THE MARRIAGE FOUNDATION
Annual Report and Financial Statements
31 AUGUST 2024
Company Limited by Guarantee Registration Number 08002851 (England and Wales)
Charity Registration Number 1150453
| CONTENTS | PAGE |
|---|---|
| Members of the Board and professional advisers | 1 |
| Summary of Vision, Aims and Activities | 2 |
| Chairman’s Statement | 3 |
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 5 |
| Independent examiner's report to the members | 9 |
| Statement of financial activities (incorporating the | |
| income and expenditure account) | 10 |
| Balance sheet | 11 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 12 |
Page 1
THE MARRIAGE FOUNDATION COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS
| Registered charity name | The Marriage Foundation |
|---|---|
| Charity number | 1150453 |
| Company registration number | 08002851 |
| Registered office | Queen Elizabeth Building |
| Temple | |
| London | |
| EC4Y 9BS | |
| Business Address | PO Box 3014 |
| Romford | |
| RM7 1TX | |
| Tel: 07916 697531 | |
| Email: info@marriagefoundation.org.uk | |
| Web: www.marriagefoundation.org.uk | |
| Trustees | Sir Paul Coleridge |
| William Coleridge | |
| Pamela Collis | |
| Alice Coleridge | |
| Dr Andrea Taylor-Cummings | |
| Jonathan Taylor-Cummings | |
| Lady Elionor Bailey | |
| Executive Director | Michaela Hyde |
| Independent examiner | Siobhan Temple CA(SA), ACMA |
| 277 Sheen Lane | |
| London | |
| SW14 8RN | |
| Bankers | National Westminster Bank Plc |
| 56 St. Andrews Street | |
| Cambridge | |
| CB2 3DA | |
| Patrons | Baroness Butler-Sloss |
| Baroness Deech | |
| Baroness Shackleton | |
| Lady Toulson | |
| Sir Mark Hedley |
Page 2
The Marriage Foundation
Summary of Vision, Aims and Activities
Our Vision
We want to see fewer relationships breaking down and more people forming healthy stable relationships. This would mean:
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More children growing up with both their birth parents, and fewer children whose wellbeing and life chances are diminished through experiencing broken relationships.
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Fewer adults experiencing the emotional pain and financial costs of broken relationships.
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And less cost to society – not the current £51 billion each year.
We believe that marriage is the key constituent to more stable relationships, and that marriages can be strengthened and supported to survive difficult times. That’s why our mission is to be the national champion for marriage.
Our core aims and objectives
Our charitable objects and activities are set out in full in the Trustees’ annual report. In summary our core aims, objectives and activities are
To be a powerful independent voice restoring confidence in marriage. Using the best and latest research, we:
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advocate the advantages of marriage
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challenge the social injustices of family breakdown
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demonstrate that marriage is both modern and the best arrangement for all couples
Our aims
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To see the aspiration of a life-long, fulfilling marriage as an attainable goal for all, especially our young people
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To see a society that thrives because stable marriage (or formal commitment) becomes the first choice for all couples
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To halt the current declining marriage rate because marriage is the single most effective key to reducing family breakdown
What do we do?
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Marriage Foundation confronts and challenges the status quo. By undertaking, publishing and broadcasting ground-breaking research we heighten public, media and government awareness and understanding of the scale of the national tragedy of family breakdown and its causes.
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Through collaboration and partnering with a wide range of like-minded organisations we advocate effective remedies and signpost people to them.
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The Marriage Foundation
Chairman’s Statement
Chairman’s Statement for the Year 2023/2024
The year was dominated by the political changes caused by the elections both here and in the USA. The media noise which builds up for a long period before both elections drowns out all other agendas making it virtually impossible to grab attention for our research and press releases. It is largely a waste of precious time trying to compete for space in this environment. Organisations like ours have to wait for the media blizzard to subside before releasing new research. We eagerly waited to see whether any of the UK political parties made any serious attempt to grapple with some of the familiar and chronic problems caused by family breakdown. We were predicably disappointed. With the exception of the Reform party (which had a section on the importance of supporting families) there was nothing to encourage us. We must wait to see whether the new government or the “new” conservative party show any signs of confronting any of these well known issues. I am not holding my breath. Evidence to date is not encouraging. We combat our occasional bouts of despondency caused by the politicians’ refusal to get a grip on these issues by reminding ourselves that the abolitionists took seventeen years to achieve the banning of international slavery. So our pro marriage/anti family breakdown campaign has to ride the storm and keep going forward ….and we will.
Despite the distractions we have, as usual, been busy. Within these accounts is a media report. It cannot cover everything but highlights the main events and subjects. It is very encouraging to see the continuing drop in the divorce rate. Next year the figures for the first full year of the new “no fault” divorce regime will be released. Early signs would seem to indicate that we were right to support the changes, and the continuing decline has not been affected by the change to the law.
