## _The Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities_
## **Trustees’ Report for Year Ended 31st December 2021**
Principal Address: Treasurer Roseleigh, Northfield Road Nailsworth, Stroud GL6 0NB
Gloucestershire Area Quaker Bankers: Meeting Charities (GAQMC) is a registered charity in England & Wales no. 1134212
Clerk: Peter Carter (until 31[st] December 2021) Assistant Clerk: Elyn Mitchell (until 31[st] December 2021) Assistant Clerk: Dorothy Cardus (Membership) Treasurer: Marilyn Miles Assistant Treasurer: Sarah Eilbeck Trustees: Wendy Gerard Steven Goldblatt (from 1[st] January 2021) Timothy Howarth Acting Clerk 10[th] December 2021 Val Kirby Clerk of trustees until 10[th] July 2021 Gillian Metheringham from 1[st] January 2021 Acting Clerk 15[th] September 2021 Terence Robinson Acting Clerk 28[th] October 2021 Andrew Turrall Sarah Eilbeck (ex officio) Marilyn Miles (ex officio) Frank Bonner (until 31[st] December 2020) Jan Gronow (until 31[st] December 2020) Rosemary Andoh. Link to Trustees Amelia Schafer-Rutherford (Link to Trustees until 7[th] November 2021)
Custodian Trustees: Friends Trusts Ltd Examiner of Accounts: Debby Metcalf FCA 22 Trowlock Avenue Teddington TW11 9QT GAQMC Bankers: Co-operative Bank plc CAF Bank Ltd Triodos Bank N.V. PO Box 101 Kings Hill Deanery Road 1 Balloon Street West Malling Bristol Manchester ME19 4PY BS1 5AS M60 4EP
_2 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **CONTENTS**
## **Trustees Annual Report**
|1|MEMBERS AND MEETINGS ……………………………………………….. page 3|
|---|---|
||Constituent Meetings|
||Membership|
||Statement of public benefit|
||Application of income and property|
|2|TRUSTEES – SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY ……………………….………….. page 4|
||Trustees|
||Register of interests|
||Property management|
||Area Meeting policies|
||Employees’ pay|
||Wardens|
||Landlord’s inspections and quinquennial reviews|
||Memorandum of understanding|
|3|FINANCIAL POLICIES AND OUTCOMES ……………………….……….. page 6|
||Financial Review and Reserves Policy|
||Investment Policy|
||Review of Risks|
||Grant Making Policy|
|4|GLOUCESTERSHIRE QUAKERS – THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 …….. page 9|
|5|SUSTAINABILITY ……………………………………………………………. page 10|
|6|SAFEGUARDING …………………………………………………………..... page 11|
|7|CONTRIBUTIONS FROM AROUND OUR AREA MEETING ……...……. page 12|
|8|PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ……………….………………………….…… page 14|
||Summary of work to properties undertaken in 2021|
|**Independent Examiner’s Report**………………………………………………….….. page 16||
|**Statement of Financial Activities**.………………………………………….…….….. page 17||
|**Balance Sheet……………………**………………………………………………….….. page 18||
|**Notes to the financial statements.**……………………………………………….….. page 20||
_3 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **MEMBERS AND MEETINGS**
An Area Meeting is the primary meeting for church affairs in Britain Yearly Meeting. The object of Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities is the furtherance of the general religious and charitable purposes of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain, in the area of Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities (GAQMC) and beyond. To the best of the trustees’ knowledge and belief, GAQMC have continued to work to the furtherance of its objects during 2021.
The guide to the conduct of business continues to be Quaker Faith & Practice (QF&P) and the governing document, as amended and adopted by Area Meeting on 19 September 2009, registered with the Charity Commission on 9 February 2010 and amended on 26 November 2012. GAQMC consists of eight Local Meetings.
## **Constituent Meetings**
- Cheltenham Meeting. Friends Meeting House, Warwick place, Portland Street, Cheltenham GL52 2NP (1985)
- Cirencester Meeting. Friends Meeting House, 53 Thomas Street, Cirencester GL7 2BA (1673 listed grade 2*)
- Forest of Dean Meeting. They worship in rented rooms
- Gloucester Meeting. Friends Meeting House, Greyfriars, Southgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1TS (1834 listed grade 2)
- Nailsworth Meeting. Friends Meeting House, Chestnut Hill, Nailsworth GL6 0RA (1680 listed grade 2*)
- Painswick Meeting. Friends Meeting House, Withymead Lane, Vicarage Street, Painswick GL6 6XS (1706 listed grade 2)
- Stroud Meeting. They worship in rented rooms
- Wotton-under-Edge Meeting. They worship in rented rooms
- There are 3 burial grounds in Siddington near Cirencester, Painswick and Nailsworth. Only Nailsworth is still able to continue with burials
We have 230 members (down from 233 in 2020). In 2021 three of our members died, one member resigned, and we gained one new member ‘by convincement’. We have 107 attenders (a decrease from 129 in 2020). This includes 12 children (a decrease from 22 in 2020). Britain Yearly Meeting asks us to only include those attenders who meet the criteria found in QF&P as “one who, not being a member, frequently attends a specific Meeting for Worship.” They also ask that those who took an active part in the Meeting over the past year be counted in the tabular statement. All children under the age of sixteen, not in membership but associated with the Meeting, are included whether they attend regularly or not.
**Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Membership on 31[st] December 2021** Cheltenham 54 members and 11 adult attenders Cirencester 18 members, 16 adult attenders Forest of Dean 14 members, 11 adult attenders and 2 children Gloucester 14 members, 15 adult attenders and 4 children Nailsworth 64 members, 21 adult attenders and 8 children Painswick 22 members and 17 attenders Stroud 25 members and 7 attenders Wotton 10 members, 8 adult attenders and 2 children Unattached 9 members
_4 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
In a normal year all our Local Meetings hold Meetings for Worship weekly, and some Meetings also hold Meetings for Worship midweek. Nailsworth Meeting usually holds an additional Meeting at 6.00 pm on the fourth Sunday each month. A Worship group established in Stonehouse in 2019 did not meet in 2021. In 2021 this pattern of Meetings for Worship continued to be disrupted because of the Covid-19 pandemic. More is written about this in Section 4.
Friends met as an Area Meeting for Business eight times during 2021. All these Meetings were held via Zoom. Our representatives to Meeting for Sufferings and other central Meetings have made their reports, which have been received with interest and sometimes with concern.
## **Statement of public benefit**
The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. The main public benefit is the continuance of Meetings for Worship which are open to the public. During 2021 this has sometimes been via Zoom or face to face or a combination of both.
## **Application of the Income and Property**
Within Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities, income and property are used to further the Area Meeting’s object by work for the public benefit such as:
- strengthening the life and witness of Quaker Meetings both in the area of Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities and beyond
- spreading the message of Quakers and interpreting and developing the thought and practice of the Religious Society
- undertaking Quaker service for the relief of suffering at home and abroad
- funding the concerns that Quaker Meetings in the area of Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities or beyond have adopted or agreed to support
- providing for the pastoral care of individual members and attenders including assistance to those in need and for education
- maintaining and developing Quaker Meeting Houses as places for public worship and from which to carry our witness into the world
- administering and maintaining the organisation of Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities and contributing to the support of Britain Yearly Meeting
- our Meeting Houses are also made available to suitable local community and interest groups and charities at a reduced rate where the purpose of the user is in line with our purposes. In 2021 the value of this benefit to those organisations was £6,691 (2020: £3,196)
## **2 TRUSTEES – SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY**
The trustees are appointed by Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities (GAQMC) in session on the advice of GAQMC nominations committee. They met 8 times during 2021, via Zoom. No meetings were face to face. Their business covered:
- managing the property and finances of the Area Meeting
- carrying out their responsibilities as the employers of staff in our Meetings, including wardens
- ensuring compliance by Area and Local Meetings with all our agreed policies, for example for the protection of children and vulnerable adults, health and safety and data protection
_5 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
- upholding Area Meeting in carrying out its activities and meeting its objectives; and
- providing oversight and advice to our Local Meetings on ways of responding to the Covid-19 crisis
Trustees: Val Kirby continued as clerk until 10[th] July 2021. No replacement was appointed during the rest of the year. The trustee body agreed that until a new clerk was appointed there would be a rotating list of acting clerks. One trustee would act as clerk for a specific meeting and this would be decided at the previous meeting. This has continued throughout 2022
Gillian Metheringham was the acting Clerk on15[th] September 2021 meeting. Terence Robinson was the acting clerk on 28[th] October 2021 meeting
Tim Howarth was acting Clerk on the 10[th] December meeting
Terence Robinson was the acting clerk of trustees at the meeting n 15[th] September 2022 when this TAR was accepted
Steven Goldblatt was appointed as trustee for Cirencester from 1[st] January 2021 and Gillian Metheringham was appointed as trustee for Stroud from 1[st] January 2021. Amelia ShaferRutherford was released from service as link trustee for Forest of Dean on 7[th] November 2021. She was replaced in by Dorothy Cardus on 7[th] March 2022. The other trustees and link to trustees continued as in 2020.
