Charity number: 1096617
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Trustees' report and financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2024
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 | HSBC |
| 59- 61 The Mall Stratford Centre | |
| Stratford | |
| London | |
| E15 1XF | |
| 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 2024
The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. 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 £224,790 (2023 £195,040) to organisations which provide appropriate ongoing support and advice and information to expectant and new Mothers. We have also provided £97,876 (2023 £99,363) 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. We continue to increase the amount of financial support and vouchers we provide because of the increased cost of living.
Financial review
Total income increased from £329,245 last year to £542,985 this year, whilst our charitable expenditure increased by £89,616 from £413,759 to £502,375. The Trustees are happy to report that we still have a healthy cumulative surplus of £1,266,867 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 we 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 give volunteers the ability and incentive to spread this work more widely.
Plans for future periods
We are growing our baby bank, as well as considering developing more help with accommodation as homelessness amongst our beneficiaries seems to be increasing.
Page 2
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024
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
27 January 2025
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 2024 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:
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to keep proper accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
-
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 27 January 2025
Page 4
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Statement of financial activities
For the year ended 31 March 2024
| Unrestricted | 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | Total | Total | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | |
| Incoming resources | ||||
| Incoming resources from generating funds: | ||||
| Voluntary income | 2 | 497,744 | 497,744 | 327,737 |
| Activities for generating funds | 3 | 45,170 | 45,170 | - |
| Investment income | 4 | 71 | 71 | 1,508 |
| Total incoming resources | 542,985 | 542,985 | 329,245 | |
| Resources expended | ||||
| Costs of generating funds: | ||||
| Fundraising trading: | ||||
| cost of goods sold and other costs | 5 | 30,150 | 30,150 | 732 |
| Charitable activities | 6 | 468,872 | 468,872 | 403,522 |
| Governance costs | 8 | 3,353 | 3,353 | 9,505 |
| Total resources expended | 502,375 | 502,375 | 413,759 | |
| Total funds brought forward | 1,226,257 | 1,226,257 | 1,310,771 | |
| Total funds carried forward | 1,266,867 | 1,266,867 | 1,226,257 |
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 2024
| Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 12 Current assets Debtors 13 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 14 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 15 Net assets Funds 16 Unrestricted income funds Total funds |
2024 £ £ 1,175,172 27,022 84,544 111,566 ) (1,871 109,695 1,284,867 ) (18,000 1,266,867 1,266,867 1,266,867 |
2023 £ £ 1,203,908 33,036 12,274 45,310 ) (4,961 40,349 1,244,257 ) (18,000 1,226,257 1,226,257 1,226,257 |
|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 27 January 2025 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 2024
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.
Legacies are included when the charity is advised by the personal representative of an estate that payment will be made or property transferred and the amount involved can be quantified.
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.
Page 7
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Notes to financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2024
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
| 2. Voluntary income Unrestricted funds £ General Donations 188,991 Donations via gift aid 175,375 Gift aid tax recovered 43,781 Other donations 4,227 Legacies 85,370 497,744 3. Activities for generating funds Unrestricted funds £ Fundraising events 45,170 45,170 4. Investment income Unrestricted funds £ Other interest receivable 71 71 5. Fundraising trading Unrestricted funds £ Fundraising events 30,150 30,150 |
2024 Total £ 188,991 175,375 43,781 4,227 85,370 497,744 2024 Total £ 45,170 45,170 2024 Total £ 71 71 2024 Total £ 30,150 30,150 |