We have also been invited by the government to engage in their scoping studies around post-divorce financial arrangements and the possible changes to the law relating to the financial rights of unmarried cohabitants. Both areas are long running thorny subjects which provoke heated debate from all sides and we have submitted detailed proposals.
Harry Benson, our tireless research director, has been fully employed on two fronts. He is now well into the final year of his PhD at Bristol Uni. He spends much time fielding challenges to his work by the appointed supervisors and examiners. It is clear that they have never had to grapple with the science behind marriage or his conclusions (all under wraps until completion). He has found it at times a serious uphill struggle but has the gritty determination of the former Falklands naval helicopter pilot which he was. He deserves our constant admiration. I can’t wait to see the finished product which I am convinced will be not only invaluable in winning our big arguments but also provide new media attractive findings. On top of his PhD work he continues to produce a steady stream of research based, press focused reports which have to elbow their way into the media. He also finds himself on TV and radio whenever invited for comment. His appearance this year as one of the main witnesses on the BBC Moral maze was a tribute to the reputation that he and Marriage Foundation have established. Quite frankly there is no one in the country who has the breadth and depth of knowledge or reputation which he has.
In parallel with Harry’s work our TV documentary continues to push ahead. Executive director Michaela Hyde (with producer Angie Mason) have spent days and days engaging with organisations which work in diverse ways in this field. It is a challenge to find real case studies i.e. individuals and couples who are prepared to discuss their own experiences on screen. This material is “the gold” which especially excites the production companies. We have real interest from both the BBC and the independent sector but solid live interview material is the key which unlocks the commissioning
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The Marriage Foundation
Chairman’s Statement
editors’ funding commitments. We have keen expert supporters helping us to get full attention for the project. It is our intention to finalise the commissioning of this project in the coming year.
Our “ marriage Book ” is now approaching completion and is going through a rigorous review/editorial process using an additional collaborator who not only has the enthusiasm and expertise to ensure we strike the right chord but also is the right generation to speak to our intended younger audience.
So this has, yet again, been, despite many interruptions and distractions, a full-on year. Our dedicated and highly focused team (supplemented by outside expert help) punch miles above their weight through relentless graft and, of course, the financial help of our supporters. I am as always continually and sincerely grateful for all the support we receive from so many quarters.
Sir Paul Coleridge
Founder and Chairman of the trustees
Page 5
The Marriage Foundation
Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31 August 2024
The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Reference and administrative details are shown in the schedule of members of the board and professional advisers on page 1 of the financial statements.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document and Constitution
The Marriage Foundation was incorporated under and is regulated by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 22 March 2012 and amended by special resolution registered at Companies House on 11 January 2013. The company limited by guarantee was registered as a charity by the Charity Commission on 11 January 2013.
Governance , Structure and Management
The charity is governed, on a day-to-day basis, by the Executive Director, who meets frequently with the chair of Trustees to discuss the issues affecting the charity. In establishing governance policies and procedures for the charity the Trustees have been guided by the Charity Commission’s published advice and guidance. Marriage Foundation has a small collection of Honorary Advisors, a highly skilled, dedicated, and experienced group of individuals who act in a personal capacity to support the work of the charity. The following advisors make themselves available to the charity when their support or advise is sought. These small group of individuals are as follows:
Alex Le Vey is the Director of Philanthropy and Veteran’s Health at King Edward VII’s hospital.
Dr Eli Gardner is a Clinical Child Psychologist, and the Co-founder & Executive Director of the charity Kids Matter.
Frank Young is Editorial Director at the Civitas think tank.
Nola Leach was the Chief Executive of UK Charity CARE for 17 years. She stepped down from this role in 2021 and now concentrates her time serving on several boards and mentoring women leaders across Europe.
Philippa Taylor is Director of the Institute of Faith and Culture, a graduate leadership training scheme at CARE.
Reserves Policy
It is the policy of the Trustees to hold an amount in free reserves equivalent to 3 month’s costs. The free reserves as at 31 August 2024 were £45,196.
Recruitment, Appointment and Induction of Trustees
Invitations will be extended from time to time by the existing body of Trustees to suitable qualified and experienced men and women to become new trustees. Newly appointed Trustees are provided with induction materials, including a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company and the Trust Deed.
Internal Controls and Risk Management
The systems of internal control are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute assurance
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The Marriage Foundation
Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31 August 2024
against misstatement and loss. They include:
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a business plan and annual budget
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management accounts
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regular reporting by the Executive Director
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consideration by the Trustees of the financial results
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identification and management of risks.
An annual review of the risks facing the Foundation will be conducted and considered by Trustees. They agree the strategic risks facing the organisation and measures to be adopted to mitigate those risks.
