FGH Trustee Report 2021 Issue 1 FORTHILL GOSPEL HALL ANNUAL TRUSTEE AND SUMMARY FINANCIAL REPORT For year ending 30th September 2021 Nl Ch8ritEs Commisswjn ref Nl 107283
FGH Trustee Report 2021 Issue 1 This report has been prepared by the Trustees of Forthill Gospel Hall to review the activities of the charity for the financial period of 1st October 2020 to 30th September 2021 in line wilh the requirements of the Charities Commission and the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. BACKGROUND Forthill Gospel Hall (hereafter referred to as the chanty) was first registered wilh the Charities Commission for Northem Ireland (CCNI) in January 2015 under registration number N1100676 at 116 Low Road, Lisbum. In 2018 our registration was changed to reflect that we are now registered as Forthill Gospel Hall Trust and we were allocated the new number N1107283. At the time of first registration and now as Forthill Gospel Hall Trust the appointed trustees were declared as follows: Alex Connor (Secretary) Eric Hull Samuel Smyth John Cromie (freasurer) Gary Maxwell. Gary Maxwell has taken the decision that effective of 1st October 2020 he no longer wished to serve as a Trustee and has been duly removed from the list of Trustees. He remains an active member of the charty. but no longer serves as a trustee. From 1st October 2020 the following named trustees are in position arKI as of the date of this report and have not been added to or taken from. Alex Connor (Secretary) Eric Hull Samuel Smyth John Cromie (freasurer) The charity is limited by guarantee and is govemed by a constrtub.on agreed by the trustees in Dember 2014 and approved by the Charities Commission in January 2015. In addition, the constitution refers to a Trust Deed and is supported wrth an Articles of Association document. The trustees meet regularly throughout the year in accordance wrth the above documents, where the minutes of the previous meeting are read and agreed. a ststus report on our finances is discussed, distribution of monies (where applicable) is agreed as a group and various activities are reviewed and planned. An Annual General Meeting takes place each year shortly after financial year end. A financial report and progress report of all activities. which has been compiled by the treasurer and secretary and approved by the trustees, is presented to the churth as a whole and opportunty given for questions and answers. The members of the church are also invited to endorse the list of trustees on this occasion. Nl Charities Commiss*Jn ref Nl 107283
FGH Trustee Report 2021 Issue 1 PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY The charity is established for the advancement of religion through the Evangelical Christian Faith (as outlined in the First Schedule of the Trust Deed). The Trust considers that promotion of the Christian Faith has a beneficial and transfomiative effect on society Socally and worldwide. PUBLIC BENEFIT The charity has declared that the benefft to the public of its existen is that they might have a place where they can come and worship God and find fulfilment, satisfaction and pea in their lives as a result. We believe V have carried out our activities in compliance to the Charty Commission's Public benefft requirement statutory gUTrdan. With the continuing prevalen of the CovK£-19 pandemic in late 2020 into 2021 a number of activities associated with this chartty have unfortunately had to be postponed throughout the time period that we are reporting on. This decision was taken in line with Government regulations on m&ting in buildings and also to protect the health and welfare of our aged members. As Covid was with us for the entire 12 month perbod of this report (1st October 2020 to 30th September 2021) we would report as foll0v. 1$t October 2020 - late November 2020 Our church was open every Sunday morning for 1 meeting restricted to 45 minutes and a Wednesday mid-week meeting {also lasting for 45 minutes). This allowed safe aCsS to those who sought to worship God and join with us in so doing within all relevant Covid guidelines and recommendations. We then had to stop this practi for a period from 29th November 2020 due to a high spike in Covid cases within Northern Ireland and the roll outof the vaccine programme in Northem Ireland which led to greater restrictions on meeting. Due to this new lockdown guidan, we did not physically meet again and open our church until Sunday 25th April 2021 when we resumed our meetings again on the basis of a 45 minute Sunday morning meeting and a 45 minute single midweek meeting on Wednesdays. From 29th November 2020 until 25th April 2021, we again used the 'virtual' methods of. A laIsApp group so that members of the thurch coukj keep in contact with each other during isolation A YouTube account was created in order that recorded serVIS could be broadcast each Sunday moming. Our Webstte was expanded to stream videos and audio messages. A large printed banner was located adjaiznt to the gates of the church to make neighbours and the general public aware of our church servi5 on-line and offer our aSsiStsn rf required to our community. Nl Charib$s Cunrnission ref Nl 107283
