FGH Trustee Report 2021 Issue 1
FORTHILL GOSPEL HALL
ANNUAL TRUSTEE AND
SUMMARY FINANCIAL REPORT
For year ending
30th September 2021
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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 De￿mber 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.
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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 aC￿sS 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 serVI￿S 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 servi￿5 on-line and offer
our aSsiStsn￿ rf required to our community.
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FGH Trustee Report 2021 Issue 1
We had to postpone our planned De￿mber 2020 distribution of approximatety 1000 wall
calendars to every house within the vicinty of our hall along with an invitation to our
Christmas carol sep41￿S. We are planning. God willing to re-introduce this in De￿mber
2021 (Covid circUmstan￿S 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 pla￿S of worship, Forthill Gospel Hall has
amended its facilities, seating and processes and procured all the necessary protection
reSoUr￿S to enable our Sunday moming and single midweek serVI￿S 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 COn￿mS 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 InStan￿S 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
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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 a￿aS 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
Offering￿GIR8
1 9825.
BIF from wev year
16651.05
Table 1- Income chart
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FGH Trustee Report 2021 Issue 1
EXPENDITURE - 202012021 compared to 201912020
Supportto f￿hercaUse$
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 ex￿pt 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