Associated Bodies
Marriage Foundation was publicly launched in May 2012 and operated as a project of The Relationships Foundation (Registered charity number 1106460) until independent charity registration was achieved on 11 January 2013. The role of the Relationships Foundation in the management of the affairs of The Marriage Foundation ceased with effect from September 2018.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
Objectives
The objects of Marriage Foundation, as stated in the Memorandum and Articles of Association, are:
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To safeguard and protect the physical and mental health of adults and children, and to prevent hardship poverty and distress, by raising awareness of the means by which successful relationships (including but not limited to married relationships) can be developed and strengthened and the breakdown of relationships avoided.
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To promote research into all aspects of the establishment, maintenance and development of successful relationships (including but not limited to married relationships) and to publish the useful results thereof.
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To promote the effectiveness and efficiency of charities concerned with the creation and maintenance of successful relationships (including but not limited to married relationships), for the benefit of the public, in particular, but not exclusively, by organising conferences and disseminating the results of relevant research.
Having had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, the Trustees believe that the activities of Marriage Foundation deliver public benefit through:
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Published research, conferences and media comment that highlight different aspects of the health and stability of couple relationships. These raise awareness of the risks of unstable relationships and address the myths and misperceptions that hinder the formation of more stable relationships.
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Working in partnership with existing providers of support for marriage and couple relationships to enable their work to have greater impact.
We believe that increasing the number of healthy marriages (as opposed to less stable cohabitation) and reducing the rate of breakdown is key to this. We seek to promote better understanding of marriage in public debate, tackling the myths that discourage marriage; improve access to relationships support and education, particularly in the early stages of relationships; and tackle the marriage gap, especially for disadvantaged young people who are more likely to opt for less stable cohabitation.
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The Marriage Foundation
Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31 August 2024
Our work is intended to assist partner organisations and their effectiveness. We are not a direct provider of services but work closely with both local and national relationships educators, seeking to change the cultural environment within which they operate to enable far greater impact.
Activities
During the year, we continued our programme of research, media engagement and development of practical initiatives. Full details of all of these, papers and press releases, are on our constantly updated website (www.marriagefoundation.org.uk) . These are the headlines:
Research and media engagement
As well as commenting widely on the latest family statistics, we continued to produce a stream of lowcost and clearly defined pieces of research making the case for marriage. We also made use of the dataset that our research director (Harry Benson) has built for his PhD on the timing of marriage. More papers ware expected to follow from this.
It has been a tough one for media coverage. Despite this, we have found ourselves mentioned in 45 national level media articles or interviews and numerous (about 5 a month) local news articles and interviews. Our standout appearances include a front-page quote in the Times, response to the news that fewer than half of all UK adults are married, and participation in BBC Radio 4’s Moral Maze.. We have been quoted nationally and internationally in the Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday, Catholic Herald, Daily Mail, Financial Times, Independent, Irish Times, Paris Match, The Sun, Daily Telegraph, The Times, and Yahoo News. We have had articles published in Financial Remedies legal journal, Sorted magazine, and online blogs with the Institute for Family Studies, Mercator magazine and UK Parliament News. We have also appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live, Talk TV, Times Radio, Premier Radio, and local BBC and other radio stations.
Much of this coverage has stemmed from our active approach to promoting our research in the national media. Of our five research papers or briefing notes published during this fiscal year, four received coverage in the national press. In ‘Family Unfriendly Britain’, the Times covered our contrast of diverging marriage rates between Britain and Hungary. Two papers on falling divorce rates, based on our proprietary analysis of Office for National Statistics data, were covered by the Telegraph, Mail on Sunday and others. An analysis of date nights, using Harry Benson’s PhD database of 3,300 families, also made the Mail on Sunday as well as BBC 5 live.
All papers are available for download on our website.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The financial outturn for the year was a profit of £16,334 (2023: profit of £5,782). Free reserves at 31 August 2024 were £42,696 (2023: £26,362).
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES
The Trustees (who are also the directors of Marriage Foundation for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
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The Marriage Foundation
Trustees’ Annual Report Year ended 31 August 2024
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees 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 judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Siobhan Temple CA(SA), ACMA has been appointed as independent examiner for the ensuing year.
SMALL COMPANY PROVISIONS
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
Registered office: Queen Elizabeth Building Temple London EC4Y 9BS
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
Paul Coleridge Trustee
Page 9
The Marriage Foundation
Independent Examiner’s Report Year Ended 31 August 2024
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 August 2024.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND BASIS OF REPORT
As the charity's trustees of the company (who are also the directors of The Marriage Foundation for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). In carrying out my examination I have followed the directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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.
