THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION
AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE FIELDS
Chari
Number 1040560
TRUSTEES, REPORT
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION AT ST.MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
TRUSTEES, REPORT
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
CHARITY INFORMATION
CHARITY NO: 1040560
TRUSTEES (EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE) DURING THE YEAR ENDED 31
| MARCH 2024
Charles Woodd (Chair)
Margaret Beels (Deputy Chair)
Mary Keane (Secretary)
Chris Riley (Treasurer)
Sheila Batchelor
Emily Cecil-Dennett
Alex Gandini
Matthew Whalley (ex officio) - from September 2023
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Ashley N. Fox FCA, ACII
PRB Accountants LLP Chartered Accountants
Kingfisher House
Hurstwood Grange
Hurstwood Lane
Haywards Heath
RH17 7QX
BANKERS
HSBC
16 King Street
London
WC2E 8JF
PRINCIPAL OFFICE
12, Adelaide Street, London, WC2N 4HW
DATE OF FORMATION
Under a constitution dated 3 De￿mber 1989, most re￿ntlY amended on 29
June 2019

TRUSTEES, REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
The Trustees present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31st March
2024.
The Executive Committee, who are the Board of Trustees and are listed on page 2, have
reviewed the performance of the charity during the year and the position at 31 March 2024
and consider that the charity is in a good position to continue its activities during the
coming year, and that the charity's assets are adequate to fulfil its obligations.
Financial Performance and End of Year Position
The Trustees consider the financial performance of the charity during the year to have
been very satisfactory.
The Friends were able to make grants totalling £387,000 to The Connection during the
year. This was slightly down on the previous year's figure, but still compares favourably
with the total achieved in recent years. In fact the level of donations to the charity at
£144,000 (excluding gift aid) was slightly higher than last year's level, despite a relatively
poor outcome for the Spring Appeal. The level of subscriptions was slightly down, but
overall, donations and subscriptions were up by £18,000. The 2023 Queen Eleanor Cycle
Ride raised over £23,000 net, nearly £5,000 up on the previous year, and we also
benefited from donations totalling over £4,300 in memory of Ken Mason, our long-standing
supporter who sadly died in March 2023.
Our costs rose slightly to around £25,000, around 14 % of our non-legacy income. The bulk
of these were accounted for by staff costs, which included a significant rise in line with
Connection Staff due to higher inflation.
As indicated in the Statement of Financial Activities, the accounts show an overall
accounting deficit of just under £14,000, as we were able to pay over to the Connection
Gift Aid income received which we accounted for in the previous year's accounts. Our net
assets at the end of the year stood at over £40,000, more than enough for our needs.
Policies on reserves
The policy of the charity is to carry a cash reserve sufficient to cover 8 months of support
costs, taking into account the fact that in earlier years income from donations has been
relatively low over an 8-month period from the beginning of the year. That has been
interpreted as maintaining a minimum cash resenie of around £20,000, erring in practice
somewhat on the side of caution, and this was achieved.
Principal funding sources and plans for future development
The charity is dependent for its income on subscriptions from its members, voluntary
donations, legacies and the income from fundraising events. During the year, the
Committee continued to implement the agreed programme of operational integration with
The Connection's Fundraising Team, with a view to reversing the decline in membership in
recent years and increasing operational efficiency.

