. It is not the purpose of the Trust to do all the preaching. The aim is to further this by encouraging others – of whatever denomination – to join in sharing good news and a message of hope with all kinds of people in ways that are relevant to their needs. This is essentially more than just words! Although the main focus of the Trust is amongst people affected by imprisonment, this is not exclusive.

TRUST MANAGEMENT

Trustees

The Trust is managed by Trustees and according to paragraph 10 of the Trust Deed dated 28[th] March 1974 “The number of trustees of this deed shall not be less than three”.

The policy and practice of the Trust is to invite persons with relevant experience/ qualifications/vision to consider taking on this responsibility and currently the number of trustees is six.

Reserves and the application of funds

The current policy and practice of the Trust is not to build up large financial reserves but to apply money received to furthering the varied work of the Trust at the earliest opportunity. All work continues to be undertaken on a voluntary basis, with volunteers responsible for meeting their own expenses – including those involved in visiting Ethiopia.

Funds for the work in Ethiopia undertaken in partnership with Justice for All-Prison Fellowship Ethiopia are held in a separate dedicated account – Friends of Prison Fellowship Ethiopia - and are applied in full in Ethiopia.

Reporting Serious Incidents

As required by the Charity Commission, it is confirmed that there are no serious incidents or other matters that need to be reported.

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

In the UK

The UK prisons related work of this Trust is generally undertaken in co-operation with others, especially Christian prison chaplains and those concerned with the care and resettlement of offenders.

Opportunities to further the preaching of the Christian gospel in accordance with the purpose of this Trust as declared in our Trust Deed quite often appear to be related to an interest in the Trust's Ethiopian prisons ministry activities. However this year due to the restrictions associated with the covid19 pandemic there have not been opportunities to give informative talks in churches, to take part in conferences and conventions or speak about the work among both Christian and secular groups as in more "normal" times.

There were however opportunities to share God's good news via the internet and to offer some limited pastoral support, Bible study and prayer via telephone calls from prisons.

In Ethiopia

Due to the covid pandemic and other issues with the consequent travel restrictions it has not been possible for a team to visit Ethiopia during this year, visit prisons and host the usual annual chaplains' conference.

However, in spite of the restrictions caused by the pandemic and other emergencies, the Trust has been privileged to be able to continue to partner in the holistic Christian prisons ministry of Ethiopian NGO Justice for All-Prison Fellowship Ethiopia (JFA-PFE).

This partnership has included continuing regular financial and prayer support for the Twinkle of Hope and REFUGE projects caring for children of prisoners as well as for members of the nationwide Chaplaincy Team . The Trust also contributed to the construction of a much needed sewage treatment plant in Addis Alem Prison which was commissioned on 7 September 2020 - see illustration on front page. For context it was in this same prison that in 2019 two Trustees - Rev Bob Spratt MBE and Dr Diane Gilmore took part in the official opening of new accommodation for the women prisoners some of whom also had their young children with them. Construction and furnishing of that accommodation was funded by this Trust. Unveiling the plaque at the women's .. accommodation opening ceremony To ensure that all money raised for the work in Ethiopia is actually applied to specific purpose in Ethiopia, careful records are kept and none of it is used for admin or any other purpose in the UK.

LOOK BACK – LOOK AHEAD

This has been another year when in spite of some of the difficulties caused by events leading up to the state of emergency in Ethiopia much has been achieved. Good news has been shared in places which are more accustomed to bad news and hope has been brought into situations that may previously have appeared hopeless.

We go forward into 2021 with a desire to build on the experience gained over the years and a fresh determination to demonstrate God’s love in ways that can be understood.

Signed: . Date: 17 May 2021 Rev Robert P Spratt MBE, Founding Trustee

Greenstones Christian Trust

Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31st December 2020

Gift Aid Bank interest Mission giving (Note 2) Printing and stationery Subscription Postage PO Box fee Insurance Sundry expenses Bank transfer charges 1st January 2020 Other income Receipts Donations Balances carried forward 31st December 2020 Balances brought forward Total Payments Surplus/Deficit Total receipts Payments		General Funds £ 1,370 1 1,371 212 100 328 278 330 0 0 1,248 123 1,318 1,441	Restricted Funds £ 45,191 6,336 9 51,536 58,705 390 59,095 -7,559 55,420 47,860	Total 2020 £ 46,561 6,336 0 10 52,907 58,705 212 100 328 278 330 0 390 60,343 -7,437 56,738 49,301	Total 2019 £ 64,520 9,405 222 22
					74,169
					71,544 262 0 811 270 330 53 294
					73,564
					605 56,133
					56,738

Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2020 General Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2020 2019 £ £ £ £ Fixed Assets 0 0 0 0 Barclays Bank Premium Account 649 649 648 Barclays Bank Community Account 792 792 670 Natwest Bank Current Account 37,575 37,575 45,144 Natwest Bank Reserve Account 10,285 10,285 10,276 Cash in hand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total net assets 1,441 47,860 49,301 56,738 Represented by Accumulated Fund brought forward 1,318 55,419 56,737 56,133 Surplus/Deficit for the year 123 -7,559 -7,436 605 1,441 47,860 49,301 56,738 Current Assets Current Liabilities Balances carried forward 31st December 2019
					56,738
					56,133 605
					56,738

Greenstones Christian Trust

PO Box 37, KENDAL Cumbria LA9 6GF

Registered Charity No 51362. Founded in 1974

Notes on the Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2020

1 Funds

The General Fund meets the running costs of the Charity and is funded by donations made exclusively to cover those costs. No expenses are paid to Trustees and no Trustee receives any remuneration.

The Restricted Fund receives donations and related Gift Aid (where applicable) which is remitted to Justice for All-PF Ethiopia, a Non Government Organisation based in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. Monies received are applied to a variety of projects as detailed in Note 2.

2 Mission Giving

The following projects operated by Justice for All-PF Ethiopia received financial support during the year.

support during the year.
PFE Chapel/Chaplaincy/Bible Study etc support PFE Ethiopian chaplain/workers' support PFE Twinkle of Hope + Refuge children support PFE Dormitory for women/capital projects PFE Prison ministry general/practical support	£5,275.00 £24,340.00 £18,360.00 £8,730.00 £2,000.00
	£58,705.00

3 Note re Justice for All-PF Ethiopia

This organisation has an observer status in the African Commission on human rights and special consultative status in UN-ECOSOC.

Further information about their work can be found on their website jfapfe.org

Signed R P Spratt

by Rev Robert P Spratt MBE

Date 17 May 2021

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Greenstones Christian Trust.

I report on the accounts of The Greenstones Christian Trust for the year ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on the following pages.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Independent Examiner

The charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission and
state whether particular matters have come to my 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 or disclosures 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention:

which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
to which in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts

I have no concerns to report, and have come across no other matters in connection with my examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

D McSharry

Diane McSharry BScHons 3 Carrock Close Kendal LA9 7HW Date: 17 May 2021