2023-12-31-accounts - Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society Of Friends) And Related Charities

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REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1130322

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

FOR

CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

Seymour Taylor Limited First Floor North 40 Oxford Road High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP11 2EE

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CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

		Page
Report of the Trustees	1	to	7
Independent Examiner's Report		8
Statement of Financial Activities		9
Statement of Financial Position		10
Notes to the Financial Statements	11	to	19
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities	20	to	21

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CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

Status, constitution and objectives

Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting (formerly Jordans' Monthly Meeting) was registered with the Charity Commission as an independent charity on 24 June 2009. Its Governing Document was adopted by Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting on 13 October 2007 and slightly amended by that Meeting on 15 November 2008. Its objective is to further the general religious and charitable purposes of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain in the Chilterns Area. The Related Charities are certain trusts originally established for some meeting houses and burial grounds, which have been merged into Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting under a Scheme made by the Charity Commission in 2009. Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting is part of the organisational structure within Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). The structure is set out in Quaker Faith & Practice, a BYM publication describing Quaker ways of worship, witness, work and business conduct.

Structure, governance and management

The charity is an unincorporated charity governed by its governing document. The trustees have terms of reference agreed upon by the Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting held on November 15, 2008, and a final version agreed upon on July 21, 2011.

Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting is the primary body for Quaker church affairs for Buckinghamshire, Slough and Windsor in Berkshire, and Chorleywood in Hertfordshire. Its role is to develop and maintain a community of Friends, with seven constituent local Quaker meetings.

Members of the Area Meeting are listed in the official register of members maintained in accordance with Quaker faith & practice para 11.37. They are associated with one of the constituent local meetings. On 31 December 2023, the membership of the Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting was 135 adult members, with 75 attendees. The total number of members and attendees was 210, 23 fewer than at the end of 2022.

In 2023, we gained one new member as a transfer from another area. During the year, eight Friends died, one Friend transferred out, and one membership was terminated. We have 15 fewer attendees than in the previous year. No marriages were solemnised in 2023. All members are entitled to attend area meeting sessions and participate in worship and other activities arranged by area and local meetings.

The Area Meeting oversees and coordinates seven local meetings in Amersham, Aylesbury, Chesham, Chorleywood, High Wycombe, Jordans, and Slough & Windsor. Regular public meetings for worship, spiritual enrichment and mutual support occur at these local meetings. A meeting for worship is also held under the care of Jordan's local meeting at Swarthmore Residential Care Home in Gerrards Cross. A meeting for worship takes place in Buckingham under the care of Aylesbury local meeting and meets on the last Sunday and two Thursday evenings in the month. A meeting for worship takes place in Bourne End under the care of High Wycombe local meeting.

The charity owns six meeting houses, accommodating each constituent local meeting except for Chorleywood's meeting, which is held in a hired hall. Friends Trusts Limited are the custodian trustees for the properties that are owned. Quilter Cheviot Investment Managers manage our investments.

The Area Meeting oversees the Quaker prison chaplaincy at Grendon and Springhill Prisons.

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CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Quakers have no paid ministers, and the work and administration of the Area Meeting and its constituent local meetings largely depend on volunteer effort. Resident wardens look after all the meeting houses except Chesham, Slough, and Jordans; some cleaners are engaged. Jordans meeting house is looked after by a non-resident manager.

Trustees

The managing trustees, numbering between 5 and 15, are appointed by Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting in session from among its membership, on the recommendation of its Nominations Committee, initially for a term of service of 3 years and eligible for reappointment for two further 3-year terms, subject to a maximum period of service of nine years. Induction and training are provided by the trustee body and by Britain Yearly Meeting and other Quaker bodies. There are six serving trustees and the treasurer, Peter Midgley, ex officio. Trustees' terms of service are staggered to balance continuity and refreshment.

We continue with a salary structure to maintain pay at 5% above the National Living Wage.

Trustees make an annual report to the Area Meeting and refer major decisions to it for approval, within terms of reference approved by the Area Meeting. Other groups are directly accountable to Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting: Area Meeting Elders & Overseers, the Nominations Committee, and Jordans Monthly Meeting Camp Committee.

