Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date
Period end date
1[st] January 2022 To 31[st] December 2022
From
Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name Buddha Metta Society Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1154796 Charity's principal address 19E LAWNGREEN AVENUE CHORLTON CUM HARDY MANCHESTER Postcode M21 8FH
Buddha Metta Society
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Garrod | Chairman | |||
| Mandy Walker | Secretary | |||
| Peter Foster | Treasurer | |||
| Hui Pheng Teoh | Vice-Treasurer | |||
| Marjorie Jack | ||||
| Jeremy Bruce | ||||
| Zarine Zatrak | ||||
| Sarah Horn | ||||
Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name Dates acted if not for whole year
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Independent Examiner | Caerwyn Jones | Emstrey House, Shrewsbury Business Park, Sitka Dr, Shrewsbury SY2 6LG |
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | ||
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Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
[Constitution]
How the charity is constituted
- (eg. trust, association, company)
[Trust]
Trustee selection methods
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
[Appointed by existing Trustee majority vote]
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
-
policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
-
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
-
relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
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Section C Objectives and activities
| Section C | Objectives and activities |
|---|---|
| Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit) |
To advance the understanding of the general public in the Buddhist religion by: • providing opportunities for them to spend time with experienced and ordained representatives from the Thai Forest Tradition Monastic Sangha • arranging pilgrimages to significant world Buddhist sites for anyone interested in Buddhism, accompanied by experienced guides and teachers • supporting the work of the Buddhist monk Luangpoh Sudhiro who has been ordained for over 30 years in the Thai forest tradition to teach and host pilgrimages • providing information to the general public in relation to the Buddhist religion |
| The charity has a number of regular donors who give money to support the work of Theravadin Thai Forest tradition monk Chaowaphit Sudhiro (Luangpoh). The charity also invites Luangpoh to the UK and provides transport and accommodation for him during his stay. He tries to visit everyone that invites him and he spends time at various places including Buddhist temples around the country. The BMS have planned his next visit to the UK for the summer of 2023. It also arranges annual pilgrimages to provide an opportunity for people to experience living simply as the monks do and the money raised from these also contributes to the charity’s objectives. |
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
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Luangpoh has a close relationship with Mahamakut Buddhist University Isan Campus (MBUISC) in Khon Kaen NE Thailand where the Vice Rector Phra Ajahn Sakorn is also a monk and he has arranged for representatives of the charity to help there.
So far 3 of the BMS members have volunteered as native English speakers to offer opportunities for conversation to the students and to help with You may choose to students’ learning of the English language. include further statements, where Due to the risks and restrictions involved with Covid-19, it was not possible relevant, about: to teach at the university in 2022, however students travelled to Luangpoh’s
statements, where Due to the risks and restrictions involved with Covid-19, it was not possible relevant, about: to teach at the university in 2022, however students travelled to Luangpoh’s temple Wat Makhut Vimutti Giri and lessons were held there during January • policy on and February. Members of the BMS also taught the growing number of grantmaking; young Mae Chee (Thai Buddhist nuns) resident at the temple during their • policy programme stay.
- policy programme related investment;
The BMS will continue to provide free help with English teaching and members of the charity will return to Thailand again in January 2023. During the pandemic, the BMS provided online help with students’ English, providing face to face conversation via social networking sites and remote essay and homework correction and help. This has continued following the relaxing of the restrictions and currently a number of young Thai students and a young Tibetan monk in India are having online lessons and conversation sessions.
- contribution made by volunteers.
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Section D Achievements and performance
The involvement of the BMS charity with the university and the interest in Buddhism of Summary western visitors encourages students to value their national religion and there has of the main been an increase in students ordaining as monastics to study. This is especially true of achieveme the Mae Chee (Thai Buddhist nuns). nts of the charity This is continuing to contribute to the improvement of English spoken by the monks during the and nuns, allowing them to participate in ‘Monk Chat’ sessions at their temples when year speaking to foreign visitors.
The charity is providing help over and above the obvious financial purpose it serves and we are warmly welcomed as well as the volunteers getting a sense of personal satisfaction through the aid.