Register of interests and remuneration: All trustees act in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration. Each completed a register of interests for 2021 which indicated none had any conflict of interests. No trustee was paid any expenses in 2021.
Property management: Cheltenham, Cirencester, Nailsworth and Painswick Local Meetings each have a Finance and Property Committee which manage the Meeting Houses on a dayto-day basis, consulting trustees when necessary. Ash & Co continued to oversee the dayto-day management of Gloucester Meeting House, taking bookings from hirers and managing security and cleaning. For much of 2021 there were fewer hirings because of the pandemic. Regular meetings were held with a representative of Ash & Co once the 3[rd] lockdown finished, to monitor progress. Naylor Powell continued to manage The Lodge, which is let to the young family who moved there in 2018. Cirencester Housing continued to manage the two flats at 49 Thomas Street, adjacent to Cirencester Meeting House. Nailsworth Local Meeting continued to manage the cottage rented in Quaker Close, adjacent to the Meeting House. For the Meetings that have hirers, they gradually returned with the lessening of Covid-19 restrictions. Painswick Meeting does not have any hirings. More detail is provided in section 8.
Area Meeting policies: Our Area and Local Meetings are committed to complying with the agreed policies for the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, premises, including health and safety, and data protection. Our eight Local Meetings have completed and submitted compliance forms for safeguarding, health and safety and data protection. The review of our safeguarding policy was started in 2021 and has continued into 2022. See section 6 on safeguarding. With the appointment of a new warden at Cirencester our recruitment and employment policies were reviewed in anticipation of this.
Employees’ Pay: Our wardens’ contract of employment and occupancy agreement continued throughout 2021. We offer consistent arrangements for pay, pension and accommodation offset allowance to our two wardens. We increase rates of pay annually in line with the National Living Wage increase. Any employees not in our accommodation are paid the Real Living Wage or above.
Cirencester’s Warden: Patricia Stevens ended her employment on 30[th] September 2021. Jane Huntington was appointed to the post from 1[st] October 2021.
Nailsworth’s Warden: Oliver Muller has continued in post throughout 2021.
_6 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
We are grateful to our wardens for their service.
## GAQMC employ 1.08 FTE employees
Landlord’s inspections and quinquennial reviews. All our properties are inspected regularly. All buildings, both Meeting Houses and accommodation, are reviewed by a qualified surveyor every five years in a series of quinquennial reviews. In 2021 Cirencester had its quinquennial review. Rented properties were inspected either by our letting agents or by trustees, to make sure the tenants were complying with the condition of their tenancies. Landlord’s inspections are also carried out for the wardens’ accommodation where there is a licence to occupy linked to their employment contract. No inspections were done in 2021. On-going repairs and maintenance were carried out when possible.
The Memorandum of Understanding between Area Meeting, Local Meetings and the trustees continued in operation. The list of office holders has been regularly updated by Area Meeting and the MoU has been updated to reflect these changes.
## **3 FINANCIAL POLICIES AND OUTCOMES**
Local Meetings control their own funds for day-to-day income and expenditure, and these are accounted for as designated funds. The bigger Local Meetings set budgets which are agreed at their Local Meeting for Business. During 2021 smaller Local Meetings were encouraged to set annual budgets and they continued to report regularly to their Meetings for Worship for Business about the Local Meetings’ finances. Apart from the general unrestricted fund there are 4 designated funds: - a property reserve for major repairs; a fund for bursaries and grants; Quaker camp; an anonymous donation to Nailsworth Quaker Meeting for the purpose of renovating the kitchen and bathroom at 1 Quaker Close. Two restricted funds were created in 2021:
- The Samson Trust made a donation for the upkeep of Cirencester Meeting House and garden for 2 years
- Donations made to fund a water feature in Nailsworth’s Peace Garden
Following the review of finances in 2018 trustees have continued to implement the recommendations and refine our processes. The property reserve fund was established in 2019 and efforts continue to be made to increase the resources in this fund. It is held in a Triodos bank account to which the treasurers do not have access. There is a penalty if less than three months’ notice is given to withdraw money from this account. The property reserve fund stood at £75,134 as compared to £75,013 in 2020. Additional funds in the Triodos account are held on behalf of Local Meetings
The trustees, including the treasurer and assistant treasurer, are responsible for the financial running and oversight of Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities (GAQMC) and the upkeep of the Meeting Houses and associated property. These are held in trust by Friends Trusts Limited. Our accounts and statements are prepared by separating income and expenditure and take into account transfers between Local Meetings and the Area Meeting.
Each set of accounting records deals with a specific part of the activities of GAQMC, covering all financial transactions, facts and events relating to them. All the Local and Area Meeting accounts are examined by an independent accountant, who also prepares the annual financial report on behalf of GAQMC for consideration by the trustee body. In accordance with the governing document, the report is then presented to Area Meeting for acceptance.
After the 2020 accounts were completed the examiner Arubus advised that they would no longer act in this capacity. We appointed a new independent examiner, Debby Metcalf FCA in September 2021.
Whilst being aware that we must comply with the latest Charity Commission Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) especially as regards reporting, our new examiner brought
_7 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
to our attention that in fact our accounts had been prepared by the previous accountant using SORP 2005 and not SORP 2019 (FRS102). GAQMC accepted the need to be compliant with the most recent requirements and the 2020 accounts have been reworked by the accountant to meet the requirements of SORP 2019 (FRS102). In particular it is necessary to include in the balance sheet all fixed tangible assets – property, land, burial grounds, fixtures, fittings and equipment. GAQMC trustees have worked closely with the new examiner to achieve this. We have also sought guidance from the Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers (ACAT) handbook from our membership of ACAT.
With the exception of Cheltenham Meeting House, which was built in 1985, all the other property and burial grounds have been used as places of worship by Gloucestershire Quakers for more than a century and in most cases for several centuries. It was therefore difficult to ascertain their historical value and the value of the land and buildings has been brought into the accounts at deemed cost on adoption of FRS 102 based on reinstatement values for insurance purposes. The land value was calculated using the land policy values for policy appraisal for 2014 as published by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The area of land applicable was measured from the Land Registry records which were determined when GAQMC became a registered charity in 2010.
The trustees consider that the rental properties owned by the charity constitute mixed-use properties with their respective Meeting Houses because they are intrinsically linked physically to the Meeting Houses to which they are attached and could not be sold separately. The trustees consider that the fair value of the investment property component cannot therefore be measured reliably and that the mixed-use properties in their entirety should be accounted for as tangible fixed asset properties along with the Meeting Houses and burial grounds.
All of these properties are subject to permanent endowment and accounted for as such in the financial statements.
Area Meeting continues to fund the costs of renting rooms for Local Meetings that do not have their own Meeting Houses.