Jordans Burial Ground Committee

Jordans Burial Ground Committee is a joint committee of three Area Meetings: North West London, London West, and Chilterns. The Burial Ground is jointly owned by North West London and London West Area Meetings with an agreement with Chilterns Area Meeting for our members and regular attenders' permanent use of the Burial Ground.

Achievements of Trustees in 2023

We welcomed Cathy Crownshaw as a new trustee. We also welcomed Kevin Piper as Clerk of Trustees to January 2026.

During 2023, we operated a deficit budget. We have seen an increase in hiring rates. We keep operational costs under control, although we have seen a considerable increase in the cost of our utilities. A focus on utility expenditure controls was implemented in 2023. We also seek increased contributions from our Members and Attenders.

As is our policy, we increased employee pay by 5-7% above the increase in the National Living Wage.

We continue to invest in the maintenance of our properties with work on the following

Exterior painting of Chesham Meeting House
Aylesbury Meeting House dry rot and warden's bathroom.
High Wycombe Meeting House guttering work and external painting.
Jordans Meeting House fire protection and external decoration
Slough Meeting House security improvements and a shower room to support Slough Homeless Our
Concern.

We have focused on the governance responsibilities of Trustees by ensuring auditing of health and safety, lone working and display screen equipment across all of our meeting houses. Day-to-day compliance with health and safety is the responsibility of local meetings.

We adopted and trained members on new safeguarding policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults and children.

We commissioned and completed professional disability access audits on all our meeting houses.

We maintain a review cycle of our procedures and policy to ensure compliance and effectiveness.

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CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

We agreed to extend our agreement with Slough Homeless Our Concern, for hiring Slough Meeting House for a further two years.

We agreed to extend our agreement with Wycombe Refugee Project for Mellor House for a further five years. We are pleased with the important contribution this house has made to the lives of refugee families coming to the area.

Area Meeting 2023

This year, we recorded the death of eight Friends: Eunice Gillingham, Jenny Butterfield, Paul Honigmann, John Herring, Shiela Senior, Anna King, Sally Salisbury and Shirley Fox. We welcomed Penelope Tollitt as a new member and Shiela Stevens who transferred to us from Hampshire and Islands Meeting. We also wish Ingrid Greenhow well in her transfer to Luton and Leighton Area Meeting.

We received triennial reports from both Slough, Windsor, and Chorleywood meetings. Although both are small meetings, they offer a powerful source of spiritual support and have a special energy of their own. Slough and Windsor continue their successful collaboration with Slough Homeless our Concern (SHOC).

We continue to uphold Kathryn Storey in her work as Quaker Chaplain at Bucks New University, and Sally Bicheno and Penny Holmes in their service as prison chaplains at Grendon Underwood and Springhill. The meetings at the prison continue to be a haven of stillness and friendship appreciated by those attending.

Our sharing and learning focus in 2023 included work on the revision of the Book of Discipline, Quaker Marriage, what membership means to the Society of Friends and BYM work on reparations for slavery, colonialism and economic exploitation. As an Area Meeting, we called for the use of simpler and gender free language in the Book of Discipline as well as the provision to exclude "God" Language in the Marriage Ceremony. We expressed support for membership as it is transformational for the individual and demonstrates publicly a commitment to the values of the Society, as well as a reciprocal commitment to accepting responsibilities within the Quaker Community, in matters of the spirit. We considered the challenges of small meetings, acknowledging that they were a powerful source of spiritual support.

During 2023, we received legacy funds of £348,384 as a bequest from our late Friend Joy Ash to be spent under the charitable objectives of the Chiltern Area Quaker Meeting. We agreed to hold £240,000 for longer-term projects requiring considerable discernment by the meeting and Trustees. We agreed on a process where individual members could bring forward proposals for short-term grants to be made. All proposals are considered by the Area Meeting, and where further guidance is required, this will be provided by the Trustees. CAQM Trustees defined a grant policy to assist us with grant assessment.