2023 Total £ 156,829 130,945 32,586 1,289 6,088 |
|---|---|---|
| 327,737 | ||
| 2023 Total £ - |
||
| - | ||
| 2023 Total £ 1,508 |
||
| 1,508 | ||
| 2023 Total £ 732 |
||
| 732 |
Page 8
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Notes to financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2024
| 6. | Costs of charitable activities - by fund type | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| funds | Total | Total | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Grants to GCN London | 224,790 | 224,790 | 195,040 | |
| Interns | 8,392 | 8,392 | 11,606 | |
| Grants to mothers | 99,363 | 99,363 | 97,876 | |
| Building expenses | 50,354 | 50,354 | 44,080 | |
| Support costs | 85,973 | 85,973 | 54,920 | |
| 468,872 | 468,872 | 403,522 | ||
| 7. | Costs of charitable activities - by activity |
| Activities | Grant | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| undertaken | funding | Support | 2024 | 2023 | |
| directly | activities | costs | Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Grants to GCN London | - | 224,790 | - | 224,790 | 195,040 |
| Interns | 8,392 | - | - | 8,392 | 11,606 |
| Grants to mothers | - | 99,363 | - | 99,363 | 97,876 |
| Building expenses | 50,354 | - | - | 50,354 | 44,080 |
| Support costs | 283 | - | 85,690 | 85,973 | 54,920 |
| 59,029 | 324,153 | 85,690 | 468,872 | 403,522 |
| 8. Governance costs Unrestricted funds £ Professional - Accountancy fees 2,102 Professional - Legal fees 1,200 Interest - Bank loans & overdraft 51 3,353 |
2024 Total £ 2,102 1,200 51 3,353 |
2023 Total £ 3,607 5,898 - |
|---|---|---|
| 9,505 |
Page 9
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Notes to financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024
9. Analysis of support costs
| Unrestricted Funds £ Staff costs 31,968 Telephone 3,164 Printing, postage and stationery 27,059 Depreciation and impairment 2,142 Bank charges 1,419 Other costs 19,938 85,690 10. Employees Employment costs Wages and salaries No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 (2023 : None). |
2024 Total £ 31,968 3,164 27,059 2,142 1,419 19,938 85,690 2024 £ 31,968 |
2023 Total £ 19,516 3,271 27,587 1,662 987 1,797 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54,820 | ||||
| 2023 £ 19,516 |
||||
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: | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Number | Number | |
| Administration | 2 | 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 2024
| Land and | Land and | Fixtures, | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | Tangible fixed assets | **buildings ** | fittings and | ||
| freehold | equipment | Total | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| Cost | |||||
| At 1 April 2023 | 1,369,797 | 40,413 | 1,410,210 | ||
| Additions | - | 803 | 803 | ||
| At 31 March 2024 | 1,369,797 | 41,216 | 1,411,013 | ||
| Depreciation | |||||
| At 1 April 2023 | 169,591 | 36,711 | 206,302 | ||
| Charge for the year | 27,397 | 2,142 | 29,539 | ||
| At 31 March 2024 | 196,988 | 38,853 | 235,841 | ||
| Net book values | |||||
| At 31 March 2024 | 1,172,809 | 2,363 | 1,175,172 | ||
| At 31 March 2023 | 1,200,206 | 3,702 | 1,203,908 | ||
| 13. | Debtors | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Other debtors | 27,022 | 33,036 | |||
| 14. | Creditors: amounts falling due | ||||
| within one year | 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Trade creditors | 955 | 4,349 | |||
| Other creditors | 916 | 612 | |||
| 1,871 | 4,961 | ||||
| 15. | Creditors: amounts falling due | ||||
| after more than one year | 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Other loan | 18,000 | 18,000 |
Page 11
The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Notes to financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024
| 16. | Analysis of net assets between funds | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total | |||||||
| funds | funds | |||||||
| £ | £ | |||||||
| Fund balances at 31 March 2024 as represented by: | ||||||||
| Tangible fixed assets | 1,175,182 | 1,175,182 | ||||||
| Current assets | 111,566 | 111,566 | ||||||
| Current liabilities | (1,871 | ) | (1,871 | ) | ||||
| Long-term liabilities | (18,000 | ) | (18,000 | ) | ||||
| 1,266,877 | 1,266,877 | |||||||
| 17. | Unrestricted funds | |||||||
| Incoming | Outgoing | |||||||
| 2023 | resources | resources | 2024 | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Unrestricted Funds | 1,226,257 | 542,985 | ) (502,375 |
1,266,867 |
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