2025-06-30-annual-report - Scrabo Hall Christian Assembly

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SCRABO HALL 2024 - 2025

Trustees’ Report for the year ended 30 June 2025

The Trustees of Scrabo Hall Christian Assembly (the ‘Assembly’) submit their annual report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2025.

Reference and administrative details

Details of trustees, elders, deacons, independent advisers and other relevant information are given on page 2.

Structure, governance and management

The Assembly is an independent local church constituted by a Trust Deed executed on 4 May 2014, this deed was updated on 25 May 2022 to reflect changes in the active trustees. No other changes to the deed were made.

Although the Trustees have legal responsibility for the affairs of the Assembly, the day-to-day spiritual care is carried out by the elders and the day-to-day practical matters are overseen by the deacons. Both these groups make up the majority of the Trustees. The Trustees meet at least twice a year; the elders meet every two weeks and the deacons once a month.

The Assembly registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 30 July 2014 as required by the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (as amended) and comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” issued in October 2019 and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.

The Assembly have appointed Martin Pitt FCA as honorary independent examiner of the financial statements. The Trustees would like to thank Martin for his willingness to fulfil this role and time it has taken him to examine the Assembly’s records and form his report.

Risk

The Trustees consider that there are two main areas of risk facing the Assembly, as follows:

Financial –The Assembly relies almost entirely on the income received from freewill offerings, without which the Assembly would not be able to achieve its’ charitable objectives. However, should there be a reduction in offerings the Trustees would commence a program of cost reduction to ensure the financial stability of the Assembly.

The Trustees would like to take this opportunity to thank the members for their continued giving to the Assembly, which is most generous and we give praise to God for this.

Reputational – The Assembly normally carries on a wide range of ministries with children and also some with vulnerable adults. In order to mitigate any risk in this regard it has comprehensive policies and procedures in place, which are managed by a designated person and routinely monitored by the Trustees.

SCRABO HALL 2024 – 2025

Objectives and activities

The objectives of the Assembly, as stated in the Trust Deed are:

a. To advance the gospel of Jesus Christ among the general public, in accordance with biblical principles and practice both in the UK and abroad in a manner consistent with the statement of faith;
b. To prevent or relieve poverty among those in hardship;
c. To relieve those in need due to their adverse circumstances; and
d. To advance education among those who are disadvantaged due to their adverse circumstances.

These objects may be pursued in the United Kingdom or abroad at the discretion of the Trustees.

The Assembly organises a wide range of meetings and activities including (but not restricted to):

Breaking of Bread Communion Service, Prayer Meetings;
Sunday Evening Teaching, Bible Studies, Home Groups, Youth Fellowship;
Morning Service, Addicts Meeting, Ladies Missionary Class, Ladies Breakfast, Men's Fellowship, Crafty Corner;
Kids Quest, Every Girls and Every Boys Rallies, Junior Youth Fellowship, and Scrabo Toddlers.

During the year the Assembly has continued to support a number of local Christian workers.

Achievements and performance

The objects of the Assembly are spiritual and qualitative and therefore not easily measured in many respects. Nonetheless it has been a pleasure to see God’s handiwork in seeing a number of people find Christ as Saviour, been baptized or joined the church fellowship. A high proportion of members continue to be engaged in serving the Lord in a variety of ways in the Assembly and a significant number also have participated in short-term mission in Canada, South Africa, Laos, Republic of Ireland, Thailand, Italy, Pakistan and Moldova.

1 To advance the gospel of Jesus Christ

The Assembly provides a wide variety of church services and activities on an on-going basis as mentioned above. Church membership at 30 June was 313 (2024: 304).

Robert Hamilton was employed to support the Trustees specifically in pastoral visitation and assists in other areas including Bible teaching and co-ordinating the evangelism activity. This role is now fulfilled by Jonathan Dempster. In addition, Jonathan Thompson is employed as a youth worker.

Glenn Johnston has continued to be engaged in full time Christian work, based largely in the Ards and North Down area, where he has devoted a portion of his time to engaging in School’s ministry on behalf of the Assembly, for which he has received support from the church.

SCRABO HALL 2024 - 2025

The Assembly employs also Pauline Williamson as Facilities Co-ordinator.

The Trustees are grateful to all these individuals who have provided or continue to provide significant help in the pursuit of the objectives.

The church was privileged also to support a number of missionaries and work among Christians overseas during the year, including:

Patrizio & Jennifer Zucchetto serving in Naples, Italy;
Andy & Ruth Hamilton serving in Monte Porzia, Italy;
Massimo & Lidia Pecoraro serving in Sovigliana, Italy; and
Partnering with churches in Belarus and Pakistan.

Further details of the meetings, activities and ministries of the Assembly can be found at www.scrabo.org.

In addition to its in person ministries the church uses its presence on social media platforms as a ministry to those of the congregation who are unable to attend for various reasons. The main church YouTube channel has been viewed in other countries, including some hard to reach nations. The focus of evangelism includes both corporate gatherings and individuals sharing their faith within their circle of influence.

The Trustees receive benefit from this object in the same way as the public at large. This is regarded as incidental.

2 To prevent or relieve poverty 3 To relieve those in need Members of the Assembly were involved in work to relieve those in poverty and in other needs. The Assembly sent £1,183 (2024: £7,058) to Pakistan for these purposes.

4 To advance education

The church provides financial support to Noor Ministries, a charity working among the Christian minority population in Pakistan to provide education. Over the course of the year the Assembly provided £2,713 (2024: £2,650) to support this ministry. In addition, during the reporting period one of the trustees (Trevor Alexander) visited Pakistan on two occasions to provide teaching for students of the Brethren Institute of Theological Education and to visit some of those entities that the assembly supports.

The Trustees have had regard to the statutory guidance in respect of the Public Benefit Requirement published by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.

Financial review

Results

The Trustees are content with the financial results for the year, the Assembly is reporting a deficit

SCRABO HALL 2024 – 2025

of £18,394 (2024: £2,939) and a cash outflow of £11,7673 (2024: outflow of £6,855).

Risk Management

The Trustees have established a Finance Team to monitor the finances of the Assembly. This committee consists of the treasurer, assistant treasurer, accountants, two trustee representatives (one elder and one deacon). Two professionally qualified accountants have been placed on the committee by the Trustees to ensure that governance and financial regulations are adhered to.

The Finance Team have established a financial guide for the Assembly which has been approved by the Trustees and these help ensure controls are in place to manage the finances of the Assembly and help to prevent and/or detect fraud or error.

Taxation status

The Assembly being a charity recognised by the HM Revenue & Customs has no liability to corporation or capital taxation on its charitable activities.