CATHEDRALS PLUS REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 Contents Page 2 Reference and Administration Information Pages 3-4 Council Members, Report Page 5 Independent Examiner's Report Page 6 Statement of Financial Activities Page 7 Balance Sheet Page 8 Noles to the Financial Statements The following page does not form part of the financial statement Page 9 Operating Statement http'.l/www.cathedralsplus.org.uk Registered Charity No 1039279 Page I
Reference and Administration details Chair The Very Revd Dr Anthony Cane, Dean of Portsmouth Vice Chair The Revd Canon Jane Brooke Council Members Laura Arends - Westminster Abbey Yvonne Pearson - Liverpool Jen Stratford - Chester Zoe Willis - Canterbury Owen Towndrow - Hereford Charlie Rowbotham - St Paul's Lisa Power- York The Revd Canon Dr Kevin Walton - St Albans Daniel Parnell - Worcester Phil Stevens - Ely Jane Southward - Walsingham Gillian Bunn - Wakefield Clark Brydon - St Patrick's, Dublin Alex Carton - Pelerborough (Co-opted) Secretary Jackie Holderness Co-secretarylweb Manager Sarah Page Honorary Treasurer Clark Brydon (Appointed March 2025) Bankers Lloyds Bank plc Regent street, London Branch, PO Box BX1 1LT Independent Examiner Shirley Smith & Co Limited FCPA 11 Chandlers Way South Woodham Ferrers Chelmsford Essex CM3 5TB Investment Managers CCLA Investment Management Ltd C.O.l.F. Charity Funds Senator House 85 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4ET Page 2
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL for the year ended 31st March 2025 Council present their annual report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 st March 2025 Statements of Council's responsibilities Charity law requires the council as trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which show a true and fair state of the Charity and its financial activities for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to.. select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent state whether applicable accounting standards are recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements., and prepare the financial statements on the going-concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in operational existence. ThE TrusieeE are respunsible foi keepino Proper accounlir)o records whicki dTrscl()%e wilh reasonable accuracy al any time the f inancial position of the. Charity arid lo eriable them lo ensure Ihat the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregular activities. Activities Cathedrals Plus is a registered charity providing information and assistance io cathedrals, abbeys, greater churches and other Christian religious organisations regarding their work with visitors and those coming lo worship. Such work includes providing education for all age groups. Membership of the charity is ecumenical. An elected council meel regularly, usually vi3 Zoom. Before the pandemic slruck there were over sixty cathedrals, abbeys major churches and similar places of worship as members. Our members are grouped into hubs, based upon their geographical location. These regional networks, via Zoom meetings and other events, support colleagues to share experiences and enhance their professional development. The AGM meeting of Council usually takes place at our annual conference. Termly Council meetings take place, via Zoom. The conference in 2025 took place in Peterborough in January. A planning group meets regularly via Zoom to organise the conference. We continue to seek sponsorship to underwrite the cost of conference speakers. We offer our members exclusive access to a supportive WhatsApp group and an online Resources Hub for Learning and Visitor engagement. The charity continues to have a link with the Association of English Cathedrals (AEC) and either the Secretary or a member of council are invited to attend their meetings. Constituent members of Cathedrals Plus continue to have the facility to advertise job vacancies on the Cathedrals Plus website without charge. Members also have free access to a dedicated cloud solution to facilitate the storage of common educational and visiting resources. This is helping promote good practice and allow better dissemination of relevant information among members. We are an invaluable professional development network for all staff in sacred spaces who work with visitor engagement, families, learning and heritage education. Page 3
Finances The charity's financial position has continued to strengthen over the past year. Subscription income rose to £7,655 in 2025. up from £6,300 in 2024. This increase reflects greater activity surrounding the annual conferences and success in attracting a broader range of Sacred Spaces to join the network. The streamlined fee structure - £175 for each Sacred Space and £40 for individual members has supported this grovrth. Donations stood at £227 (up from £100), and interest received amounted to £247, compared with £145 the previous year. As a result, the General Fund remains in a healthy position, broadly in line with the level reported at the end of the 2024 financial year. Appolntment of the Independent Examlner Shirley Smith & Co Accountants and Tax Advisers continue to act as Independent Examiners following the passing of Barry Watkinson FCA in 2021. By order of the Council Signed Page 4
