Mother ' Christian care for f amilies Diocese of IIEIIZZJ Portsmouth CHARITY NUMBER 1067369 ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Mothers, Union in the Diocese of Portsmouth Annual Report for the year ending 31" December 2024 Mothers, Union in the Portsmouth Diocese, is registered with the Charity Commission (no 1067369). The Bishop of Portsmouth is our patron. Mothers, Union Aim is the advancement of the Christian religion in the sphere of marriage and family life. To carry out its aim its objectives are: To uphold Christ's teaching on the nature of marriage and promote its wider understanding. To encourage parents to bring up their children in the faith and life of the Church. To maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service. To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children. To help those whose family life has met with adversity. Our Mission We aim to show our Christian faith by helping the sustainable transformation of communities worldwide. We do this by helping nature strong relationships at all levels, promoting peace and reconciliation nationally and globally. Our Vision Our vision is a world where everyone prospers. We actively purpose this vision through prayer and action, helping to build confident people and resilient communities. Our movement challenges prejudice and advocates change. Prayer Is at the heart of everythlng we do Our prayer and worship are central to our work. We believe that prayer can be transformational and can make a huge difference to the lives of individuals and communities. Here in the Diocese of Portsmouth we believe in praying with our feet moving and our prayer, with purpose, underpins all of our activities.
st The Trustee Board as of l January 2024 Felicity Keeping Yvette Dawson Valerie Griffiths Vacant Diocesan President & Chair of Trustees Diocesan Secretary (Ex-off icio) Diocesan Treasurer (Ex-officio) Diocesan Chaplain (Ex-off icio) Sue Williams Caroline Scull Sabrina Gwyn Sue Hamilton Vivien Gowlett Archdeaconry Vice-chair Isle of Wight Archdeaconry Vice-chair Mainland Deanery Co-ordinator Bishops Waltham Deanery Co-ordinator Fareham and Gosport Deanery Co-ordinator Havant and Portsmouth Vacant Vacant Unit Co-ordinator Training Unit Co-ordinator Diocesan Members Other Trustees: Hilary Batchelor Theresa Bignall Chris Long
Mothers, Union is a worldwide Christian membership charity that aims to demonstrate the Christian faith in action through the transformation of communities worldwide. We are working with people of all faiths and none in 83 countries to promote stable marriage, family life and the protection of children through praying, enabling and campaigning. Our aims and objectives are: To promote and support married life To encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children To maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united ih prayer, worship and service To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children To help those whose family life has met with adversity Mission Statement The Mothers, Union is a Christian organisation which promotes the wellbeing of families world-wide. We achieve this by: Developing prayer and spiritual growth in families Studying and reflecting on family life and marriage and their place in society. Resourcing our members to take practical action to improve conditions for families, both nationally and internationally and in the communities in which they live
The Mothers, Union was established in 1876. Its purpose was to encourage parents in caring for their children, not just physically and mentally but also spiritually. From the outset it recognised that strong relationships and the role of the family, however defined, are critical in building healthy communication. Our vision While the ways in which we operate to fulfil that need may be different from that of the world of the 19th century, our vision today is still of a world where God's love is,shown through loving, respectful and flourishing relationships. This is still the essence of our work. Our mission We aim to show our Christian faith by the transformation of communities worldwide. We try to do this through the promotion of stable marriage, family life and the protection of children. This is our mission. It is what we aim to achieve. Our values There are more than four million members of the Mothers, Union today in 83 countries around the world. Each member subscribes to the same values; the moral and ethical codes that are central to the ways in which we operate. Firstly, we are firmly rooted in a voluntary ethos centred on mutual respect and collaboration.
Secondly, our governance, leadership and programmes are driven by and undertaken through members within their own communities worldwide. Thirdly, we work with people of all faiths and none. The Diocese of Portsmouth The Mother's Union in the Portsmouth Diocese extends from Petersfield to the North, Bishops Waltham and Fareham in the West, Emsworth to the East, and all of the south including the Isle of Wight. We currently have approximately 433 members in 22 branches. Members of Mothers, Union in the Portsmouth Diocese elect the Trustees every three years. 2024 is the end of our current triennium. The charity owns I laptop, I colour printer, large advertising banner, and display boards and a roll-down banner for the Wedding Fayres. The board of Trustees acknowledges its responsibility to identify, assess and manage risks. This is undertaken on an ongoing basis regarding all activities undertaken by the Portsmouth Mother's Union. Dynamic risk assessments are undertaken for all activities and formal documented risk assessments are carried out where any larger event for example those events involving a variety of activities and the general public. Each Member organising an activity is responsible for the initial dynamic assessment and judge whether the activity requires a documented risk assessment. Formal risk assessment documents are available on request from the Board of Trustees and the completed forms are sent to the Trustees for approval.
