2024-12-31-accounts

West Somerset Area Quaker Meeting, of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Registered Charity Number 1155009

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for 1st January 2024 – 31[st] December 2024

Note

This report accompanies the Treasurers Report for 2024.

Charity Name: West Somerset Area Quaker Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)

Registered Charity Number: 1155009

Contact Address:

Clerk to trustees

Ali Dominy – Lower Pound, Silver Street, Kentisbeare, Devon. EX15 2BG

Reference information

The charity was registered on 15 December 2013 as West Somerset Area Quaker Meeting (The charity is part of the Religious Society of Friends (Britain Yearly Meeting).

WSAQM),

Date of submission to Charity Commission :

27/10/2025

Date of Submission to Quaker Life:

27/10/2025

Names of those acting as trustees during 2024

Faith Cartwright (Co Clerk), Russell Chapman, Diana Fox, Rod Reeken (resigned 8.4.24), Margaret Stocks (Co Clerk) Philip Parratt (ex officio as treasurer).

Names of trustees at the time of writing this report: Ali Dominy (Clerk), Russel Chapman, Diana Fox, Elspeth Waldie, Philip Parratt.

Other key officers during 2024

Area Meeting Co-clerks: John Ainsworth and Margaret Stenhouse (coclerks)

WSAQM Treasurer: Philip Parratt, Cornhill House 15 Main Road, Westonzoyland, Bridgwater, TA5 2EW.

Safeguarding Co-ordinator: Valda Dagnall (prevented from duty) Deputy Safeguarding Co-ordinator: Peter Burgoine (Acting Safeguarding Co-ordinator in absence of Valda Dagnall) Data Protection Officer: Faith Cartwright

Meeting House Addresses:

Minehead Meeting House, 9 Bancks Street, Minehead TA24 5DJ Spiceland Meeting House, Uffculme, Cullompton EX15 3AZ

Taunton Meeting House, Bath Place, High Street, Taunton TA1 4EP Wellington Meeting House, High Street, Wellington TA21 8RA (There are also local Meetings in hired premises in Bridgwater, and Ilminster.)

Website http://www.westsomersetquakers.org.

Structure and Governance of the Area Meeting.

Type of governing document: The Governing document and terms of reference was agreed by West Somerset Area Meeting in 2007, and amended in July 2022 to include the use of electronic technology.

Also amended in November 2024 (minute 46/24) to allow the body of trustees to:-

Contain not fewer than 3 or more than 15 persons.

That person cannot then be reappointed as a trustee of that AM until 3 years have elapsed after the end of the last period of service in that capacity unless it is the treasurer or necessary to do so to retain a quorum.

That a person ceases to be a trustee not if they cease being a member of the Area Meeting but if they cease to be a member of the Religious

Society of Friends.

Organisational structure and wider network with which the charity works.

The charity is registered with the Charity Commission and operates Under the terms of the Scheme issued on 28 July 2014. It is constituted under a Governing Document and Terms of Reference for Trustees agreed by West Somerset Area Quaker Meeting (WSAQM) in 2007. During 2022, the Governing Document has been amended as requested by the Charity Commission to include the use of meetings using electronic technology(Zoom meetings), where required.

The charity functions in accordance with Quaker Faith and Practice of Britain Yearly Meeting in its meetings for business as an Area Meeting and in Trustees’ meetings as well as following the documents referred to above. Decisions in both bodies are made on the basis of seeking unity under the guidance of the Spirit with the clerk of that body minuting these at the time.

West Somerset Area Quaker Meeting currently recognises 6 Local Meetings and has set various committees for particular tasks. Area Meeting operates bank accounts and accounting for Area and Local Meetings. The Local Meetings are responsible for their own funds and appoint a Treasurer where they can. Accounts are inspected annually.

The Area Meeting is a constituent part of Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) within the Religious Society of Friends. It relates to these as appropriate or required. Friends’ Trusts Ltd acts as custodian trustee for the properties owned by the Society within the Area Meeting. Some funds are allocated to Elders and Overseers for use at their discretion for members in need or for the spiritual and educational development of members, attenders and Meetings.

