Charity number: 1096617
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Trustees' report and financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2021
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Legal and administrative information | 1 |
| Trustees report | 2 - 3 |
| Independent examiners' report | 4 |
| Statement of financial activities | 5 |
| Balance sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 7 - 12 |
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Legal and administrative information
| Charity number | 1096617 |
|---|---|
| Registered office | 15 Maple Grove |
| London | |
| NW9 8RD | |
| Trustees | Mrs Clare McCullough (Chairman) |
| Alan Ashfield | |
| Mrs Sarah Bignell | |
| Mrs. Marguerita Carroll (Treasurer) | |
| Fr Stephen Boyle | |
| Accountants | Andrew Passer FIFA |
| 20 Sunningdale Close | |
| Stanmore | |
| Middlesex | |
| HA7 3QL | |
| Bankers | Allied Irish Bank (GB) |
| 202 Finchley Road | |
| Hampstead | |
| London | |
| NW3 6BX | |
| Solicitors | Pothecary, Witham Weld Solicitors |
| 70 St George's Square | |
| London | |
| SW1V 3RD |
Page 1
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 March 2021
The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021. The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 1.
Structure, governance and management
The charity is governed by five Trustees. The trustees are appointed every four years at the Charity’s AGM and the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer constitute the Officers. The trustees meet four times a year to consider strategic issues and policies affecting the Charity. Further meetings of the Trustees can be called as required. The Trustees ensure that they have taken the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance into account when making any decision it is relevant to.
Objectives and activities
The charity's principal objectives are as follows:
The provision of education, instruction and information on the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church particularly in relation to sexual morality and life issues.
The relief in cases of need, hardship or distress of women who are pregnant or are mothers, and of their families and dependants.
The provision of financial support to organisations which assist women who are pregnant or are mothers by providing them with services such as financial assistance, counselling, support, information, safe-houses, accommodation, education, employment, baby-sitting, and services which assist women in continuing their pregnancies, provided that all such services are in accordance with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
Achievements and performance
The Guild this year has been able to provide grants of £150,950 (2020 £171,562) to organisations which provide appropriate ongoing support and advice and information to expectant and new Mothers. We have also provided £78,695 (2020 £106,054) worth of grants to individual Mothers in the most difficult of circumstances. Finally, we have provided thousands of pounds worth of baby clothes, milk, nappies and new and used baby equipment.
Financial review
Total donations decreased from £360,051 last year to £329,830 this year, whilst our charitable expenditure fell by £69,953 from £357,319 to £287,366. The Trustees are happy to report that we still have a healthy cumulative surplus of £1,369,269 to be carried forward for future years. We continue to assist other charities, councils and social services departments by keeping expectant and new Mothers in accommodation through helping with their rent, and also provide financial support, maternity goods and assistance in the home or with temporary childcare solutions for Mothers with little or no access to public funds. Our Internship (Voluntary Worker) Programme continues to provide training which we hope will encourage volunteers to remain involved in similar work in the future.
Plans for future periods
We have had to work hard during the Coronavirus pandemic to reach women in need in new ways and to offer them services appropriate to their new situations and the particular difficulties they have faced at this difficult time. Our outreach has expanded on the phone and we are working on new ways to access our help more fully online. We continue to reach out to the most vulnerable women. This includes those suffering from domestic violence, trafficked women, the most destitute women and those with learning difficulties. Our “Assistance to Mothers” department has financed professional training to allow volunteers to gain a better understanding of the legal issues and barriers women face in accessing housing, medical care and legal help. We intend to train more volunteers to assist women with these issues.