Luangpoh has continued to sponsor students with our donations, both ordained and lay at Mahamakut Buddhist University Khon Kaen, offering some less privileged young people to be educated at a higher level than they might otherwise have been able.
The donations have also been used to support the establishment and ongoing development of three temples :
-
The first of these is in Baan Sammuang called the ‘Buddha Metta Project’ which has 2 Thai style houses where visitors are able to stay and experience the traditional life of Buddhism in Thailand. A large temple Wat and a sanitation block has been built here, helped by support from the BMS.
-
The second is in Phu Kaat, a village about 30 minutes drive north from Luangpoh’s main temple Wat Pah Kanjanabhisek in Phu Wiang. This second temple has been given the name Wat Makhut Vimutti Giri and it is Luangpoh’s intention that this will provide a safe space for students from MBUISC to visit and practice together. There have been a great deal of developments at this temple over the last 2 years. A new building has been built to support the growing community of nuns and a Stupa for relics and Ordination Hall are well on the way to being complete.
-
And the third is for continuing support to Luangpoh’s first temple in Phu Wiang, Wat Pah Kanjanabhisek which continues to provide religious services and support to the local surrounding village people.
The charity donations continue to provide school socks for all the children at the primary school in Baan Sammuang.
Since the Sangharaja of Laos passed away, Luangpoh has been raising money to build a ‘chediya’ (stupa) in his honour at his birthplace in Ubon Ratchathani. Some of the BMS donations have been directed there too. It is hoped that the chediya will attract visitors from different neighbouring countries as Luangpoh would like to have information on the inside in various ASEAN languages and Ubon is on the border with Laos and Cambodia.
Due to continued concerns over the pandemic the BMS decided not to arrange a large pilgrimage in 2022 but a small group did travel to stay at the temples to experience what Luangpoh refers to as ‘Living in the Dhamma’.
It is the BMS charity’s hope that travellers who experience this simple life, gain a clearer perspective on life in general. And it doesn’t matter whether you are religious or not, everyone is welcome.
To date, everyone has returned to their country valuing what they have far more than
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Section D Achievements and erformance p
when they left.
But most importantly, there are some who realise they have too much and gained an understanding how much they do actually need to achieve happiness and contentment.
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Section E Financial review
We will continue to try and invite Luangpoh on an annual basis and arrange a Brief statement of pilgrimage around the UK during his visit. the charity’s policy on reserves Due to the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic with border and visa issues, Luangpoh was unable to travel in 2022. All of the donations made to the charity were therefore forwarded to Thailand in the usual way to support his work.
We are delighted to announce that Luangpoh has agreed to visit the UK in 2023 when his transport, accommodation and food will be financed by his supporters in the UK. To support this, the events held during his stay will be used as fund raisers to finance his travel costs.
Depending on the future annual income, the BMS may need to reserve an amount to pay for an independent examination as the 2022 charity's income exceeded the 25K limit after which an examination is required. All remaining donations will be forwarded to continue to support the causes in Thailand and no member of the BMS benefits from any donations made. Details of any funds N/A materially in deficit
Further financial review details (Optional information)
The charity’s principle source of funds is via individual donations made. You may choose to Some of these are regular donors, some donate to support particular causes include additional arising through the charity and some are due to events held by the charity. information, where relevant about: Two members of the charity continue to host an annual weekend “Living in • the charity’s Dhamma” retreat at Hill Cottage Retreat Centre in Wales and donations made principal sources are forwarded to support Luangpoh. of funds (including any fundraising); The BMS will continue to offer advice and support in travelling to Thailand • how expenditure and spending time at a monastery, living in a simple and often monastic-style way. It is also possible for people to ordain, either temporarily or long-term has supported the and through these kinds of events, people often feel it right to donate. key objectives of the charity; • investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
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Section F Other optional information
Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Peter Foster Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Treasurer etc) Date 12th October 2023
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Charity number : 1154796
BUDDHA METTA SOCIETY
STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY ACCOUNT
Year Ending December 31st 2022
The BMS would like to thank everyone who has donated this year through the charity towards the work of Luangpor Chaowaphit Sudhiro. Your kind donations continue to provide many benefits to people and communities and to the teaching of Dhamma both here in the UK and abroad.