Ring binders for each Local Meeting have been produced to allow all Area Meeting policies and codes of practice to be easily available in each Local Meeting. Each policy is contained in a plastic pocket to enable ease of replacement should any policy be amended or superseded.

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees

Names of trustees are put forward by their local meetings and nominated by the nominations committee taking due regard of new safeguarding procedures. They are then appointed by the Area Meeting. The intention is that all local meetings should be represented on the trustee body, where that is not [possible representatives from Local meetings are invited to attend as observers.

New trustees are given copies of the Charity Commission Scheme, Governing Document, Terms of Reference and the Memorandum of Understanding mentioned above as well as recent minutes. An induction opportunity is offered after the trustee’s first meeting with the clerk, treasurer and safeguarding co-ordinator to answer questions and offer a basic understanding of the role. New trustees are encouraged to take part in national training for trustees offered by Woodbrooke, either in person or online.

Objects and Activities

The object of West Somerset Area Quaker Meeting is the furtherance of the general religious and charitable purposes of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain in the area of the Area Meeting and beyond. WSAQM pursues its object of the furtherance of the religious and

charitable purposes of the Religious Society of Friends through holding meetings for worship in six different locations on Sunday mornings and in some places at other times. Open meetings on the basis of Quakerism or current issues in society are held from time to time and acts of witness and meetings in public places held or supported on particular matters of concern throughout the year. Each Local Meeting

(LM) - and the Area Meeting itself - provides opportunities for learning, discussion and fellowship, not least in developing understanding of being Quakers today. A Newsletter is produced 3 times a year. The national weekly magazine for the Society of Friends, ‘The Friend’, is available for visitors’ use, mostly stored in the LMs’ libraries for ease of reference.

During 2024 several Local Meetings, though not all, have enabled others to join in their worship through the use of zoom.

Public Benefit

West Somerset Area Meeting has had due regard to the Charity Commission’s advice on public benefit in carrying out its duties during this period

The charity provides public benefit through the provision of regular public meetings for worship, fostering the spiritual life and development of its

members and attenders, co-operation with a range of voluntary bodies with similar aims and the availability of premises owned by the charity for use or hire to a wide variety of bodies in the communities in which they are placed. Meetings also support financially and practically a number of charitable activities, run by Quakers and by others, in line with their principles. Support is given to the Somerset Chapter of Citizens UK – a campaigning group that seeks to bring together numerous civic groups to give voice to unmet need in the community.

Local meetings work with other church groups in their area for the benefit of those in need including refugees, the homeless, food banks, sustainable living activities, and to uphold our witness to peace.

Sustainability.

All local meetings have been asked to produce a sustainability plan and to keep this under review reporting annually to the Area Meeting. Ilminster Meeting has been actively involved in ‘Big Green week’ and

have started a ‘dispersed orchard’ of fruit trees in the town. Spiceland Meeting is looking at how they can make the land around the meeting house more sustainable: The 70 native trees planted in the grounds of the Meeting House by volunteers from the meeting and friends from other local meetings are doing well.

Main Achievements.

In November 2023 Ilminster Local meeting decided to lay down their search for a new meeting house The funds originally donated for the purpose of a new meeting hose in Ilminster have reverted to the AM funds for maintenance and refurbishment of other meeting houses in accordance with the wishes of the donor. Spiceland and Wellington Local Meetings have each identified substantial projects that would benefit from these funds.

Spiceland proposal included

• 1) Practical projects that require attention.

• 2) Projects evolving from a more visionary view of a future for Spiceland.

Wellington have identified major repairs that are needed to the Meeting House and their associated buildings and also improvements to the facilities that would encourage and enable greater use of the Meeting House.

In accordance with advice from the Charity commission and Britain Yearly Meeting at the end of the year trustees completed a social media policy, which should come before Area Meeting in 2024.

In 2024 the ongoing conflict with a local organisation regarding parking arrangements at the Taunton Meeting House that had held the threat of legal proceedings, has subsided and is at present dormant.

