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TRUSTEE REPORT ANNUAL
YEAR ENDING - March 31st, 2023
Ark Kingdom Ministries Charity presents its annual report and accounts for the year ending March 31st, 2022, and confirms they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed, and the Charities SORP.
Constitution adopted May 6th, 2003. Further updated upon Registration with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland dated March 24th, 2013
Ark Kingdom Ministries operates under a Declaration of Trust deed dated 2003.
The trustees of Ark Kingdom Ministries Charity comply with the guidance of the charity commission in providing a service for the public benefit.
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ACCOUNTANT
Community Accountancy Service NI 47 John Street Co, Londonderry/Derry BT48 6JY
Independent Examiner Mandar Patel Courtfield Trading Limited 13 Church Avenue Leicester LE3 6AJ
CHARITY INSURANCE
Victor Marsh Bedford House Bedford Street Belfast BT2 7DX
DANSKE BANK 14 Broad Street Magherafelt Co, Londonderry/ Derry BT45 6EA
AKMC OFFICE 55 Molesworth Street Cookstown County Tyrone BT80 8NX
GOVERNANCE
Ark Kingdom Ministries adheres to our nondenominational belief and the principle of accountability. The charity is governed by a board of trustees and a leadership board that ensures the kingdom principles of our Lord Jesus Christ is without reproach.
TRUSTEES
Pastor Ufuoma Obahor Pastor Stephen Bamgbala Mrs Sandra Obahor
Method of Appointment The members elect trustees at the AGM
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Ark Kingdom Ministries Statement of Trustee responsibilities
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial accounts for each financial year, which gives an accurate and fair view of the charity's state of affairs. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
▪ Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
▪
Make reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates
Objectives of The Charity
The Charity Is Established for the following: Advancement of The Kingdom of Jesus Christ (Ministry of Jesus Christ) In Accordance With The Letter and Spirit of The Trust's Statement of Faith
The Relief of Poverty
The Provision of Facilities in The Interests of Social Welfare for Recreation And Other Leisure Time Occupation Of People Who Are In Need As A Result Of Their Youth, Age, Infirmity Or Social And Economic Circumstances
▪
Prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue to run.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the charity's financial position and enable them to ensure that the financial accounts comply with charity commission guidelines.
For the Personal and Social Development of Young People to Reach Their Full Potential Physically and Spiritually
Promoting the Welfare and Safety of Individuals at All Times.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the charity's assets and taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
Signed on behalf of the trustees by: Signature:
Name: Mrs Sandra Obahor Date: January 22[ND] 2024
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What We Do
The Ark Kingdom ministries is a faith-based charity governed by a board of trustees. Our core principle is promoting the welfare of families in line with the charity's objectives. Supporting members and non-members with pastoral care, spiritual growth in Jesus Christ, relief of poverty, and promoting the well-being of young people and adults through recreational projects
Ark Kingdom Ministries (AKM) is in Mid-Ulster and run a charity shop in Cookstown. AKM operate a charity shop, a food bank, and a baby bank. These projects support not just families on a low income but also those experiencing hardship due to unforeseen circumstances.
The charity shop provides clothes for children and adults, shoes, toys, puzzles, Books, ornaments, Bric–a–brac, and furniture. The charity shop has operated for 14 years, serving and bringing the community together. Volunteers run the charity shop. Some volunteers are trustees giving their time to serve people from the community.
AKM charity shop supports school leavers looking for jobs in the wider community, providing training such as building confidence, work experience, and personal development in learning new skills. AKM encourages and teaches customer service to these school leavers on how to dress on a shop floor, communication skills with customers and personal presentation to work. The charity has supported many low-income families with a buy now and pay later payment scheme. The community has been generous in donating goods to the charity shop. Everyone who enters the shop is treated with respect, regardless of background. The volunteers take time to know customers and how to meet their needs. Over the years, the charity has grown to be a community space where people meet regularly with each other. The charity space is not just for meetings but for people to come in and ask for advice or chat when things are not going well.
Pastor Ufuoma volunteers his time in the charity shop to people who walk in from the street needing pastoral help.
At the AKM charity shop, staff ensure all items are clean and in good selling condition before placing them on the shop floor. Clothes are washed and items tested before sale.
Our aim at AKM is to promote the welfare and safety of all individuals, AKM primarily aim to reach the community with the message of hope and restoration. Family is our core and central focus, as we believe each person belongs to a family. “By strengthening the family bond, we support the community” (Pastor Ufuoma).
ANTIOCH STOREHOUSE FOODBANK Antioch Foodbank (AFB) started in 2014 in Cookstown. Antioch Foodbank runs under the umbrella of Ark Kingdom Ministries. All staff who work at Antioch Foodbank are presently volunteers.
In the district census survey 2014, Cookstown was among the towns listed below the poverty line. AFB provides Food parcels in the midulster region. The food parcel consists of ambient food and toiletries. A food voucher is completed for record keeping (in line with GDPR); AFB offers an online service where the vouchers are completed online. AFB have a walk-in service where the service user can walk in and request support. AFB also works with local organisations to reach out to the community. These organisations include Sure Start, Social Services, Young People's Housing Support Team, Women's Aid, and other organisations not listed.
In 2022, AFB continued to support families through local organisations. These organisations make referrals for food parcels and the baby bank. There were also some requests for furniture and essential home utensils.
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CHARITY SHOP Opening times are for the AKM charity shop and AFB:
food to Antioch Foodbank through the unmanned collection.
EASTER TREAT APPEAL
Thursday 10 am - 4 pm Friday 10 am – 4 pm Saturday 11 am – 4 pm
AFB will respond to food needs outside the opening times in an emergency. An emergency food request is categorised as a person without money to buy food or needing help due to an instant change in circumstance. Emergency categories include Individuals leaving their homes due to domestic violence, abused persons, refugees, or those just released. There are many more emergency circumstances which are not listed.
In 2023, 140 (one hundred and forty) easter eggs were supplied to the community in conjunction with Asda Cookstown. AFB was able to work with organisations such as Gold Surestart, Women’s Aid and Social Services that worked with children in distributing the eggs. Easter eggs were placed in food hampers during the easter season as part of the easter celebrations. These eggs helped low-income families celebrate easter, making the season joyful. AKM will use this medium to thank everyone who donated to the easter egg appeal.
CHRISTMAS HAMPERS
AFB rely on the support from the local community. Grants from organisations such as Asda Foundation and Tesco community grants were received during 2022—the grants aimed to bring the community back together. During the financial year 2022, AFB was awarded £742 from the Asda Foundation (under 18 better starts grant) and £500 from the Tesco community grant. The £500 from the Tesco community grant was initially allocated for Christmas hampers for December 2021. The Tesco community grant check was issued after Christmas in 2022, and it was cleared it could be used for AKR charity (activities that promote charity work) due to the late cheque issue. Both grants aided the continued work of the AFB in reaching and catering for the community's well-being by purchasing food and personal hygiene products.
Asda Cookstown continues to support our mission to relieve poverty and hunger in the community. A food trolley is placed in the store, where the community can donate food to AFB. The donation from the trolley has been of great support, as with the rising demand for food parcels, AFB provided food support in the year 2022-2023 to over 500 persons. The unmanned collection donation collected from the trolley is valued at an estimated £3000 in food value. We want to thank the whole community for their generosity in donating
In December 2022, Christmas hampers were not distributed due to high food costs and lack of funding. Food hampers were given out to families who needed help during the season as AFB continued its support to the community.
CHRISTMAS TOY APPEAL
distributed toys to families in the community, which were collected through our annual toy appeal at Asda Cookstown. The toy was distributed to families by transportation to the homes of service users who used the food bank. It was a targeted distribution; an AFB gave toys to families who could not afford toys during the Christmas season. AFB will want to thank all who helped put a smile on the faces of those young children who received the toys, not forgetting the Asda store and the community champion for making the toy appeal a success.
