COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
Company Limited by Guarantee Registered Charity
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
Charity Registration Number 1150251 Company Number 07988308
COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021
| CONTENTS Page |
|---|
| Reference and administrative details 1 |
| Trustees’ report 2-4 |
| Independent examiner’s report 5 |
| Statement of financial activities 6 |
| Balance sheet 7 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements 8-11 |
COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Trustees Sister Gabriela Gasz (Chair) Sister Camilla Oberding (Company Secretary) Sister Theresa Weight Mgr Christopher Brooks Rev. Matthew Blake Registered office House of the Divine Will Neatherd Moor Dereham NR20 4AZ Independent examiner Vincent Jones Wakes Colne Place Wakes Colne CO6 2BY Governing document The Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Charitable Company was incorporated on the 13 March 2012, as amended by a Special Resolution registered at Companies House on 14 September 2012. The Company was registered with the Charity Commission on 19 December 2012.
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COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021
The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year to 31 December 2021. The information on page 1 forms part of this report. Although the company was registered in March 2012 the activities of the charity did not commence until 22[nd] January 2013.
CHARITABLE OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The objects of the charity as set out in our statutory document are:
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the advancement of religion, and
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the advancement of education
Such other exclusively charitable purposes, as recognised by the law from time to time and as the Trustees (and Directors) shall determine, provided that the objects are to be carried out in accordance with the values and ethos of the Roman Catholic Faith.
Our activities this year, while still affected by the pandemic, continued to thrive in Walsingham and Dereham and they included:
Pastoral Ministry
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The community’s ministry increased gradually at Dowry House as covid restrictions were gradually phased out. Retreats in person and via zoom were well attended.
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The finally professed sisters continued to support major pilgrimages at the Shrine and provided spiritual direction to retreatants. Until June 2021, they also helped with stewarding at the shrine, stopping once guest numbers at Dowry House picked up again. Sr Gabriela extended her ministry with the Poles who visited the shrine and led retreats in Polish at Dowry House and on Zoom.
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Sr Camilla continued her studies at the Regina Apostolorum University in Rome and the Studium Course organized by the Dicastery for Consecrated Life. The latter was very useful as she supported other religious communities in the diocese in her capacity as Vicar for Female Religious. She also remains on the Marriage and Family Life Commission.
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In June the Rule of Life for the lay branch was approved after several months of work by the Lay Core Group. Lizzie Sudlow, invited earlier in the year to be the leader of the lay branch, was confirmed in this role during the first formation meeting for the Lay Core Group held at Dereham from the 16-18 July.
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The first edition of the COLW Book of Life (which begins to explain our spirituality) was published in August after two years of work by the sisters and the many people who proof read the document for them.
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Lizzie and her husband Brian started the first monthly study group on the Book of Life for people around the country who were interested in discerning membership of the lay branch.
Youth Ministry
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This year saw more involvement in youth ministry through leading retreats for young people such as ‘Called to the Fullness of Life’ on the theme of emotional maturity and discernment, ‘Called to the Fullness of Love’ on the theme of living chastely.
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Sr Theresa was made assistant chaplain to the Catholic Society at the University of East Anglia and replaced Sr Camilla on the board of the Diocesan Vocations Team. She collaborated with Ignite, the East Anglia Diocese Youth Service team and was invited onto the Diocesan Youth Commission.
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The Sisters gave the opportunity to young adults interested in discerning their vocation to have a live alongside experience with the community, receiving formation and personal accompaniment.
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Our postulant did a certificate in Carmelite Studies as a part of preparation for her novitiate which she entered novitiate on 7[th] October.
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Sr Theresa together with our postulant led a prepared group of young people from the Walsingham parish for the Sacrament of confirmation.
Local Outreach at Dereham
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In June the community held a two-day Open Garden event at their convent in Dereham to support the locals in need for social connection after the lockdowns. All who came found this day encouraging and calming.
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The Sisters continued their involvement in the Churches Together in Dereham and their support of the work for the local community.
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The second Shepherds Hut was installed in September and being larger, was already used by couples coming on retreat or by people staying for longer retreats.
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COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
TRUSTEES’ REPORT YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021
APPOINTMENT AND TRAINING OF TRUSTEES
Existing Trustees through a process of nomination and election appoint trustees to the Charity Board. A list of Trustees during the period of this report is shown on page 1.
The training of Trustee is provided when required by the charity’s advisors and other training organisations. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training courses/seminars to enhance their expertise.