The aims of this programme are.. to increase membership of the Friends, to involve the
Friends more closely in the work of The Connection, to co-ordinate fully the two charities,
communications, to use resources, staff and Trustee time more efficiently, and to avoid
unnecessary duplication.
This closer working has been very beneficial in terms of shared resources and expertise,
particularly thanks to the excellent support the Friends have received from Nicola
Hollingworth, Head of Supporter Involvement, and her maternity replacement, Wendy
Bryan, and other members of the Fundraising Team. However, it has taken rather longer
than anticipated to move ahead with a more active Friends, social media presence, and
attracting new members continues to be a significant challenge. This ongoing challenge
was the focus for a further joint planning prO￿sS between the Friends, Committee and the
Connection's Fundraising Team in Spring 2024, which will provide the basis for further
development in the coming period.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and together form the
Executive Committee of the Friends. Candidates must be members of the Friends and be
proposed and seconded by members of the Friends. At the 2023 AGM, the Deputy Chair
Margaret Beels and the Treasurer Chris Riley were re-elected for a further three-year term,
while the Chair Charles Woodd and the Secretary Mary Keane continued in post. Emily
Cecil-Dennett was re-elected for a further three-year term as a member of the Committee.
In addition, the AGM noted that, following the resignation of Rev Richard Carter as the ex
officio representative of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Matthew Whalley had been appointed to
take up that position on the Committee. The Trustees have continued to seek to recruit
trustees with skills in fundraising policy and practice. The Trustees will also continue to
seek to increase diversity in the membership of the Committee.
Induction and on-going training of Trustees
New trustees are given a copy of The Essential Trustee (published by the Charity
Commission - document CC3) as well as the Friends, constitution, and serve a
probationary period as required by the constitution. The Chair informs them of their duties
and responsibilities. Trustees are asked regularly to review their understanding of their
obligations. All Trustees are notified of any new legislation pertinent to the running of a
charity when this has been issued from the Charity Commission or other relevant
regulator.
The oryanisational structure of the charity and how decisions are made
The charity is managed by the Executive Committee (Trustees) as laid down in the
constitution. As noted above, the Executive Committee is elected by the members at the
AGM and is responsible for strategic decisions. Committee meetings are routinely
attended by the Connection CEO and the Director of Fundraising and Communications or
the Head of Supporter Involvement, to ensure that the Committee is well briefed about the
strategy and activities of the Connection. Committee members have specific
responsibilities so as to share the workload. The Committee is supported by the part-time
Charity Administrator, Rupert Dean, employed by the Friends and seconded to the
Connection, who handles everyday office and financial administration, leaving Committee
members free to give priority to the crucial tasks of strategic direction, recruiting new
members and expanding our fundraising activities.

Risk Management
The Executive Committee continues to review the risk register and the means by which
risks can be minimised. The main risks during the year have been: (i) the continuing need
to arrest the decline in membership, and therefore income from donations; and (li)
adjusting to the fundraising situation that pertains following the Covid pandemic. Another
potential risk is that the Friends, Offer might not attract new Friends. A risk around
dependency on the Charity's administrator has been addressed by his closer working with
The Connection's fundraising team.
We are very grateful to the Charity Administrator for continuing to work flexibly and to
support the charity from a home base where appropriate. As a very small charity with
minimal staff, we identified the risks that were presented by the Covid pandemic and
mitigated these by separating functions, working with The Connection. A member of The
Connection opens all the Friends, post and records any donations made before the
paperwork is passed to the Friends, offi￿.
The Committee has continued to seek ways of reversing the decline in membership (risk
(i)), through the new collaborative arrangements instituted formally from 1 April 2021.
Objectives and Activities
Our objectives are laid down in our Constitution: "The object of the Friends shall be to
support the charitable work of The Connection at St Martin's in such manner as the
Committee, in consultation with the Trustees of The Connection at St Martin's, shall from
time to time determine, provided that such support does not relieve expenditure which a
body or authority is under a statutory duty to provide."
The Friends, main activities are collecting subscriptions and donations from members,
including the receipt of legacies, recruiting new members, promoting greater awareness
about homelessness and the work of The Connection amongst our members and the
general public, organising fundraising and awareness-raising events in central London,
organising the annual Queen Eleanor Cycle Ride, and encouraging members and others
to raise funds for the Friends.
The results of these efforts have been positive and can be seen from the following
highlights of the year:
Donations, subscriptions and other non-legacy income totalled around £177,000.
Income from legacies totalled over £222,000, enabling grants to be made to The
Connection totalling £387,000.
th
The15 Queen Eleanor Cycle Ride attracted 14 cyclists for the full 4 days, and another
7 who cycled for shorter periods. They raised a total of around £23,000, including Gift
Aid, and after deducting expenses, which was a creditable increase on the previous
year's total. We must acknowledge that the continuing success of the QECR depends
on the dedicated efforts of the QECR Committee and support team, many of whom
have served for many years, and on the ongoing generous support received from hosts
along the route
Our Speakers Panel was largely dormant during the year, apart from one talk to an
Over-50s Group in Salisbury from which we received donations of £216.