Each year the trustees set a recommended or guide contribution for each of the Local Meetings. This is based on the number of Members and active Friends in each Meeting, who are each asked to make personal contributions. These contributions are the major source of income for the Area Meeting and in 2021 amounted to £40,228 which was 6.5% less than budgeted (2020: £37,324). This budgeted figure for guide contributions was 10% more than in 2020 but was less than that required to form a balanced budget.
Trustees agree a budget for the Area Meeting at the beginning of the financial year. This takes into account expected expenditure on property maintenance and Quaker activities as identified by the Area Meeting and Local Meeting treasurers as well as the guide contributions from Local Meetings. The larger Local Meetings also prepare budgets which are agreed by their Local Meeting for Worship for Business.
Other sources of income are residential rents, room hire charges and income from investments. Rents are reviewed annually.
As with many charities, the Covid pandemic has had a continuing effect on our financial position. The biggest financial impact has been on those Local Meetings which hire rooms (Gloucester, Nailsworth, Cirencester and Cheltenham), because they have been unable to hire space to other organisations and individuals during the lockdown. Although in 2020 vulnerable groups as defined by the government were allowed to hire rooms the 3[rd] lockdown in January 2021 led to a further downturn in hiring income. Additional expense was incurred to make premises Covid-secure. A claim to our insurance company for loss of income during 2020 and 2021 is still to be finalised. Some savings were made on running expenses, as
_8 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
there were far fewer Meetings for Worship. One Meeting (Cheltenham) continued to receive furlough payments which covered the majority of the wages for the cleaner employed there. The other Meetings have continued to employ their staff throughout the pandemic.
Members and attenders in some Meetings increased their donations to compensate for the loss of income from hirings in 2020 and in 2021.
Scheduling of repairs and maintenance to our Meeting Houses, warden accommodation and rental properties relies on the quinquennial surveys carried out by a qualified surveyor Richard Basnett Associates. The scheduled survey for Cirencester was completed in 2021. Many repairs were delayed because of lockdown as they had been from 2020. This has led to a build-up of projected expenditure which will now need to be completed in 2022. The budget for 2021 indicated that the Reserve Property Fund might need to be used to cover immediate costs. Because of further lockdowns, many repairs and maintenance tasks were not completed, and this was not necessary. Maintenance costs for the four of our Meeting Houses that are listed tend to be higher than for the one non-listed building of similar size.
Since 2019 some Meetings have engaged a paid bookkeeper using the accounting package Xero. In 2020 the Area Meeting engaged the same bookkeeper and by the end of 2021 six Meetings were using Xero with this bookkeeper. The bookkeeper terminated two of her contracts in the autumn of 2021 (covering 4 meetings) and a new firm Mindful Business Services was engaged.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW AND RESERVES POLICY**
During the year the charity received income of £160,885 (2020: £173,693) and incurred expenditure of £147,157 (2020: 139,388). Investment gains totalled £31,410 (£5,002). The surplus for the year was £45,138 (2020: £39,307). At 31[st] December 2021 the charity held permanent endowment funds of £7,267,566 (2020: £7,267,566) representing the freehold Meeting Houses and burial grounds, restricted reserves of £3,510 (2020: £nil) and unrestricted reserves of £745,055 (2020: £703,427).
Unrestricted reserves at 31[st] December 2021 comprised designated funds of £648,515 (2020: £621,877) and general funds of £96,540 (2020: £81,550). Designated funds mainly comprise funds held by Local Meetings and the Area Meeting Bursary and Property Reserve Funds.
Full details of income and expenditure and fund balances for each fund is provided in note 15 to the financial statements.
Trustees decided to keep a cash reserve of 6 months budgeted expenditure which in 2021 was £54,000. Area Meeting aims to cover in-year expenditure for Quaker activities and property (primarily repairs and maintenance) from the current accounts. This has been possible in 2021 only because so few repairs have been completed. In particular, repairs necessary following the quinquennial survey for Gloucester Meeting House (2019) have been delayed.
This cash reserve is held in the main current and property accounts and totalled £78,613 at 31[st] December 2021 (2020: £72,329).
In addition, Area Meeting holds funds in CAF and Triodos accounts with varying lengths of time before access for the benefit of the designated Bursary and Property Reserve Funds. The value of these designated cash reserves at 31[st] December 2021 was £114,472 (2020: £122,237). Our long-term equity investments might be regarded as further reserves should Area Meeting so decide. They currently provide an income for the bursary fund. The value of Area Meeting equity investments in the Bursary Fund increased by 24.6% to £134,203.
GAQMC trustees are of the view that the unrestricted cash reserves of the charity together with committed and expected income will enable the charity to meet its obligations for the next 12 to 18 months and on this basis the assessment is that the charity is a going concern.
_9 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **INVESTMENT POLICY**
Equity investments have long been held. As in previous years trustees continued their policy of holding them in ethical funds lodged with Friends Trusts Ltd in order to save trustees from making frequent investment decisions. Cirencester Local Meeting transferred its investments to Friends Trusts Ltd in 2017.
## **REVIEWS OF RISKS**
The insurance of our buildings has been reviewed. Valuations of contents continue to be under review.
The vulnerability of the Meeting funds to embezzlement, fraud and error is kept under review. Almost half of Area Meeting bank balances are currently beyond the treasurer’s control in the Triodos account. The treasurer makes a financial report to trustees at each meeting (usually six weekly) including the balances in each account as well as income and expenditure on the various headings against budget figures.
The engagement of the bookkeeper who carries out reconciliations with Xero means electronic copies of financial records are checked against the bank balances on a regular basis by the bookkeeper and the treasurers. Dual authorisation for expenditure including internet banking is being implemented for Local Meetings and Area Meeting accounts. The treasurer, assistant treasurer, and two trustees are the 4 authorised internet banking users for Area Meeting accounts.
Any changes in the investment portfolio require a minute from a meeting of trustees. Approval of the forthcoming budget and unexpected expenditure not within the budget on property is taken by trustees in a meeting. In 2021 all trustees’ meetings have been held via zoom. Urgent expenditure is agreed by trustees using email. No single trustee can make financial transactions on their own. Legacies, although in fact the property of Area Meeting, are often expressly linked to Local Meetings in legatees’ wills. Trustees must discern the uses to which legacies are put and whenever possible respect legatees’ preferences. By and large legacies are not used for day-to-day running expenditure. Legacies in 2021 amounted to £1,000 (2020: £1,500).
## **GRANT MAKING POLICY**
Grants from the Bursary Fund were decided in accordance with the established policy, by those appointed as overseers/pastoral friends in consultation with the treasurer. Because of Covid all programmes such as Yearly Meeting Gathering and events for young people were again cancelled in 2021. Traditionally the cost for attendance at these have been covered by the Bursary Fund. Other courses and conferences were cancelled although some were delivered by zoom at a lower cost. This included training for role holders such as trustees, clerks, elders, overseers/pastoral friends. Whilst recognising the need for not delaying attendance at these training courses, trustees also recognise the added value of having faceto-face training. They look forward to the resumption of such courses.
## **4 GLOUCESTERSHIRE QUAKERS – THE IMPACT OF COVID-19**
Our report for 2020 described that year as ‘a unique and troubling year for everyone’. Unfortunately, it was not as unique as we had hoped, and the impact of Covid-19 on Gloucestershire Quakers and the wider community continued to be felt throughout 2021.
We continued to apply many of the measures described in our 2020 report to the use of our Meeting Houses and other premises, both by Quakers, and (where applicable) by hirers. In doing this, we were careful to follow the law and Government guidance in force at any
_10 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
particular time. This was as recommended by Britain Yearly Meeting, of which we are part. We adopted policies designed to reduce the risks associated with Covid-19, including wearing masks, sanitising surfaces, limiting the number of people in rooms, and respecting each other’s personal space. These continued throughout 2021, and to some extent are still applied in 2022.