The charity began receiving donations into the Barclays Community account in May 2013 until the present date and has raised : This Income & Expenditure statement details the totals of donations made to the charity in months up to 31st December 2022 along with the dates and amounts of the account balance transferred via International Money Transfer to the Siam Commercial Bank Thailand in the name of Phra Chaowaphit Sudhiro to support the work of Luangpor (Phra Ajahn Chaowaphit Sudhiro).
£250,649.33
Some of the donations are used to support special projects, e.g. the Buddha Metta Village at Baan Sammuang, the Chediya in Ubon for Luangpoo Maha Pong the late Sangharaja of Laos and the building of Wat Phu Kaat/Wat Makhut Vimutti Giri.
Over the past year, Buddha Metta Society members have also continued to donate generously towards the 'Savika Fund' that was established to help support the Mae Chee community.
The Mae Chee community spend their time at Wat Pah Kanjanabhisek and Wat Makhut Vimutti Giri and is continuing to grow. In 2022 two of the young Mae Chees from poor backgrounds, who decided to become Mae Chees in 2021 to help their families financially have contined to benefit from the kind generosity of the BMS and other donors who help support their living at the temples and the cost of their studies. Some of the Savika donations are also used to support two Mae Chees studying for their Master's Degree and who have been granted sponsorships to study in India.
Due to some larger than normal donations for specific projects (e.g. the Ordination Hall and monk "kutis" at Wat Makhut Vimutti Giri) the charity exceeded the 25K limit and needed an independent audit. We chose Caerwyn Jones who charged 600 and this cost was generously covered by a BMS donor. We decided to retain some of the larger donation amount to cover such a charge in 2023 should we again exceed 25K, but will send it along with other donations in 2023 should this prove not to be the case.
Everyone is welcome to donate either on a one off basis or through a regular standing order.
Anyone making donations through the Buddha Metta Society charity are also welcome to indicate where they wish their donations to go whether to a specific cause or to the general work and projects supported by Luangpor. All donations made for pilgrimages held in January each year are used to defray the costs incurred during the pilgrimage and to support Luangpor's work in general.
The charity has been granted gift aid status by the UK Inland Revenue, which means we are able to reclaim tax paid for donations made by tax payers who gift aid their donations. This means the BMS can claim another 25% of your donation from the UK Tax Office and will in time amount to a quite considerable sum, the first such claim was received in October 2014 and so far we have claimed : £25,151.47
If you don't currently 'Gift Aid' your donations and are a tax payer, please get in touch to find out how.
Donations to Buddha Metta Society
| Income | Expenditure | A/C Balance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | December | Balance B/Fwd from year end December 2021 | £1,120.00 | ||
| 2022 | January | Total of donations | £230.00 | ||
| February | Total of donations | £6,603.50 | |||
| 2nd March | Transfer to Thailand | £7,953.50 | £0.00 | ||
| March | Total of donations | £280.00 | |||
| April | Total of donations | £530.00 | |||
| Early May | Total of donations | £40.00 | |||
| 18th May | Transfer to Thailand | £850.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Mid May | Total of donations | £1,030.00 | |||
| 20th May | Transfer to Thailand | £1,030.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Late May | Total of donations | £6,280.00 | |||
| 6th June | Transfer to Thailand | £6,280.00 | £0.00 | ||
| Early June | Total of donations | £24,121.21 | |||
| 23rd June | Transfer to Thailand (600 reserved for professional account audit) | £23,521.21 | £600.00 | ||
| Late June | Total of donations | £710.00 | |||
| July | Total of donations | £583.79 | |||
| Early August | Total of donations | £680.00 | |||
| 9th August | Transfer to Thailand (573.29 retained ready for audit) | £2,000.00 | £573.79 | ||
| Late August | Total of donations | £1,600.00 | |||
| September | Total of donations | £4,750.00 | |||
| 30th September | Transfer to Thailand (623.79 retained ready for audit) | £6,300.00 | £623.79 | ||
| 3rd October | Donation from Hill Cottage Retreats for independent audit | £600.00 | |||
| 3rd October | Independent audit conducted by Caerwyn Jones | £600.00 | |||
| Early October | Total of donations | £1,575.04 | |||
| 25th October | Transfer to Thailand (retained 598.83 for audit in 2023) | £1,600.00 | £598.83 | ||
| Late October | Total of donations | £20.00 | |||
| November | Total of donations | £250.00 | |||
| 21st November | HMRC gift aid claim | £1,035.00 | |||
| 12th December | Transfer to Thailand (retained 403.83 for audit in 2023) | £1,500.00 | £403.83 | ||
| December | Total of donations | £250.00 | |||
| End of year balance | £653.83 | ||||
| End of year totals | £52,288.54 | £51,634.71 |
Donations towards Wat Buddha Metta
Due to the initial lack of funds and the start of the global pandemic at the beginning of 2020, plans to purchase a permanent temple in the UK were put on hold. However, the appeal for Wat Buddha Metta is still ongoing in the hope that once the disruptions caused by Covid-19 settles down, there may be the possibility to pursue it again.