Siobhan Temple CA(SA) Independent Examiner 277 Sheen Lane London SW14 8RN
Page 10
The Marriage Foundation
Statement of Financial Activities (Incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account) Year Ended 31 August 2024
| Note INCOME Donations & Legacies 1 TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Charitable activity 2 TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET EXPENDITURE/INCOME FOR THE YEAR ACCUMULATED FUNDS B/F TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 4 |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds 2024 £ Total Funds 2023 £ 103,245 - 103,245 98,294 |
|---|---|
| 103,245 - 103,245 98,294 |
|
| 86,911 - 86,911 92,512 |
|
| 86,911 - 86,911 92,512 |
|
| 16,334 - 16,334 5,782 26,362 - 26,362 20,580 |
|
| 42,696 - 42,696 26,362 |
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recognised gains and losses has not been prepared.
All of the above amounts relate to continuing activities.
Page 11
The Marriage Foundation
Balance Sheet
Year Ended 31 August 2024
BALANCE SHEET 31 AUGUST 2024
| CURRENT ASSETS | Note | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Cash at Bank | 45,196 | 31,362 | |
| 45,196 | 31,362 | ||
| CREDITORS amounts falling due within one year | 3 | 2,500 | 5,000 |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 42,696 | 26,362 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES | 42,696 | 26,362 | |
| NET TOTAL ASSETS | 42,696 | 26,362 | |
| FUNDS | |||
| Unrestricted Income Funds | 4 | 42,696 | 26,362 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 42,696 | 26,362 |
For the financial year ended 31 August 2024 the charity was entitled to the exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
The members have not required the charity to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on the 28 May 2024 and are signed on their behalf by:
SIR PAUL COLERIDGE PAMELA COLLIS
Company Registration Number: 08002851
The notes on pages 12 to 14 form part of these financial statements.
Page 12
The Marriage Foundation
Notes to the Financial Activities Statements Year Ended 31 August 2024
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared 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 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024 are prepared in accordance with FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Going Concern
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as, after making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future at the time of approving the financial statements.
Income
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Voluntary income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable certainty.
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Grant income is included when the related conditions to the grant have been met.
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Donations are credited to the revenue account when received.
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All other income is accounted for on a receivable basis.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted general funds
The charity maintains a general unrestricted fund, which represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Such funds may be held to finance both working capital and capital investment.
Restricted funds
Restricted funds have been provided to the charity for particular purposes and it is the policy of the board of Trustees to carefully monitor the application of those funds in accordance with the restrictions placed upon them.
Expenditure
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All resources are accounted for on an accrual basis.
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Costs of generating funds are those costs incurred in attracting voluntary and grant related income
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Direct charitable expenditure included the direct costs of the activities and depreciation on related assets
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Governance costs include those incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements
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Support costs include central functions and where such costs relate to more than one functional cost category, they have been apportioned in line with direct salary costs of the relevant service
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The Marriage Foundation
Notes to the Financial Activities Statements Year Ended 31 August 2024
1. DONATIONS & LEGACIES
| Donations Tax Reclaimed |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds 2024 £ Total Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ 101,805 - 101,805 94,026 1,440 - 1,440 4,268 |
|---|---|
| 103,245 - 103,245 98,294 |
2. COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
| Office costs Consultancy costs Publicity |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total Funds 2024 £ Total Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ 2,659 - 2,659 1,509 83,252 - 83,252 90,643 1,000 - 1,000 360 |
|---|---|
| 86,911 - 86,911 92,512 |
All expenses directly incurred by The Marriage Foundation are paid by The Marriage Foundation. Consultancy costs cover The Marriage Foundation’s research and media work.
Particulars of employees
There were no employees during the period.
3. CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year
| Accruals 4. UNRESTRICTED INCOME FUNDS Balance at 01-09-23 £ Incoming resources £ General Funds 26,362 103,245 Total unrestricted income funds 26,362 103,245 |
Accruals 4. UNRESTRICTED INCOME FUNDS Balance at 01-09-23 £ Incoming resources £ General Funds 26,362 103,245 Total unrestricted income funds 26,362 103,245 |
2024 £ 2023 £ 2,500 5,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 2,500 5,000 |
||
| Outgoing resources £ Balance at 31-08-24 £ 86,911 42,696 |
||
| 26,362 103,245 |
86,911 42,696 |
Page 14
The Marriage Foundation
Notes to the Financial Activities Statements
Year Ended 31 August 2024
5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION
None of the members of the Board of Trustees received any remuneration during this year.
During the year, no Trustees received reimbursements of personal travel and subsistence expenditure.
6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the year donations totalling £7,000 were received from Sir Paul Coleridge a Trustee of the charity. Donations of £1,200 were received from Pamela Collis also a Trustee of the charity.
7. COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
In the event of a winding-up of the company, the liability of the members is restricted to £1.