Phases of Closure

Phase 1: Initial Distributions

The Trust has made financial distributions to the Listed Beneficiaries (those still Trust Members at the time of closure), enabling them to transition to new living and support arrangements.

Phase 2: Redress and Claims

Redress Scheme

The Jesus Fellowship Redress Scheme was available for applications between 26th September 2022 and 5pm 31 December 2023 for those who suffered harm, abuse and/or adverse experiences within the Jesus Fellowship community.

The Jesus Fellowship Redress Scheme Final Report can be found here:

High Court Application

The Trustees are making an application to court, to request the assistance of a judge to order that any further civil claims to the Trust assets, beyond the Redress Scheme, are made known, and for the trustees to then proceed without uncertainty with distributions in Phases 3 and 4.

Phase 3 and 4: Historic and Apportionment

The trustees expect no votes or further distributions of Trust assets (other than in relation to the Redress Scheme) to be made until the court process reaches its conclusion in 2025.

Listed Beneficiaries and those who have registered interest in Phase 3 and Phase 4 are updated directly on a monthly basis with progress of the closure.

Please note: The distributions of the remaining fund in Phase 3 and Phase 4 are not intended to be reflective of harm or abuse suffered in the Jesus Fellowship. They are not at the discretion of the trustees, but are instead bound by the Trust Deed, votes of the Listed Beneficiaries and any directions of the High Court.

Following the completion of Phase 2,  as per the Trust Deed, the Listed Beneficiaries will vote on whether the following categories of individuals – who registered their interest and details with the closure by the deadline of December 31, 2023 – may be entitled to the distribution of funds.

Phase 3

The Trust Deed states the Listed beneficiaries will vote on whether the following individuals, who have registered their interest in the closure ahead of the December 31 2023 deadline, may be entitled to any funds (this is vote is called Phase 3):

a) “Those who have previously left membership of the JFCT and did not receive a ‘Relief of Need’ payment, or only received part payment (at that time or through any subsequent scheme).”

b) “Those who previously left the Jesus Fellowship community and did not receive any payments relating to participation in a Common Purse between the ages of 16 and 21 (at that time or through any subsequent scheme.”

More detailed criteria will explained at the time of the Phase 3 vote.

The trustees will be legally bound to follow the outcome and instruction of this Phase 3 vote, and any person meeting the criteria above will become additional beneficiaries of the dissolution of the Trust.

Phase 4

The Trust Deed also states the Listed beneficiaries will vote on whether the following individuals, who have registered their interest in the closure ahead of the December 31 2023 deadline, may be entitled to any funds (this is vote is called Phase 4):

“Those who have registered their interest in Phase 4 ahead of the deadline to be included as a former Member of the Jesus Fellowship Community Trust, if there are payments relating to surplus funds left over following the completion of all other Phases of Closure.”

More detailed criteria will explained at the time of the Phase 4 vote.

 As with Phase 3 described above, the Trustees are bound to follow the outcome and instruction of the Phase 4 vote, and any person meeting the criteria will become additional beneficiaries of the dissolution of the Trust.