It is worth noting that if this venture is progressed, it is outside the responsibility of the Buddha Metta Society. The intention is for a separate entity to be formed to take ownership for establishing and developing Wat Buddha Metta.
In the interim, any donations received for Wat Buddha Metta will be kept in a separate account and will be transferred to the new entity when it is formed. If plans to establish Wat Buddha Metta do not materialise, unless we receive alternative instructions from individual donors, the donations will go towards supporting Luangpor’s other charitable work. The primary purpose of the Buddha Metta Society is to continue to support Luangpor’s work in the Far East (Thailand, Laos, etc) and invite him here to the UK.
Income Expenditure 2021 December Account opening balance £4,577.34 2022 Total of donations (incl interest on account) £79.48 End of year balance £4,656.82
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1154796
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2022
for
Buddha Metta Society
Buddha Metta Society
Year end 31 December 2022
Report of the Trustees
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2022. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Significant activities
When planning the activities for the period, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Charitable activities
The BMS would like to thank everyone who has donated this year through the charity towards the work of Luangpor Chaowaphit Sudhiro. Your kind donations continue to provide many benefits to people and communities and to the teaching of Dhamma both here in the UK and abroad.
The charity began receiving donations into the Barclays Community account in May 2013 until the present date and has raised £250,649.33.
This Receipts and Payments statement details the totals of donations made to the charity in months up to 31[st] December 2022 along with the dates and amounts of the account balance transferred via International Money Transfer to the Siam Commercial Bank Thailand in the name of Phra Chaowaphit Sudhiro to support the work of Luangpor (Phra Ajahn Chaowaphit Sudhiro).
Some of the donations are used to support special projects, e.g the Buddha Metta Village at Baan Sammuang, the Chediya in Ubon for Luangpoo Maha Pong the late Sangharaja of Laos and the building of Wat Makhut Vimutti Giri.
Over the past year, Buddha Metta Society members have continued to donate generously towards the “Savika Fund” that was established to help support the Mae Chee community.
Buddha Metta Society
Year end 31 December 2022
Report of the Trustees
The Mae Chee community spend their time at Wat Pah Kanjanabhisek and Wat Makhut Vimutti Giri and is continuing to grow. In 2022 the community gained two young Mae Chees from poor backgrounds, who decided to become Mae Chees to help their families financially and who are benefitting from the kind generosity of the BMS and other donors who help support their living at the temples and the cost of their studies. Some of the Savika donations are also used to support two Mae Chees studying for their Master’s Degree and who have been granted sponsorships to study in India.
Due to some larger than normal donations for specific projects (e.g the Ordination Hall and monk “kutis” at Wat Makhut Vimutti Giri) the charity exceeded the £25,000 limit and needed an independent examination of the financial statements. We chose Caerwyn Jones Chartered Accountants who charged £600, and this cost was generously covered by a Buddha Metta Society donor. We decided to retain some of the larger donation amount to cover such a charge in 2023 should we again exceed £25,000 income, but will send it along with other donations in 2023 should this prove not to be the case.
Everyone is welcome to donate either on a one off basis or through a regular standing order. Anyone making donations through the Buddha Metta Society charity are welcome to indicate where they wish their donations to go, whether to a specific cause or to the general work and projects supported by Luangpor. All donations made for pilgrimages held in January each year are used to defray the costs incurred during the pilgrimage, and to support Luangpor’s work in general.