Although in general we adopted a cautious approach to the relaxation of restrictions, some of our Local Meetings felt able to proceed more quickly than others. This depended upon the wishes of their members and other local factors, for example whether or not they had a garden in which to meet outside, or whether they were able to offer Meetings by Zoom to those who were reluctant to meet in person.
The holding of Meetings for Worship either entirely by Zoom, or ‘blended’ with some attending by Zoom and others in person, has been a very interesting experience. Although it was forced on us by Covid-19 restrictions, we expect that some Meetings will continue to use Zoom, to meet the needs of those who for health or other reasons prefer not always to meet in person. We are though aware that for many Friends Zoom is less satisfactory than meeting face to face, and we will continue to respect our differences and try to cater for all needs. We are aware that meeting by Zoom and avoiding the need for unnecessary travel is consistent with our Quaker testimony of sustainability.
Those Local Meetings which hire out their premises suffered the elimination of their income from lettings during the lockdown periods. However, they have seen a good recovery since restrictions have been lifted, in some cases back to pre-pandemic levels.
In meeting the challenge of Covid-19 we have been mindful of the need to provide a safe place for all people associated with our Meetings and Meeting Houses, and that we are called to ‘make the meeting a community in which each person is accepted and nurtured, and strangers are welcome’ (Advices & Queries 18).
## **5 SUSTAINABILITY**
Britain Yearly Meeting asks all Quaker trustees to report on sustainability in their annual reports. Our planet is increasingly affected by climate change, biodiversity loss and other environmental impacts such as pollution, and as the popular saying goes ‘there is no planet B’. Our lives are increasingly affected, and we know that future generations will probably be affected even more, so sustainability is not just a selfish concern. The inter-connectedness of natural and culturally modified systems means that our actions have impacts far beyond our own immediate sphere.
In 2011 Britain Yearly Meeting committed Friends throughout Britain to acting in a more sustainable way (the Canterbury declaration).
There is no umbrella GAQMC policy statement about sustainability. In September 2020 Trustees decided to review our whole suite of policies by the end of 2021: the review would include the issue of sustainability. This review was not completed as planned.
In 2021 **Cheltenham** continued with their policy of seeking sustainability as set out in the 2020 report. The practical effects were necessarily limited because Covid closed the Meeting House for extended periods, but the solar panels continued to make a useful contribution to their finances. They have upgraded their heating controls with a Tado system, allowing much greater control over the heating for each room, with the added benefit of making adjustments remotely.
The heating systems, lighting systems, secondary double glazing and insulation in **Nailsworth** were all researched and installed pre-2014. They are gradually improving the lighting to be more energy efficient. With any need to renew a faulty appliance they consider energy efficiency. The Beech Hut is more economical to heat than the listed Meeting House
_11 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
and they encourage its use by hirers. Meetings on Zoom has resulted in less travel for Friends attending Meeting from around Nailsworth, with saving on emissions.
Many **Stroud** Quakers make conscious decisions to attend Meeting in a way that harms the environment as little as possible, including walking, sharing lifts, cycling, and using electric vehicles where possible.
**Painswick** had their Meeting House fitted in the early 2010s with some very good heat insulation, including fitting double glazing in the upstairs Meeting room and some Velux roof lights that are double-glazed in the works they carried out that included the addition of work surfaces and a new sink unit to the kitchen.
## **6 SAFEGUARDING**
## **Safeguarding Policy and Practice**
In 2021 the Safeguarding Coordinators were John Linsell and Caroline Young and the Safeguarding Trustee (Safeguarding Lead) was Wendy Gerard. The Annual Report from the Area Meeting Safeguarding Coordinators and Safeguarding Trustee was received on 28[th] January 2021.
In December 2020 Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) circulated a draft Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Toolkit for Area Meetings, written with specialist advice in response to recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. The Safeguarding Trustee responded to a request from BYM to complete an annual report from GAQMC on a standard template in March 2021.
The Clerk to Trustees, Safeguarding Trustee and the Safeguarding Coordinators began work to align GAQMC ‘s policy and procedures with BYM’s new approach. Trustees agreed that time and care should be taken to ensure that GAQMC Friends would fully support and endorse the new procedures.
Consultations have taken place within GAQMC and there has been ongoing communication with BYM to represent our views, which contributed to a revised BYM draft Policy, Procedures and Toolkit being forwarded in November 2021, that responded to a number of our concerns. Following this, ongoing proposals for revisions to the document have been presented to Trustees.
The main changes to our 2020 Policy and Guidance relate to procedures for safer appointment to specific volunteer roles within the Area Meeting and the nature of safeguarding training for these and further volunteer roles. The safeguarding roles for Trustees, including Clerk to Trustees and Safeguarding Trustee, have been written, and the role of Safeguarding Coordinators, DBS verifiers and Safeguarding Representatives have been updated. This process of review is ongoing and is expected to conclude in 2022. Future reviews will be informed by guidance from BYM and the Charity Commission.
The existence of safeguarding policies, procedures and practices is advertised and emphasised among Friends where we meet and on the GAQMC website.
We have maintained our system of Disclosure and Barring Service verifiers and Safeguarding Representatives for each Local Meeting.
With regard to Covid-19 we have adhered to our guidance for online Meetings and have safely introduced some “blended Meetings” when some Friends attend Meeting in person, while others attend via a video link. We have been alert to the need to be aware of vulnerable adults within GAQMC.
_12 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
Children and Young People’s Meetings took place online until Covid-19 guidance enabled face to face Meetings to resume, with risk assessments and protocols to support the wellbeing of both the children and helpers.
Friends have attended a range of online safeguarding training sessions organised for example by 31:8 and Gloucestershire Safeguarding providers. Not all trustees have yet attended necessary training.
## Serious Incident Report
There have been no reported serious safeguarding incidents during 2021.
## **7 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM AROUND OUR AREA MEETING**
Throughout 2021 Friends in Gloucestershire continued with their committed concerns such as affordable housing, the prison system, sustainability, refugees and asylum seekers, peace, world population, and women and their children fleeing domestic abuse. The 4 properties available for rent provide a home to people in housing need. In particular the 2 flats in Cirencester are specifically earmarked for those who cannot afford market rents.
Some Local Meeting reports are below.
For most of 2021, **Forest of Dean Meeting** held Meeting for Worship and other meetings, virtually via Zoom. This has proved to be an acceptable way of worshipping while we were keeping safe from contracting or spreading Covid19. We did however wish to start to meet in person, so, on four occasions towards the end of the year when we trialled blended Meetings where some people met at Staunton Village Hall while others joined via Zoom. We followed guidelines from our Covid19 Safety Group in order to minimise transmission of this disease. The technology for this was loaned by members of our Meeting. The trials proved that this was workable and we plan to continue with and hopefully develop blended Meetings in the future.
One of the main areas of our consideration in 2021 was coming to an agreement of the necessity of finding a different venue in which to hold our Meetings. The main reason for this was the lack of a separate room at Staunton Village Hall for children and young people. In addition to our usual Meetings for Worship for Business, this involved a Threshing Meeting and a Meeting for Discernment, ably facilitated and clerked by John Miles of Nailsworth Local Meeting. As a result of this process, we set up a Children and Young People’s Committee and a Meeting Venue Committee. We then embarked on finding suitable premises to enable us to have the space and facilities to welcome families with children. This is one of our main objectives moving forward into 2022.
**Stroud Meeting** _Quakers in Criminal Justice_ **.** Early in the year, a small group met over a period of two months to discuss _Trespass and Trust_ , written by Daphne Glazier at the request of Quaker Life Committee. This book helps Meetings prepare themselves for the possibility of there being sex offenders in their Meeting or of being joined by someone who has served a prison sentence for a sex offence. The Meeting found this exercise very useful and spiritually informing.
The Meeting was hoping to welcome a person from Leyhill open prison who was practising for release and expecting to join Stroud Meeting, but unfortunately the Offender Supervision Unit at the prison did not permit this in the end. The Meeting hopes for other opportunities.