During 2024 The 2024 theme is Transformation Now,. This and is what Mothers, Union has been undertaking during the last one hundred and fortyeight years that is how we shall present our report. Transforming the lives of people we meet who need our help. Transformatlon Now We all need to rebuild hope and confidence following the Covid pandemic which has affected 50 many people in many ways. We need to help our members regain the confidence to start enjoying their local branches again in person and to meet with other branches. We need to follow in Mary Sumner's footsteps in rebuilding this hope and confidence. Pray Prayer is at the heart of Mothers, Union life and all we undertake is upheld by it. Each month on the third Wednesday at mid-day members gather in the Cathedral for Holy Communion celebrated by a member of the Cathedral staff or a member of the retired clergy in the absence of a MU diocesan chaplain assisted by members from the deaneries in rotation who read the lessons and lead the intercessions.
The 430 + members in the diocese each receive a copy of Connected which encourages and enables daily prayer for families throughout the world. It provides information about MU projects and our link dioceses and their leaders to aid prayer and understanding. Members are encouraged to pray at mid-day each day. We also produce a Diocesan magazine 'Contact' which is delivered to all members in the Portsmouth Diocese to keep them up to date in events in the Diocese. th th Wave of Prayer- From June 15 to 17 the branches in the archdeaconry were allocated different times to meet for the Wave of Prayer services. We prayed for the work of MU and specially for our link dioceses abroad, which are New Guinea Islands in Papua New Guinea, Gboko in Benue State Nigeria, Bukavu Diocese in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nyahururu in Kenya. Prayer Chain - The prayer chain is made up of a representative from each deanery. They undertake to pray regularly for those who are sick or who have asked for prayer. th Every year on Lady Day, March 25 , Havant and Portsmouth Deanery th hold a Lady Day Service. A service on Mary Sumner Day, August 9 , was held in the Havant and Portsmouth Deanery. Council and Trustee meetings begin with prayer usually led by the Diocesan President in the absence of the Mothers, Union Chaplain and also at mid-day. There are two Council meetings a year, one of which includes the AGM and four Trustee meetings a year. During the Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender Violence, some of our branches meet to pray for people suffering from the effects of gender based violence. We also held a Zoom service for Gender Violence instead of meeting in a centralised church. Members of Portsmouth Mothers, Union volunteer help at the Roberts Child Contact Centre. The Child Contact Centre is a place where children living with one parent can meet the parent they do not live with in a safe comfortable environment. Research tells us that children have better outcomes when they have contact with their non-resident parent. The Child Contact Centre is run by a team of trained staff and volunteers whose primary role is to help parents make sure their chilsj's contact experience is positive.,
We have two projects supporting Queen Alexandra Hospital. MGN Support Project (Maternity, Gynaecological and Neo-Natal Support) we supply tiny baby-grows for the neo-natal unit and knitted matinee jackets and blankets. The knitted hats have to be knitted to a special pattern to allow tube to go through the hat. We a150 provide black-out quilts to go on top of the incubators. Many members also sew gowns for still-born babies, they always make two of each garment so that the bereaved parents can keep one in their memory box. If any of the knitted garments are unsuitable for the hospital, too big, too small, wrong colour etc., the finished garments are taken to the Roberts Centre for use with the families. The Fareham and Gosport deanery provide twiddle- muffs for people suffering from dementia. These go to a local nursing home and a local Memory Clinic. Members in the Isle of Wight support the Seafarers, Mission by knitting hats and mittens. They also knit for the neonatal unit at St Mary's Hospital and collect toiletries for those admitted unexpectedly to St Mary's Hospital. We provide recipe cards for all the Food Banks in the Portsmouth Diocese. These are suitable recipes to be made with the food given by the banks. Throughout the year member5 raised funds for us to provide a week's holiday or days away for families who are unable to fund a holiday themselves. We provide holidays or breaks for vulnerable families who are recommended to us by the clergy or other organizations such as schools. We offer days out or short-break holidays. We also provide an annual AFIA day at Lee on Solent for families from the local Women's refuges. This year we gave 15 families a break at the seaside. Unfortunately, it was very cold and windy but this did not prevent the families from having fun in a nearby water park. We had a fish and chip lunch followed by tea on our return from the beach and games in the hall and garden. We are supported by a faithful group of volunteers who join in the fun with the families.