In 2023 we received 5 grant requests from this legacy fund of which the first 4 were made as follows:

A grant to Kaimos Theological College in Kenya to enable to college to build a Biogas digester to produce power for the college. This grant is in line with Britain Yearly Meeting developing approach to historical injustices and aims to works in partnership to redress inequalities. This was paid after the year end.
A grant of £50,000 to the Escaping Victimhood (EV), a Quaker Recognised charity, that provides Trauma workshops for those affected by homicide and manslaughter. This enables EV to provide workshops for up to 20 families and to help establish a new relationship with both the homicide service and a new venue for the workshops now that the Quaker Woodbrooke Centre is closed.
A grant of £3,000 for the Rock Steady Group, run by the charity Wycombe Mind, focussed on suicide prevention in High Wycombe
A grant of £2,500 to John Horniman Trust to cover costs their biannual conference. The Trust was founded by Quaker John Horniman and aims to assist with the relief of sickness and advancement of children who have learning disabilities.

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CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

A 5th Grant request for up to £38,000 was made for an Ambulance for Kenya Kaptama Health Centre. Further discernment is required by Trustees to clarify accountability and sustainability issues related to the grant before acceptance by Area Meeting.

We include the following expressions of some of our Area Concerns as testimony of our faith in action.

Our Area Concerns in Action

Testimony on climate justice from Jackie Bedford Aylesbury Meeting

Passing through Trafalgar Square a few years ago, I encountered a small circle of middle-aged and elderly people with hooded anoraks seated on the ground, trying to avoid the drizzle and puddles. They sat, cross-legged, uncomplaining, in silence, next to a banner bearing an anti-war quotation from William Penn. It was an unpolished and unglamorous spectacle. There were no influencers, celebs, or cameras, and no one made a speech. But the power of their meeting struck me with force.

In the last few years, I have pondered climate change with its threat of rising seas, out-of-control fires and millions of desperate refugees moving about the world trying to find safety: could we local Quakers do anything about this most pressing problem facing the whole planet? Historically, Quakers have so often gotten it right and so often been ahead of the social curve. Peace, anti-slavery, prison reform, anti-racism. So, it occurred to me that we could hold a Meeting for Worship in Aylesbury Market Square as a witness to the crisis. No, I said to myself public, too performative. I couldn't do that. But I found myself all the same putting the matter to a business meeting, and to my surprise, some members agreed to try it.

As a result, since August 2023 a small group of us have met about once a month in a quiet corner of the Market Square with a banner: AYLESBURY QUAKERS FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE. We have some helpful support from other local meetings, but the numbers are still very small. We sit in traditional silence without approaching people or trying to persuade them of anything. We get curious looks from people but never any disruptors.

We don't regard it as an outreach event, but we always carry leaflets for passers-by who ask for information about Quakers. Is it 'successful'? Who knows? How would you judge? We believe it is a public commitment from Quakers to address the need for climate justice.

Testimony on legacy funding from Ann Floyd

In March 2023 we met to consider Britain Yearly Meeting's request that we look at using some of our resources in connection with reparations for historical injustices arising from the transatlantic slave trade, colonialism, and resource extraction. This request was sent to all Area Meetings (AMs), and we met with three other AMs to explore the possibilities for us. At this meeting we were able to hear from four Quaker friends from Kenya who gave us their perspective on our deliberations and told us something of the challenges they were facing. Some of these, such as the climate emergency, were clearly connected with historical injustice.

In response to this, and other requests for support for projects of various kinds, CAQM established a fund using an unexpected legacy that we had received. We developed a clear set of criteria to guide us in its use. The criteria allow for 'reparations' projects as described above, and also for other work. In 2023 we supported one project in Kenya, and two in the UK.

The Kenyan project was the installation of a biogas digester at the Friends Theological College in Kaimosi. This should eliminate the need to cut down trees for fuel for cooking and thereby help to reverse the ongoing environmental degradation that was occurring before. This degradation is due in part to the climate emergency, so we see supporting this project as a contribution to reparation.

