CONNECT MIIYISTRIES REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (INCORPORA TING TRUSTEES, REPORT) The Directors (who are also the trustees) are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 3 1st August 2023, which are prepared to meet the requirements for a directors, report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. The directors have adopled ihe provisions of the Companies Ad 2006 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities- Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (Charities SORP - F.RSI 02), in preparing the annual report and fjnancial statements of the charity. Achievements And performance Connect Ministries is a Christiar) Gharity with a desire to bring community tTansforniation one lifg at a tiFne connecting people from the pl&ce of their current reality to a God-firsL Jesus-centred. purpose-driven life. by The Charity endeavours to bring transforniation by two approaches: directly by face-lo-face beneficiary interactions. and also. indirectly by sUPPOrting the Civil and so¢ial authoritie5 Wlthin the community. The Charity runs and oversees social action projects across a number of eomniunities within 8 20-tnile radius of its registered office. Those social action projects include, bul are not limited to. Street reach, Ballymena Foodbank serving circa 2,555 people in 2023 (last year ? 000). we successfully recruited a dedicated Foodbank Project Manager, and we also have Baby Essentials. We run Kids Reach, Sonshine Week community outreach pro&mme in July where 100 church volunteers dedicaled their time. We have a flourishing Dream Cafe, Furniture ministry, Community clean up and power washing. In Ihe reporting period, countless volunteers inves¢¢d mauy more than 8.500 hours throughout the year, supporting a connection to frontline govemmental and non-governmenial organisations. The support provided ranges from befriending to emergency provisions in response to crises, from kids. clubs lo drop in cafe providing hol meals free of charge to circa 75 people each week", to pra¢ti¢al help and support bringing environmental improvement. Our volunteer and staff investment resulted in supporting individuals. journeys through alcohol, drug rehabilitation, and engaging 6 people on probation, instilling hope into those without any, creating opportunity for people to find structure and purpose as well as meeting the immediate needs of individuals and Communities to alleviate poverty and improve social welfa. Connect also had the privilege of leading 25 people into a new faith in Jesus. In 2023. we continued to be llY focused on responding to emergency provision of food. baby essentials and hygiene items lo our local community through Ballymena F(Kidbank. Our staff team was arranged to help manage this and we engaged volunteers who delivered these supplies to ihe homes of those who were in most need. Financial review and funds policy During the year the Charity had total income of £1 01.753 and iotal expenditure of £108.039 resulting in a nel deficit of £6,286. The net deficit for the year as shown in the statement offinancial activities on page 7 has been transferred to the company's futjds and resulted in a decrease in total Charity funds from £53,029 to £46,743. Details of the financial POSLtioJ] of the Charity at the year-end call be seen on page 8. At the end of the year the Charity had £1 5,314 cash at bank. It ts the aim of the Trustees, if wssible, to maintain an unrestricted cash reserve equivalent to that of two months expelldAture. The company plans to continue its &ctivities in the forthcoming years.
CONNECT MINISTIUES REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (continued) Objectives and Activities (and how they deliver public benefjt) Purpose I Purpose: To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Northern Ireland (hereinafter called 'the area of benefit,) wilh0 distinrtion of sex. sexual orientation. race or of political. religious or other opinion by associating together the said inhabitant5 and ihe local authorilies voluntary and other organisations in a comrnon effort to relive poverty and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for tb¢ recreation and leisure time occupalion with the object of improving the conditions of life of said ijthabilants. Open to all of the public in Northern Ireland. Th¢ provision of facililies for publi¢ use. Through the provision of clothing or food. The adoption of a mordl framework which encourages people to be good citizens. Promotional materials. Improved behavior. Improvement in social, emotional and physical wellbeing of participants. Improvement in a person or group's person andlor financial circumstances. Beneficiari¢5- How they benefit.. How the benefits can be demonstrated.. Purpo8¢ 2 Purpose.. Beneficiaries: How ihey benefit: How the benefits can be demonstrated., To advance the Christian religion. Open to all of the public in Northern Ireland. Access to public worship. AGrcs5 to religious publications including sacred texts and literature. Improved behaviour as a result of being involved in a public act of worship. Activities The Charity's main activities are as follows: To eommunicate, witness and implement the Gospel of Jesus cEist by means of example and the spoken and written word. To draw, make, accept, endorse, discounL execute and issue promissory notes, bills, cheques and other instruments, and to operate bank accounts in the name of the Company. To raise funds aTLd to invite and receive contributions. provided thal in raising funds the Company 5h&ll not undertake any pcrnlanent trading aciivities and shall conforni to any relevant sLUUtory regulations. To promote the formation &nd/or incorporation of or to otherwise acquire and fijnd from monies held by the coPanY as aTC not imtnediately required in discharge of the Company's other Objects either by the means of equity or debt such wholly owned non-charitable trading subsidiaries the Company considers appropriate from time to time. To acquire, alter, improve and (subject to such consents as rnay be qUired by law) to charge or otherwise dispose of property- Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation oftbose who give freely of their time by serving on committees and helping with organisalions and other ministy activities.