The prison chaplain for Leyhill, who is a member of Stroud Meeting, progressed work relating to the Quakers in Criminal Justice Network, helping to build a network of information channels between Quaker criminal justice bodies.
_Black Lives Matter._ A small group met regularly during the year to explore the subjects of white privilege, white fragility, and the experience of people of colour in our current world.
_13 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
This followed a Quaker Peace and Social Witness course at Woodbrooke which several people in Stroud Meeting attended.
One of the events organised by the group was an interactive workshop involving a wider audience on the subject of ‘How do we recognise racism in ourselves?’. This was led by Judy Ryde, a prominent psychotherapist, founder of the charity Trauma Foundation South West, and author on the subject of whiteness. The group also organised a local walk with historian Stuart Butler as part of his ‘decolonising Gloucestershire’ initiative.
During the group’s meetings they shared and discussed items relating to black experience, including anti-racist films, books, conversations between those of different races, and political initiatives with regard to asylum seekers and refugees.
_Parliamentary Bills._ A number of Stroud Meeting Friends have been involved in work opposing the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, and also the Nationality and Borders Bill, both of which will lead to immense suffering for sections of the population if passed. Friends, along with other Local Meetings, wrote copious letters to the MP for Stroud, Siobhan Baillie, and members of the House of Lords. They also participated in an action encouraging constituents to sign postcards directed to Ms Baillie and have taken part in local demonstrations.
_Stroud Women’s Refuge_ . The Meeting has supported the refuge in its collections during the year, and also joined Area Meeting outreach at Lansdown Hall in December to help sell Christmas cards in support of the refuge during Goodwill evening.
## **Nailsworth Meeting** and Children’s Meeting during Covid -19:
As Nailsworth has an active Children’s Meeting and the Children’s Committee were proactive in arranging to meet on Zoom, it was possible to invite more isolated families from other Local Meetings in Gloucestershire to join them. The helpers developed different ways of engaging with the children online, with electronic books and activities for which families could assemble the necessary equipment in their home and which could be demonstrated and done together. Young children found Zoom difficult and drifted away, so, when possible, the volunteer helpers organised opportunities for families to meet outside. A gazebo was purchased and erected in the garden of the Meeting House, with open sides to provide shelter with plenty of ventilation. When social distancing was required and shared use of items avoided, individual personal packs of equipment were prepared for use wherever the meeting could take place. We recognised the importance of children being able to meet in person. This meant meeting at a different time to the adult Meeting for Worship for a while. Although our Meeting House is small and we restricted the number in the main Meeting Room to 25 with adults wearing masks, we reintroduced children joining the adults about 5 minutes from the end of the Meeting for Worship and being encouraged to tell us about what they had been doing, as had been our practice pre-Covid -19. This brought new energy to our worship, which is very important to us.
**Painswick Meeting** report that a large amount of work was done to make it safe to open the Meeting House for the second half of the year. They had to undertake a substantial body of work to render the Meeting House and the way it is used to keep a low risk of engendering the transfer of infection. The measures meant we ran at reduced numbers of people attending and a low level of activity. They kept in contact with each other using the Internet, taking especial care to keep in touch with people isolated or vulnerable or both. They have attempted to negotiate a workable arrangement to continue to have access to the burial ground, which is a landlocked site in Dell Farm.
_14 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **8 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT**
The maintenance and improvement of the fabric and sustainability of our Meeting Houses continues to be a major concern of our trustees and a call upon our funds. During 2020, as a continuation of the 2018 review of financial and other assets, trustees agreed to review long-term policies for the management of all our properties. This review was not undertaken in 2021 as planned.
Four of our five Meeting Houses (Cirencester, Gloucester, Nailsworth and Painswick) are listed by Historic England. Gloucester and Painswick are Grade 2 and Cirencester, and Nailsworth are Grade 2*. We also own warden’s accommodation at Cirencester and Nailsworth and four properties that are let, two in Cirencester, one in Nailsworth and one in Gloucester. All our rented properties were inspected either by trustees or by our managing agents.
Another responsibility is the oversight and maintenance of three Burial Grounds that are not attached to our Meeting Houses. They are at Siddington (Cirencester), Dell Farm (Painswick) and Shortwood (Nailsworth). Shortwood Burial Ground is the only one open for burials.
Our programme of quinquennial reviews, carried out by a professional surveyor, identifies repair and maintenance requirements for the following five years. Reviews also include a 20 year forward look at potential major future repairs (such as roof replacement).
## **SUMMARY OF WORK TO PROPERTIES UNDERTAKEN IN 2021**
## **Cheltenham**
1. Supply of smart heating controls
**Cirencester** (Meeting House, warden’s accommodation and 49 Thomas Street)
1. Secondary double glazing to one of the rental flats
2. Quinquennial survey
3. Cirencester Housing continued to manage the 2 flats next to the Meeting House on our behalf and commissioned various minor repairs
**Gloucester** (Meeting House and The Lodge)
1. Works following the 2019 Quinquennial Review were priced by Mick Cale Builders, the firm that undertook the repairs after the 2012 fire. Most of the works were expected to be done in 2021 but further lockdowns and the demand for building services meant that little was achieved and has been delayed further to 2022.
2. Ash and Co continued to manage the Meeting House on a day-to-day basis.
3. Naylor Powell continued to manage The Lodge and commissioned various minor repairs.
**Nailsworth** (Meeting House and cottages)
1. The new kitchen at 1 Quaker Close was installed in November 2021. The upgrading of the bathroom will take place in 2022.
2. New taps for the bath and washbasin taps were installed in the bathroom of 2 Quaker Close.
3. A new water heater was installed in the Meeting House.
4. A walkway has been installed in the attic above the Meeting Room to allow access to survey and monitor the roof space.
5. Exterior lighting has been installed along the rear path of the Meeting House to make the route to the back door of the Meeting House and the Beech Hut safer.
_15 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
6. Gigaclear established that they were able to gain access to the Meeting House and 1 and 2 Quaker Close for the installation of fibre broadband from BT ducts in Newmarket Road and in the car park of flats at Cossack Court. This means that no Wayleave is required to grant Gigaclear access from Chestnut Hill across the drive and front garden / burial ground of the Meeting House.
## **Painswick**
1. Tree surgery and wall repairs at the burial ground were completed.
APPROVED by the Trustees on 15[th] September 2022 and signed on their behalf by:
Terence Robinson
Acting Clerk to the Trustees
Marilyn Miles
Treasurer
Sarah Eilbeck Assistant Treasurer
_16 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the trustees of Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2021.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the Charity 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 Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
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 Charity 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.
Signed:
Date: 13 October 2022
Debby Metcalf FCA 22 Trowlock Ave Teddington TW11 9QT
_17 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
## **For the year ended 31 December 2021**
|**Notes**
**Income**
Donations and
legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
**Total income**
4
**Expenditure**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
**Total expenditure**
5
Net gains on
investments
11
**Net income**
Transfers between
funds
15
**Net movement in**
**funds**
Total funds brought
forward
2,15
**Total funds carried**
**forward**
14,15|**2021**
**Restated**
**2020**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
103,428
3,510
-
**106,938**
120,019
130
-
-
**130**
105
51,719
-
-
**51,719**
51,060
2,098
-
-
**2,098**
2,509|
|---|---|
||157,375
3,510
-
**160,885**
**173,693**|
||64,594
-
-
**64,594**
61,878
82,563
-
-
**82,563**
77,510|
||147,157
-
-
**147,157**
**139,388**|
||31,410
-
-
**31,410**
5,002|
||**41,628**
**3,510**
**-**
**45,138**
**39,307**|
||-
-
-
**-**
**-**
**41,628**
**3,510**
**-**
**45,138**
**39,307**
703,427
-
7,267,566**7,970,993** **7,931,686**|
||**745,055**
**3,510**
**7,267,566 8,016,131** **7,970,993**|
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year. All the above results are derived from continuing activities.
