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2023-04-05-annual-return

ST STEPHEN'S

COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH BELFAST

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 05[TH] APRIL 2023

1

ST STEPHEN'S

COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 05th April 2023

CONTENTS

PAGE

CONTENTS 2
CHARITY INFORMATION 3
TRUSTEES REPORT 4-5
INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION 6
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 7
BALANCE SHEET 8
EXPENDITURE
 9
NOTES
 10

2

ST STEPHEN'S

COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH BELFAST

Charity Information

For the Year Ended 05[th] APRIL 2023

Trustees

{1} His Grace Bishop Antony {2} Dr Samir Hanna {3} Mr Ezzat Ramzy {4} Mr Amir Michael {5} Dr Michael Mikhail {6} Dr Adel Dawood Chairman His Grace Bishop Antony Secretary Dr Samir Hanna Treasurer Mr Ezzat Ramzy Charity Number 100966 Registered Office Rev. Alkomos Angilos Sedrak, Apartment 6, Ardilea House, 3 Chichester Park South, Belfast, BT15 5DW Date of Registration 08 December 2014 Independent Examiner IKLOUD Ltd 122 Twyford Road Harrow , Middlesex HA2 0SN Bankers HSBC Bank 5 Donegall Square South, Belfast England, BT1 5JP

3

ST STEPHEN'S

COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH BELFAST

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 05[th] APRIL 2023

The trustees present their report and accounts for the period ended 05th April 2023.

Trustees

The trustees named on page 3 have served throughout the period and Appointment of trustees is governed by the Trust Deed of the charity.

Investment Powers

The Trust Deed authorizes the trustees to make and hold investments using the general Funds of the charity

Constitution, Objects and Policies

The charity was formed on 17th April 2011 and was registered with the Charity Commissioners, registration number 100966 on 08th December 2014. The Charity is governed by the Charity commission and its Trust deed.

Saint Stephen's Coptic Orthodox Church Belfast is an indivisible part of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt which has as its Supreme Head His Holiness the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. The authority of His Holiness the Pope and the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church extends to the entire See of Saint Mark, both in Egypt and abroad. Such authority cannot be changed, revoked, altered, defied or modified.

The Custodian of the Charity is His Holiness the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark and His Grace Bishop Antony.

The charity is managed by the Church Council consisting of the Presiding Bishop, The Priests of the Church and not less than five Council Members, who shall be appointed from time to time by the Diocesan Bishop or His Holiness the Pope being the highest authority in the Coptic Orthodox Church. His Holiness the Pope or the Diocesan Bishop may appoint in writing, any person he delegates to act on his behalf in this respect.

All members of the Church Council are Trustees of the Charity, on ceasing to be a member of the Church Council, that individual will also cease to be a Trustee of the Charity.

The object of the charity is to promote the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom and North Ireland. In furtherance of this object the Trustees may provide and maintain places of public worship, carry on religious services, pay and provide for the housing of priests, hold religious and other meetings in connection with the Coptic Orthodox Church, provide assistance for the needy in the United Kingdom and abroad.

4

ST STEPHEN'S

COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH BELFAST

Development, Activities and Achievements

During the year, the youths of the church attended and organised conferences, retreats and trips, in some cases in conjunction with other Coptic Churches in the UK and abroad. They have Sunday Schools, youth meetings, prayer meetings, Bible studies, and pre-and post graduate meetings.

The church has sports activities and has football and tennis table teams which play and compete against teams of other Coptic Churches in the UK

The church is open most days of the week for celebrating the Divine Liturgy, prayer meetings, seminars, group discussions, Bible studies, Coptic language lessons, Coptic hymns lessons and other church activities

Financial Review

The financial position of the charity is considered most satisfactory this year

Future Plans

The church are still raising funds and actively looking to purchase a church building in North Belfast area.

Statement of Trustees Responsibilities

The trustees are required under the constitution of the charity to prepare financial Statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs Of the charity and of its results for that period. In preparing those financial statements The trustees are required to:

(a) Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

(b) Make judgments and estimated that are reasonable and prudent;

(c) Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with Reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also Responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable Steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities

Approval

The trustees approved this report on ……………………... and signed on their behalf, Dr Samir Hanna (Trustee)

5

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF ST STEPHEN'S COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH BELFAST

We report on the accounts of the charity for year ended 05th April 2023 which are attached.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiners

The charity 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 Charities Act 2011 and only an independent examination is required.

It's our responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's report

Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions by the charity Commissioners. 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 item or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanation 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 we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:

1- Which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the

Requirements;

2- to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached

Independent Examiner

IKLOUD Ltd 122 Twyford Road Harrow, Middlesex HA2 0SN

6

ST STEPHEN'S

COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH BELFAST

Statement of Financial Activities for the period Ended 05th April 2023.

Note. Unrestricted
 Unrestricted
 Restricted Total Total
Funds
Funds Funds Funds
2023 2023 2023 2022
INCOMING RESOURCES £ £ £ £

Donation		 19,841
0 19,841 128,763
Gift Aid 3,135
0 3,135 4,836
Job retention Scheme income 0 0 0 2,580
__________
Total Incoming Resources 22,976
0 22,976 136,179


RESOURCES EXPENDED
Charitable expenditure

Management and administration of the
Charity 1 8,602 0 8,602 8,932
Total Resources Used
8,602
0		 8,602 8,932
__________
Net Movement in Funds for the period 127,247
0		 127,247 127,247


Balance Brought Forward at 06th April 2022		 229,374
0		 229,374

Total Funds C/F at 05th April 2023		 240,613
0		 240,613

7

ST STEPHEN'S

COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH BELFAST

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 05[th] April 2023

Notes
Fixed Assets

Tangible Assets
Free hold Property

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash at Banks and in Hand
Debtors
NET ASSETS/(LIABILITIES)
Funds

Unrestricted Funds
Total Funds
This financial statement were approved
On ............................

Signed on behalf of the Trustees by
Dr Samir Hanna (Trustee)
……………………………………………………
Unrestricted
Funds
£
0
89,000
240,613
3,135
2023 2022
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds Funds
£
£
£
0
0
0
0
89,000 89,000
0
240,613 229,374
0
3,135 0
____
243,748 0
243,748 229,374


240,613
229,374
___
240,613
229,374
and authorised for issue

8

ST STEPHEN'S

COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH BELFAST

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 05[th] April 2023

1. Charitable Expenditure

Management & Administration of Charity

Church Expenses

Rent

Electricity, Water & Council Tax

Charitable donations

Church Consumable
Stationary

Other Vehicle Expenses
Premises Insurance
Other Expense		 2023
2022
£
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
300
0
0
142
137
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8,400
8,400
60
95
8,602
8,932
Travel and subsistence expenses
Professional fees
Wages and Salaries
Bank charges
Total Expenditure

9

ST STEPHEN'S

COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH BELFAST

Year ended 05th April 2023

Accounting Policies

Basis of Preparation of Accounts

The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention and include the results Of the charity’s operations.

The accounts have been prepared accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charity Accounts

The charity has taken advantage of the exemption to produce a cash flow statement on the ground that it qualifies as a small charity

Income

Voluntary income and donation are accounted for as received by the charity.

Management and Administration Expenditure

Expenditure on management and administration of the charity includes all expenditure not directly related to the charitable activity.

Members of the church council who served during this period are stated below.

{1} His Grace Bishop Antony {2} Dr Samir Hanna {3} Mr Ezzat Ramzy {4} Mr Amir Michael {5} Dr Michael Mikhail {6} Dr Adel Dawood

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