CONNECT MINISTRIES REPORT OF THE DtRECTORS (conlinued) Objectives and Activities {And how they deliver public benefit) (eonrfinued) To employ such staff, who shall Tt be directors of the Company, as are necessary for the proper purSLtit of the Objects and to make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and superatmuation to staff and their dependents. To establish or support any chaTitable trL)sts. associations or institutions forn]ed for all or any of the Objects. To establish or se¢we the establishment of a Centre and to maintain and manage tbe same (whether alone or in Co-operation with any local autl]ority or other person or body) in furtherance of these Objects. To co-operat¢ with other charitAes. voluntary IK)di¢s aud statutory authorities operating in fvrtherance of the Objects or similar charitable Purposes and to exchange infornialion and advice with them. To pay out of the fitnds of ihe Company the cosw charges and expenses of and incidental to the fOrntIOn and registration of the Company. Reference and adminlstrative dttAiIs Registered charity name: Charity Commission registration number: HMRC charity reference.. Company registration number.. Principle office and registered office: Connect Ministries NICIOI.360 XR22389 N1033172 CIO en Pastures, The People's Church l Faith Avenue The Gateway Ballymena County Antrim BT42 3FF Directors and Trustee5 of the Colnpany The directors who held office during the year, and in Ibe period since 31 August 2023 to the date of these accounts were approved, were as follows.. Mr. Robert Kingston Mrs. Sara Stephens Mr William Wilson Mr. Jeffrey Wright Structurfy governance and management The Company is a charity limited by guarantee without share capital. The Company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association d&ted 30th October 1997. In the event of the Company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10. The Board is responsible for the overall governance of the Company with the day-to-day managemenl delegated to responsible individuals. Directors are appointed in line with the Memorandutn and Articles of Association of the company. The Board of Directors are also known as Trustees for the putposes of the Charity Commission. The Trustees have had regard to the Charlry Commission's Public Benefit requirement.
CONNECT I[NIsTRIEs REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (continue Risk management The directors have conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. Financial risk is reviewed on a monthly basis having due regard to ongoing income and expenses. Statement of directors, responsibilitie5 The directors (who are ihe trustees of Connect Ministries) are responsible for prepartng the directors 'report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the directors to prepare financial slaiements for each financial period. Under that law the directors have prepared the fmancial statements An accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under Company law the directors must noi approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied thai they give a true and fair view of the slats of affairs of the charitable company and of the inwming resources and application of r¢sour¢es, including in¢om¢ and expendire for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to: sele¢t svitable accounting policies and apply them consistently. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP-FRS 102: make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent.. state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subjed to any material departures dis¢losed and explained in the financial statement. and prcpare the financial statements on the going ¢oncem basis unless it is inappropriale to presume that the company will continue in business. The directors are responsible for keeping adequaie accounting records that are sufficient to show &nd explain the charitable company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy al any lime the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure ihat the financial statements Comply with the Companies Act 1006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable Company and h¢ii¢e for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Fund$ held 8$ cu$todixn trn$tee on behalf of others The charity does not hold any furtds on behalf of others. Small companies provision statement This report ha5 been prepared in accordance with the specia] provisio relating to companies subject to the sma]I companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. Approved by the Board on 23, April 2024 Sied on its be]lf by: Mrs Sara Stephens Trustee