_18 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **Gloucestershire Area Quaker Meeting Charities**
## **Balance Sheet**
## **As at 31 December 2021**
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
10
Investments
11
**Current assets**
Debtors
12
Cash at bank and in hand
Total current assets
**Liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
13
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Funds of the Charity**
Endowment funds
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
Designated funds
General funds
**Total charity funds**
14,15|**2021**
**Restated**
**2020**
**Total**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
7,432,790
7,422,775
235,753
194,320|
|---|---|
||7,668,543
7,617,095|
||20,568
17,944
342,960
353,056|
||363,528
371,000
(15,940)
(17,102)|
||347,588
353,898|
||**8,016,131**
**7,970,993**|
||7,267,566
7,267,566
3,510
-
648,515
621,877
96,540
81,550|
||**8,016,131**
**7,970,993**|
_19 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
The financial statements on pages 17 to 34 were approved by the trustees on 15[th] September 2022 and are signed on their behalf by:
Terence Robinson
Acting Clerk to the Trustees
Marilyn Miles Treasurer
Sarah Eilbeck Assistant Treasurer
_20 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **Notes to the financial statements**
## **1. Accounting policies**
## 1.1 Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with 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) - (“the SORP”) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (“FRS 102”). The accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011 and are prepared on a going concern basis.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.
The charity has taken advantage of the disclosure exemption with regards to the requirements of section 7 Statement of Cash Flows in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102.
In applying the financial reporting framework, the trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Any significant estimates and judgements affecting these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below.
## 1.2 Public benefit
The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
## 1.3 Going concern
The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern, which the trustees consider appropriate having regard to the current level of unrestricted cash reserves together with committed and expected income. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
## 1.4 Revenue recognition
Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Income from government and other grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.
Legacy income is recognised as receivable once probate has been granted and notification has been received provided that sufficient information has been received to enable valuation of the charity’s entitlement.
## 1.5 Investment income
Interest on funds held on deposit, dividends and other investment income is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity. This is normally upon notification of the amounts paid or payable by the bank or investment managers.
_21 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## 1.6 Funds accounting
Endowment funds are funds which are held on trust to be retained for the benefit of the charity as a capital fund. Where the trustees must permanently maintain the whole of the fund it is referred to as permanent endowment and such a fund cannot normally be spent as if it were income.
Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity or where funds are raised by the charity for particular purposes. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. Designated funds include funds held by the local meetings for their own purposes and unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.
## 1.7 Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT
All expenditure is accounted for in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis once costs have been incurred. Accruals for unpaid expenses relating to the reporting period are based on best estimates of amounts due.
The charity is not registered for VAT and cannot therefore recover VAT on costs incurred. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of expenditure for which it was incurred.
Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the charity to raise funds for its charitable purposes, and includes costs of all fundraising activities including direct staff time, property and investment management fees and any associated support costs.
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which directly further the charity's objectives, including any associated support costs.
## 1.8 Taxation
The Charity is a registered charity and all of its activities fall within the exemptions afforded to charities under tax legislation. No charge to taxation therefore arises
- 1.9 Grants
Grants are charged in the year in which the decision is made to grant them.
## 1.10 Allocation of support and governance costs
Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include meeting house costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs.
Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, and include independent examination fees, legal advice (if any) for trustees and any other costs associated with constitutional and statutory as well as any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities.
Support and governance costs, including personnel costs, are allocated between the costs of raising funds and charitable activities based on their primary purpose and in proportion to the public and local meeting use of meeting house premises.
_22 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## 1.11 Tangible fixed assets
The freehold properties carried in the accounts consist of Meeting Houses and Burial Grounds and the title deeds are held in the name of Friends Trusts Limited. Historical costs were not known and the cost values were based on reinstatement values for insurance purposes, which were considered to represent deemed cost on transition to FRS102 at 1 January 2014.
The split between freehold land and buildings has been estimated on the basis of local government estimates for the value of land determined in 2014, and approximate hectarage of the land. The total deemed cost of the land at 31 December 2021 is estimated at £980,075.
The trustees consider that the rental properties owned by the charity constitute mixed-use properties with their respective meeting houses because they are intrinsically linked physically to the Meeting Houses to which they are attached and could not be sold separately. The trustees consider that the fair value of the investment property component cannot therefore be measured reliably and that the mixed-use properties in their entirety should be accounted for as tangible fixed asset properties.
Other tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost, which includes all costs incurred to bring the asset into its intended working condition. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life.
The depreciation rates in use are as follows:
|Freehold land|Freehold land|||No depreciation charged|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Meeting|Houses|and|mixed-use|No depreciation charged. The trustees consider|
|properties||||that any depreciation would be immaterial as the|
|||||programme of maintenance ensures that the|
|||||residual value of the properties at the end of their|
|||||useful life remains very high.|
|Other freehold buildings||||50 years straight line|
|Property improvements||||20 years straight line|
|Furniture,|fittings, equipment|||5 years straight line|
Furniture, fittings and equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500.
## 1.12 Listed investments
Investments in quoted shares, traded bonds and similar investments are measured initially at cost and subsequently at fair value (their market value). The statement of financial activities includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluations and disposals throughout the year.
## 1.13 Unlisted investments
Unlisted investments comprise investments in co-operative share capital and similar investments, which are held at fair value. These investments do not appreciate in value and the fair value is deemed to be the same as the historic cost less any impairment.
_23 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## 1.14 Debtors
Debtors include amounts owed to the charity as at the period end for the provision of goods and services before the period end or amounts the charity has paid in advance for the goods and services it will receive. Debtors and prepayments are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## 1.15 Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## 1.61 Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions include amounts owing by the charity as at the period end for goods and services received before the period end. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
_24 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **2 Change in accounting policies**
