## **AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST** ## **Company Limited by Guarantee** ## **Registered Charity** **REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended** **31 DECEMBER 2022** Company registration number 8340139 Registered charity number 1153223 AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 ## THE DIRECTORS REPORT The Directors, who are also the Trustees, present their report and independently examined financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP), Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** Amersham Deanery Trust (“ADT”) is a charitable company limited by guarantee. It was registered as a company on 21 December 2012 and registered with the Charity Commission on 2 August 2013. It began operations on 1 January 2014 following the transfer of assets from Amersham Deanery Synod. The governing documents comprise the Memorandum and Articles of Association. In the event of being wound up, members (who are the members of Amersham Deanery Synod) may be required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 each. The charitable company is run by the Directors (who are the members of the Standing Committee of Amersham Deanery Synod). ## **Recruitment, appointment and election of Directors** The Directors are the members of the Standing Committee of Amersham Deanery Synod, and are ex-officio or are elected or appointed every three years following the election of each Synod, in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. ## **Organisational Structure** The Directors meet together four times each year as the Standing Committee of Amersham Deanery Synod, and as the board of Directors of ADT as necessary during those meetings. ## **Related Parties** ADT is an independent charitable company but it operates to serve the Church of England and therefore relates to the parishes in Amersham Deanery, Amersham Deanery Synod, the Diocese of Oxford and the wider Church of England and Anglican Communion. 2 AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 ## **REFERENCE & ADMINSTRATIVE DETAILS** |Charity name:|Amersham Deanery Trust (ADT)| |---|---| |Company registration number:|8340139| |Registered charity number:|1153223| |Jurisdiction of registration:|England and Wales| |Trustees/Directors:|Mr L J Tebboth| ||The Rev’d M Ludlow| ||Mrs J P Dziegiel| |Registered office:|239 Chartridge Lane| ||Chesham| ||Bucks| ||HP5 2SF| |Independent examiner:|Mr M R Hardman| ||Oak House| ||Botley Road| ||Chesham| ||HP5 1XG| |Bankers:|Barclays Bank PLC| ||Chesham Branch| ||102 The Broadway| ||Chesham| ||HP5 1DY| |Governing deed:|Memorandum and Articles of Association| 3 AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 ## **OBJECTIVES TO BENEFIT THE PUBLIC** ## **Purpose and aims** The objects of ADT, as set out in the Articles of Association, are “to benefit the public by furthering the work of the Church of England in the Deanery of Amersham in the Diocese of Oxford.” ## **ACTIVITIES, ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** During the year, ADT undertook the following activities to benefit the public, having regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit: The key function of the deanery team is to equip, enable, support and facilitate growth and renewal in the local church throughout the Amersham deanery. The Deanery Team consists of: Mr Lawrence Tebboth as Lay Chair Rev’d Peggy Ludlow as Area Dean Mrs Julie Dziegiel as Treasurer Mrs Dorothy Potter as Secretary Additional oversight of issues in the Deanery is provided by the Mission and Pastoral Committee. This committee consists of five members of the clergy including the Area Dean, and five members of the laity including the Lay Chair, and also meets four times a year. ## **Inspections and Pastoral Support** Inspections of individual parishes are delegated by the Archdeacon of Buckingham to the Area Dean and Lay Chair. The Inspection as a minimum involves completion of a standard proforma based on provision of records by the Churchwardens. Inspections usually take place in the April to July time frame following Annual Parochial Church Meetings. Outstanding issues from the inspections are logged for later follow up. A key conversation item in the inspection is the status of the parish Mission Action Plan (MAP) Inspections are planned to take place on a three-year cycle so that continuity within parishes is maintained as wardens are generally replaced on a three-year cycle. Parishes not inspected in the year are offered a pastoral visit from the Deanery Team. In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and UK national restrictions outstanding inspections from 2021 were completed along with those already scheduled for 2022. There has been again an above average number of continuing and new vacancies in the Deanery in 2022. The Area Dean Team have been involved in many meetings to support churches in the vacancy period, and in the appointment processes. ## **Mission Action Planning** Individual churches in the Deanery have MAPs that are typically reviewed on a four year cycle. An Amersham Deanery Plan is in course of preparation. Work on these has necessarily this year been a lower priority as individual parishes have been focussed on reaction and adaption to the Covid-19 pandemic. 