Safeguarding.

No Safeguarding concerns were raised in 2024.

Reports from Local Meetings

Bridgwater

Bridgwater Local Meeting, meeting at Bridgwater Arts Centre offered public Meetings for worship almost every Sunday of 2024. We are a very small group and did nothing more together than meet in pastoral care groups. We have nothing to report on sustainability.

Illminster

Ilminster Friends continue to meet in Sweet Surprise sweet shop. We are a small meeting. Despite this we play an active role in the community, being involved in the food bank, warm spaces project and Fair Trade activities.

Our commitment to sustainable living includes our participation in the Big Green Week and by maintaining a dispersed orchard throughout the town.

We also join with the Anglican community by taking part in the Christmas tree festival and laying a wreath of red and white poppies on Remembrance Day.

Minehead.

Minehead Local Meeting holds a regular meeting for Worship every Sunday, averaging around between 6 and 12 attenders. We enjoy meeting Friends from other meetings who visit, some on a regular basis, in the summer. During 2024 we sadly lost a good longstanding friend of the meeting; though not a member she was relatives of Fox family in the Area Meeting, and was a force to be reckoned with in

matters of social justice, and peace in Minehead, and regularly joined us for tea after our meeting and often for meeting for Worship The meeting holds an additional half hour meeting once a month followed by a simple soup and cheese lunch, helping to cement the fellowship of the meeting with each other as well as outreach to others. This is normally attended by 10 to 12 people; not all of whom are regular attenders on a Sunday but who have formed a bond with us. Social occasions take place from time to time. The meeting supports other groups such as Amnesty (the local branch of which was formed by Friends who were then members of the meeting).

We keep contact with the Minehead group of Churches together to meet local concerns that we have in common.

This was the last year for our support for Friends who arranged holidays for refugees in Minehead during the summers as the accommodation will no longer be available.

Monthly collections are held for charities mainly with local or Quaker connections and local groups in need are given additional support by reductions in rental.

In line with our commitment to preserving the planet we keep our sustainability under regular review. Regular maintenance of the building has been carried out as necessary.

Spiceland

We have continued to build on our efforts to expand on what we can offer to our Quaker Community, and to the wider public, by enhancing our facilities. Our general plan is to make Spiceland into a kind of Rural Hub. With the hard work of our Quaker Life Team we again held a Summer Settlement over three days in August which attracted over 50 attendees, many of the younger generation, some on day visits and some camping.

Our camping facilities continue to attract ‘wild campers’ through the year and we are seeking to regularise the Planning implications by starting a ‘Camping Club’. We had a lovely visit of 12 young campers from Bristol in October.

The availability of capital though the Ilminster Fund administered by West Somerset Quaker Meeting has enabled us to start on long standing repair work to the cottage. We hope to purchase a substantial block of more land which will enable us to attract larger gathering of young friends and we already have had enquiries. Such land will also enable us to expand our Quaker witness for providing a more diverse environment such as a wetland, hedge growth and tree management.

We continue to provide for public worship on Sundays in our Meeting House with the added opportunity for friends to join us on Zoom; and we have uprated our Broadband Service. Our aggregate attendance on a Sunday has dropped slightly to around 15 largely because of the loss of some good friends due to age and illness but we have attracted some younger seekers who give us hope for the future together with our other efforts to broaden our witness.

We also use our Zoom connection to host Central Group Meetings where our eldership and oversight team get together; and at intervals of two months we hold Meetings for Business for Worship after our Sunday Meeting for Quaker decision meeting entailing discernment. We have also revived our bimonthly All Age Worship which was suspended during Lock Down. Our monthly public worship at Tiverton Almshouse Chapel continues and this event has attracted some new people to Quakers. Our Heritage Open Day September attracted some 50 visitors mainly from Devon.

Taunton

In 2024 Taunton Quaker Meeting has continued to offer a welcome to Friends, visitors, and hirers. Meetings for Worship have followed the

established pattern of Meetings every Sunday morning and evening. Other regular features have been the monthly silent vigils for peace in Taunton High Street, and other weekday sessions such as Experiment with Light and Meetings for Learning. Particular events during the year have included a tea party to celebrate the 400[th] anniversary of George Fox, and a meeting with our local MP Gideon Amos.