The opening funds and prior period have been restated for the capitalisation of freehold properties and other tangible fixed assets on transition to FRS102 at 1 January 2014 and their depreciation. In addition, the 2020 accounts have been restated in compliance with the SORP. This has affected the following balances:
|**Funds of the Charity**
**Balances brought forward at 1 January**
**2020**
As originally stated
Deemed cost of endowment property on
transition to FRS 102
Capitalisation of other assets in compliance
with the SORP
Depreciation of assets to date
Additional depreciation of assets capitalised
as at 1 January 2020
Other corrections required to bring
accounts in compliance with the SORP
**Restated at 1 January 2020**
**Balances carried forward at 31**
**December 2020**
As originally stated
Deemed cost of endowment property on
transition to FRS 102
Capitalisation of other assets in compliance
with the SORP
Depreciation of assets to date
Additional depreciation of assets capitalised
as at 1 January 2020
Other corrections required to bring
accounts in compliance with the SORP
**Restated at 31 December 2020**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
512,044
-
-
**512,044**
-
-
7,267,566
**7,267,566**
172,802
-
-
**172,802**
(14,833)
-
-
**(14,833)**
(1,110)
-
-
**(1,110)**
(4,783)
-
-
**(4,783)**|
|---|---|
||**664,120**
**-**
**7,267,566**
**7,931,686**|
||552,240
-
-
**552,240**
-
-
7,267,566
**7,267,566**
179,525
-
-
**179,525**
(24,316)
-
-
**(24,316)**
(1,054)
-
-
**(1,054)**
(2,968)
-
-
**(2,968)**|
||**703,427**
**-**
**7,267,566**
**7,970,993**|
_25 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
|**Tangible assets**
**Endowment**
**freehold**
**property**
**Other**
**freehold**
**property**
**£**
**£**
**Balances brought forward at**
**1 January 2020**
As originally stated
-
-
Deemed cost of endowment
property on transition to FRS 102
7,267,566
-
Capitalisation of other assets in
compliance with the SORP
-
63,195
Depreciation of assets to date
-
(2,528)
Additional depreciation of assets
capitalised as at 1 January 2020
-
-
**Restated at 1 January 2020**
**7,267,566**
**60,667**
**Balances carried forward at**
**31 December 2020**
As originally stated
-
-
Deemed cost of endowment
property on transition to FRS 102
7,267,566
-
Capitalisation of other assets in
compliance with the SORP
-
63,195
Depreciation of assets to date
-
(3,792)
Additional depreciation of assets
capitalised as at 1 January 2020
-
-
**Restated at 31 December 2020**
**7,267,566**
**59,403**
**Income and expenditure**
Total income and expenditure recognised in 2020 has been
affected as follows:
As originally stated
Exclusion of Acting as Agent receipts & payments
Additional depreciation
Correction of items incorrectly described as previous year
adjustments and excluded from income and expenditure and
other errors
Restated for the year ended 31 December 2020|**Endowment**
**freehold**
**property**
**Other**
**freehold**
**property**
**£**
**£**
-
-
7,267,566
-
-
63,195
-
(2,528)
-
-|**Property**
**improvements**
**Furniture,**
**fittings,**
**equipment**
**Total**
**tangible**
**fixed**
**assets**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
1,110
**1,110**
-
-**7,267,566**
95,042
14,565
**172,802**
(9,097)
(3,208)
**(14,833)**
-
(1,110)
**(1,110)**|
|---|---|---|
||**7,267,566**
**60,667**|**85,945**
**11,357 7,425,535**|
||-
-
7,267,566
-
-
63,195
-
(3,792)
-
-|-
1,054
**1,054**
-
-**7,267,566**
100,317
16,013
**179,525**
(14,113)
(6,411)
**(24,316)**
-
(1,054)
**(1,054)**|
||**7,267,566**
**59,403**|**86,204**
**9,602 7,422,775**|
|||**Income**
**Expenditure**
**£**
**£**
176,326
141,272
(7,472)
(7,472)
-
9,538
4,839
(3,950)
**173,693**
**139,388**|
_26 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **3 Detailed comparatives for the Statement of Financial Activities**
|**Notes**
**Income**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
**Total income**
4
**Expenditure**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
**Total expenditure**
5
Net gains/(losses) on
investments
11
**Net income/(expenditure)**
Transfers between funds
15
**Net movement in funds**
Total funds brought forward
2,15
**Total funds carried**
**forward**
14,15|**Restated**
**2020**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
120,019
-
-
120,019
105
-
-
105
51,060
-
-
51,060
2,509
-
-
2,509|
|---|---|
||**173,693**
-
-
**173,693**|
||61,878
-
-
61,878
77,510
-
-
77,510|
||**139,388**
-
-
**139,388**|
||5,002
-
-
5,002|
||**39,307**
**-**
**-**
**39,307**|
||**-**
-
-
**-**
**39,307**
**-**
**-**
**39,307**
664,120
-
7,267,566
**7,931,686**|
||**703,427**
**-**
**7,267,566**
**7,970,993**|
_27 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **4 Income**
|
**Income**||
|---|---|
|**Donations and legacies**
Donations
Grants
Legacies
Donations in kind
**Total donations and**
**legacies**
**Charitable activities**
**Other trading activities**
Meeting House lettings
Residential rents
Energy generation
**Total other trading**
**activities**
**Investments**
Dividends & interest from
investments
Bank interest
**Total investments**
**Total income**|**2021**
**Restated**
**2020**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
101,303
1,110
-
**102,413**
116,453
1,125
2,400
-
**3,525**
2,066
1,000
-
-
**1,000**
1,500
-
-
-
**-**
-|
||103,428
3,510
-
**106,938**
**120,019**|
||130
-
-
**130**
**105**
23,006
-
-
**23,006**
22,111
28,091
-
-
**28,091**
28,287
622
-
-
**622**
662|
||51,719
-
-
**51,719**
**51,060**|
||1,452
-
-
**1,452**
1,372
646
-
-
**646**
1,137|
||2,098
-
-
**2,098**
**2,509**|
|||
||**157,375**
**3,510**
**-**
**160,885**
**173,693**|
All 2020 income was unrestricted.
Unrestricted grants income comprises Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme funding and local government grants.
_28 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **5 Total expenditure**
|Staff costs (note 6)
Grants and donations payable (note 7)
Property management fees
Other fundraising costs
Local meeting activities
Cleaning and gardening
Depreciation
Energy & water
Insurances
Repairs and maintenance
Other local meeting running costs
Accountancy and Independent
Examination
Allocation of support & governance costs
**Prior year comparative**
Staff costs (note 6)
Grants and donations payable (note 7)
Property management fees
Other fundraising costs
Local meeting activities
Cleaning and gardening
Depreciation
Energy & water
Insurances
Repairs and maintenance
Other local meeting running costs
Accountancy and Independent
Examination
Allocation of support & governance costs|**Raising**
**funds**
**Charitable**
**activities**
**Support &**
**governance**
**costs**
**2021 Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
14,470
**14,470**
-
36,600
-
**36,600**
6,245
-
-
**6,245**
1,584
-
-
**1,584**
-
3,425
-
**3,425**
-
-
10,304
**10,304**
-
-
11,007
**11,007**
-
-
7,889
**7,889**
-
-
14,738
**14,738**
5,586
-
14,162
**19,748**
-
706
10,211
**10,917**
-
-
10,230
**10,230**|
|---|---|
||13,415
40,731
93,011
**147,157**
51,179
41,832
(93,011)
**-**|
||**64,594**
**82,563**
**-**
**147,157**|
||**Raising**
**funds**
**Charitable**
**activities**
**Support &**
**governance**
**costs**
**Restated**
**2020 Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
13,888
**13,888**
-
37,004
-
**37,004**
7,017
-
-
**7,017**
104
-
-
**104**
-
3,340
-
**3,340**
-
-
9,835
**9,835**
-
-
9,482
**9,482**
-
-
9,094
**9,094**
-
-
14,057
**14,057**
2,938
-
14,523
**17,461**
-
1,193
8,828
**10,021**
-
-
8,085
**8,085**|
||10,059
41,537
87,792
**139,388**
51,819
35,973
(87,792)
**-**|
||**61,878**
**77,510**
**-**
**139,388**|
All expenditure in 2021 and 2020 was unrestricted. Governance costs totalled £2,420 (2020: £2,600) and include £2,500 fees in respect of the independent examination of these financial statements (2020: £2,520).
_29 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
2020 has been restated for the capitalisation of expenditure on assets costing more than £500 and depreciation (see note 2) and for the reanalysis of costs in compliance with the SORP.
## **6 Staff costs**
|
**Staff costs**||
|---|---|
|Gross salaries
Wardens' accommodation offset
Employer's pension contributions to defined contribution pension
schemes
Recruitment & training costs|**2021**
**Restated**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
19,598
19,182
(6,074)
(5,867)|
||13,524
13,315
296
573
650
-|
||**14,470**
**13,888**|
The charity employed three part-time members of staff: the average head count in the year was 3 (2020: 3) and the average number of full-time equivalent employees was 1.08 (2020: 1.08). There were no employees with total employee benefits above £60,000 in 2021 or 2020.
## **7 Grants and donations payable**
|Donations to other Quaker bodies (7 institutions, 2020: 4)
Donations to non-Quaker bodies (6 institutions, 2020: 5)
Donations to British Yearly Meeting
Grants to individuals (1 individual, 2020: 3)|**2021**
**Restated**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
1,111
835
3,115
945
31,994
34,232
380
992|
|---|---|
||**36,600**
**37,004**|
## **8 Related party transactions**
No remuneration or travel and subsistence expenses were paid to Trustees in either period. The trustees are not aware of any related party transactions in the current or prior period.
