I love the story in the Bible (Luke 5) about the friends who brought their sick friend to Jesus,  wanting healing. They couldn’t get to the front of the queuing crowds, so they lowered him in through the roof.

I love their faith, which was rewarded – but the accountant in me wants to know who paid for the roof repairs?

All ministry comes with a cost. People, accommodation, counselling etc…

Our ministry (at Andrew House and through Volunteer Plus) costs about £200k a year.

Our trading activities contribute financially to the ministry as well as providing volunteering opportunities. They help pay for the “roof”.  About 70% of our income comes through those trading activities. Housing Benefit adds another 20%. The rest comes in donations.

In the last 3 years we have seen a large deficit reduced to a small deficit and this year we have returned a surplus thanks to the hard work of all the staff and volunteers, the generosity of donors and the goodness of God.

We have also been able to repay loans made to enable us to buy Andrew House (roof and all!) by way of a long-term mortgage via Charity Bank.

We continue to see lives changed – we continue to repair roofs.

Ian Burnham, Acting CEO