Carol singing on Charing Cross Station resumed this year, and the Friends contributed
to a total of nearly £500 raised by The Connection. Over £4,300 was generously
donated by friends of the late Ken Mason, in response to an appeal in his memory. As
we acknowledged in last year's Report, Ken was a very active life-long supporter of the
Friends and the work of the Connection.
Our part-time Charity Administrator, Rupert Dean, continued to provide excellent support
to the Committee by providing essential office back-up and day-to-day financial
administration, with both imagination and initiative, and an impressive attention to detail.
Rupert's work continued to work closely with colleagues in the Connection's Fundraising
Team.
Ultimately, the responsibility for running the charity lies with the members of the
Committee, and the charity owes an enormous debt to our dedicated Committee
members, who give greatly both of their time and expertise. The Connection's CEO, Pam
Orchard, has been most generous with her time and wise counsel, speaking at events and
supporting our strategic thinking. She has been ably supported by the Connection's
Director of Fundraising and Communications, Elizabeth Charles, and her maternity
replacement Lanner Feltham as well as by Nicola Hollingworth, the Head of Supporter
Involvement and her maternity replacement Wendy Bryan. They have regularly attended
Committee meetings in an advisory capacity. We continue to value our connection with St
Martin-in-the-Fields, and were delighted to welcome Matthew Whalley as the new
representative appointed to the Committee by St Martin-in-the-Fields. We look forward to
his contribution in helping us to further strengthen our relationship with the congregation of
St Martin's.
At the 2023 AGM, a richly deserved tribute was paid to our Deputy Chair, Margaret Beels,
with her receipt of the Guy Mason Award, to recognise her 16 years of outstanding service
on the Friends Committee, in which she has variously served as Secretary, Vice President,
Acting Treasurer and now Deputy Chair.
Public Benefit Statement
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance as published by the Charity
Commission on public benefit. All charitable activities highlighted in this report are
undertaken in furtherance of our charitable objects and for the public benefit.
Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities
Charity law requires Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which
give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial
year and of the surplus or deficit of the charity. In preparing those financial statements the
Trustees are required to.
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to
presume that the charity will continue in business;

state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended
practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and
explained in the financial statements.
The Trustees are also responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which
disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. Trustees
are required to show and explain the charity's transactions and the financial statements
must comply with regulations made under the Charities Act. Trustees are also responsible
for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hen￿ for taking reasonable steps for the
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are also responsible for the contents of the Trustees, Report, and the
responsibility of the independent examiner in relation to the Trustees, Report is limited to
examining the report and ensuring that, on the face of the report, there are no
inconsistencies with the figures disclosed in the financial statements.
The Trustees are satisfie
that they have fully discharged these responsibilities.
arles Wood
Chair
19 September 2024

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FRIENDS OF
THE CONNECTION AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
st
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out
on pages 10t0 15.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's
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;
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity
Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis ofindependent examinerfs report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the
Charity Commission. An examination includes a 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 the
seeking of explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The
procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit
and, consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair
view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examinerfs statement
I have completed my examination.
I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the
examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting
records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or the accounts did
not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable
requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts
give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an 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 accounts to be reached.
Ashley N. Fox FCA, ACII
PRB Accountants LLP Chartered Accountants
Kingfisher House, Hurstwood Grange, Hurstwood Lane
Haywards Heath, RH17 7QX
19 September 2024

THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION
AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
2023-24
Total
2022-23
Total
Unrestricted Restrlcted
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
Other tradlng aotivities
397.137
2,102
397,137
2,102
436,357
2.128
Total incomo and endovM￿nts
399,239
399,239
438,485
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
24,944
388,176
24.944
388,176
20,949
411,093
Total expenditure
413,121
413,121
432,042
Net incomelexpendlture
-13,882
-13,882
6.443
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
-13.882
-13,882
6,443
Total funds brought fO￿ard
56,235
56,235
49.791
Total funds carried forward
42.353
42,353
56,235
10

THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION
AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 MARCH 2024
Notes
2024
2023
Tanglble flxed assets:
Office equipment
Total fixed assets
Current assets:
Debtors
Cash at bank arKI in hand
24,160
20,386
38,871
18,666
Total current assets
57,537
Current liabilities:
Creditors.. amounts falling due within one year
10
-2,194
-1,304
Total current Ilabilities{.)
-2,194
-1,304
Net current assets
42,352
56,234
Total net assets
42,353
56,235
Funds
11
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
42,353
56,235
12
42,353
56,235
The notes on pages 12 to 15 form an integral part of these financial statements.
C J Riley
Treasurer
On behalf of the Trustees
19 September 2024
11

THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION
AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparation of the accounts
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and
Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practi￿ applicable to charities
preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard applicable in
the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).
Accounting convention
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, and the assets and
liabilities valued accordingly.
Donations and the Friends grant to the Connection
In 2023-24 these have been measured excluding the matched amounts provided
under the Big Give scheme in respect of donations by Friends. This is a change since
the 2022-23 accounts made necessary to ensure consistency by a change this year in
the convention adopted by the Connection. In this report and in the tables presented
here, figures for 2022-23 for comparison purposes have been adjusted to reflect the
same convention as in the current year, so that changes between years are measured
correctly.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are accounted for when the charity has entitlement to the
funds, certainty of receipt and the amount is measurable. Where income is received in
advance of a performance or service, it is deferred until the charity is entitled to that
income. Legacy income is recognised when it can be measured or estimated with
sufficient reliability, and is not discounted by the time value of money if it is receivable
within one year.
Resources expended
All resources expended are recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation
to make a payment to a third party.
Costs of generating funds
Comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income.
Charitable activities
Comprise donations made to The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Governance costs
Comprise those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory
requirements of the charity.
Allocation of support costs
Administrative support costs have been allocated to "Costs of raising funds" Accountancy, audit
fee and AGM costs are allocated to "Governance Costs..
Expenses paid to Trustees or connected persons
None
12

THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION
AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 {cont.)
2023-24
Total
2022-23
Total
Unrestricted Restrlcted
2. Donations and legacles
Subscriptions
Donations
Legacies
Gift aid
6,856
144,627
222,570
23,083
6,856
144,627
222,570
23,083
7,926
125,479
275,986
26,966
Total
397,137
397,137
436,357
3. Expenditure on ralsing funds
Staff cosls
Events and actimties"
Other current spending"
20,732
1,373
2,839
20,732
1,373
2,839
16,668
1,362
2,918
Total
24.944
24,944
20.949
4. Expenditure on goods and servlces.
(events, activities and other currentl
Postage
stationary and printing
Insurance
Legal arjj professional fees
Design
BanklJust Giv7r¥J charges
Other goods and semces
414
1.444
409
35
100
191
1.619
414
352
1,550
628
53
409
35
100
191
1,619
215
1,482
Total
4,213
4,213
4,280
5. Expenditure on charkable activities
Grants to the Connection at St Martin's
Governance costs
387,424
752
387,424
752
410,391
702
Total
417,851
388,176
411,093
6. Governance costs
Independent examiner fee
AGM
752
752
702
Total
752
752
702
13

THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION
AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (cont.)
2023-24
7. Movement in Unrestricted Funds
Opening fund 1 April 2023
56,235
Incoming resources
Outgoing resources
399,239
413,121
Closing fund 31 March 2024
42,353
8. Fixed assets for use by the charlty
Cost at 1 April 2023
Depreciation at 1 April 2023
Depreciation charged in year
Depreciation at 31 March 2024
979
978
978
Net book value at 31 March 2023
Net book value at 31 March 2024
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-23
9. Curront assets.. debtors
Legacies
Gift Aid due
Donations due
Tax rebate due
Direct debit refund due
7.000
16.986
38.691
174
174
Total
24,160
38,871
qo. Current Ilabllltles: amounts due withln one
year
IndeperKlent examiner fee
Employee payroll admin, tax and pension payments
Bank charges due
750
1,436
700
593
Total
2,194
1,304
11. Analysls of net assets between funds
Fund balances at 31 March 2024..
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Unrestrlcted Restricted
Total
44,546
-2,194
44,546
-2,194
Total
42,353
42,353
14

THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION
AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 (cont.)
12. Restricted funds
Donations in 2023-24
No donations duriro 2023-24 were received with a requirement
that they should be used for specif ic purposes.
13. Related Party
The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields (CSTM) is a related
party. As stated in the constitution, all funds are collected on
behalf of this entity.
15