City of Londonderry Charitable Trust Report of the trustees for the ear ended 5th April 2024 The trustees present their report along wlh the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 5th April 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance wth the accounting policies set out on page 10 and comply with the Trust Deed and applicable law, Structure, governance and management Governlng document The City of Londonderry Charitable Trust is an unincorporated trust consliluled by Deed of Trust dated 25th April 1972 rècently amended by Deed of Variation dated 10th December 2019. The Trust was registered wlh the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 11th February 2020 under Charity Registration Number.. 107396. Recrultment and appolntment of new trustees The namès of the Trustees who have setved during the year and since the year end are set out on page 1. None of the Trustee5, nor any person connected with them, received any remuneration or expenses from the Charity in the year ended 5 April 2024 {2023'. £nill. The Trust operates three Gospel halls and Trustees are chosen from among the regular congregation of the halls. New Trustee5 are nominated by the existing Trustees or by the congregation and must be appointed by unanimous resolution of the congregation. They are selected according lo their skills and experience and are expected to use both in furthering the objects of the Charity Checks ar8 made to ensure the Trusle8s' eliglbillty to act and incoming Trustees are made aware of their responsibilities by the existing Trustees, who ensure that new Trustees read the Trust Deed and rel8vant Charity Commission guidance. Wlder network The Trustees maintain informal links wth similar chanlies with a view to pooling experience considered useful in pursulng the objects of the Charity. The Charity also maintains particular links with Waterside Gospel Hall Trust, wlh which it shares members of it5 congregation. R18k management The Trustees have identified and reviewed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and confirm that they have established systems or procedures to manage and mitigate those risks. Objectlves and activlties Objectives and alms The trust has Ihe followng charitable purposes.. The charitable purposes of the Charity are the advancement of the Christian religion for the public benefit, including by the carrying on of the service of God in accordance wth the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible as followed by those Christians forming part of the world-wide fellowship known as the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (the "Brethren'l and any other charitable purposes connected wth Brethren. The core doctrine of the Brethren and proper praGlices in furtheranGe of certain aspects of doctrine are summarised in fvdo schedules to the Trust Deed. Page 2
City of Londonderry Charitable Trust Report of the trustees for the year ended 5th April 2024 Publlc benefit The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under the Chanties Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to have due regard to the Charity Commission for Northern Ir8land's general guidance to charities on public benefit. Maln actlvltles and achievernents The Trust provid8s and mainlains three Gospel halls where religious meetings are held by the local Brethren community. Details of the origins. teachings and way of life of the Brethren can be found on the website - .plYMOUthbrelhrenGhri$tlanchurch.Org and in the schedules lo the Trust Deed. The Trust cleared the r8maining outstanding loan sooner than required. Plans for future perlod8 The Trust plans to continue all the current activities. Meetlngs Meetings held at the gospel halls include the Lord's Supper (Communion), Gospèl preachings. Bible readings and Bible addresses. There is a structured weekly schedule of meetings and, depending on the particular meeting, been 40 and 500 people normally attend these occasions. Th8 me8llngs are attended by the regular congregallon and most are open lo other properly disposed visitors. The notice board outside the Halls welcomes visitors and displays the times of Gospel preachings, along wlh a telephone number for those $8eking further information or help. Gospel tracts, which ar8 distributed by street preachers, also display this information. Bibles and an ext8nslv8 range of other Christian reading malerial are on display at the halls and vlsitors aTe free to help themselves. Spreadlng the Gospel mè88age and the Ilfe of a Chrlstlan The City of Londonderry Charitable Trust's halls are a base from which the regular congregation and others who attend thè meetings are encouraged lo spread the Christian Gospel, in word and deed. Members of the congregation participate in a programme of street preaching and Gospel tracts are provided free of charge by the Charity to such preachers to be handed out to interested members of the public. In carrying out this work, the congregation considers itself to be living out its faith in practice, as particularly exemplified in the following extract from the schedule to the Trust Deed on living a Christian life.. We seek and are encouraged lo Ilve 8xemplary lives In all our relationships wth others in the wider community (including former Brethren), in accordan wth the teachings of Holy Scripture11 Tim 2..2} We regularly go out from our homes to preach on the streets, to distribute Christian literature and engage wlh the wder community {induding former Brethren) in order to present eternal salvation, available to all men by faith in Jesus Chris1.12 Tim 4'.2). We seek as members of the public to lead Christian lives as husbands and wives, parents, children, employers, employees and neighbours. (Col 3.22-25. Col 4.11. Page 3
City of Londonderry Charitable Trust Report of the trustees for the year ended 5th April 2024 Spreadlng the Gospel message and the Ilfe of a Chrlstlan contd. The preservation and protection of the family unit is fundamental and children are prized as a blessing from God. {Psalm 127'.3-51. The elderly are valued members of the LmMunIty, for whom both their family and the wider community are expected to Ca. Holy Scriptur& commands us to be good neighbours to others, and deal with all other people (including former Brethren} openly. honestly and fairly and consistent with these principles, we should give our lime, lalents and money to assist those in need in the wder mmunity, in so far as reasonable given Our abilities and our available resources. (Matt 7.'12, Matt 22'.39, Eph 4'.28). Fundlng Funding is sought through gifts from the congr8gation and Gift Aid is claimed on eligible donations. Funding is sometimes received from other charitable trusts wth complementary objectives. Flnanclal revlew Flnanclal posltlon In the year ended 5 Aprll 2024 the Trust had 8 surplus of incoming resources over $oue$ expended. Total voluntary income received this year was £115,514 compared to £157,899 in the previous year. All funds held were unr8slrlcted funds. The long temi loan shown on the balance sheet last year for £35,000 was repaid in full by the year- end. Reserves pollcy The Trustees have considered th8 lev81 of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the Charity's needs, based on it5 size and the level of its financial commilmenls. The Trust has no employees and its regular ouigoings are minimal. Accordingly, the Trustees have decided to adopt a policy of maintaining no significant reserves although currently surplus funds arè being saved wth a view to providing a further meeting hall to Serve the growing congregation. The congregation is kept regularly informed as lo particular needs for funds. and other relevant matters and th8 Trustees aim lo ensure Ihal the Charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure, by raising a funds appeal to the congregation. Free reserves at the year end were £162,197. Page 4
City of Londondery Charitable Trust Report of the trustees for the year ended 5th April 2024 ststement of trLJStees' responsibilities The trustees ar6 responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance wth applicable law and Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdon and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102) leffeclive 1 January 20191. The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland. the Charflles Act {Northern Ireland) 2008, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the trust deed requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the stale of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resour5 and application of resources, including the income and expenditurè, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial stalemenls. the trustees are required to select suitablè accounting policies and Ihen apply them consistently., b} observe the methods and principles in the Charlty SORP.. make judgements and estimates that ara reasonable and prudent., d) prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeplng proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to 8nsur8 that the financial statements comply with th8 Charities Act {Northern Ireland) 2008, the Charity {Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the Trust 068d. They are also responsible for safèguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. All transactions have been reviewed and approved by trustees. On behalf of the board.. Jo /12 /&24 Raymond W White Date Page 5