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CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Both UK projects were for specific events. One was funding 'Escaping Victimhood' workshops: these help victims of crime on their path to recovery from the trauma they have experienced. The other was for a networking conference bringing together small charitable organisations which support the education of children who are sick, convalescent or have learning disabilities.

We anticipate further deployment of the legacy fund in 2024.

We continue to work with our vision for the future of our Quaker worshipping community in the Chilterns. We are particularly responsible for ensuring the care and upkeep of our buildings, the employment and care of our staff, the good stewardship of our financial resources, and ensuring our awareness of and compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.

During 2024 we will seek to explore the potential for appointing a management agent for our properties to manage the upkeep and compliance with Health and Safety and Fire Standards.

We are committed as a trustee body to promoting and funding outreach to those who are looking for Quakers. We want to highlight our commitment

To being an anti-racist church
Welcoming people of diverse sexualities
Working for climate justice

Public Benefit

In exercising their responsibilities, the trustees have had due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission. Regular Quaker meetings for worship will be open to all members of the public, who are welcome to participate in and benefit from these and other events and activities offering a variety of spiritual, educational and social experiences, religious work and witness. Meeting Houses will be available to community organisations for their activities. Public benefit will be further fostered through the Area Meeting's involvement in the national outreach Quaker Week, its membership of Churches Together bodies, and its support of national organisations like Christian Aid and the Fairtrade Foundation. The charity welcomes visitors to its historic meeting houses and participates in local Heritage Open Days. Websites for the Area Meeting and local meetings are maintained.

Financial review of the year

Overall income for 2023 (£469,276) increased relative to 2022 (£149,929), for two main reasons.

The voluntary income for the year (£368,810) was higher than in 2022 (£76,321). This is due in large part to a legacy fund left to us by our Friend Joy Ash.

Secondly, hirings income for the year (£87,031) increased in the year (£66,590) following the lifting of Covid19 restrictions.

Expenditure on charitable activities did not reduce significantly, for three reasons

(a) Most of our fixed costs, including salaries, continued.

(b) We maintained a high level of investment in property maintenance and repairs.

The net result was an increase in our unrestricted funds to £702,761 (from £481,242 at end of year 2022), which is due to increases in voluntary income.

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CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Reserves policy

The charity's reserve policy states that we plan to hold about six months' expenditure (£50,000) to cover fluctuations in cash flow plus £5,000 as a pastoral care fund and a sum to provide for unexpected major repairs (say £269,000 or 1% of the properties' insured value (£11.37m). The policy and the level of the reserve are reviewed annually by the trustees when considering the financial statements before reporting to the Area Meeting.

Holding appropriate reserves enables the organisation to respond to any unforeseen reduction in income or additional expenditure (for example, when unplanned events occur) to ensure that our charitable activities are not significantly disrupted.

We have based our projections for the appropriate amount of reserves we require on the basis that the reserves in our target range would provide short-term cover until longer term solutions can be established.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity registration number	1130322
Principal address	Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)
	and Related Charities
	Jordans Quaker Meeting House
	Welders Lane
	Jordans
	Bucks, HP9 2SN
Clerks of Area Meeting	Kat Troth
Assistant Clerk (Membership)	Heather Joy Garrett
Assistant Clerk	Nicholas Sims
Honorary Treasurer	Peter Midgley
Clerks of Trustees	Kevin Piper
Managing Trustees	Peter Schweiger (extended to 31/12/24)
	Kevin Piper
	Ann Floyd (extended to 31/02/26)
	Roger Oliver (extended to 31/12/24)
	Janet May-Bowles
	Cathy Crownshaw (appointed 01/01/2023)
	Val McFarlane (appointed 01/01/2024)

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CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Custodian Trustees for land	Custodian Trustees for land	Friends Trusts Limited
		173 Euston Road
		London, NW1 2BJ
Investment Managers		Quilter Cheviot Investment Management
		One Kingsway
		London, WC2B 6AN
Principal Bankers		NatWest Bank plc
(excluding Local Meetings' Bankers)		1 Penn Road
		Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2PU
		Barclays Bank plc
		7 Station Parade
		Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2PH
Independent Examiner		Seymour Taylor Limited
		First Floor North
		40 Oxford Road
		High Wycombe
		Bucks, HP11 2EE