Our warden has been busy welcoming hirers and dealing with an increasing number of bookings, including Taunton Welcomes Refugees, National Childbirth Trust, Open Door (homeless support), Citizens Somerset and Amnesty International. We have also regularly hosted a community choir and a variety of mental health and wellbeing groups and have provided a space for children to have contact with their nonresidential parents, under the supervision of Children’s Social Care.

Wellington

Financial Review

The financial position of WSAQM is little changed from 2023. The Gift Aid Claim is outstanding for 2023 and 2024 contributions. BYM donations were £12,500 vs 2024 £10,350.

Taunton Centre income is well up on 2023 at (£50,000) but its surplus is down due to a number of expensive maintenance expenses (such as replacing the guttering and hearing loop). it is unlikely that 2025 will see as high a level of costs. Minehead and Wellington both enjoyed good hiring income of £6,000 apiece.

• Rising interest rates have increased our interest income (£10,000) – but considerably less than the loss we suffered

through inflation.

Property Reserve fund was increased £40,000-£45,000 (as planned) Preparations have begun to make use of our Ilminster Fund and the first expenditure is expected in 2025 making

improvements at Spiceland and Wellington, notably in acquiring a field at Spiceland for its development of a green

space suitable for larger gatherings.

• A parking dispute with a business neighbouring Taunton Meeting House required trustees to obtain legal advice - some £7,455 has been expended. The matter has gone dormant subsequently but the matter is not settled and may arise in future.

• Payments were made to Ali Dominy in reimbursement for purchases made for Spiceland Meeting. These are reported here as they are technically “payments to trustees”.

• Free Funds stand at £156,000. This is a surplus of £26,000 on our reserves policy reserve (£130,000)

Signed for trustees

Ali Dominy Phil Parratt 27/10/2025

Rellgious Soclety of Frlonds (Quakers)- WSAQM Annual report and accounts for the year ending 31 Dec 2024 The financial position of WSAQM is little changed from 2023. The Gfft Ald Claim is outstanding for 2023 and 2024 contributlons. 8YM donations were £12500 vs 2024 £10,350. Taunton Centre income is well up on 2023 at (£50,(KlJ) but its surplus is down due to a number of expensive malntenance expenses (such as replacing the gutterin8 and hearing loop). It Is unllkely that 2025 will see as high a level of c05ts. Minehead and Wellington both enjoyed good hiring 5ncome of £6,IX)O aplece. Risin8 interest rates have Increased our Interest income (£IO,000)- but considerably less than the loss we suffered throu8h inflatlon. Property Reserve fund was Increased £40,(X)0445.OCKI (as planned) Preparatlons have begun to make use of our Ilminster Fund and the first expenditure is expected in 2025 making improvements at Spiceland and Wellington, notably in acquiring a field at Spiceland for its development of a green Spa￿ suitable for larger gatherin8S. A parkln8 dlspute wlth a business nelghbouring Taunton Meetin8 House required trustees to obtain legal advice- some £7,455 has been expended. The rnatter has gone dormant subsequently but the matter is rM)t settled and may arise In future. Payments were made to All Dominy in reimbursement for purchases made for Splceland Meetin8. These are reported as they are technScally "payments to trustees". Free Funds stand at £156,0(KJ. This Is a surplus of £26,000 on our reseThes pollcy reseThe1£130,0(X)). Page 1

