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← The Community Of Aidan And Hilda

2024-12-31-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024

CHARITY REGISTRATION No: 1055306

Independent Examiners Ltd The Grain Store Hills Barns Appledram Lane South Chichester PO20 7EG

1

COMMUNITY OF AIDAN AND HILDA

CONTENTS
Page 3 Legal and Administrative Information
Pages 4 to 5 Trustees' Report
Page 6 Statement of Receipts and Payments
Page 7 Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Pages 8 to 10 Notes to the Accounts
Page 11 Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees

2

COMMUNITY OF AIDAN AND HILDA

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

CHARITY NUMBER 1055306 CHARITY REGISTRATION DATE 16th May 1996 START OF FINANCIAL YEAR 1st January 2024 END OF FINANCIAL YEAR 31st December 2024 TRUSTEES WHO SERVED DURING Geoff Holt (Chair) THE YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 2024 Janet Bissex Ruth Stock Dr Lars Knutsen Rev Carol Smith

The existing trustees appoint any new trustees following the provisions laid out in the Charity's governing instrument.

GOVERNING INSTRUMENT

Charitable Trust Deed dated 22 April 1996

OBJECTS

The advancement of the Christian religion, in particular:

BANKERS

National Westminster Bank Plc Stratford-Upon-Avon

CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS 137 Newton Road Sparkhill Birmingham B11 4PU

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Independent Examiners Limited The Grain Store Hills Barns Appledram Lane South Chichester PO20 7EG

3

COMMUNITY OF AIDAN AND HILDA

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Review of activities during the year

Our membership has continued to increase steadily throughout the year, both nationally and internationally. We are aware of growing interest in dispersed New Monastic community and living by a Way of Life, a rhythm of prayer, and a network of Soul Friendship.

Many individuals continue to find the Way of Life of the Community a genuine source of support and encouragement, with the potential to connect with one another, both remotely (through Zoom and other digital means) and in person. This means that the groups run by the Community are no longer limited to local geographic areas. We have continued to offer a hybrid approach for our Community Annual Gathering and Voyagers Retreat, offering both in-person and online options, which has resulted in significantly more people being involved and included.

We value the inspirational leadership of our three Guardians – Simon Reed, Penny Warren, and Scott Brennan – our Deputy Guardian, Thenue, and the wisdom of our Caim Council and Trustees. After a thorough process, Scott Brennan was formally appointed as Guardian in January 2024, taking over from Graham Booth. We continue to appreciate the wisdom and support of our Founding Guardian, Ray Simpson.

The Trustees have a particular responsibility for overseeing the management and sustainability of the Community’s finances, resources and properties, and for ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, policies and procedures, including health and safety, risk assessment, personnel management and safeguarding matters, in accordance with our Way of Life.

The Caim Council is responsible for setting and agreeing the overall strategic direction of the Community, and includes the Community Guardians, the Chair of Trustees and other Voyagers approved by them.

Our Community Administrator, Richard Brassington, provides an excellent point of contact and support for Members and Friends. We continue to use ChurchSuite as our database, offering focused administrative and communication support for our growing Community.

Finances for the Community account have held up well during the year. We continue to provide a designated Bursary Fund to support individuals who might not otherwise be able to afford the full cost of a Community event.

The implications for our work on Holy Island have been considered in the report for Lindisfarne Trust Ltd.

We believe we can look forward with confidence to the work and ministry of the Community growing further in 2025.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

There are none.

Financial Review

At the end of the year, we held £12,026 in the bank accounts. Of this amount, £4,710 is designated (ringfenced) for the Bursary Fund.

Policy on Reserves

The Trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity's needs. This is based on the charity's size and the level of financial commitments held. The Trustees aim to ensure the charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure. The Trustees will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily.

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COMMUNITY OF AIDAN AND HILDA

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Trustees Responsibilities

The Charities Act 2011 require the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the trust and of the surplus of the trust for that period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

·· Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudentp g g pp p p will continue in existence.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the trust. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees:

Date: 13th October 2025

5

COMMUNITY OF AIDAN AND HILDA

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Notes
RECEIPTS :
Voluntary Receipts
2a
Charitable Activities
2b
TOTAL RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS :
Costs of Charitable Activities
3a
Costs of Generating Funds
3b
Governance Costs
3c
TOTAL PAYMENTS
NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS)
Transfers Between Funds
6
Cash Balances Brought Forward
CASH BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD		 Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
£
51,615
403
0
52,018
66,279
42,846
0
0
42,846
38,080
94,461
403
0
94,864
104,359
103,288
0
0
103,288
96,236
562
0
0
562
4,519
720
0
0
720
684
104,570
0
0
104,570
101,439
(10,109)
403
0
(9,706)
2,920
0
0
0
0
0
17,425
4,307
0
21,732
18,812
7,316
4,710
0
12,026
21,732

6

COMMUNITY OF AIDAN AND HILDA

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024

Unrestricted Designated Restricted 31-Dec-24 31-Dec-23
Fund Fund Fund Total Total
£ £ £ £ £
CASH ASSETS
Bank Account 6,966 4,710 0 11,676 21,238
PayPal Account 350 0 0 350 494
7,316 4,710 0 12,026 21,732
OTHER ASSETS
Gift Aid Tax Rebate due 3,914 0 0 3,914 3,660
Prepayments 21,793 0 0 21,793 0
Computer Equipment 2,068 0 0 2,068 1,185
27,775 0 0 27,775 4,845
LIABILITIES
Independent Examiners Fees 750 0 0 750 720
Other Creditors 12,681 0 0 12,681 945
13,431 0 0 13,431 1,665

TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO THE ACCOUNTS

Charity Law requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which comply with the regulations set out in the Charities Act 2011. The Trustees have elected to take advantage of the provisions that apply to small charities and have prepared a Receipts and Payments Account and Statement of Assets and Liabilities which are set out on pages 6 and 7.