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 18 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

K Piper - Trustee

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends) And Related Charities

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends) And Related Charities (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of 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 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Elizabeth Horton FCA FCCA

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Seymour Taylor Limited First Floor North 40 Oxford Road High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP11 2EE

18 September 2024

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CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Unrestricted funds Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 368,810 Other trading activities 2 87,031 Investment income 3 13,435 Total 469,276 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 4 1,188 Charitable activities Area Meeting activities 275,854 Total 277,042 Net gains/(losses) on investments 29,285 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 221,519 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 481,242 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 702,761	Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - - - -	31.12.23 Total funds £ 368,810 87,031 13,435 469,276 1,188 275,854 277,042 29,285 221,519 481,242 702,761	31.12.22 Total funds £ 76,321 66,590 7,018 149,929 9 130,622 130,631 (43,350) (24,052) 505,294 481,242

The notes form part of these financial statements

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CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 31 DECEMBER 2023

Notes FIXED ASSETS Investments Investments 9 Investment property 10 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 11 Cash at bank CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 12 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS 13 Unrestricted funds TOTAL FUNDS	Unrestricted funds £ 451,634 240,626 692,260 1,438 35,936 37,374 (26,873) 10,501 702,761 702,761	Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - - -	31.12.23 Total funds £ 451,634 240,626 692,260 1,438 35,936 37,374 (26,873) 10,501 702,761 702,761 702,761 702,761	31.12.22 Total funds £ 215,156 240,626 455,782 1,184 30,517 31,701 (6,241) 25,460 481,242 481,242 481,242 481,242

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 18 September 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

K Piper - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

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CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.

Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends) and Related Charities is an unincorporated charity. The charity's principal address is Jordans Quaker Meeting House, Welders Lane, Jordans, Buckinghamshire, HP9 2SN. The registered charity number is 1130322. The presentation currency of these financial statements is Sterling (£), being the currency of the primary economic market in which the entity operates. All amounts in these financial statements have been rounded to the nearest pound unless stated otherwise.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

Financial instruments

Financial Instruments

The charity has applied the provisions of Section 11 "Basic Financial Instruments" and Section 12 "Other Financial Instrument Issues" of FRS 102 to its financial statements.

Financial instruments are classified and accounted for, according to the substance of the contractual arrangement, as either financial assets, financial liabilities or equity instruments. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the charity after deducting all of its liabilities.

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

The areas for which estimation has been applied are considered to be in calculating depreciation. Although these areas are subject to judgement, they are not considered to be subject to significant estimation.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Grants receivable

Grants are only recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds and it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants payable

Grant expenditure is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the commitment has been made and no conditions to be met relating to the grant.

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

Governance costs

Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the charity. Any independent examination, accountancy or related fees are included.

Allocation and apportionment of costs

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis, inclusive of VAT, where it cannot be recovered. Certain expenditure directly attributable to specific activities has been allocated to those categories.

Tangible fixed assets

The cost of furniture and equipment is generally written off at the time of purchase and not depreciated.

The charity's properties comprise land and buildings that are regarded as heritage assets held to advance the preservation and conservation of its objectives. No costs and valuations have been attributed to any of these properties as these can only be obtained at a significant cost and given the nature of the assets, would not be sufficiently reliable to justify the expenditure.

Investment property

Investment properties are properties which are held either to earn rental income or for capital appreciation or for both.

Investment properties are measured at cost upon initial recognition. The initial cost of the property comprises of its purchase price and any directly attributable expenditure.

Subsequently, where the fair value can be measured reliably without undue cost or effort, investment property is measured at fair value at each reporting date with changes in fair value recognised in the income statement in the period that they arise. No depreciation is provided in respect of investment properties applying the fair value model.

If a reliable measure of fair value is not available without undue cost or effort for an item of investment property, the entity shall thereafter account for that item as a tangible fixed asset until a reliable measure of fair value becomes available.