Rg rt of tho Inde •xamln•r I rgwt M Iho a£%￿nts of the Charfy f￿the ended 31 De(fflbw 2024. thich séi out p#go8 3 to 10. R••pon•lblllty. Ino8J ¢>JWdor that an gu¢Jl l¥ n( rwLknI th115•w Md8r 8th 43(2) of th• Act 1993 (the kl) and that ￿ Inaepgndonl examinat1￿ Is needed. 11 kn my I06p￿)￿lty to exwth? Ihe aLwJrts. kn foknv the prrmxkni In tho G•)oral Dkoclknm a￿8￿ ty tho Charfty CLYnmlsJM arnl to to mattw8 ￿)rn8 k> my attenlkn. B••ls of th• •x￿In•lkm . My exomtrthn rarrknj ¢JJl In TAlth the Genw¥l tMr•YJLTh gkn ty th• Charlty Commlsslon. kn examinalkm Sn￿￿18$ a rovAw of Ihe authnilng kekrt by thg (wlty and a compad¢￿ of Iha acc￿019 5>rosgntod with I￿)80 records.11 a60 ￿n$KI￿oI￿jn of any vnuwo11kn8 (Y ufvjwtskon do Dot Krfovka& al tho tho1 y)ukJ bg ffw4uThI In an •nd eLw•9u￿ty I do •)ol •xw•#• •n 4￿jtf Opin[￿ cm tho acco￿18. (1) me rnasonatrAo c•J89 to bthve thaL In ￿ malertal rw, the Ink8lees hth¢ n( mel tt requlrwnent8 to •n8urn thsl proper ac£¢￿ re￿rf5 have beffi kept. and thal aXO￿ts are prepared wbk (21 tt> my ¥￿1￿ b• In order lo of the xxxxmts to Dth N8m• EEig 3LJGI

Recei and In¢oming r•sour¢es Voluntary income Aclivilies for generating funds Investrnent income Incijme from Quaker activities Other incomin resources Tot1 inoomin R•souro•s •xp•nd•d Costs of generating funds Costs of Quaker activities Support costs Costs of govefn8nce Other resources ex nded T•Jl•l r•souro•s • ents 2024 2023 31,174 42,614 23,122 2,415 180 31.174 42,614 32.119 2.415 180 38.529 36.891 21.875 3.025 8,443 554 654 102 313 9,698 16,793 83,591 360 9,698 18.793 84,491 360 5.217 14.844 81.930 Note 2 Note 2 Nota 2 900 900 N•t Ino. r•souro•s b•lor• tr•nsl•rs Transfers into ecich fund N•t ingomln Gaiiis losses 664 28 Note 9 564 28 on investments N•t mov•m•nt In funds Total lunds brought fornard, 1 Jan Prior ear ad'ustrnents Total funds a•rTl•d l•rw•rd 31 D•• 564 20,851 28 506,234 167,541 317,814 SCf,206 Note 1 166 603 326 367 603 366 8tat•m•nt ol Ass•t and Llabilitl•s Flx•d ass•ts Land and building8 Fixtures and frttlngs Lon temi investments 2024 2023 Note 6 Total flx•d ss•ts Curr•nt •ss•ts Debtors Short temi deposlts Cash at bank Note 8 166 624 325 357 166 624 326 367 21405 513 385 613 386 516 226 616 226 Total ourT•nt ass•ts Ll4billtl•s Credilors.. due withln one ear N•t aurr•nt 4ss•ts 20 166 603 326 367 20 613 366 Note 8 20 Total •ss•ts l•ss ourr•nt IIAbllltl•s Creditors.. due after one year Provisions for liabilities and char es N•t •ss•ts 166 603 326 367 10,000 613 366 10,000 516 206 10,000 166 603 326 367 Signed by one or of the trustee8 on behaff of all Ihe twste88 E￿¢tronIC signature Philip Parratt Treasurer Date of appwoval 25 October 2025 Page 3

ststement of Assets and Liabilities . Ana is ol Funds Unr•strlct•d funds 2024 2023 AM General Fund Finch I Simonds Legacy AM central debt Prem18ts8 Malntenance Reserve Premises Development Reserve Bridgwater LM B+S LM Ilmin8ter LM Minehead LM Spiceland LM Taunton LM Wellinglon LM Taunton Centre 46.828 (o) (10.000) 45.000 46.828 (o} (10,000) 45.000 52.575 (o) f10. CK)O) 40.000 4,883 4,883 4.942 2,097 17,675 12,078 14,162 14.881 9.000 2,097 17,675 12,078 14,162 14,881 9,000 2,110 21.774 16.656 16,264 15,219 R•strlat•d fvnds Taunton MH Renewal Ilminster 325 357 325 357 311 814 Endowm•nt funds Assistance Fund BrKlgwater maintenance fund Brid water Sale Proceeds Totals for •ll tsnds 21.405 21.405 20,851 166 603 326 367 603 366 Page 4