Page 2
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 March 2021
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that year. In preparing these financial statements the trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
-
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material 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 operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that 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 irregularities. The trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty in section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
On behalf of the board
Mrs Clare McCullough (Chairman)
Trustee
7 December 2021
Page 3
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Independent examiner's report to the trustees on the unaudited financial statements of The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
I report on the accounts of The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel for the year ended 31 March 2021 set out on pages 2 to 12.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent examiner
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts, you consider that the audit requirement of section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act), does not apply and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act, as amended; to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act, as amended; and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
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 seeking 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 examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
-
(i) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
to keep proper accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act
have not been met; or
- (ii) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Andrew Passer FIFA
Independent examiner 7 December 2021
Page 4
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Statement of financial activities
For the year ended 31 March 2021
| Unrestricted | 2021 | 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | Total | Total | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | |
| Incoming resources | ||||
| Incoming resources from generating funds: | ||||
| Voluntary income | 2 | 329,830 | 329,830 | 360,051 |
| Activities for generating funds | 3 | - | - | 49,832 |
| Investment income | 4 | 543 | 543 | 1,563 |
| Total incoming resources | 330,373 | 330,373 | 411,446 | |
| Resources expended | ||||
| Costs of generating funds: | ||||
| Fundraising trading: | ||||
| cost of goods sold and other costs | 5 | 562 | 562 | 26,665 |
| Charitable activities | 6 | 287,366 | 287,366 | 357,319 |
| Governance costs | 8 | 2,244 | 2,244 | 1,733 |
| Total resources expended | 290,172 | 290,172 | 385,717 | |
| Total funds brought forward | 1,329,068 | 1,329,068 | 1,303,339 | |
| Total funds carried forward | 1,369,269 | 1,369,269 | 1,329,068 |
The notes on pages 7 to 12 form an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 5
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Balance sheet as at 31 March 2021
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Fixed assets | |||||||||
| Tangible assets | 12 | 265,428 | 270,994 | ||||||
| Current assets | |||||||||
| Debtors | 13 | 72,504 | 40,366 | ||||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 1,049,396 | 1,036,056 | |||||||
| 1,121,900 | 1,076,422 | ||||||||
| Creditors: amounts falling | |||||||||
| due within one year | 14 | (59 | ) | (348 | ) | ||||
| Net current assets | 1,121,841 | 1,076,074 | |||||||
| Total assets less current | |||||||||
| liabilities | 1,387,269 | 1,347,068 | |||||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due | |||||||||
| after more than one year | 15 | (18,000 | ) | (18,000 | ) | ||||
| Net assets | 1,369,269 | 1,329,068 | |||||||
| Funds | 16 | ||||||||
| Unrestricted income funds | 1,369,269 | 1,329,068 | |||||||
| Total funds | 1,369,269 | 1,329,068 |
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 7 December 2021 and signed on its behalf by
Mrs Clare McCullough (Chairman) Trustee
The notes on pages 7 to 12 form an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 6
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Notes to financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021
1. Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and the preceding year.
1.1. Basis of accounting
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (FRSSE)
1.2. Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable. Grants where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included.
Gifts donated for resale are included as incoming resources within activities for generating funds when they are sold.
Income from investments is included in the year in which it is receivable.
1.3. Resources expended
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income including events.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Fund raising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities.
Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity and include project management.