Investments

Investments are added in at original cost and are stated at the market value and revalued on an annual basis at the balance sheet date. Realised and unrealised gains or losses are shown on the Statement of Financial Activities.

Docusign Envelope ID: A440AB80-145E-4470-8743-D694F7FF29EC

CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted general funds - these are funds which can be used in accordance with the objects of the charity at the discretion of the trustees.

Designated funds - these are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific purposes or projects.

Restricted funds - these are funds which can only be used for particular purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular purposes.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

Constituent local meetings

The constituent local meetings keep their own records of funds designated to them by the charity.

2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

2.	OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
		31.12.23	31.12.22
		£	£
	Hall hire and trading income	87,031	66,590
3.	INVESTMENT INCOME
		31.12.23	31.12.22
		£	£
	Investment income	13,435	7,018
4.	RAISING FUNDS
	Investment management costs
		31.12.23	31.12.22
		£	£
	Portfolio management	1,188	9

Docusign Envelope ID: A440AB80-145E-4470-8743-D694F7FF29EC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2023 nor for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Trustees' expenses

During the year ended 31 December 2023 four trustees received reimbursed expenses in relation to repairs and other general expenditure of £3,108 (2022: one trustee received £293)

6. STAFF COSTS

Other Pension costs incurred in the year were £773 (2022: £725)

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

	31.12.23	31.12.22
Total	3	3
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

7. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS

The total grants paid to institutions during the year was as follows:

	2023
	£
Escaping Victimhood	50,000
Kaimosi Theological College	19,930
Wycombe Mind Limited	3,000
John Horniman Trust	2,500

Total	75,430

There were no grants to institutions made in 2022.

Docusign Envelope ID: A440AB80-145E-4470-8743-D694F7FF29EC

CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

COST At 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023 DEPRECIATION At 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 December 2023 At 31 December 2022	Fixtures and fittings £ 79,942
	79,942
	-
	-

PROPERTY

Friends Trusts Limited, part of Britain Yearly Meeting, owns the following properties but Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends) and Related Charities is the beneficial owner of these properties. The original cost of these properties is not readily available. The properties are insured for the following sums:

	£
Amersham meeting house, cottage and grounds	1,620,780
Aylesbury meeting house and cottage	2,020,703
Chesham meeting house and grounds	671,356
High Wycombe meeting house and flat	1,469,120
Jordans meeting house, extension, offices and grounds	2,877,339
Slough meeting house and flat	1,069,709

	9,729,007

9. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS

Shares Cash accounts	31.12.23 £ 450,987 647 451,634	31.12.22 £ 213,764 1,392
		215,156

Docusign Envelope ID: A440AB80-145E-4470-8743-D694F7FF29EC

CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

9. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS - continued

Additional information as follows:

	Listed
	investments
	£
MARKET VALUE
At 1 January 2023	213,764
Additions	252,816
Disposals	(43,363)
Revaluations	27,770
At 31 December 2023	450,987
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 December 2023	450,987
At 31 December 2022	213,764

The total value of investments held within the UK were £129,536 (2022: £117,676) The total value of investments held outside of the UK were £321,451 (2022: £96,088).

The aggregate historical cost of investments held is as follows:

	2023	2022
	£	£

Historical cost of listed investments	435,449	223,915

The investments are all listed on a recognised Stock Exchange. The trustees consider that there were two material investment holdings at the year end:

		£
Thesis Unit Management Trust Ltd Climate Assets C		321,451
Rathbone Ethical Bond Fund Institutional Acc		129,536
Investments (neither listed nor unlisted) were as follows:
	31.12.23	31.12.22
	£	£
Cash accounts	647	1,392

Docusign Envelope ID: A440AB80-145E-4470-8743-D694F7FF29EC

CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

10. INVESTMENT PROPERTY FAIR VALUE At 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 December 2023 At 31 December 2022 11. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trade debtors Other debtors 12. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Other creditors 13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Net movement At 1.1.23 in funds £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund (179) (48,336) Designated Local Meetings 25,639 1,126 Designated Investments 215,156 268,729 Designated Investment Property 240,626 - 481,242 221,519 TOTAL FUNDS 481,242 221,519	31.12.23 £ 1,360 78 1,438 31.12.23 £ 26,873 Transfers between funds £ 52,181 - (52,181) - - -	£ 240,626
		240,626
		240,626
		31.12.22 £ 1,113 71 1,184 31.12.22 £ 6,241 At 31.12.23 £ 3,666 26,765 431,704 240,626
		702,761
		702,761