## **9 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.
_30 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **10 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost**
At 1 January 2021
Additions in year
At 31 December 2021
**Depreciation**
At 1 January 2021
Charge for year
At 31 December 2021
**Net book value**
**At 31 December 2021**
Restated at
31 December 2020|**Endowment**
**freehold**
**property**
**Other**
**freehold**
**property**
**Property**
**improvements**
**Furniture,**
**fittings,**
**equipment**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
7,267,566
63,195
100,317
16,013
7,447,091
-
17,131
3,891
21,022|
|---|---|
||**7,267,566**
**63,195**
**117,448**
**19,904**
**7,468,113**|
||-
3,792
14,113
6,411
24,316
-
1,264
5,872
3,871
11,007|
||**-**
**5,056**
**19,985**
**10,282**
**35,323**|
||**7,267,566**
**58,139**
**97,463**
**9,622**
**7,432,790**|
||7,267,566
59,403
86,204
9,602
7,422,775|
Included in endowment freehold property is land totalling £980,075 that is not depreciated (2020: £980,075). No depreciation is charged on endowment properties due to the high residual value of the land and the programme of regular maintenance carried out.
## **11 Investments**
|Market value 1 January 2021
Additions at cost
Net gain/(loss) on disposals and year-
end revaluation
**Market value at 31 December 2021**
Historic cost at 31 December 2021|**Listed**
**investments**
**Unlisted**
**investments**
**2021**
**Total**
**Restated**
**2020**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
191,481
2,839
**194,320**
189,295
10,000
23
**10,023**
23
31,410
-
**31,410**
5,002|
|---|---|
||**232,891**
**2,862**
**235,753**
**194,320**|
||82,487
2,500
**84,987**
**74,987**|
Unlisted investments comprise investments in co-operative share capital and similar investments, which do not appreciate in value. These investments are reviewed annually for any diminution in value and are believed to be worth the amount stated in the balance sheet.
_31 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **12 Debtors: amounts falling due within one year**
|Trade debtors
Accrued income
Other debtors
Prepayments|**2021**
**Restated**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
3,949
3,630
2,772
4,410
13,587
9,247
260
657|
|---|---|
||**20,568**
**17,944**|
## **13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|Trade creditors
Accruals
Other taxation and social security
Pension costs
Other creditors|**2021**
**Restated**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
8,344
9,763
6,601
7,129
465
162
50
48
480
0|
|---|---|
||**15,940**
**17,102**|
## **14 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
**Net assets at 31 December 2021**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
165,224
-
7,267,566 7,432,790
235,753
-
-
235,753
360,018
3,510
-
363,528
(15,940)
-
-
(15,940)|
|---|---|
||**745,055**
**3,510**
**7,267,566 8,016,131**|
_32 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
|**Prior year comparative**
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Current assets
Current liabilities
**Net assets at 31 December 2020**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Restated**
**total**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
155,209
-
7,267,566 7,422,775
194,320
-
-
194,320
371,000
-
-
371,000
(17,102)
-
-
(17,102)|
|---|---|
||**703,427**
**-**
**7,267,566 7,970,993**|
## **15 Movement in funds**
||**At 1**|||**Gains/**|**Transfers**|**At 31**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**January**|||**(losses) on**|**between**|**December**|
||**2021**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**investments**|**funds**|**2021**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Permanent endowment funds**|||||||
|Land & buildings|7,267,566|-|-|-|-|**7,267,566**|
|**Restricted funds**|||||||
|Cirencester MH|-|2,400|-|-|-|**2,400**|
|Peace Garden|-|1,110|-|-|-|**1,110**|
||**-**|**3,510**|**-**|**-**|**-**|**3,510**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||||
|_Designated funds_|||||||
|Cheltenham LM|82,585|30,528|(26,609)|-|(8,534)|**77,970**|
|Cirencester LM|155,672|27,246|(19,120)|14,936|(4,000)|**174,734**|
|Forest of Dean|||||||
|LM|8,253|4,781|(1,449)|-|(3,137)|**8,448**|
|Gloucester LM|23,026|7,573|(2,758)|-|(4,263)|**23,578**|
|Nailsworth LM|109,339|30,159|(22,109)|-|(12,550)|**104,839**|
|Painswick LM|19,485|14,239|(10,640)|-|(4,894)|**18,190**|
|Stroud LM|2,219|3,180|(2,143)|-|(1,550)|**1,706**|
|Wotton LM|302|3,898|(1,895)|-|(1,300)|**1,005**|
|Bursary|127,933|1,452|(380)|16,474|-|**145,479**|
|Camp|3,009|1|-|-|-|**3,010**|
|Property reserve|75,054|121|-|-|-|**75,175**|
|Quaker Close|15,000|-|(619)|-|-|**14,381**|
|_Total designated_|||||||
|_funds_|**621,877**|**123,178**|**(87,722)**|**31,410**|**(40,228)**|**648,515**|
|General funds|81,550|34,197|(59,435)|-|40,228|**96,540**|
|Total unrestricted|||||||
|funds|**703,427**|**157,375**|**(147,157)**|**31,410**|**-**|**745,055**|
|**Total funds**|**7,970,993**|**160,885**|**(147,157)**|**31,410**|**-**|**8,016,131**|
_33 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **Purposes of endowment and restricted funds**
Land & buildings Freehold meeting houses, associated housing and burial grounds held on permanent endowment for general charitable purposes. Cirencester MH For the upkeep of Cirencester Meeting House and garden over 2 years. Peace Garden For the purchase of a water feature for the Nailsworth Peace Garden.
## **Purposes of designated funds**
Meeting House designated Funds held by Local Meetings for their own purposes. funds Bursary For the support of members attending Quaker events and hardship grants. Camp For the support of the annual Camp. Property reserve Provision for major repair projects. Quaker Close For the refurbishment of the Nailsworth’s warden flat.
Transfers relate to funds transferred between the Local Meetings and the Area Meeting, and funds transferred to the property fund reserve for major repair projects.
_34 GAQMC Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2021_
## **Prior year comparative**
||**Restated at**|||**Gains/**|**Transfers**|**At 31**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**1 January**|||**(losses) on**|**between**|**December**|
||**2020**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**investments**|**funds**|**2020**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Permanent endowment funds**|||||||
|Land & buildings|7,267,566|-|-|-|-|**7,267,566**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||||
|_Designated funds_|||||||
|Cheltenham LM|87,177|30,941|(27,775)|-|(7,758)|**82,585**|
|Cirencester LM|170,034|25,431|(21,728)|6,225|(24,290)|**155,672**|
|Forest of Dean|||||||
|LM|6,089|5,719|(703)|-|(2,852)|**8,253**|
|Gloucester LM|22,840|9,279|(5,127)|-|(3,966)|**23,026**|
|Nailsworth LM|109,948|32,142|(21,342)|-|(11,409)|**109,339**|
|Painswick LM|22,639|9,320|(8,025)|-|(4,449)|**19,485**|
|Stroud LM|1,948|3,363|(692)|-|(2,400)|**2,219**|
|Wotton LM|296|3,078|(1,872)|-|(1,200)|**302**|
|Bursary|140,893|1,575|(676)|(1,223)|(12,636)|**127,933**|
|Camp|3,013|3|(7)|-|-|**3,009**|
|Property reserve|26,245|173|-|-|48,636|**75,054**|
|Quaker Close|-|15,000|-|-|-|**15,000**|
|_Total designated_|||||||
|_funds_|**591,122**|**136,024**|**(87,947)**|**5,002**|**(22,324)**|**621,877**|
|General funds|72,998|37,669|(51,441)|-|22,324|**81,550**|
|Total unrestricted|||||||
|funds|**664,120**|**173,693**|**(139,388)**|**5,002**|**-**|**703,427**|
|**Total funds**|**7,931,686**|**173,693**|**(139,388)**|**5,002**|**-**|**7,970,993**|
## **16 Acting as Agent**
Collections made for other organisations are excluded from these financial statements.
|Acting as Agent receipts in the year
Acting as Agent receipts in the year not yet paid over as at
31 December 2021|**2021**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
**8,387**
7,534|
|---|---|
||**1,411**
2,004|