RISK MANAGEMENT
The Board are aware of their responsibilities to regularly assess the risks to which the Charity is exposed and to agree how best those risks may be mitigated and takes the appropriate action to manage them. The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and continue to formulate suitable policies and annual risk management reviews.
REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
The review of activities of the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham is in the eighth period of financial accounts for the Charity.
The community is engaged in projects that reflect the aims and objectives of the Charity at Walsingham, their spiritual home and at Dereham. The sisters did some talks on prayer and the spirituality of Walsingham in a couple of parishes before the Covid lockdown measures came into place. Until then people still made use of the space offered at Dowry House Retreat in Walsingham to deepen their own prayer life and sense of purpose, using the spiritual accompaniment offered by the sisters when requested.
Once the lockdown started the sisters moved as a community to the convent in Dereham, benefitting from a greater sense of stability. The unexpected three months together gave them the time to unpack the many boxes of books, formation material, resources that have been collected over the years. At the beginning of July 2020, the sisters started offering live-streamed morning and evening prayer from Dowry House Chapel as well as assisting with the stewarding services at the shrine. Small numbers of guests were able to come for socially -distanced retreats, facilitated by the sisters, according to the level of covid restrictions in place at the time.
Restricted Funds
We continue to fundraise for the property and especially this year for the second shepherd’s huts to act as another hermitage for the different branches of the community. Any future monies raised for them will be set off against this restricted fund which is a negative figure this year.
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COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
TRUSTEES’ REPORT
YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021
FINANCIAL REVIEW AND RESOURCES
This is the ninth full year of accounts for the Charity.
SAFEGUARDING
The Trustees regularly review the safeguarding arrangements for the Community. The Community complies with the National Catholic Safeguarding standards and moved its alignment with the Safeguarding Commission from that of Brentwood Diocese to that of the Diocese of East Anglia. Sr. Theresa remains the local safeguarding representative and continues to keep members up to date with relevant safeguarding training.
TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT
The Trustees, who are also directors of the charitable company, are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial period. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and Applicable Law). Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021 I report on the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 Decernber 2021. which are set out on pages 6 10 10. Respectlve responsibilities of trusteès and examiner The trustees (who are also the directors ol the company for the purposes of company lawl are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144121 of th8 Charities Act 2011 Ilhe 2011 Acll and that an independent examination is needed. Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject lo audit under Part le of the Companies Act 2006 and is eligible for Independent examination, il 15 my responsibility to.. examine the accounts undèr section 145 of the 2011 Act". to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under $ection 14515llbl of the 2011 Act". and to state whether particular matters have come lo my atlention. Bas1$ of Indèpendent examiner's report My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commi5s10n. An examination Includes a reviw of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. 118lso In¢ludes consideration ol any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undértaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, no opinion Is given as lo whether the accounts present a 'lrue and lair view. and the report is limited to those mallors Set out in Ihe statement below. Indèpendènt examlner's statement In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention.. which gives me reason8ble cause lo believe that, in any material respect, Iherequiremenls. lal to keep accounting records In accord8nce with section 388 of the Companies Act 2006. and Ibl to prepare accounts which accord with the a¢counting records, comply with the accounting requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Pra¢ti¢e." A¢¢ounting and Reporting by Charities (revised 20051 have not been mel." or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Vln¢ent Jones FCA Wakes Colne Place Wake5 Colne Essex C06 2BY Slgnature........................ /J *-/ 2022 Charity Registration Number 1150251
COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021
| Notes | Restricted | Unrestricted | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | ||||
| 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | 2020 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| INCOMING RESOURCES | 2 | ||||
| Voluntary income | 19,978 | 75,910 | 95,888 | 79,528 | |
| Investment income | 6 | 6 | 72 | ||
| Incoming resources from charitable activities | 36,756 | 36,756 | 36,036 | ||
| Total incoming resources | 19,978 | 112,672 | 132,650 | 115,636 | |
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | |||||
| Charitable activities | 3 | 54,018 | 54,018 | 33,862 | |
| Governance costs | 4 | 20,620 | 20,620 | 28,473 | |
| Restricted | 21,500 | 21,500 | 29,454 | ||
| Total resources expended | 21,500 | 74,638 | 96,138 | 91,789 | |
| Net income/loss | -1,522 | 38,034 | 36,512 | 23,847 | |
| Balance brought forward 1st January 2021 | -43,464 | 830,817 | 787,353 | 757,811 | |
| Purchase of fixed asset | 62,358 | 62,358 | |||
| Realised investment gains | 0 | 0 | 5,695 | ||
| Balance carried down 31st December 2021 | -44,986 | 931,209 | 886,223 | 787,353 |
In the year, in addition to the above revenue items, a second hut was purchased and paid for by restricted donations at a cost of £62,358; this hut has been depreciated for the current year, 5%.