The charity has been granted gift aid status by the UK Inland Revenue, which means we are able to reclaim tax paid for donations made by tax payers who gift aid their donations. This means the BMS can claim another 25% of your donation from the UK Tax Office and will in time amount to a quite considerable sum, the first such claim was received in October 2014 and so far we have claimed £25,151.47.
Buddha Metta Society
Year end 31 December 2022
Trustees Report
Charitable activities
If you don’t currently “Gift Aid” your donations and are a tax payer, please get in touch to find out how.
Donations towards Wat Buddha Metta
Due to the initial lack of funds and the start of the global pandemic at the beginning of 2020, plans to purchase a permanent temple in the UK were put on hold.
However, the appeal for Wat Buddha Metta is still ongoing in the hope that once the disruptions caused by Covid-19 settles down, there may be the possibility to pursue it again.
It is worth noting that if this venture is progressed, it is outside the responsibility of the Buddha Metta Society. The intention is for a separate entity to be formed to take ownership for establishing and developing Wat Buddha Metta. In the interim, any donations received for Wat Buddha Metta will be kept in a separate account and will be transferred to the new entity when it is formed. If plans to establish Wat Buddha Metta do not materialise, unless we receive alternative instructions from individual donors, the donations will go towards supporting Luangpor’s other charitable work. The primary purpose of the Buddha Metta Society is to continue to support Luangpor’s work in the Far East (Thailand, Laos, etc) and invite him here to the UK.
Buddha Metta Society
Year end 31 December 2022
Report of the Trustees
Reference and Administrative Details
Registered Charity number
1154796
Registered office
19E Lawngreen Avenue Manchester M21 8FH
Trustees
The Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Kenneth Garrod Chair Miranda Susan Walker Secretary Peter Ernest Foster Treasurer Hui Pheng Teoh Vice-Treasurer Marjorie Jack Jeremy McLaren Bruce Zarine Katrak Sarah Horn
Independent Examiner
David Blofield Caerwyn Jones Chartered Accountants Emstrey House Shrewsbury Business Park Shrewsbury Shropshire SY2 6LG
Buddha Metta Society
Year end 31 December 2022
Report of the Trustees
Reference and Administrative Details
Bankers
Barclays Bank Plc Crewe Market Street Leicester LE87 2BB
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 20 October 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
Kenneth Garrod - Trustee
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Buddha Metta Society
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Buddha Metta Society
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022 set out in this report.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act), and
-
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
-
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met: or
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Buddha Metta Society
D C Blofield BSc FCA MEWI Caerwyn Jones Chartered Accountants Emstrey House Shrewsbury Business Park Shrewsbury Shropshire SY2 6LG
Signature …………………………………………………… Date 20 October 2023
Buddha Metta Society Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31 December 2022
| RECEIPTS Voluntary receipts: Receipts from donors Gift Aid Investment income Total receipts PAYMENTS Charitable activities Independent examination CASH FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH FOR THE YEAR CASH FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
Unrestricted Funds 2022 £ 49,063.54 2,105.00 51,168.54 51,034.71 600.00 51,634.71 1,120.00 (466.17) 653.83 |
Restricted Funds 2022 £ 79.00 0.48 79.48 - 4,577.34 79.48 4,656.82 |
Total Funds 2022 £ 49,142.54 2,105.00 0.48 51,248.02 51,034.71 600.00 51,634.71 5,697.34 (386.69) 5,310.65 |
Total Funds 2021 £ 26,518.00 1,692.63 0.44 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28,211.07 | ||||
| 27,341.63 - |
||||
| 27,341.63 | ||||
| 4,827.90 869.44 |
||||
| 5,697.34 |
Buddha Metta Society Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 December 2022
| CASH FUNDS Bank accounts |
Unrestricted Funds 2022 £ 653.83 653.83 |
Restricted Funds 2022 £ 4,656.82 4,656.82 |
Total Funds 2022 £ 5,310.65 5,310.65 |
Total Funds 2021 £ 5,697.34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,697.34 |
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Kenneth Garrod Chair
Date: 20 October 2023