4 AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 ## **Speakers at Synod meetings** Amersham Deanery Synod met three times in 2022. The March Synod included the AGM of Amersham Deanery Trust, and was held at St Michael and All Angels Amersham. The principal topic was a presentation by Doral Hayes on the Living and Love and Faith (LLF) material under current debate within the Church of England. Synod broke into groups to discuss and reconvened with a question and answer session. No Synod meeting was held in June, as May saw the Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft come to Amersham Deanery as part of his plans to visit every Deanery in the Diocese. His visit had started with a Clergy Eucharist, followed by a visit to the Dove Café at St Thomas Beaconsfield. All Church members were invited to an evening worship at St Mary Chesham, at which Steven spoke and held an open question and answer session. The opportunity was taken by most Deanery churches to provide a display board. Synod met at St Giles, Chalfont St Giles in September. The main speaker was Hannah Mann from Oxford Diocese Environment team who provided case studies from different churches, new resources, and outlined the practical next steps we can all take. Keith WoodSmith then described how St Giles had progressed to an Eco Church Silver award. At the December Synod the Deanery Treasurer reported on the planned allocation of Parish share for the coming year. Our Deanery tag to General Synod is Rev’d Jeremy Moodey, who presented on the past year in General Synod, and outlined some of the major issues that will be part of the agenda for 2023. Amersham Deanery Mission Partners Steve and Lindsey Poulson who work with street children in Honduras provided a video report. ## **Support of Parishes in the Deanery** During the year support to parishes took place in financial, pastoral and advisory capacities in small or larger ways depending on their need, including pastoral support and advice to clergy and lay people. During clergy vacancies advice was given in the running of the parish and an active part was played in any recruitment process. 2022 saw significant changes in the Deanery House of Clergy. - The Rev’d Dan Beesley was appointed Rector of Chalfont St Giles - The Rev’d Jonny Rapson was appointed Rector of Amersham with Coleshill. - The Rev’d Mike Bisset resigned from Vicar of Penn and Tylers Green - In the parish of Great Chesham, The Rev’d Ed Millais was appointed as Team Vicar at Emmanuel Chesham. The Rev’d Darren Dalton was appointed as Team Vicar to Christchurch and St George Ashley Green. - The Rev’d Azita Jabbari was welcomed as Curate at St Mary Denham. We also note that the Rev’d Meyrick Beebee, for many years associated with St James Gerrards Cross and Fulmer, died in 2022. ## **Parish Share allocations and voluntary donations to others** Parishes were encouraged to pay their 2022 allocation of share to Oxford Diocese by the necessary deadlines and all deadlines were met, albeit with two parishes being assisted by 5 AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 Deanery funds. Thus share was paid in full, and enabling the 3% rebate to be received by ADT (£45,387) from Oxford Diocese. The meeting of the deadlines is facilitated by most parishes paying their Parish Share by Direct Debit, which also gains the parishes a 1% discount on their share. In the autumn the parish share allocation for 2023 requested by the Oxford Diocese of Amersham Deanery was allocated to parishes within the deanery by agreed formula and presented to treasurers, the clergy Chapter and to the November meeting of Deanery Synod, and was approved. During the year, £2,000 was donated to the Church Mission Society to support the work of the Poulsons in Honduras. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Results to 31 December 2022** During the year, all the parishes in the deanery paid 100% of their allocated parish share to Oxford Diocese in 2022, although two parishes were supported by deanery funds. The required deadlines were met and ADT qualified to receive a 3% rebate of parish share. Consequently £45,837 was received in 2022 (2021 £46,725.) Interest of £617 (2021 £53) was also received on the balance of ADT’s CBF deposit account, more this year due to the rise in interest rates. The administration of the Oxford Diocese direct debit scheme means that it continues to be most practical to pay a rebate to parishes in December, to enable the rebate to be taken into account when calculating the parish share direct debit payments for the following year. £35,702 (2021 £42,188) was rebated to parishes for 2022, to be credited against 2023 Parish Share payments. This sum ensures that the maximum increase asked of any parish for 2023 is 2% over 2021, and most parishes have been asked for less Parish Share, using the Deanery formula (adapted this year due to changes in the allocation formula and data used by Oxford Diocese to allocate to the deaneries.) We are very grateful for the work in the parishes that enables the Parish Share to be paid, and for the sacrificial giving and fundraising efforts of the congregations. There was a net deficit of £7,293 (2021 £18,682) for the year in the general fund. The deanery paid £7,900 Parish Share which was not allocated to parishes. This takes reserves further below reserves policy. It has been right use of reserves in the extraordinary situation of the pandemic, but the trustees/directors will consider the situation of reserves being below policy during 2023. ADT remains in a viable financial position at the end of the year. ## **Principal funding sources** The principal funding source for ADT is the rebate paid by Oxford Diocese if 100% of parish share is received by the required deadlines (see above). ADT also receives interest on monies held on deposit in a CBF account. ## **Reserves policy** The income of ADT is entirely dependent on the parishes in the deanery