## THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
_(Registered Charity Number 1007825)_
Verbum Dei Centre Nunnery Lane Carisbrooke Isle of Wight PO30 1YR
THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
_(Registered Charity Number 1007825)_
## **Declaration**
The income and expenditure account for the financial year 1 January to 31 December 2021, set out on pages 6, 7 and 8, the balance sheet as at 31 December 2021 set out on page 9, and the notes to the accounts set out on page 10 are all as approved by the trustees.
Catherine Cruz
For and on behalf of the Trustees
28[th] October 2022
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THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
_(Registered Charity Number 1007825)_
## **Annual Report of the Trustees**
The Verbum Dei Community, “Verbum Dei Centre”, Nunnery Lane, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight PO30 1YR is registered with the Charity Commissioners (No 1007825) and constituted by Deed of Trust.
The Charity is administered by the following trustees:
Maria de la Portilla ( _Superior_ ) Catherine Cruz ( _Secretary_ ) Sue Cooper
Verbum Dei is an international Catholic Community whose particular focus is prayer and preaching the Word of God, and encouraging each baptised person to share their gifts for the good of all.
## The continued effects of the Pandemic for the Retreat centre
Although in the second half of 2021 it has been possible to begin to return to some normality in the retreat house programme, we noticed that still during this time people felt very reticent to attend activities in person. Although we experimented with various activities which people could attend either online or in person, we found that for some activities this was a good model, for actual retreats it did not work so well. The online element has continued to be fruitful and, in many ways, has opened up channels to reach more people. The issue is that often these channels are not very much reflected on a level of income. Although with the perspective of 2022, there has been an increase of in presence participation and attendance of retreats this was by no means visible in 2021. At the same time speaking with other Religious Communities and the Diocesan Church, this long-term effect of the Pandemic that has reduced active participation is a factor that is affecting groups of all types.
It is interesting to note that donations actually went down slightly in 2021 in comparison with 2020. This is due to the fact at the beginning of the Pandemic several individuals were very sensitive to the situation of the retreat house and made some significant donations to back up the community. In 2021 this was not so much in evidence and the recovery of numbers attending the retreat house was slow. There were continued fundraising efforts to help families in other countries, particularly Venezuela, affected by the Pandemic.
## Other projects
In the summer of 2021, the Diocese of Portsmouth requested support for University Chaplaincy for the University of Portsmouth. The Southampton Community has been very involved for many years with both the University of Southampton and Solent University. The conclusion was that this was an appropriate area to support the Diocese and our mission to help young people and one member from the Isle of Wight Community and one member from the Southampton Community became involved in this project. Another project during this period although that had been initiated in 2020 was a very small training project. In the past the international community has requested that the Isle of Wight be available to host a training course or Novitiate for young women beginning their journey as internal vowed community members. In 2021 there was a short-term project which is the reason that some funds came into the UK from the International Community in this period.
## Ongoing activities
During this year the Communities have continued in many ways through one-to-one meetings and online groups to accompany and support both married couples, families, the elderly and young people. All the community members involved in University Chaplaincy, in all three communities have continued with their pastoral roles, often in difficult circumstances. The Parish work in London similarly has been an
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important platform of support for many people through the uncertainties of the Pandemic period.
Additional Comments concerning the Trustees
In our meeting of vowed community members and Trustees it was decided to increase the number of official Trustees and to have one person from each community for a greater representation of the whole UK reality. The additional Trustees are as follows Anabel Gonzalez Castañeda, María Yadira Betsabé Calderón Peralta and Dora Luz Gonzalez Cortez.
The pastoral work of the Community is open to everyone on a totally non-discriminational basis. The financial situation of the Community is considered to be satisfactory and the Trustees can confirm that there
have been no serious incidents.