Docusign Envelope ID: A440AB80-145E-4470-8743-D694F7FF29EC

CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds General fund Designated Local Meetings Designated Investments TOTAL FUNDS	Incoming resources £ 206,987 1,727 260,562 469,276 469,276	Resources expended £ (255,323) (601) (21,118) (277,042) (277,042)	Gains and Movement losses in funds £ £ - (48,336) - 1,126 29,285 268,729 29,285 221,519 29,285 221,519

Comparatives for movement in funds

Unrestricted funds General fund Designated Local Meetings Designated Investments Designated Investment Property Restricted funds Restricted Massey TOTAL FUNDS Comparative net movement in funds, included Unrestricted funds General fund Designated Local Meetings Designated Investments Restricted funds Restricted Massey TOTAL FUNDS	Net movement At 1.1.22 in funds £ £ (1,392) 9,842 14,062 2,948 251,498 (36,342) 240,626 - 504,794 (23,552) 500 (500) 505,294 (24,052) in the above are as follows: Incoming Resources resources expended £ £ 128,360 (118,518) 14,552 (11,604) 7,017 (9) 149,929 (130,131) - (500) 149,929 (130,631)	Transfers between At funds 31.12.22 £ £ (8,629) (179) 8,629 25,639 - 215,156 - 240,626 - 481,242 - - - 481,242 Gains and Movement losses in funds £ £ - 9,842 - 2,948 (43,350) (36,342) (43,350) (23,552) - (500) (43,350) (24,052)

Docusign Envelope ID: A440AB80-145E-4470-8743-D694F7FF29EC

CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Designated Funds

The Local Meeting funds hold funds which have been designated for those meetings.

The investment fund is made up of unrestricted legacy funds received by the charity. This is earmarked for longer term projects and the payment of short term grants, in line with the grant policy. The fund is held in listed investments, the income and growth in these investments is also attributed into this fund.

The investment property fund holds the property owned by the charity.

Restricted Funds

The Massey fund is restricted for the benefit of Amersham Local Meeting.

14. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

Kevin Piper is also a trustee of the charity Escaping Victimhood, which received a grant from Chilterns Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends) and related charities during this year (2022 none).

Docusign Envelope ID: A440AB80-145E-4470-8743-D694F7FF29EC

CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

	31.12.23	31.12.22
	£	£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Donations	20,426	56,321
Legacies	348,384	20,000
	368,810	76,321
Other trading activities
Hall hire and trading income	87,031	66,590
Investment income
Investment income	13,435	7,018
Total incoming resources	469,276	149,929
EXPENDITURE
Investment management costs
Portfolio management	1,188	9
Charitable activities
Salaries	40,304	40,063
Pensions	773	725
Water	3,808	1,589
Insurance	12,129	10,913
Light and heat	26,224	18,450
Sundries	10,027	8,364
Outreach programme	1,614	709
Conferences	1,399	3,267
Repairs and maintenance	91,968	36,078
Grants to institutions	75,430	-
	263,676	120,158
Support costs
Management
Telephone and internet	4,515	3,308
Finance
Bank charges	274	92
Governance costs
Legal fees	35	665
Accountancy fees	7,354	6,399
	7,389	7,064

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Docusign Envelope ID: A440AB80-145E-4470-8743-D694F7FF29EC

CHILTERNS AREA QUAKER MEETING (RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS) AND RELATED CHARITIES

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

	31.12.23	31.12.22
	£	£
Total resources expended	277,042	130,631
Net income before gains and losses	192,234	19,298
Realised recognised gains and losses
Realised gains/(losses) on fixed asset
investments	1,515	-
Net income	193,749	19,298

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements