THE LIVING WELL ANNUAL REPORT 2023 Reference and Administrative Details
Patron: Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin Board of Trustees: Mr George White (Chair) Revd Canon Lorraine Apps-Huggins (Chaplain) Mr David Harries Revd Peter Ingrams Mr Paul Willett Rev Canon Estella Last Charity Registration No: 1123792 Principal Officers: Revd Canon Lorraine Apps-Huggins – Chaplain Assistant Chaplains: Mrs Hilary Hills, Mr Ray Horton, Rev Rex Morton Administrator: Dr Annelise Matharu Registered Office: The Living Well, The Vicarage, Vicarage Lane, Nonington, Kent CT15 4JT Hon Treasurer: Mr Julian Hills Independent Examiner: Mr Kevin Funnell Bankers: Lloyds, 49 High Street, Canterbury Kent CT1 2SE
Structure, governance and management
The Living Well was formed as a charitable trust in 2008 as a resource for the ministry of healing and wholeness within the Diocese of Canterbury. It is based at Nonington, near Canterbury, in a large, detached house, a former Vicarage, within peaceful grounds.
There is an elected Board of Trustees which is the executive body with responsibility for setting the strategic direction and policies required to achieve The Living Well’s founding aims and objectives. The day-to-day operations are carried out under the oversight of the Trustees by the Chaplain who has complete responsibility for the spiritual programmes and ministry as well as managing the administrative function.
In terms of its Board of Trustees, The Living Well is independent of the diocese in its management and is principally funded by individual donations through the wonderful support and generosity of our members friends and clients. It has also received grant
support from a number of trusts and local authorities. The former vicarage however is owned by the diocese with The Living Well holding an agreed equity share in the property. The external upkeep of the property is the diocesan responsibility whilst the interior is the responsibility of The Living Well.
The Living Well works closely with the Bishop of Dover and the Local Church Development Framework of the Diocese so as to be a fresh expression of the ministry of healing and wholeness and the chaplain serves as the Bishop’s Adviser on Healing and Wholeness and this includes being a member of the Diocesan Deliverance Ministry Team. As a result, the Chaplain holds a Bishop’s licence to act as a priest throughout the Canterbury Diocese whilst our assistant chaplains work under a Bishop's License to The Living Well.
Objectives and activities
The Living Well provides a safe, welcoming and inclusive place for personal retreat, for receiving the healing ministry of Christ, for themed quiet days and offers teaching within the diocese for local parishes in Healing and Wholeness Ministry.
The Living Well is a resource for prayer and development for both laity and clergy, both from within the Diocese and outside it. It offers a range of one-off sessions including ‘Deeper Healing Days’ and short courses for personal spiritual growth and development as well as more specific teaching for involvement with the healing ministry. Guests value and enjoy the peaceful surroundings at Nonington to draw closer to God and to seek His refreshment. This is particularly valuable for those who have busy and stressful ministries or jobs to fulfil, and those who have suffered from abuse, trauma or loss of any kind.
Activities and performance
During the course of 2023, we said a sad but grateful farewell to our Assistant Chaplain, Rev Rex Morton and our wardens Steve and Stella Banks, all of whom had decided to move on to fresh challenges. We were pleased however to appoint Helen Jones as a new lay assistant chaplain and Martin Hall as our live-in warden and both took up their responsibilities in early 2024. Helen and Martin bring new gifts and we look forward to seeing how both will add fresh dimensions to our ministry. Hilary Hills continues to represent us on The Diocesan Pastoral Ministry Team and Rev Canon Lorraine Apps Huggins on the Diocesan Wellbeing Working Party Team as well as the Diocesan & Cathedral Safeguarding Panel. Lorraine remains a member of the Diocesan Deliverance Ministry Team.
During 2023, we saw our ministry continue through individual retreats, group retreats, prayer appointments, weekly worship, themed quiet days, bespoke facilitated days, and regular deeper healing days with all growing in number and attendance. We find particularly that The Living Well is sought out for comfort and refreshment from those involved in hard pressed ministries across the diocese and beyond. The chaplain attended 2 events with the diocesan staff: a staff town hall
meeting offering a free voucher for a quiet day for members of staff and a mission and ministry meeting to further the supportive communication and collaboration between us. An outreach day was held in Sheppey in November with good numbers attending and a further day is planned for Lydd in 2024. Plans for special days for similar ministry in each archdeaconry in Maidstone, Canterbury and Ashford have been developed for 2024.
Lorraine continued the role of Chaplain to the Canterbury Leadership Programme, supporting clergy new in post or new to the diocese. She also returned from a 3- month sabbatical in January, and she was grateful for the opportunity to step back, rest and recover energy for the demands of our privileged ministry.
After a successful introduction in 2022, Hilary and Rex were able to offer a second Navigating Trauma in 2023 at The Living Well and 11 guests enrolled and participated. Lorraine and Ray also offered a new ‘Christ’s Healing Ministry’ course and 9 guests enrolled for this 6-week course also at The Living Well.
Our annual service in October at Canterbury Cathedral to celebrate Christ’s Healing Ministry at St Lukestide saw our patron, Bishop Rose as the speaker and we were blessed with a congregation of around 65 with prayer offered for around 30.
In June we opened our gardens to the public as part of the day for Nonington Open Gardens and we were pleased to see a good many visitors come and explore! It was good for The Living Well to play a part in supporting the local community in Nonington.
During the year we were fortunate to be successful in receiving a further grant from the Dorothy Kerin Trust of £20,500 (£5,000 of which was paid in 2023) which was in addition to the £18,700 awarded in 2022. We are grateful to Trustee David Harries for his hard work in making the application and to the Dorthy Kerin Trust for their wonderful support of our ministry.
The trustees continue to be amazed by the faithfulness and dedication of the wonderful team who make everything happen at The Living Well. To Lorraine and the assistant chaplains (Hilary, Rex and Ray, now joined by Helen) who offer the ministry of healing and wholeness, so passionately and selflessly. To our administrator Annelise and wardens (Stella and Steve and now Martin) who consistently support that ministry with warmth and all kinds of practical support. And also, to Lorraine for her leadership of this hugely valuable and unique ministry that means so much to so many people. In this respect, we are hugely grateful to those who prayerfully support us as covering our endeavours with prayer enables us to minister safely and with confidence.
We are also indebted to Julian Hills our new treasurer this year who keeps us on track financially and also to Kevin Funnell our independent examiner for his commitment to our ministry. We give thanks too for the many volunteers who have assisted our work in different ways throughout 2023. Without them, we could not function.
We thank each of the trustees for their passion and dedicated commitment to serving with us.
Reserves policy & Investment Policy
The Trust has adopted a policy of keeping around 6 weeks expenditure in immediately available funds and investing surplus funds in short term investments. These are currently held in CCLA Investment and Deposit Funds.
Financial performance
In 2023 general operational income rose by £11.2k (2022 - £10.6k) due to the following factors:
| Increased Donations Increased Gift Aid Ministries Unrestricted Grants Sales |
2023 £10.2k £ 2.6k £ 0.6k £(2.0k) £(0.2k) |
2022 £2.6k £1.6k £3.9k £2.0k £0.5k |
|---|---|---|
Additional to this, Investment Income declined by a further £0.6k in 2023 after a £1.2k reduction in 2022. In both years these declines were due to sales of investments which became necessary for cash flow purposes.
We were hugely thankful to receive a donation of £10k in 2023 and were able to reclaim the gift aid on that specific gift. Otherwise, donations and associated gift aid were broadly comparable with the previous year. The grants received in 2022 were specific to the particular costs of that year and were not able to be repeated in 2023.
Normal expenditure was impacted by the adjustments that the diocese made to its previous incorrect charging out of the Chaplain and Assistant Chaplain’s stipend and pension costs. So, although stipend costs show an increase of £14.8k this is largely attributable to these adjustments. House and garden costs reduced by £7.9k due to the cost of one-off improvements being incurred in 2022. Apart from these cost changes the rest of the normal expenditure was broadly similar.
We are indebted to the Dorothy Kerin Trust which has given us a further grant of £20.5k for the year 2023/24 although only £5k had been received by the year end. This and the remainder of the grant is due to be spent in the first part of 2024.
Operational results can be summarised as follows:
| Operational income Operational costs Gross Operational Loss |
2023 £ 36.2k £ 75.6k £(39.4k) |
2022 £ 25.0k £ 68.7k £(43.7k) |
|---|---|---|
| Investment Income | £ 7.9k | £ 8.5k |
|---|---|---|
| Net Operational Loss | £(31.5k) | £(35.2k) |
| Restricted Funds B/F | £11.8k | NIL |
| Restricted Funds: Trust Income | £ 5.0k | £18.7k |
| Restricted Funds: Costs | £11.8k | £ 6.9k |
| Restricted Funds In Hand | £ 5.0k | £11.8k |
Assets of The Living Well have decreased by £28.7k in 2023 (£56.1k in 2022) and this can be attributed to the following:
| Net Operational Loss Net (decrease)/increase in Restricted Funds Realised gain/(loss) on investments sold during year Unrealised gain/(loss) on investments Total Reduction in Assets |
2023 £(31.5k) £ (6.8k) £ 1.0k £ 8.6k £(28.7k) |
2022 £(35.2k) £ 11.8k £ (2.1k) £(30.6k) £(56.1k) |
|---|---|---|
The gains on investments reflect the recovery of financial markets following the market turmoil surrounding the war in Ukraine and the corresponding crisis in the cost of living in 2022.
As always, the trustees never cease to be amazed by God’s wonderful provision for this wonderfully valued ministry over many years. We know that this ministry is hugely valued in many areas of Canterbury Diocese and beyond. We pray that we can continue to be a blessing to all who seek us out.
Political and Charitable donations: No such donations were made in the financial year.
The Living Well
Receipts and Payments Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2023
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GENERAL FUND 2023 2022
RECEIPTS £ £
Voluntary Income Individual Donations 2,574 3,532
Church donations 1,167 2,121
Gift Aided Donations 14,938 3,536
Service collections (GASDS) 2,918 2,196
Gift Aid Tax reclaimed 5,159 2,571
Sub Total Voluntary Income 26,756 13,957
Ministries Readers Refreshment Days 65 85
Clergy Oasis Days - 100
Anna Chaplaincy Days 55 220
Quiet days 1,408 1,505
Deeper healing days 824 752
Courses 839 -
House use for events 5,001 4,712
Outside events 665 929
Sub Total Ministries 8,857 8,302
Trading Income Sales - cards, books, food 551 723
Investment Income Investment income 7,897 8,482
Grant Income (designated) Grant from Benefact Trust Ltd - 1,500
Grant from Church Commissioners - 500
Sub Total Grants - 2,000
Total Receipts 44,061 33,464
PAYMENTS
Premises Premises costs 3,605 3,706
Improvements to house & garden 1,443 9,653
Insurances 1,239 793
Sub Total Premises 6,287 14,153
Resources Equipment 205 687
Printing, stationery, telephone & postage 1,216 988
Photocopier & IT equipment 1,225 1,248
Fees, subscriptions, website 2,202 2,029
Event costs and hospitality 1,613 2,022
Service materials, books & flowers 849 894
Sub Total Resources 7,311 7,869
Staff Chaplain's Stipend & oncost 26,361 13,600
Assistant Chaplain's stipend & oncosts 10,871 8,716
Warden's Wages & oncost 4,643 5,723
Administrator's salary & oncosts 15,524 14,530
Chaplain's supervision and training - 628
Assistant Chaplains' travel expenses 1,292 1,229
Team expenses 1,382 660
Retreats /Sabbatical 1,001 897
Honorariums /Gifts 900 700
Sub Total Staff 61,975 46,683
Total Payments 75,573 68,705
NET RESULT Deficit for the year - 31,511 -35,241
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DOROTHY KERIN TRUST FUND
2023
2022
RECEIPTS
| Grant C/F New Grant Total PAYMENTS Cabin Refurbishment Garden Equipment and Maintenance Furniture & Kitchen Equipment Chaplain's Stipend - extra day from November 22 Assistant Chaplain's Stipend - extra day Supervision of four Chaplains Administrator's increase in salary plus extra hours Balance remaining SUMMARY General Fund Dorothy Kerin Trust Fund Overall Deficit Summary of Movements in Cash Funds at Lloyds Bank Lloyds BankCurrent Account brought forward Plus receipts General Fund 20.3.23 Sale of 952.04 Investment Income shares 19.9.23 Sale of 693.27 Investment Income shares Dorothy Kerin Trust Fund Less Payments General Fund Dorothy Kerin Trust Fund Total Cash Funds held at Lloyds Bank carried forward |
11,819 5,000 16,819 - 1,439 1,695 5,582 798 987 1,344 11,846 4,973 31,511 - 6,846 - 38,357 - 21,229 44,061 20,000 15,000 5,000 75,573 11,846 17,872 |
- 18,700 18,700 2,947 1,106 - 765 - 818 1,245 6,881 11,819 35,241 - 11,819 23,422 - 24,652 33,464 20,000 18,700 68,706 6,881 21,229 |
|---|---|---|
The Living Well Statement of Financial Assets at 31st December 2023
| CASH FUNDS Lloyds Bank Current Account CBF Deposit Account Total Cash Funds INVESTMENT ASSETS CCLA Investment Management CBF Church of England Funds: Cautley Fund Investment Fund: 6,071.72 Income shares at 2260.53p per share Property Fund: 55,199.25 Income shares at 122.5 per share Total Investment Assets TOTAL ASSETS as at 31st December |
2023 £ 17,872 330 18,202 137,253 67,625 204,878 223,079 |
2022 £ 21,229 330 21,559 159,325 70,931 230,256 251,815 |
|---|---|---|
NOTE:
A Declaration of Trus t dated 13th December 2013 was made between -
The Canterbury Diocesan Board of Finance of Diocesan House, Lady Wootton's Green, Canterbury, Kent and
The Trustees of The Living Well of The Vicarage, Nonington, Dover, Kent
in consideration of money spent on the property known as The Vicarage in order to further the objects of the Trust to provide a healing ministry within the Diocese, the property has been held upon trust in the initial proportions of 84.71% for the Diocese and 15.29% for the Trustees.
Registered Charity No. 1123792
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl mombers of THE LIVING WELL On accounts for the year ended 31ST DECEMBER 2023 Charity no {if any) 1123792 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {llhe Trusf) for the year ended 31 Dember 2023. Responslbllltles and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for Ihe preparatlon basls of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {Yha 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{5llb) of the Act. I have completed my examinalion. I confirm that no material matters have ¢ome to my attention 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 statement I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Date: Slgned: .Vw. 25 MARCH 2024 Name: KEVIN FUNNELL Relevant professlonal quallflcatlon(s) or body (if any): F.M.A.A.T. Address: 10 Nutbery Close Teynham Sittingboume Kent ME9 9SP Kevln Funnell F.MAAT. October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of conrn (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brief detsils of any items that the examlner wlshes to dlsclosa. NONE K•vln Funnoll F.MAAT. October 2018