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ANTIOCH CAFÉ
Antioch Café (Community Space) plays a big part in the community, although food sales have been on a low sales turnover. On the social front of Antioch Café, the ethos of Antioch Café is a recreational space for all to come, sit, and talk with someone. This space has no restrictions, so people can go in and out feeling free to relax. Antioch Café understands low income; hence, service users can bring something (purchased or prepared at home) to eat while drinking purchased beverages from the café.
PAY-IT-FORWARD PROJECT
In 2022, a program called Pay it Forward” was introduced to the charity by a trustee. The program allows individuals and consumers of the charity shop to voluntarily participate in buying a coffee or a bun from the café for someone else. A black notice board with all the complimentary beverages and buns paid forward is displayed for all to see.
Customers or Individuals who came into the shop for personal or food queries were offered a complimentary tea or were sometimes given a drink and bun. The homeless unit on the same street as the charity shop came and availed of the Pay it Forward initiative. This has brought about an awareness of the food bank to those who are hungry and cannot afford food due to the high cost of living. The Pay it forward programme was received with an attitude of gratitude and acceptance that there is a local food provision service for those in need. Antioch Café played a big part in the Pay it Forward scheme. Many people came in to have complimentary beverages and Buns. We saw more interaction in the community. People came and talked to each other, from not knowing each other to becoming very friendly. Cakes and scones were baked every week.
The community space is open three days a week with no restrictions.
Antioch Café is also a recreational space where people from all backgrounds meet. Denominational and racial barriers are non-
existent, as all can interact freely. Persons are encouraged to meet to find answers to their social needs and improve their mental health. Having someone to listen to or speak with has been beneficial to many. People's lives have improved regardless of their social and economic status. Mental health is a key issue amongst some of those using the service provided by AKM and AFB, and in all cases, effort is made to ensure appropriate help is given.
BUMP-2-BABY
Bump to Baby in the year 2022-2023 has supported families in the community. Most of our referrals come through organisations working with families with young children. In 2023, we supplied cots, clothes, prams, and other essential items such as blankets, cots, sheets, Nappies, and wipes. Families receiving the service fall into low-income and financial restrain categories. We want to thank all the parents who donated baby essentials and organisations who donated baby food, bouncers and clothes to support Bump2Baby NI.
PASTORAL CARE
In 2022, pastoral care was provided for families and individuals. 70% of individuals needing pastoral care received one-to-one counselling in the office located in Cookstown without a prior appointment. This is an ongoing commitment by AKM volunteers and not only Pastor Ufuoma. Any service user needing oneto-one is listened to or referred to the appropriate organisation for further assistance. Subject matters of concern were food / low income, housing, depression, child education advice for migrants and home office settlement enquiries.
These services are presently not funded but provided due to the high demand within the community. Due to the high demand for people needing support in the community, Ark Kingdom ministries will be availing funding that
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would cover services provided and administrative costs. The counselling provided is part of AKM's outreach due to the high demand for person needing help.
PRISON OUTREACH
In 2022, Ark Kingdom Ministries continued to provide a service for the inmates using Zoom. This service helped individuals' personal, mental, and social well-being. The Zoom outreach to the prison inmates is of great encouragement to the inmates at the prison. AKM is working on ways to have person-toperson ministry time at the prison. The process has been hindered since the COVID-19 pandemic, but progress has been made.
AKM AFRICA
In 2022, AKM Africa continued to support the hospitals in Nigeria, Africa, by providing medical equipment and personal encouragement.
NEWS
In the year 2022, on 24[th] February, the whole world woke up to the war, Russia invaded Ukraine. This was a devastating time, as many lives were displaced and lost due to the war. The trustees and partners of AKM decided to aid those displaced from Ukraine residing in Slovakia due to the war with essentials and school supplies for children.
A sponsored walk was organised from Magherafelt to Cookstown to raise funds to help transport items from Northern Ireland to Slovakia. The awareness was raised, and the community donated to the initiative. Donations include clothes (children and adults), toys, blankets, and household essentials.