Approved by the Trustees on 13th October 2025 and

Signed on their behalf by RE a OL K} Trustee

7

COMMUNITY OF AIDAN AND HILDA

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1. BASIS OF ACCOUNTING

The accounts have been prepared under the “Receipts and Payments” basis as prescribed by the Charity Commissioners, and they meet the appropriate legal requirements.

2. RECEIPTS
Note
a) Voluntary Receipts
Crowdfunding
Gifts & Donations
Gift Aided Donations & Tax Recovered
Legacy
b) Charitable Activities
Book Sales - primary purpose trading
Retreat Income
3. PAYMENTS
a) Costs of Charitable Activities
Gift re: Building Repairs & Maintenance
7
Book Purchases
Gifts to Individuals
Gift re: Guardian costs
7
Legacy to Lindisfarne Trust Ltd
Office, Secretarial & Administration
4
Retreat Expenses
Staff & Volunteer Expenses (incl training)
Staff (Self Employed Individuals)
Travel		 Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
£
915
0
0
915
810
23,009
403
0
23,412
19,766
27,691
0
0
27,691
25,703
0
0
0
0
20,000
.
51,615
403
0
52,018
66,279
4,255
0
0
4,255
3,429
38,591
0
0
38,591
34,651
42,846
0
0
42,846
38,080
15,634
0
0
15,634
4,000
1,143
0
0
1,143
1,493
4,230
0
0
4,230
0
4,800
0
0
4,800
0
0
0
0
0
10,000
8,071
0
0
8,071
6,311
29,695
0
0
29,695
46,105
1,355
0
0
1,355
1,756
37,635
0
0
37,635
26,525
725
0
0
725
46
103,288
0
0
103,288
96,236

8

COMMUNITY OF AIDAN AND HILDA

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

3. PAYMENTS (continued)
Note
b) Costs of Generating Funds
Publicity, Mission & Outreach
c) Governance Costs
Accountancy & Independent Examination		 Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
£
562
0
0
562
4,519
562
0
0
562
4,519
720
0
0
720
684
720
0
0
720
684

4. ANALYSIS OF OFFICE, SECRETARIAL AND ADMINISTRATION COSTS

Cleaning Costs
IT & Computer
Licences & Subscriptions
Printing, Postage & Stationery
Sundry Administration & Office
Telephone & Internet		 2024
2023
Total
Total
£
£
1,381
2,280
3,199
2,001
77
77
2,998
1,682
187
147
229
124
8,071
6,311

5. RESTRICTED FUNDS

The charity held no restricted funds during or at the end of the financial year.

6. DESIGNATED FUNDS

The charity established a designated Bursary Fund in 2024 to support individuals who might not otherwise be able to afford the full cost of a Community event.

CURRENT YEAR
Bursary Fund
PREVIOUS YEAR
Bursary Fund		 Balance
Transfer
Balance
01-Jan-24
Income
Expenditure
btw funds
31-Dec-24
£
£
£
£
£
4,307
403
0
0
4,710
4,307
403
0
0
4,710
Balance
Transfer
Balance
01-Jan-23
Income
Expenditure
btw funds
31-Dec-23
£
£
£
£
£
0
193
(886)
5,000
4,307
0
193
(886)
5,000
4,307

9

COMMUNITY OF AIDAN AND HILDA

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

6. PAYMENTS TO TRUSTEES

Two Trustees were reimbursed £170.76 and £109.20 respectively for travel costs incurred when attending a Trustee meeting. Apart from the reimbursement of charitable expenditure paid personally, no other payments were made to trustees or any persons connected with them during this financial period. No other material transaction took place between the organisation and a trustee or any person connected with them.

7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

During the year the following related party transactions took place:

A gift of £15,634 (2023: gift of £4,000) to assist with building works was given by the Community of Aidan and Hilda to Lindisfarne Trust (charity number 1092455). A contribution of £4,800 to Guardian costs was also paid to Lindisfarne Trust by the Community of Aidan and Hilda. The two charities work closely together and Lindisfarne Trust has a particular responsibility to manage the property and other facilities of the Community of Aidan and Hilda (CAH), including the regular maintenance and improvement of the Community’s buildings and other assets, in keeping with the ethos of the Community, and so to offer spiritual renewal and refreshment to guests, pilgrims and visitors. All of The Trustees of Lindisfarne Trust are also Trustees of CAH.

8. RISK ASSESSMENT

The trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated, combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on an annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks.

9. PUBLIC BENEFIT

The charity acknowledges its requirement to demonstrate clearly that it must have charitable purposes or ‘aims’ that are for the public benefit. Details of how the charity has achieved this are provided in the Trustees report. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

10

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Community of Aidan and Hilda for the year ended 31st December 2024.

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”).

Responsibilties and basis of report

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the 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 gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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.

Signed:

Name: J Irvinesmith FCIE

15 October Date: …..................2025

Independent Examiners Ltd The Grain Store Hills Barns Appledram Lane South Chichester PO20 7EG

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