2023-12-31-annual-return

Goshen Ministries N.I

My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory Phil 4v19

Annual Trustees Report

Goshen Ministries

Northern Ireland Charity Number: 00191874

Financial Year: January 2023 – December 2023

Report completed by: Joyce Kerr (Chairperson)

Notification of change: Charity address

From 9 Larne Street

Ballymena Northern Ireland BT42 3AJ

To Ross Court Tullygarley Ballymena Northern Ireland BT42 2HZ

Notification of change: Committee Member name

From Patricia Wright To Mrs. Patricia Otieno

Public Benefit of your Organisation

The direct benefits include the relief of poverty, which will reduce the level of hunger, homelessness and avoidable ill health/disease experienced by the beneficiaries in Kenya and any areas Goshen works with in the future.

Further benefits include the spreading of the Christian Religion which will promote an improved moral & spiritual framework for beneficiaries and help them to become members who contribute to their community.

The benefits are evident through Goshen Homes where there is placement of children in families with holistic support for the children and care givers.

The Educational programme is also of immense benefit to children and adults who are sponsored through school, college and trade school.

Provision of food to homeless people, including children and funding assistance to programmes that provide this throughout the year.

Goshen Ministries are in constant contact with the programmes we run and members of Management Committee visit these projects various times throughout the year to offer training, support and monitor how donations practically benefit those in need.

The Chairperson has online meetings each week with the Team in Kenya to oversee, guide and support the work in Kenya and also had three months trips to Kenya twice throughout the year.

There is no harm arising from the purposes as we follow health and safety legislation and also function with sensitivity to cultural preferences while offering a holistic supportive framework to staff, volunteers and beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries of the Organisation

Our beneficiaries are

• everyone who attends our meetings where the Word of God is taught

• children and young people who are on the streets

• women who are struggling with parenting, financial burdens, abuse and life issues

• families who cannot support themselves

• local villages and other organisations

• adults volunteering in Goshen Ministries

• students who are sponsored in education

• the sick who receive medical treatment

There is no private benefit flowing from our purposes.

What our Organisation Does

• ➢ Preaching and teaching the Bible, Word of God, in Ireland, Africa and wherever and however the Management Committee finds possible.

• ➢ Purchasing, creating and distributing Bibles and other Christian materials.

• ➢ Providing financial assistance to those who are struggling with educational fees or boarding costs and providing assistance for teacher training.

• ➢ Building family homes for orphaned or vulnerable children to be absorbed into already existing families and supporting them until the family become self-sufficient.

• ➢ Building homes suitable for the homeless and financially supporting them until such times as they can live independently.

• ➢ Creating or supporting already existing feeding programmes for street children or others affected by poverty.

• ➢ Reaching out to the sick and providing emergency care if necessary.

One of our goals for this year was to network as Goshen Ministries with other international Ministries in Kenya and other nations which we accomplished by

• Connecting with Lomamo foundation in Kenya which works with AIDS patients and TB patients.

• Visiting Bethel Orphanage in Kisumu.

• Having visitors to come to visit the children at Goshen family, Kenya.

• Reaching out to other international workers in Kenya and other nations.

• Making connections with Christians who are reaching out to the poor in Pakistan.

• Sharing the vision of Goshen ministries on social media and churches events etc.

Northern Ireland

We had ongoing Goshen Nights at our Base where we had guest speakers, team nights and training nights.

It was also lovely to be able to assist in our own Church by preaching, hosting meetings and training nights.

As a team we attended several leadership events where it was great to move in unity with other ministries and national works.

Kenya

This year we had a few visitors while Patricia and I were in Kenya. Pastor Thomas Todd, Margaret Johnston and Katrina Martin had a great time as they held teaching events, visited

the street boys, and ministered to the local community as well as Goshen children. Katrina enjoyed accompanying the children on a trip to Lake Victoria and the Kisumu Museum.

It was encouraging to build relationships with extended families of the children in Goshen family by visiting them at their homeplace and having some arranging to visit the children at new families.

We also created a new category of intake for Care in our programme for those needing Emergency Care to accommodate those who were ill and were not being properly cared for at home. This our intake included an eight year old and a granny who received care and returned home well. Three street boys were also housed temporarily receiving medical care and nutritious food but unfortunately they did not want to remain permanently just yet. Previously we had taken in a young boy with tuberculosis and was HIV+ but this year we took in his mother and three young sisters as sadly he developed leukaemia and needed to be hospitalised regularly. This needed his mother to stay with him in hospital and meanwhile the young girls were home alone so coming to us allowed them to be cared for while Mum and son went for treatment.

Four of our children graduated from nursery years and rest of our children continued in their education successfully. We also supported three girls to start college while two of our young men continued in trade school for mechanics and carpentry.

To accommodate our ever growing family we rented a new house which allowed us to settle the children in a more permanent environment as the previous house was very temporary.

Christmas as always was an extra special time and part of the Christmas surprise was to have the dining hall renovated with new tiles, tables and chairs.