FGH Trustee Report 2021 Issue 1 We had to postpone our planned Dember 2020 distribution of approximatety 1000 wall calendars to every house within the vicinty of our hall along with an invitation to our Christmas carol sep41S. We are planning. God willing to re-introduce this in Dember 2021 (Covid circUmstanS permitting). Forthill Gospel Hall has continued rts long association with Forthill Primary School which is situated close by. At the end of this school year (June 2020) we were granted the opportunty by the school to present a bible to each year 7 pupil as they leave the school for the nexi stage of their education. Arthough the schools had been greatly impacted by government restrictK)ns, we were still thankfvl and grateful to supply the Bibles in June this year. All of these outreaches have involved church members who have given of their time freely and willingly and where applicable, are Access Nl deared to meet the requirements of our Child Protection Policy and Guidelines. FUTURE PLANS In accordance with government guidelines for plaS of worship, Forthill Gospel Hall has amended its facilities, seating and processes and procured all the necessary protection reSoUrS to enable our Sunday moming and single midweek serVIS to take pla, thereby enabling people to meet together again in person and fvlfil its purposes. The sf(uation will be constantly reviewed for adequacy and adjusted where required to facilitate further activrties to resume or reverse what has been already been implemented should government guKlelines and public health COnmS demand it. FINANCIAL REPORT The charity depends on the freewill giving of the members of the church for the upkeep of our facilities and the distribution of finan to those in need and for this the trustees acknowledge their generosity throughout the last financial year. Additionally, many church members, and in some InStanS tPK)se who come to speak at our meetings, also give of their time freely. Numerous tssks are required to maintain the building and prepare as necessary for every planned event and for such n(kone has wanted or received any financial reGompense for their efforts. At no time during this financial year did we have any debtors or have any financial deficit. It has always been our intention to ensure our funds can support any major unforeseen expenditure (e.g. major roof repairs) however. we are confident that our church members would support an emergenvy need rf such arose. Our accounts were compiled by our treasurer. reviewed and agreed by the trustees and independently audiied for this financial year and approved as satisfactory. The accounts cover the full financial year and are not limtted by Covid-19 restrictions. The financial report was presented to the members of the church at the AGM on 10th November 2021. In comparison to last year, our Income and Expenditure has increased due to the thoughtfulness and generosity of our members who continued to gather and save their Nl Ch8ritKes Commission rtf Nl 107283
FGH Trustee Report 2021 Issue 1 weekly offering grfts cumulatively during the extended period of Iclckdown from 29 November 2020 until 25th April 2021. They also brought accumulat offerings I gifts to the church on the re-opening day of 4th October 2020 (which coincided as the start of our new financial year) and which was the date we met again after the 1st lockdown., as a result the combined sources of income were up by £12.552.80 which was an increase this year of 1170/0 on last yearfs income. The combined expenditure has decreased by £2,494.88 {130A of the 2019r20 figure), once again due to the Covid-19 olosure. DespTte the closure, expenditure to the community has increased with a local foodbank donation and 3 personal needs from within our communty having been met. The ¢harty Started the year with a balan of £8868.94 and closed with a balan of £16,134.47. This is due to the stronger giving (in comparison to the previous year) and the lower expenditure due to the longer lockdown in 2020r2021. The trustees consider this to be a healthy financial position moving into the next financial year as all major building works and repairs to aaS such as the roof and the boilers mean that the building is in a better state of repairs following 2 - 3 years of investrnent. Tables 1 and 2 below show the Income and Expendrture grouped into appropriate categories. INCOME - 202012021 compared to 201912020 23.3 15.13 D2020fI1 02019r20 Grft Awj 601.83 8T1.24 22645 OfferingGIR8 1 9825. BIF from wev year 16651.05 Table 1- Income chart NE CharitE8 Commissi(Yt ref Nl 107283
FGH Trustee Report 2021 Issue 1 EXPENDITURE - 202012021 compared to 201912020 Supportto fhercaUse$ 117*.f4) Speaker Experxs 02020r21 Support to CiThnunty .74 02019r20 Support to Ghlkaren'swo Buiklirfj & Equpt 16134.47 Ft0[XIS 1(OXI 121K¥) f4LKK$ le0 18ryJO Table 2- Expenditurn chart No expenses were paid to any of the Twstees during the year expt to reimburse them for purchases made on behalf of the charity. This document has b&n reviewed by each trustee and approved accordingly by signature below. Alex Connor Eric Hull Samuel Smyth Joh Cromie Date of Report Approval Nl Charitses commissi ref Nl 107283