We sent a mother and her children to a play park in Gosport for the day so that they could spend some 'quality time, together. We also sent a lady who was caring for her disabled husband for a cream tea at a local garden centre. As the centre was accessible, the couple were able to go together and have a good time. We sent seven families away to local holiday parks for a short break of three or four nights. We usually use parks at Selsey and Bognor Regis. We also provide a £50 voucher to help cover the cost of food. Families are very appreciative that they can give their children a well-needed break. Four of our members look after the Mue (Mothers, Union enterprises) stall. They sell cards, badges, gifts etc., that are ordered from Mary Sumner House. The proceeds go to help the running of Central Mothers Union and a percentage is received back annually. The members from different branches run Mothers & Baby groups. With the "cost of living" crisis, more families are now turning to Grandparents to look after their children during the day, whilst they work. We now provide Grandparent and Toddler groups which give the Grandparents support and enable them to socialize, to combat isolation. The friendship they make at the groups often continue when the grandchildren move on to school. Many branches also provide 'bags of love, to parents whose children are starting reception class at a local school. The bags include a tea- bag, a pouch of tissues, a bar of chocolate and a prayer. These gifts are welcomed by the parents. Slgned on behalf of the Trustees: Felicity Keeping Portsmouth Diocesan President
CHARITY COMMISSION ' FOR ENGLAND AND WAIES Mothern Unlon Portsmouth Diocosg Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For th8 perlod from To 0110112024 3111212024 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total fund8 Last year to tm nooro•t to thF nOat £ to thg nwar•st £ to th• Th8¢ £ toth• n•JMt£ Al Recelpts Donors L8¢Y Operath'ng Activib"88 Fund Raising Invèstment8 16,688 16,583 5,431 810 624 6,431 6,846 379 17,213 64S 1.003 ross income or AR) 24,033 7,225 31.2S8 39.832 8et and ($08 tsble). nv•stmenl 8a 31,258 A3Pa Pro Acbvitses Managwn¢nt mgnts 1.333 17,840 4,380 6.701 17.840 4.380 5,227 16.793 16.30B Sub total 23.553 28,921 38,328 A4 A880t and inve•tmont ur¢ha806 see tsbl• Sub total 23.553 5,368 28,921 Net of rKelpts/(payments) A5 Tr8n8terB betwoon fund8 A6 Cash fund8 last yoar end Cash funds thls year end 480 ,337 20,133 20.61 12,822 14,679 32,955 35.292 CCXX R1 a¢oiunts (SS} 0610212025
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period UnrestriGted funds to ngar08t £ Restrlcted funds to n••rn8t £ Endowment funds to n•arnst É Categorles L)etails B1 Cash funds Deposit Accwnt 12,381 Current Accoup.t 6,486 1751 Business Account 1,747 Afia Fund 6,207 Aff8 Deposit S.721 Total cash funds 20,614 14.679 b•l•nrxswNh rK•ipts aTrJ p8ynwnt• CtI$ll Unrestrfctsd funds to n•aM8t £ Rè8trfcted funds to £ Endowm•nt funds to ngar•st £ Dota 118 Fund to whlch l¢>n Cobt (optlonthll Curr•nt valu• tbonal Oclails Fund towhkh set belon Curr•nt val lonol Detall$ Co•t loptlonthll 84 Assets retslned for tho charlty'8 own use Fund to whlch 11a111 relate& Arnount du• Whèn du• onal LIL%tiills B5 Llabllltlos Signed by one or Iwo Iru8tees on behaff of all the tru$tee$ Signature Prlnt Name Date of roval CCXX R2 a¢¢ounts ISSI 0610212025
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Mothers, Union Portsmouth Diocese On accounts for the year ended 5t 31 December 2024 Charity no (if any) 1067369 Set out on pages 1&2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 31112 12024. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of basis of report 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 in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed on page 2) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statemant I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 1110412025 Name: Gill Lodge Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): FCCA Address: University of Portsmouth Richmond 8uilding Portland Street Portsmouth P013DE IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brlef detalls of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. The trLlStees' annual report was not available at the time of the independent examination. IER October 2018