All activities are continuing. There are no other gains or losses other than those shown above.
The notes on pages 8 to 11 form part of these accounts.
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COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2021
| Notes FIXED ASSETS 5 Tangible fixed assets CURRENT ASSETS Current asset investment 6 Cash at bank and in hand Total current assets NET CURRENT ASSETS Long-term creditor TOTAL ASSETS LESS TOTAL LIABILITIES Represented by: 7,8 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS |
2021 2020 £ £ 1,073,055 1,020,139 |
|---|---|
| 51,067 51,061 42,101 13,653 |
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| 93,168 64,714 |
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| 93,168 64,714 |
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| 280,000 297,500 |
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| 886,223 787,353 |
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| 931,209 830,817 -44,986 -43,464 |
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| 886,223 787,353 |
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008). For the period ended 31 December 2020 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006. Members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for: ensuring the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of the financial year and of its surplus and deficit for the financial period, in accordance with the requirements of section 394 and 395 of the Act and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to accounts, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
Approved by the Board on 8[th] September 2022
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COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of accounting
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost basis, in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and reporting by Charities” issued in March 2005 and in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).
Investments
Investments are included at their mid-market price at the balance sheet date. Gains and losses (including foreign exchange movements on non-Euro denominated investments) are reported in the Statement of Financial Activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds comprise accumulated surpluses and deficits on general funds. They are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general charitable objectives.
Incoming resources
Incoming resources represent the total income receivable during the period and principally comprises donations receivable, investment income and bank interest for the charitable objects. Expenses donated or paid for by donors is included as a gift in kind and is included as both income and expenditure in the Statement of Financial Activities.
Resources expended
Expenditure including irrecoverable VAT is charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis. Indirect costs are allocated based on the proportion of direct costs attributable to each activity.
Charitable expenditure
Charitable expenditure comprises expenditure directly attributable or allocated to the principal activity of the charity.
Governance costs
Governance costs comprise those costs that cannot be directly attributed to charitable activities. These costs are incurred in connection with the compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Foreign currency
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Any gain or loss arising from a change in exchange rates subsequent to the date of the transaction is reported as an exchange gain or loss in the Statement of Financial Activities.
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COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021
2. INCOMING RESOURCES
| Grants and donations Friends' donations Diocese Mission Appeal income Investment income |
2021 2020 £ £ 2,000 2,500 73,910 64,420 30,174 29,856 6,582 6,180 19,978 12,608 6 72 |
|---|---|
| 132,650 115,636 |
3. ANALYSIS OF RESOURCES EXPENDED – CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
| Charitable activities Formation Apostolate |
Direct Indirect costs costs Total 2021 2021 2021 2020 £ £ £ £ 6,136 17,710 23,846 26,038 7,764 22,408 30,172 7,824 |
|---|---|
| 13,900 40,118 54,018 33,862 |
4. GOVERNANCE COSTS
| Finance and administration Attributable indirect costs |
2021 2020 £ £ 5,306 7,708 15,314 20,765 20,620 28,473 |
|---|---|
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COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021
5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| Cost: At 1.1.21 Additions Revaluation Disposals At 31.12.21 Depreciation: At 1.1.21 Charge for the year At 31.12.21 Net book value |
Motor Freehold land Huts Vehicles and building £ £ £ 27,349 957,792 60,200 0 0 62,359 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 27,349 957,792 122,559 |
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| 22,192 0 3,010 3,315 0 6,128 |
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| 25,507 0 9,138 |
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| 1,842 957,792 113,421 |
6. CURRENT ASSETS INVESTMENT
| COIF Charitable Investment Fund COIF Charities Deposit Fund |
2021 2020 £ £ 51,067 51,061 51,067 51,061 |
|---|---|
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COMMUNITY OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2021
7. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
| Current asset investment Cash Petty cash Debtors |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds 2021 2021 2020 £ £ £ 51,067 51,061 40,901 12,453 1,200 1,200 |
|---|---|
| 93,168 64,714 |
8. RESERVES
| Unrestricted funds Purchase of fixed asset Restricted funds Total funds |
Brought Incoming Resources Closing forward resources expended balance at 1.1.21 at 31.12.21 830,817 112,672 74,638 62,358 931,209 -43,464 19,978 21,500 -44,986 |
|---|---|
| 787,353 195,008 96,138 886,223 |
9. EMPLOYEES
There were no employees who received emoluments (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000.
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