Charity Commission Report for Financial Year1 April 2024- 31 March 2025
Name of Trust: Dunmurry Christian Trust
NIC Number: 103151
Principal Address: 192 Kingsway, Dunmurry, BT 17 9AD
Current Trustees:
Mr R Mortimer (chair)
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Ms T Beal (secretary)
Mr S Chandrakumar
Mr A Mearns
Mrs R Polley
Mrs H Rodgers
Ms M Stewart
Others who served as trustees in the reporting year:
Professor K D Brown
Mr S Appukuttan (S Edwards) Mr A Rohman
Appointment of new trustees:
No New Trustees were appointed this period. In the course of the year Mr S Edwards resigned with effect 24 Sep 2024, Professor KD Brown resigned with effect 24 Nov 2024 and Mr A Rohman with effect 25 Mar 2025.
Summary description of the charity's purposes:
The primary purpose of the Trust is the advancement of the Christian religion in Dunmurry and elsewhere, together with the provision of instruction in basic domestic skills. The public benefits arising from this include help in the formation of a moral framework to enhance public and private behaviour: the provision for individuals ofa sense of identity, belonging and community support, an understanding of community reconciliation, a greater sense of self-reliance and self-confidence and, in some cases, a reduced dependence on public support.
Charity's Constitution and Governing Document:
The purposes and rules governing the Trust's operation are set out in a Declaration of Trust Deed
dated 11 January 1982 and a further Deed ofAppointment and Retirement of Trustees, dated 8
September 2011. The administration of the Trust, its properties and funds is the responsibility of the named trustees. Trustees Guidelines for their terms and conditions of service were added in Sep 2023.
Summary of main activities:
Cross community weekly services for worship, including dedicated meetings for children, young people, and adults;
Weekly instruction classes in the Christian religion;
Weekly free coffee bar open to the public;
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Monthly friendship club for members of the local Indian community;
Monthly worship services run by and for members of the Northern Ireland Asian community; Evening classes in GCSE mathematics free to the local community
Main achievements:
The Trust maintained its long-standing financial support of a missionary couple in Macedonia and of a church-based orphanage in Myanmar. The latter was this year supplemented with additional funding to cover the costs of an oven. The Trust also agreed to continue its regular support of church projects in Malawi (River of life Evangelical church): these included capital works, pastors’ salaries, and an allocation to facilitate the purchase supplies of maize. Following the visit from one of the church leaders the trust now receives a bi-monthly report in regards to the non-capital expenditure.
The Trust continued to provide accommodation for a part-time counselling service provided by two professional, accredited counsellors, both of whom are members of the church congregation. The Trust accommodated regular youth group meetings during this period, Funding by the trust has assisted in facilitating outings for young people from both the church & wider community and connection with wider regional groups and associations.
The trust supplied free of charge premises, books and tuition for a GCSE mathematics class open to the public. Catering for mature learners rather than school-age children, the class attracted up to 17 students a session.
Finance:
The trust’s income in the current reporting year rose to £135,611 an increase of about 10% over the previous year’s total of £123,120. This increase can be seen to be related to a change in the income stream with more being received via gift aid than offerings. Expenditure was lower than for the
previous reporting period, owing mainlyto their being no major building/ maintenance work over the period, even though the trusts expenses were up on the previous year. Consequently, the operating surplus of £24,629 was higher than on the previous year’s figure of £7,862. The Trust remains cash rich and benefits from maintaining monies in a fixed term savings account which also generates an income.
Statement:
This report is compiled with full regard to the Charity Commission's public benefit statutory guidance
Signature of authorised trustee:
R Mortimer (Chairman) 23-Nov-2025