## THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
_(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 2022
_(Registered Charity Number 1007825)_
## **Declaration**
The income and expenditure account for the financial year 1 January to 31 December 2022, set out on pages 6, 7 and 8, the balance sheet as at 31 December 2022 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 2023
Page 2
## THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
## _(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 Costa (Chairperson)
Catherine M Cavaco Cruz Anabel Gonzalez Castañeda María Yadira Betsabé Calderón Peralta Dora Luz Gonzalez Cortez Maria de la Portilla Costa Sue J Cooper
Verbum Dei is an international Catholic Community whose particular aim is prayer and preaching the Word of God. We continue our outreach in the three locations where we are based, namely the Isle of Wight, Southampton, and London, as well as leading groups in other towns and areas. We also have a network of lay people committed to prayer and evangelisation working where they live with our support.
## Retreat house
As can be seen from the accounts and the income of the retreat house, over 2022 there was a gradual recovery in numbers of people attending retreats. The initial reticence post-pandemic that seemed to hold people back from attending residential activities seems to have passed on the whole, and there was a renewed enthusiasm for the opportunity to find time away for prayer and renewal. These increased numbers can be seen in people attending organised retreats as well as coming for individual retreats. This included the continued provision of retreats for married couples and families which are a very significant contribution as there are very few organisations offering such opportunities. There were also increased numbers in people using the Spirituality Centre in London.
## Young people
The Verbum Dei Missionaries in the UK continue to be very involved with the University Chaplaincy Ministry, supporting young people in their wellbeing and faith. Missionaries are working in two Universities in London and two Universities in Southampton, as well as continuing to work in the University of Portsmouth, which started the previous year. The additional role is an element in the increase of income this year. As well as these areas of working with young people, both in London and on the Isle of Wight the Community are running Confirmation programmes, and so are involved in ministry with adolescents. All our work focusses on growing in a living faith and also in personal growth. During the summer break of 2021, a large group of young people went on a pilgrimage to Rome and took part in volunteering in Rome.
## Training
In 2022, once again the International Verbum Dei Community requested that a small group for initial training (Novitiate) be based at the Isle of Wight centre. Whilst this does at times create challenges for the different needs of space for retreatants, etc., the young women receive a lot from the community environment and are able to support the work of the retreat centre in many practical ways. The UK Community has received extra funding from the International Verbum Dei Community to pursue this project. At the same time, we have made a small contribution to the International Community for other projects including training in other countries.
## Cost of living
The increases in energy and food bills are very challenging for our work, both of running the retreat centre and maintaining the smaller communities. So far, we are very grateful that due to donations to help with specific maintenance needs and also to extended Chaplaincy paid work has responded has helped to cover costs, and we have been able to continue with our work for people of all ages.
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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. Cavaco Cruz, On behalf of the Trustees 28[th] October 2023
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THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
## _(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 2022, 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 2023
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## **THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY**
## **Income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 December 2022**
## **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**|2022
£
86,371
3,334|2021
£
60,628
2,241|
|---|---|---|
||89,705
51,176
6,326|62,869
38,934
1,685|
||**147,207**|**103,488**|
||51,733
25,202|44,507
15,304|
||76,935|59,811|
||26,559
16,110
2,664
955
3,233
-
501
1,086
4,465
6,182|16,803
13,642
2,449
1,460
3,713
1,765
95
2,059
5,124
2,800|
||61,756|49,911|
||||
||**138,691**|**109,722**|
||8,516
47,470
11,339
(11,339)
11,837
-|(6,234)
53,704
10,300
(10,300)
11,339
-|
||**67,823**|**58,809**|
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## **THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY**
## **Income & expenditure account for the year ended 31 December 2022**
## **Building Fund**
|**Income**
Donations
Tax reclaimed on Gift Aided Donations
**Total Income**
**Expenditure**
Living Costs and Retreat Costs
Repairs and maintenance
Bank Charges
**Total Expenditure**
**Net Expenditure for the Year**
Balance at 1 January
Transfer from General Purposes Fund
**Fund Balance at 31 December**|**2022**
**£**
14,476
-
**14,476**
-
-
40
**40**
**14,436**
30,719
-
**45,155**|**2021**
**£**
13,140
2|
|---|---|---|
|||**13,142**|
|||250
2,100
-|
|||**2,350**|
|||**10,792**
19,927
-|
|||**30,719**|
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## **THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY**
## **Income and expenditure account for the year ended 31 December 2022**
## **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
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**|**2022**
General
Purposes
£
86,371
3,334
89,705
51,176
6,326
**147,207**
51,733
25,202
76,935
26,559
16,110
2,664
955
3,233
501
1,086
4,465
6,182
61,756
**138,691**
**8,516**
47,470
11,339
(11,339)
11,837
-
**67,823**|Building
Fund
£
14,476
-
14,476
-
-
**14,476**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
40
-
-
-
40
**40**
**14,436**
30,719
-
-
-
-
**45,155**|**Total**
**£**
**100,847**
**3,334**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**104,181**|
||||**51,176**
**6,326**|
||||**161,683**|
||||**51,733**
**25,202**|
||||**76,935**|
||||**26,559**
**16,110**
**2,664**
**955**
**3,233**
**541**
**1,086**
**4,465**
**6,182**|
||||**61,796**|
|||||
||||**138,731**|
||||**22,952**
**78,189**
**11,339**
**(11,339)**
**11,837**
**-**|
||||**112,978**|
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## **THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY**
## **Balance sheet as at 31 December 2022**
|Fixed Assets
Debtor
Bank and Cash Deposits
Net funds
_Represented by:_
General Purposes Fund
Building Fund|2022
Note
£
-
1
11,837
2
101,141
112,978
67,823
45,155
112,978|2021
£
-
11,339
78,189|
|---|---|---|
|||89,528|
|||58,809
30,719|
|||89,528|
Page 9
## **THE VERBUM DEI COMMUNITY**
## **Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022**
## **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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