Catherine M. C. Cruz On behalf of the Trustees 28[th] October 2022
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THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
## _(Registered Charity Number 1007825)_
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the Verbum Dei Community**
This report is on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2021, which are set out on pages 6 to 10.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145 (5) (b) of the 2011 Act; and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit; consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Ashley Rebello ACCA Independent Examiner
Flat 92, 581 North End Road HA9 0UT
Date 28[th] Oct 2022
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## **THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY**
## **Income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 December 2021**
## **General Purposes Fund**
|**Income**
Donations
Tax reclaimed on Gift Aided Donations
Other Income
Transfer from Verbum Dei overseas
**Total Income**
**Expenditure**
_Direct Charitable Expenditure_
Living Costs and Retreat Costs
Travel and Motoring
_Other Expenditure_
Repairs and maintenance
Heating, Lighting and Water
Rent and Council Tax
Printing, Stationery and Postage
Telephone and Fax
Professional fees
Bank Charges
Studies
Sundry Items
Transfer to Verbum Dei overseas
**Total Expenditure**
**Net Income for the Year**
Balance at 1 January (Bank Deposits)
Debtor carried forward
Regulation of Debtor
Gift Aid claim
Transfer from / (to) Building Fund
**Fund Balance at 31 December**|2021
£
60,628
2,241|2020
£
68,772
14,030|
|---|---|---|
||62,869
38,934
1,685|82,802
35,998
-|
||**103,488**|**118,800**|
||44,507
15,304|33,359
14,128|
||59,811|47,487|
||16,803
13,642
2,449
1,460
3,713
1,765
95
2,059
5,124
2,800|26,544
10,585
2,393
2,913
4,416
-
146
1,699
5,171
3,042|
||49,911|56,910|
||||
||**109,722**|**104,397**|
||(6,234)
53,704
10,300
(10,300)
11,339
-|14,403
39,300
7,098
(7,098)
10,300
-|
||**58,809**|**64,004**|
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## **THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY**
## **Income & expenditure account for the year ended 31 December 2021**
## **Building Fund**
|**Income**
Donations
Tax reclaimed on Gift Aided Donations
Other Income
**Total Income**
**Expenditure**
Living Costs and Retreat Costs
Repairs and maintenance
Professional fees
**Total Expenditure**
**Net Expenditure for the Year**
Balance at 1 January
Transfer from General Purposes Fund
**Fund Balance at 31 December**|**2021**
**£**
13,140
2
-
**13,142**
250
2,100
-
**2,350**
**10,792**
19,927
-
**30,719**|**2020**
**£**
6,887
-
20|
|---|---|---|
|||**6,906**|
|||-
58,120
-|
|||**58,120**|
|||**(51,214)**
71,141
-|
|||**19,927**|
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## **THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY**
## **Income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 December 2021**
## **Summary of Funds**
|**Summary of Funds**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Income**
_Grants and Donations_
Donations
Tax reclaimed on Gift Aided Donations
Bank Interest
Other Income
Transfer from Verbum Dei overseas
**Total Income**
**Expenditure**
_Direct Charitable Expenditure_
Living Costs and Retreat Costs
Travel and motoring
_Other Expenditure_
Repairs and maintenance
Heating, Lighting and Water
Rent and Council Tax
Printing, Stationery and Postage
Telephone and Fax
Bank Charges
Studies
Professional fees
Sundry Items
Transfer to Verbum Dei overseas
**Total Expenditure**
**Net Income/(Expenditure) for the Year**
Balance at 1 January (Bank Deposits)
Debtor carried forward
Regulation of Debtor
Gift Aid claim
Transfer from / (to) Building Fund
**Fund Balances at 31 December**|**2021**
General
Purposes
£
60,628
2,241
62,869
38,934
1,685
**103,488**
44,507
15,304
59,811
16,803
13,642
2,449
1,460
3,713
95
2,059
1,765
5,124
2,800
49,911
**109,722**
**(6,234)**
53,704
10,300
(10,300)
11,339
-
**58,809**|Building
Fund
£
13,140
2
13,142
-
-
**13,142**
250
-
250
2,100
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,100
**2,350**
**10,792**
19,927
-
-
-
-
**30,719**|**Total**
**£**
**73,768**
**2,243**|
||||**76,010**|
||||**38,934**
**1,685**|
||||**116,630**|
||||**44,757**
**15,304**|
||||**60,061**|
||||**18,903**
**13,642**
**2,449**
**1,460**
**3,713**
**95**
**2,059**
**1,765**
**5,124**
**2,800**|
||||**52,011**|
|||||
||||**112,072**|
||||**4,558**
**73,631**
**10,300**
**(10,300)**
**11,339**
**-**|
||||**89,528**|
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## **THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY**
## **Balance sheet as at 31 December 2021**
|Fixed Assets
Debtor
Bank and Cash Deposits
Net funds
_Represented by:_
General Purposes Fund
Building Fund|2021
Note
£
-
1
11,339
2
78,189
89,528
58,809
30,719
89,528|2020
£
-
10,300
73,631|
|---|---|---|
|||83,931|
|||64,004
19,927|
|||83,931|
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## **THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY**
## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021**
## **Notes to the accounts**
## **1. Fixed Assets**
For the use of the Charity and belonging to the General Purposes Fund are buildings at the Verbum Dei Centre, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight, as well as several cars and furniture & fittings. All fixed assets are recorded in the accounts at a net book value of zero.
## **2. Debtor**
The amount receivable at 31 December represents income tax recoverable from the Inland Revenue on gift aided donations. The entire amount is receivable within one year.
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