The Goshen Community Programmes continued throughout the year:

Daughters of Destiny

• Group of around 30 girls attend weekly

• They receive sanitary towels each month

• Mentorship is available to them

• Our leaders teach them the Bible weekly

• Assistance is given financially when possible

• For girls aged 13yrs +

• They benefit from the social interaction and encouragement

Men on a Mission

• Group of approximately 20 young men attend weekly

• Bible teaching is given weekly

• Group discussions help develop their social skills and confidence

• For boys aged 13yrs+

• Mentorship, spiritually, morally and educationally is given

• Group provides accountability and support for those who had addiction

Kid’s Club

• a group of 30 – 40 young children gather each week

• they hear lessons from the Bible, have quizzes and learn memory verses and sing.

Our aim is to teach these children about Jesus and to give them security and strength in knowing they are loved, accepted and designed by a loving Creator, Father.

Thankfully we have a great God that we have faith in to protect us and we were able to support the children and team through this time.

Sunday School

It had come to our attention that in all the local churches, during services, the children were very much overlooked so we felt led by God to start our Sunday School which very quickly became successful. The average number attending would be 50 and they also enjoy porridge as part of the programme.

Self-sufficiency

One of our team members was supported by the ministry to complete her Social Work Diploma which really boosted her moral and self esteem allowing her now to progress in her career.

We were also able to fund a computer course for a young man who was on the streets for some time and he has just recently communicated to say he will now be furthering his education.

Impact

The impact of the work accomplished throughout this year was great as

• people heard the Gospel of Christianity and some came to Christ while others were built up and encouraged.

• groups of people, here and in Kenya received Biblical training and teaching.

• the importance of family was maintain when some families were reunited with their children and other family connections were restored.

• financial burdens were eased in many different situations by donations, payment of medical fees, transport, education fees or business start-ups.

• children received education who would not otherwise be in school.

• young people, children and adults are overcoming their traumatic past with their character, behaviour, mental and emotional health really improving.

• village schools were supported by the enrolment of more children and fee payment.

• local village businesses were boosted by the purchasing of furniture etc. from the independent craftsmen rather than the big city wholesalers.

• villagers received income support as we buy supplies from the market etc.

• the overall moral of the villages are being boosted by the programmes we run as we are raising children/young people to be better members of their own society and training them how to give back.

• many people who have donated, contributed to the work have been so encouraged by the fact that together we can make a difference, it gives everyone a sense of significance and purpose.

• Networking with other ministries and charities has promoted togetherness and unity.

Future Plans

• to register as a Charity in Kenya and form a Kenyan Board

• to streamline and strengthen the purposes in Kenya

• to create a proposal for the Kenyan Social Services

• to establish a permanent office and Base in Nyahera, Kenya

• to have ongoing training for volunteers and teams in Kenya

• to draw up a programme for street boys

• to create a personal plan of action for each child

• to continue networking with other ministries and Churches

• to see more fundraising rising and being wider spread

• to enlist more volunteers in N.I. and Kenya

• to continue sharing the Gospel

• to establish set patterns of prayer

• to be more professional in our approach as committees and Boards

• to reach out more regularly to partners and supporters

• to increase the income into the Ministry

These are the members who served this year and agreed to remain on the Committee into 2024. Thomas Todd agreed to serve in later part of 2024, as an Advisor.

Committee member	Position (if applicable)
Joyce Kerr	Chairperson
Ruth Gage	Vice Chairperson
Patricia Wright/Otieno	Secretary
Amy Anderson	Treasurer
Margaret Johnston
Thomas Todd	Advisor

Financial Report: Incoming

Financial Report: Outgoing

Methods of Payments

Goshen Ministries receipts include payments via:

Cash Deposit

Card Payments via SumUp card machines

Cheques

PayPal

Monies received through the above methods are deposited directly into Goshen’s Business Bank Account with Santander.

Goshen Ministries outgoing payments are made by:

Direct Debit

Cheques

PayPal

Western Union

Monies sent through the above methods come from Goshen’s Business Bank Account with Santander.

Trustees' Indemnity Insurance

No charitable funds have been used to purchase insurance to indemnify the Trustees against the consequences of any neglect or default on their part.

Accounting Policies

Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 permits a charity to prepare a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities where gross income in the financial year does not exceed £250,000, therefore receipts and payments accounts has been prepared and presented for the year ended December 31st 2023. Bank Interest is included in the Operating Cost category. All income is recorded when received. All Expenditure is recorded when paid.

Cheques not cleared at bank at 31st December 2023

At 31st December 2023 there were no cheques or Direct Debit payments issued by the Charity which had not cleared at the bank.

Stock

At January 1[st] 2023 Goshen Ministries held a stock of miscellaneous items including books, clothes, and electronic devices in two Charity Shops.

As of December 31st 2023 Goshen Ministries held a stock of miscellaneous items including books, clothes, and electronic devices in three separate Charity Shops.

Report Completed by: Joyce Kerr (Chairperson)	Signed:
Date: 01-10-2024

Independent examiner’s report to the charity trustees of Goshen Ministries, NI.

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31[st ] December 2023, which are set out on pages 8 – 10.

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.

It is my responsibility to:

• examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act

• follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act

• state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.

My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters.

My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe:

1. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act

2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records

3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

4. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.

Name: Naomi M Todd

Relevant professional qualification or body: SEN Teaching Asst. (EA, Northern Ireland) Address: 38 Grove Road, Kells, Ballymena, BT42 3LR

Date: 4[th] Oct 2024