being able to pay their allocated parish share amounts to Oxford Diocese by the necessary deadlines. As this is not easy at any time and particularly difficult for some parishes, the Directors of ADT have decided on a reserves policy of two years rebate. This level of reserves should enable ADT activities to be able to continue even if one or more parishes are unable to pay their parish 6 AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 share by the deadlines, and allows scope for ADT to support struggling parishes to pay parish share if this is appropriate. ## **FUTURE PLANS** - To continue to support individual parishes, and minister to the congregations and local communities. - To support parishes through vacancies and illnesses, including assisting in the appointment processes. It is envisaged that there are five new appointments and one new vacancy in the year. - To respond to any training need identified from the Deanery MAP by either providing local courses or referring to other appropriate agencies. - To provide speakers at meetings of Amersham Deanery Synod that are of interest to the churches and visitors and to request ideas for useful topics. It is envisaged that most if not all Synod meetings will revert to being in person. - To encourage parishes to pay their Parish Share to Oxford Diocese in full and to consider the use of funds within the deanery or to support the wider church. 7 AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 ## **STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS RESPONSIBILITIES** The Directors are responsible for preparing the Directors report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards. Company law requires the Directors 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 activities for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently - follow the methods and principles of the Charities SORP, - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. - state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation. The Directors 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. They 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. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD L J TEBBOTH L J Tebboth – Lay Chair J P Dziegiel – Treasurer JULIE DZIEGIEL 20 March 2023 8 AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 ## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Amersham Deanery Trust (‘the Company’)** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2022. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors 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: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. 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 4. 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. Signed: M R HARDMAN 20 March 2023 Michael Hardman FCA, Oak House, Botley Road, Chesham, Bucks HP5 1XG 9 AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 00 loo 00 00 IOO i¢y 00 00 ts0￿0000 oowJoots)o C￿￿){£)00￿0 oo>Lnoomo Oor￿0000 oov>ocJcoc> i COLfioo 00￿00￿0 Lr) Ln &0 '￿￿[L￿wV)1n io AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 ## **AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST** ## **BALANCE SHEET** ## **As at 31 December 2022** |||**2022**|**2021**| |---|---|---|---| ||Note|£|£| |**Current Assets**|||| |Debtors|4|11,340.00|11,340.00| |Cash||50,753.09|59,786.04| |||62,093.09|71,126.04| |Creditors: amounts falling|||| |due within one year||-|-| |||-|-| |**Net current assets**||62,093.09|71,126.04| |**Net assets**||62,093.09|71,126.04| |**Funds**|||| |**Unrestricted funds**|||| |General funds|6|61,985.79|63,226.04| |Designated funds|6|7,900.00|7,900.00| |**Total funds**||69,885.79|71,126.04| For the year ending 31 December 2022 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006. No members have required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime. Approved by the Board: J P Dziegiel JULIE DZIEGIEL Director L J Tebboth L J TEBBOTH Director Date 20 March 2023 11 AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the yrear ended 310ecember 2022 2022 2021 Note Cash flow5 from operating activities: Nel cash provided by {used in) operating actMtie5 Below i 17,909.291 119,481.701 Cash flows from investing acts-vities.. Interest from investments 616.59 52.92 Net cash provided by {used in) investing actwities 616.59 52.92 Change in cash and cash equNalenls in the reporb.ng period Below li 7,292.70 19,428.78 Cash and cash equivalen15 al 1 January Cash and cash equivalents al 31 December 59,786.04 52,493.34 79,214.82 59,786.04 Below iii Change in eash and eash equwalenls 7,292.70 19,428.78 Reconciliation of net movements in funds to net cash flow from operating activities Nel movement in funds for the year ended 31 December 17,292.701 118,682.051 Adjustments for.. Interest from investment5 Ilncreaselldecrease in debtors Increaselldecreasel in creditors 1616.591 152.921 1746.731 Nel cash provided by {used inl operating actwities Above i 7.909.29 19,481.70 Analysis of cash and cash equivalents Cash at bank - current account Cash in CBF dep0511 account 2.617.70 49,875.64 1,913.87 57,872.17 Above iii 52,493.34 59,786.04 12 AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2022 NOTES TO THE FINANCNL STATEMENTS Foi the year ended 31 December 2022 Accounting Policies The principal accounting poI￿leS are 5ummarised bebw. The accounting poI￿leS have been ap￿￿d con5islenlty throughout the year. Basis of accounting The financk41 statements have been prepared under the h￿l0￿Cal cost convention, and in accordance wlh the Compan￿5 Act 2006 and the Charities Slalemenl of Recommended Practice