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Cathedrals Plus I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 st March 2025, which are set out on pages 6 - 8. Responsibilitles and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and carrying out my examination, I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent Examiner's Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. The accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., TtrLÈ account< dio nol accord with Ihe accounlino records. or The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and contents of accounts set out in the Charities {Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirements that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which Is not a matter considered as part of the independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounls lo be reached. Daniel Baxter FMAAT Shirley Smith & Co Limited Accountants and Tax Advisers 11 Chandlers Way South Woodham Ferrers Chelmsford Essex CM3 5TB Page 5
CATHEDRALS PLUS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the year ended 31st March 2025 Notes Unrestrict•d Restrlctad Total Funds Total Funds Funds Funds 2025 2025 2025 2024 INCOMING RESOURCES Incomlng Resource$ from generated funds: Subscriptions receivèd Donations Investment Income deposit account Interest 7,655 227 6,300 100 247 145 Incomlng Re8ourc•8 from charltable actlvltSos: Conferences and 8clivilies. 17.361 14,309 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES RESOURCES EXPENDED Charitable Activities conferences elc. GOVERNANCE COSTS 131 19,595 17,362 Adminislralion charges {61 6,160 5,618 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED NET RESOURCES EXPENDED RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds al l April 2024 Movement for the year Total funds at 31 March 2025 £6,668 -265 8,794 -2126 The slalemenl of accounting policies and the notes on page 8 fomi an integral part of these accounts. There were no recognised gains or losses for the two years other than those included in the statement of financial activities. The results for the two years staled above arise solely from continuing activities. Page 6
CATHEDRALS PLUS BALANCE SHEET as at 31 March 2025 Not•s Unrnstrf¢t•d R•$trl¢t•d Totsl Funds Fund$ Total Funds Fundi 2025 2028 2026 2024 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash al bank and in hand C O l F deposit account (4) 70 2,420 70 2.096 7.590 7,266 CURRENT LIABILITIES Cfedrtofs falling due wlhin one year {5) 1187 598 NET CURRENT ASSETS GENERAL FUND Balance as 811 April 2023 6.668 8,794 Excess expenditure for the year -265 -2126 Balance at 31 March 2024 Thè notes on page 8 fom part of these accounts. The financial statements on pages 6 to 8 were approved by Council oni........ . . The Very Revd Dr Anthony Cane Chalr Page 7
CATHEDRALS PLUS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year to 31st March 2025 1 STATUS Cathedrals Plus previously known as The Pilgrims Association is a charity registered in England No. 1039279 and is exempt from Corporation Tax and Income Tax in investment income relating to charitable activrties. 2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES The financial statements are prepared on the historical cost basis of accounting in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice'Accounting and Reporting by Charities Act 2005,. Incoming resources and expenditure are accounted for on the accruals basis. Emoluments: The members of the Council do not receive emoluments for their services. Contracts of employment do not exist between council members and the association. Basic travel expenses are reimbursed The secretary and co-secretary are part-time workers and self-employed. 3 RESOURCES EXPENDED Expenditure on the annual residential conference in a year when such takes place would include an allocation of the Secretary's honorarium. 4 DEBTORS 2025 2024 Conference expenses in advance Prepayments 70 70 5 CREDITORS Conference expenses Secretarial remuneration Accruals 203 576 408 598 EXPENSES Include Independent Examiner's fees 7 CASHFLOW STATEMENT A cashflow statement is not presented due to the size and nature of activities of Ihe Association. Page 8
CATHEDRALS PLUS OPERATING STATEMENT for the year to 31st March 2025 This page does not form part of the statutory accounts Unr•$trletsd Restrlel•d Total Fund$ Total Funds Funds Funds 2Q26 2025 202S 2024 INCOMING RESCOURCES Incomlng resources from generated funds Subscriptions Donations Interest received 7,6SS 227 6,300 100 247 145 Incoming resources from charltable activltles C.onlerence & Seminaf lees Grant¢ received 17.361 14.309 Total Incomlng rnsource8 25,490 20.854 RESOURCES EXPENDED Secretarial remuneration Bank Charges Council meetings - Travel expenses Slalionery & lelecommunicalion charges Insurance conferen and seminar costs Website development & support Sundry Independent Examiners fee 4.352 28 4,132 43 100 43 417 417 19.595 559 17,362 330 396 163 408 390 TOTAL resources expended NET RESCOURCES EXPENDED Page 9