Annual Report for
Rabboni Mercy Trust NIC100523
6[th] April 2023– 5[th] April 2024
32 Fairview Avenue Whitehead BT38 9NU
Purpose of Charity
The charity is governed by a Trust deed. The Trust is managed on a voluntary basis by a Board of Trustees who meet regularly and have responsibility for the financial management and strategic direc�on of the organisa�on. There are no payments made to the Board of Trustees and there is no private benefit to them or anyone else. The Trustees have all reviewed the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland ARR08 Guidance and are aware of its requirements.
The trustees named below were the only ones who served through this repor�ng period (6/4/23– 5/4/24). These three are also the only trustees who con�nue to serve at the date this report was approved.
Michael Ewan
Adrian Gregory
Ronnie McIlwaine
The Trust provides or assists in the provision of medical and health care expenses and treatments, educa�onal bills and food relief measures. The Trust par�cularly supports the work of the Rabboni Mercy Orphanage in providing accommoda�on and care in the area of benefit for children. The Trustees aim to demonstrate prac�cal love to those in need and to provide food, clothing, shelter and educa�on in a Chris�an environment.
supporters and assistance to its projects in Karnataka (India).
At least one of the trustees make periodic visits to oversee the work carried out in India in order to check on the financial affairs of the overseas work and to provide support and encouragement to the local community and representa�ves of Rabboni Mercy Orphanage in the Karnataka region. Supporters normally accompany the trustees on these visits.
Report for the year up to 5[th] April 2024
We are encouraged by the Lord’s provision and help for Pastor Raja and Jebasheela and the children over the year. A visit to see the work with a small team at Easter was very inspiring.
Children
The children con�nue to do well at school and have kept healthy with no major health challenges. They con�nue to a�end the church in Bangalore and receive spiritual instruc�on through the Sunday
school. They are well fed and clothed, educated and have a safe place to sleep. The children have completed and passed all their exams, successfully con�nuing their educa�on. Sam and Mary look a�er their daily needs overseen by Pastor Raja and Jebasheela. They are cared for and supported physically, emo�onally and spiritually. Presently they fully care for 10 children whilst another 16, from poor families, are sponsored for their educa�on, food and clothing.
Team Visit
accompanied by Mike Ewan one of the trustees. They were able to join them on Easter Sunday for their worship service, and the following Sunday. It was lovely to have the opportunity to meet the children they care for, as well as see the other ministries they are engaged in as a church. They were able to take the children and many of the church folk on a day out to Wonderla (an Indian theme park with fun rides and a waterpark). The visit was a special �me to meet the children and enjoy �me with them.
Sponsors and Finance
We have 22 regular individual sponsors, (an increase of 4 over the year) and 2 church sponsors (Greenisland Bap�st and Whitehead Bap�st). There have been others who have regularly given and a number of one-off gi�s as well. The amount of regular sponsorship was c £11,784 and one-off gi�s totalled c £20,375. Of the total amount given by sponsors £13,209 was gi� aided. The total amount of income for the year was c £35,348 with expenditure of c £28, 253 resul�ng in a surplus of c £7,095. Some of this was transferred to the reserve account leaving an end of year balance in the working account of c £3,984 whilst that of the reserve account was c £6,056.
We increased the monthly amounts we sent regularly to India during the year to 90,000 INR (c £890) with an addi�onal 11,000 INR (c £100) sent each quarter for addi�onal educa�onal needs (such as exam fees). Over the year this amounted to c £10,144. Addi�onal project expenditure was c £17,108, and a loan of £1,000 was repaid.
Repairs to the building
During the year money was sent to complete some minor repairs on the building. Some windows needed to be replaced and leaking pipes from the toilets and drainage needed to be to be fixed. They also completed some refurbishment to the main church hall. The new roof that was put on a couple of years ago now keeps the building dry although some further waterproofing of the walls may be needed in the future.
Conclusion and Thanks
the help received from our supporters and sponsors. It is always a challenge to meet the needs over the year, but we look back with grateful hearts for all we have been given and have sought to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us for this work.
Mike Ewan
on behalf of the Trustees
7.11.24