FGH Trustee Report 2023 Issue 1
FORTHILL GOSPEL HALL
ANNUAL TRUSTEE AND
SUMMARY FINANCIAL REPORT
For year ending
30th September 2023
Nl Charities Ccfflmission ref Nl 107283

FGH Trustee Report 2023 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 1 St October 2022 to 30th September 2023
in line with the requirements of the Charities Commission and the Charities Act (Northern
Ireland) 2008.
BACKGROUND
Forthill Gospel Hall (hereafter referred to as the charity) was first registered with 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. Forthill Gospel Hall Trust has appointed the following trustees:
Alex Connor (Secretary)
Eric Hull
Samuel Smyth
John Cromie (Treasurer)
The charity is limited by guarantee and is governed by a constitution agreed by the trustees
in December 2014 and approved by the Charities Commission in January 2015. In addition,
the constitution refers to a Trust Deed and is supported with an Articles of Association
document.
The trustees meet regularly throughout the year in accordance with the above documents,
where the minutes of the previous meeting are read and agreed, a status 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 pla￿ each year shortly after the 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 church as a whole
and opportunity given for questions and answers. The members of the church are also
invited to endorse the list of trustees at this AGM meeting.
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 transformative effect on society locally
and worldwide.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
The charity has declared that the benefit 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 we have carried out our activities in compliance
to the Charity Commission's Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
Nl Charilie$ Commission ref Nl 107283

FGH Trustee Report 2023 Issue 1
With Vigilan￿ in mind whilst living with Covid-19 present in our midst, a number of activities
associated with this charity have begun to re-commen￿ throughout the time period that we
are reporting on. This decision was taken in line with Government regulations to continue
to protect the health and welfare of our aged members.
1 •t October 2022 - end November 2022
We extended the Sunday moming and Wednesday evening meetings respectively to be 'up
to, 1 hour in duration. This was done ensuring safe access to those who sought to worship
God and join with us in so doing within all relevant Covid guidelines and recommendations.
In addition, the re-cOMmen￿Ment of Sunday School in October 2022 has been another
very welcome sign of the return to normal servI￿s.
December 2022 _ 30th September 2023
We re-commenced our Sunday evening and Sunday School services in addition to the
existing Sunday morning and midweek servi￿, thereby enabling people to meet together
again in person and fulfil our Church's purposes.
We also held a Church BBQ in August 2023 and were delighted that members of the
community joined us as a church.
Idvhilst holding these meetings we continued to use the 'virtual' methods of:
A l+lhatsApp group so that members of the church could keep in contact with each
other especially when unable to attend meetings, or being unwell.
Our Website conts'nues to contain selected video and audio messages of church
meetings.
We distributed approximately 1400 wall calendars and tracts to every house within the
vicinity of our hall along with an invitation to our Church SeNi￿S in a special outreach event
in De￿mber 2022.
We were also pleased to be able to pass on a gift of £200 to 2 families in our community
through the guidance of Forthill Integrated Primary School which is situated close by. We
have a long association with FIPS and at the end of this school year (June 2023) we were
granted the opportunity by the school to present a bible to each year 7 pupil as they leave
the school for the next stage of their education. Although the schools are still somewhat
impacted by government restrictions, we were still thankful 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 Ac￿sS Nl cleared to meet the requirements of our
Child Protection Policy and Guidelines.
Nl Charities Commission ref Nl 107283

FGH Trustee Report 2023 Issue 1
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 finance 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 those who come to speak at our meetings, also give of
their time freely. Numerous tasks are required to maintain the building and prepare as
necessary for every planned event and for such no-one has wanted or received any financial
recompense 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 emergency need if such arose.
Our accounts were compiled by our treasurer, reviewed and agreed by the trustees and
independently audited for this financial year and approved as satisfactory. The accounts
cover the full financial year and are not limited by Covid-19 restrictions. The financial report
will be presented to the members of the church at the AGM on 8th November 2023.
In comparison to last year, our Income has increased by £ 3,160.16, (an increase of 140/0);
we remain grateful to the continued thoughtfulness and generosity of our members who
when able to attend contribute weekly offering gifts.
Our Expenditure increased by £3,066.35 (160A up on the 2021122 figure). Expenditure
increases have been made possible by the continued steady donation levels and our cash
in bank levels at the end of the 2022 financial year.
The charity started the yearwith a strong cash balance of£19747.44 and closed with a cash
balance of £23,364.53. This is due to the strong levels of donations being maintained
enabling increased (but carefully managed) expenditure through gifts we have been able to
distribute to missionaries and the community, along with reduced Covid protection costs
during 202212023. We believe ourselves to have acted prudently in our financial
transactions. The trustees consider this to be a healthy financial position moving into the
next financial year.
Table 1
below
shows the Income
rou
dintoa
ro
nate cate
ones.
INCOME - 202212023 compared to 202112022
IAL%c
2012.79
2022123
•2021
Glft Ald
1080.09
1029.79
OffertngslGffts
24657
Bffi from prev year
19747.44
0.00
10000.(M)
15000.00
2(￿0.00
25C()O.00
30CM)O.00
Nl Chariti8s Commission ref Nl 107283

FGH Trustee Report 2023 Issue 1
Table 2 (below) shows the Expenditure grouped into appropriate categories
EXPENDITURE- 202212023 compared to 202112022
pport to Ot￿r Causes
11gg&p8
Speaker Expenses
112022123
pport lo Communlty
1d#.N9
•2021r22
Support lo ChÈldren s Wo
Bumlng & Equlpl
7728.
CIF to ￿xi year
23
.53
1LNJCQ.00
1 SC(KJ.
2CM)00.00
25000.00
Table 2- Expendlture chart
No expenses were paid to any of the Trustees during the year except to reimburse
them for purchases made on behalf of the charity.
This document has been reviewed by each trustee and approved accordingly by signature
below.
Alex Connor
Eric Hull
Samuel Smyth
John Cromie
26K 0Jofv Zo23
Date of Report Approval
Nl Charilies Commission ref Nl 107283