AKM teamed up with Seskinore Christian Fellowship for the sponsored walk, and a total of £1,160.00 was raised. The funds raised were used to buy school items for Ukrainian children attending school in Slovakia and to transport and distribute items in Slovakia. AKM teamed up with a fellow church in Slovakia led by Pastor Robert Kuki. Pastor Robert was able to distribute and work firsthand with the Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia.
AKM will want to thank the community, Pastor Trevor Cardwell and all at the Seskinore Christian Fellowship, and the volunteers from AKM who took part in the sponsored walk for donating to the Ukrainian appeal. As you have sown peace in the hearts of those seeking refuge, may your home see peace in Jesus’ name. Amen.
MEDIA
AKM's media presence is growing, attracting new viewers with relevant related topics being addressed. Marriage and relationships have been the key themes discussed throughout the year. There is a need to purchase new equipment to serve the AKM media presence better. Trustee Sandra uses her media design company to help design good, innovative press releases to promote and announce the work of AKM (in all departments). Most of the media publications have been done on Facebook and YouTube websites. Flyers are placed in local shops, doctors’ surgery, job centres and local organisations like First Steps and Women’s Aid, a list of venues where the foodbank and services by AKM are publicised.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Ark Kingdom Ministries (AKM) is committed to the Health, Safety and Welfare of our members, staff, volunteers, and customers. AKM aims to ensure that our policies and procedures are reviewed yearly and updated with government guidelines and legislation. Access NI has been updated.
We strive to bring equality, Diversity, inclusion, and safety to all AKM charity members. Policy Reviewed & Updated.
Health and Safety
people needing support in the community, Ark Kingdom ministries will be availing funding to cover services provided and administrative costs.
MOVING FORWARD
The poor you will always have with you is a statement made by Jesus indicating our need to look for ways to constantly reach out to our community. AKM is committed to exploring new ways of better serving our community.
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The introduction of pay-it-forward is one such initiative of reaching out and better serving our community. In the coming year, AKM will seek and implement new methods and strengthen old practices to serve our community better.
Above all, I want to thank GOD, the giver of life and His Son, JESUS CHRIST, through whom we have the HOLY SPIRIT.
CONCLUSION
THANK YOU
I want to use this time to thank everyone who has supported Ark Kingdom ministries in the previous year and present. Ark Kingdom Ministries would not have been effective without the work and support of our volunteers, organisations, and the community.
Organisations' support is pivotal in helping us reach our aims and objectives. We want to thank the local superstore that has supported us with ambient food for the food bank, The opportunity by Asda Cookstown to do an unmanned food collection for food and the promotion of our services. The unmanned food collection aids projects such as the easter appeal, Christmas Hampers, and Christmas toy appeal.
We also want to thank the community for supporting the AKM charity shop by donating goods such as Ornaments, small furniture, clothes, and toys. Through such activities, AKM raises the funds needed to run our projects. Community groups and churches also donated ambient food to support the foodbank and baby essentials that helped the Bump2Baby baby bank. We want to thank the local schools and the youth clubs who generously donated ambient food to the food bank
Our main aim from April 1st, 2022, to March 31st, 2023, has been to spread the love of Jesus Christ through our service to the community. AKM is committed to keeping service users and volunteers safe at all times. The Trustee of Ark Kingdom ministries upheld government guidelines in meeting the needs concerning safeguarding the vulnerable while working in the community. The trustees would like to thank the community that supported the foodbank and AKM services.
The trustees have approved the 2022 – 2023 annual report.
Ufuoma Obahor – CHAIRMAN TRUSTEE Date: 25/01/24
THANKS TO THE TRUSTEES
To the Trustees, as chairperson, I want to say a big thank you for your help and support in seeing we stay true to our founding principles. Thank you for seeing that AKM complies with the policies of the Charity Commission NI.
NEW TRUSTEES
I also use this medium to welcome Mr Ian Nickels as a trustee to Ark Kingdom Ministries. We pray Ian will use his knowledge and skill to help take forward the objectives and goals of Ark Kingdom ministries.