## EXCHANGE CHURCH BELFAST ## Trustees Report ## - to encourage a heart for the promoters of the Christian faith and the relief of poverty worldwide In setting out the objectives for the church and planning activities for the year, the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity's purpose and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries. Public benefit The direct benefits which flow from this object include the increasing the ability and activity of people to become involved in the community. These benefits are demonstrated through the involvement of volunteers in various Church activities. This object does not give rise to any harm. The beneficiaries of this object are families and individuals living in Belfast Metropolitan Area. A private benefit may arise to trustees and/or their families availing of Church activities. Access to these activities is equally open to all beneficiaries. This benefit is incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries. The direct benefits which flow from this object include improved knowledge of the tenets of the Christian faith and the opportunities created for people to put these tenets into action in the community. These benefits are demonstrated through oral and written feedback from attendees and from those accessing Church teaching online and the level of engagement in Church activities by attendees. This object does not give rise to any harm. The beneficiaries of this object are people living in the Belfast Metropolitan Area and people from further afield accessing Church teaching online who want to know more about the Christian faith or develop their understanding of their Christian faith. A private benefit may arise to trustees and/or their families improving their own knowledge of the Christian faith. Access to Church teaching is equally open to all beneficiaries. This benefit is incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries. The direct benefits which flow from this object include better identification of and more targeted meeting of people’s practical and spiritual needs. These benefits are demonstrated through the Church’s ongoing development of relationships with existing Churches, community and overseas charitable organisations. This object does not give rise to any harm. The beneficiaries of this object are people living in areas of deprivation in East Belfast and living in deprivation overseas. There are no private benefits flowing from this object. The direct benefits which flow from this object include improved ability to provide pastoral care and support to people and organisations. These benefits are demonstrated through feedback from Church attendees, the Church teaching archive online and the established relationships with community and charitable organisations. This object does not give rise to any harm. The beneficiaries of this object are people from the Belfast Metropolitan Area who attend Church, people overseas accessing teaching online and people in East Belfast who avail of Church activities in the local community. A private benefit may arise to trustees and/or their families availing of pastoral care. Access to pastoral care is equally open to all beneficiaries. This benefit is incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries. The direct benefits which flow from this object include better access for people to learn about the tenets of the Christian faith and the meeting of basic human requirements to help improve life. These benefits are demonstrated through the Church partnering with a charity which operates overseas. This object does not give rise to any harm. The beneficiaries of this object are the people living overseas who have limited or no understanding of the Christian faith amongst whom the charity has developed projects and who have been identified as living in poverty. There are no private benefits flowing from this object. Achievements and performance During 2023 church life continued to grow. We saw a number of overseas students and young professionals from different nations attending the church which brought great diversity and life. We continued to develop our social media content and increase our presence online resulting in Pastors from both America and Brazil visiting the church. We undertook a number of community initiatives. A pantomime was written as a Christmas outreach and tickets were given out free of charge. The church community came together to act, sing, dance and create sets. This was a great success and we saw over 200 people attend. We began a youth club for 8 14 year olds where they could engage in arts and crafts, sport and music activities. We also pioneered an online parenting course in which we had people from various parts of Northern Ireland and even a family from Canada attend. We encouraged all members to find their place in which they could invest their time and expertise to further the mission of the church and serve the local community through hospitality, social media, kids and youth ministry, worship and prayer. Youth and kids work continued with all volunteers undergoing enhanced access NI checks ## Financial review The Church has continued to be well supported by donations, gifts and various related activities during the year. The statement of Financial Activities on page 8 show a surplus of £14,544 for the year bringing unrestricted funds to £76,647 at 31 December 2023, with a closing bank position of £63,875. Structure, governance and management Nature of governing document The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 19 February 2015. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed by these Articles. In the event of the company being wound up, members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1. Exchange Church Belfast is in compliance with legal and other governance obligations. The company was formally granted charitable status by the NI Charity Commission, its charity number being NIC102800. Organisational structure Trustees' meetings are held regularly and decisions taken must either be a majority decision or in accordance with the Articles. The trustees may delegate any of the powers conferred on them under the Articles to committees who must follow the procedures set out for them by the trustees. ## Appointment of Trustees Trustees are appointed in accordance with section 20 of our Articles of Association. Candidates must be active members of the church, demonstrating a strong commitment to our mission and values. Qualifications: Trustees should possess relevant skills and experience, including legal, financial, and administrative expertise. Duties: Trustees are responsible for the oversight of church property, financial management, and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. We believe that this process will ensure the selection of dedicated and capable individuals who will contribute to the continued growth and success of our church community. ## Statement of trustees' responsibilities The trustees (who are also the directors of Exchange Church Belfast for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland". The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; - observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards, comprising FRS 102 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. Small companies provision statement This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006. 25 Sep 2024 The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on .................... and signed on its behalf by: ......................................... Andrew George Toogood Trustee ......................................... Paul Jordan