1.4. Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
- Land and buildings Straight line over 50 years - Fixtures, fittings and equipment 20% straight line
Page 7
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Notes to financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021
| 2. Voluntary income Unrestricted funds £ General Donations 152,707 Donations via gift aid 137,159 Gift aid tax recovered 34,398 Other donations 5,566 329,830 3. Activities for generating funds Fundraising events 4. Investment income Unrestricted funds £ Other interest receivable 543 543 5. Fundraising trading Unrestricted funds £ Fundraising events 562 562 |
2021 Total £ 152,707 137,159 34,398 5,566 329,830 2021 Total £ - - 2021 Total £ 543 543 2021 Total £ 562 562 |
2020 Total £ 166,773 155,171 38,107 - |
|---|---|---|
| 360,051 | ||
| 2020 Total £ 49,832 |
||
| 49,832 | ||
| 2020 Total £ 1,563 |
||
| 1,563 | ||
| 2020 Total £ 26,665 |
||
| 26,665 |
Page 8
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Notes to financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2021
| 6. Costs of charitable activities - by fund type Grants to GCN London Interns Grants to mothers Home for mothers Building expenses Support costs Travel expenses 7. Costs of charitable activities - by activity Activities undertaken directly £ Grants to GCN London - Interns 319 Grants to mothers - Home for mothers - Building expenses 25,353 Support costs 494 Travel expenses ) (100 26,066 8. Governance costs Professional - Accountancy fees |
Unrestricted funds £ 150,950 319 78,695 128 25,353 32,021 ) (100 287,366 Grant funding Support activities costs £ £ 150,950 - - - 78,695 - 128 - - - - 31,527 - - 229,773 31,527 Unrestricted funds £ 2,244 2,244 |
2021 Total £ 150,950 319 78,695 128 25,353 32,021 ) (100 287,366 2021 Total £ 150,950 319 78,695 128 25,353 32,021 ) (100 287,366 2021 Total £ 2,244 2,244 |
2020 Total £ 171,562 6,366 106,054 6,271 14,972 48,022 4,072 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 357,319 | |||
| 2020 Total £ 171,562 6,366 106,054 6,271 14,972 48,022 4,072 |
|||
| 357,319 | |||
| 2020 Total £ 1,733 |
|||
| 1,733 |
Page 9
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Notes to financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021
9. Analysis of support costs
| Unrestricted Funds £ Staff costs 15,624 Telephone 1,918 Printing, postage and stationery 8,997 Depreciation and impairment 314 Bank charges 1,984 Other costs 2,690 31,527 10. Employees Employment costs Wages and salaries No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 (2020 : None). |
2021 Total £ 15,624 1,918 8,997 314 1,984 2,690 31,527 2021 £ 15,624 |
2020 Total £ 21,558 3,582 17,450 300 2,008 1,672 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46,570 | ||||
| 2020 £ 21,558 |
||||
Number of employees
The average monthly numbers of employees (including the trustees) during the year, calculated on the basis of full time equivalents, was as follows:
| full time equivalents, was as follows: | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | |
| Number | Number | |
| Administration | 1 | 1 |
11. Trustees' emoluments
None of the trustees were paid any remuneration or expenses during the year (2018 - £nil)
Page 10
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Notes to financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2021
| Land and Fixtures, 12. Tangible fixed assets buildings fittings and freehold equipment £ £ Cost At 1 April 2020 397,297 34,196 Additions - 2,694 At 31 March 2021 397,297 36,890 Depreciation At 1 April 2020 126,303 34,196 Charge for the year 7,946 314 At 31 March 2021 134,249 34,510 Net book values At 31 March 2021 263,048 2,380 At 31 March 2020 270,994 - 13. Debtors 2021 £ Other debtors 72,504 14. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2021 £ Trade creditors 31 Other creditors 28 59 15. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 2021 £ Other loan 18,000 The mortgage is secured over the freehold property of the Charity. |
Total £ 431,493 2,694 |
|---|---|
| 434,187 | |
| 160,499 8,260 |
|
| 168,759 | |
| 265,428 | |
| 270,994 | |
| 2020 £ 40,366 |
|
| 2020 £ 342 6 |
|
| 348 | |
| 2020 £ 18,000 |
Page 11
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Notes to financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021
| 16. | Analysis of net assets between funds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total | ||||||
| funds | funds | ||||||
| £ | £ | ||||||
| Fund balances at 31 March 2021 as represented by: | |||||||
| Tangible fixed assets | 265,428 | 265,428 | |||||
| Current assets | 1,121,900 | 1,121,900 | |||||
| Current liabilities | (59 | ) | (59 | ) | |||
| Long-term liabilities | (18,000 | ) | (18,000 | ) | |||
| 1,369,269 | 1,369,269 | ||||||
| 17. | Unrestricted funds | ||||||
| Incoming | Outgoing | ||||||
| 2020 | resources | resources | 2021 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Unrestricted Funds | 1,329,068 | 330,373 | ) (290,172 |
1,369,269 |
Purposes of unrestricted funds
Unrestricted funds may be used for any purpose deemed by the trustees to comply with the objects of the charity
Page 12