The Grail Society (Waxwell) UK Charity No: 1104750
Report to Annual General Meeting held on June 26, 2025 at Shallowford House and via Zoom link
- Officers: Chair of Trustees: Sandy Miller Hon Sec: Anne-Marie France/Simon Schmidt/Tracy Smith Hon Treasurer: Peter Hayllar/Philip Hayllar
Report of the Trustees for the period from 14[th] June 2024 to 26th June 2024. The accounts are for the calendar year ending 31[st] December 2024.
Thank you for attending this AGM and welcome to those joining via the Zoom link.
As you know, our primary function as trustees of the Grail Society is the administration of the Grail Society grant scheme. Since the last AGM we have held two Trustees’ meetings, in December 2024 and, most recently, in June 2025. The meetings have been held via Teams but in between we have communicated via the trustees’ WhatsApp group and by email to circulate and discuss Grant applications. The Trustees have shared the task of minute taking at meeting and Philip is in the process of handing over management of the accounts to Peter.
In terms of administration, Sheelagh and Philip retired as trustees following the last AGM and Sandy and Maureen were appointed in their place so we now have six trustees (one more than required by our constitution). Both Sheelagh and Philip continue to attend Trustees’ meetings as advisors and the Trustees have found their knowledge and continued support invaluable.
Earlier this year, HSBC gave notice of the closure of the Society’s bank account for reasons unknown. Philip was quick to open a new community account with Lloyds which now gives us the ability to make grant payments by bank transfer rather than cheque. Philip will provide his financial report shortly with further details of how the Trustees are currently managing the funds.
We have continued to award grants on an ad hoc basis rather than employing deadlines for applications. This works effectively at the moment but is always open to review should circumstances change in the future. As was reported last year, following receipt of the bequest from the estate of Grail Companion Mary Low, the trustees took the decision to increase the maximum grant available for applicants from £3000 to £5000 Philip will be explaining how the Trustees are currently managing the funds. All grants were either at or under the maximum amount, except for one exceptional grant of £10000 to the WeCare Foundation in Papua New Guinea
Due to the increased funds available to the Trustees and following a call to action given at the December 2024 Trustees’ meeting and taken up enthusiastically by the Grail Grapevine there has been a significant uptick in grant giving during the last 12 months. This has made the last 12 months our largest grant giving period. Since the last AGM grants have included the following:
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Birmingham Phab Camps (www.bhamphabcamps.org.uk). We were able to support a trip to Nibley Festival in Gloucestershire in July 2024 for 10 disabled children in the Birmingham area and their carers.
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WeCare Foundation in Papua New Guinea (www.wecarepng.org.pg). Our grant supports an important infrastructure project for this charity providing educational and other support to vulnerable women and girls.
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Unity is Strength (htps://unityisstrength.org.uk/). Our grant supported the purchase of plot of land next to the St Paul KAASO Primary School in Uganda to cultivate for coffee seedlings to provide additional income to the school’s important work educating young children.
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World Villages for Children (www.worldvillages.org.uk). Our grant supported a programme to feed boys and girls in Honduras.
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St. Agnes’ Church, Leeds. Our grant supported the church’s Warm Space Group supporting those affected by the rise in heating costs to turn off their heating and spend the day in a warm dry hall, with free food, drinks, Wi-Fi, newspapers and above all friendship.
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Hope City Furniture (hopecityfurniture.org.uk). We have supported this charity’s activities alleviating furniture poverty in Derby.
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Hope and Vision (hopeandvision.org.uk). We made a grant to support the work of this charity providing residential accommodation to ex-offenders in Berkshire.
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Mkombozi Montessori School (srsredeemer.org). We have supported the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer in Tanzania with a project to build dormitories at the school to allow more students to avoid travelling long distances to school.
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Witney CAP Debt Centre (caplifeskills.org). We support this project run by the Witney chapter of Christian Against Poverty supporting those caught in the debt trap.
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English for Speakers of Other Languages. We supported 2 different projects focused on helping immigrants to integrate into their communities through English language education and activities.
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St. Monica’s Housing, Leeds (stmonicashousingleeds.org.uk). Funds were awarded to support the expansion of this charity’s work providing accommodation to vulnerable female asylum seekers in Leeds.
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Cupertino, North Yorkshire. We have supported this amazing grass roots initiative to provide opportunities for worship to severely disabled children in North Yorkshire.
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Chnaniir Scout Camp, Lebanon. We provided a grant to enable the Maronite church in Chnaniir to hold its annual scout camp, an important annual event for the village’s young Christian population allowing them to grow in fellowship with God and which was under threat from the current situation in the country.
The Trustees’ objective remains to award relatively small grants which make an outsized impact in the community. Close focus has been given to this and a number of applications which did not meet these criteria were not successful.
There have been preliminary conversations with the trustees of the Ladies of the Grail Society regarding areas or cooperation and a possible merger of activities. Sheelagh and Simon met with the trustees of the Ladies of the Grail Society in London in July 2024 and Peter met with them in Winchester in March 2025. There is broad consensus that the two charities should work together, with The Grail Society having the ability to pick up some of the ad hoc grant applications that The Ladies of the Grail receive. It is currently considered best to wait until the Ladies of the Grail Society has completed its conversion to a charitable incorporated organisation before proceeding with any formal association. A joint trustees’ meeting is scheduled to take place in London in April 2026 and an update will be provided at next year’s AGM.
Sandy Miller 26/06/2025
The Grail Society (Waxwell) UK Income & Expenditure A/C For The Year Ended 31 December 2024
| Income Donatons Gif Aid Tax Refunds Interest Legacy Expenses Trustees Expenses - travel - room hire etc - training Presidental team Society Day Conference fees - CCC NCLA NBCW Finance charges Professional fees CHAPS Charge Gifs Postage Donatons SURPLUS |
£ 1,110 277 22,216 214,644 |
£ 238,248 44,228 £194,020 |
2023 £ £ 1,520 302 2,627 291,315 295,764 45 66 65 13,241 13,417 £282,346 |
2023 £ £ 1,520 302 2,627 291,315 295,764 45 66 65 13,241 13,417 £282,346 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 45 75 65 43,980 |
45 66 65 13,241 |
|||
| £282,346 |
The Grail Society (Waxwell) UK
Notes to 2024 Accounts
| 1.Debtors | 1.Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 |
2024 | ||
| £ |
£ |
||
| Accrued Income | |||
| Gif Aid | 300.00 | 275.00 | |
| ---------- | ---------- | ||
| 300.00 | 275.00 | ||
| ---------- | ---------- | ||
| 2. | Creditors | ||
| Accrued expenses | |||
| - | Donatons | ||
| NBCW Subscriptons | |||
| - | Examinaton Fee | 65.00 | 65.00 |
| ---------- | ------------ | ||
| 65.00 | 65.00 | ||
| ---------- | ------------- |