Notes to the accounts 1- Accountin olicies Ba515 of apoountlng . These aGwunts have been prepa(ed a6"Receipt Paym•nt Accounts" as income for the charity is bek)w the limit requiring SORP accounting. Inoom• and •xp•ndltur• . Contrd)utions, grnnts, IwE3, interesL divid￿th. and ren18 are all tr8at8d 88 i￿Orne in the year in which they are received. Aoting as Ag•nt - Furtrr sums ale CO1￿led specificalty for passing on to other bodie8, and so they do not represent income for the Area Meeting. These are not included In the SOFA or balance sheet Ixrt tty are summarlsed in Note 10. Land and bulldlngs - The propth (bned by the Area Meellng ccThpr18e Meeting Houses, attached accommodation and burial grounds ￿ICti are held for the furtheranc of Ihe Area Meets'ng's charitable olyects. Buildings are r#)t included in the statement of assets and liabilities. The most recent valuation is shown In Note 7 al valuation in 2012 (f￿ Taunton MH 201n, in ￿ cpin1￿ of the Tru8tees, the cA>st of a wofessional valualion would not be a justifm￿e use of charitable fund8 on a regular basis and a further valuatlon18 unlikety to be necessary or justifiable however trnstees will review the sItuat￿n annually. The contents of the Meeting Houses are wrStten off at purchase (though contents a￿ insured). R•s•Th•s . The Trustees have agrJ a policy on re8eThes as folk)w&' LoGal and AM funds Should hold 1 years expected expendilure, Ixiwever for bulldSng malntenance the re8erve wll be for an exF¢led 3 years of expendllure (thSs18 wesentty assessed as £45.(MX)). A buildirvJ deVek1￿ent reseThe 11 be Lmjill a8 and when Fwible from fund6 to enable devek)wient or acquisition of Me8ting Houw. The Poli￿1$ urKler review, at prewl ¢r¢ditor8 due in the coming year are counted as expenditUf• for rn8arv•8 purpoBe8. Inv•stm•nts - The Managing Tru61ees have agreed a pdlcy that the sums of money at present held by the Area Meeting and Local Meelirys are insufficient to require tenn investsnenL Pwalons . The Area Meetlry rKM ha8 one empty and pen8k)n8 <A)ligati￿6 began 2017. We have reg1618r￿￿ with the Pension Regulator and use NEST as pensK)ns providew. Loeal M••tlngs . In a￿ord8nCe with the latest guhjance Irom Ihe Charlty Comml8sh)n and the Quaker Stthyardsh Commfftee, the unrestricted funds of LcKal Meetings a￿ shown here as designaled funds of the Area Meeting. nditurn No alknGatk￿ has ten made of BUPPOrt (xjsts bel￿n Quaker &tivSties arwj cr*t of generating funds. It is not a uiremenl for a charity of size. Cost of 9enerating fundo Govern the both of AGtlvilkn (3enerniing Fund• and ot Inveslment . materlals purchased for sale and the Maintenan￿ of Rental Property we exampkn of both.

3- Trustees and oxamln•rs Rolund ol expenses lo Twstees 88 Truthej Refund ol other exFen5es to Truste88 FeeB lof 8X8minalion or audit Other fe8s paid kn examiner ￿ auditor Other cosig of vemwK 2024 2023 360 350 Total 360 350 4- Pald•m Staff wa lo 2024 14.915 2023 es and salaries Total 6- Grants and donatlons Donations lo BYM Donation8 to other Quaker LY>dles Donations to non-Quaker bodies Grant8 to individuals (hard8hip) Grants to Individuals (education) Grants to Individuals other 2024 12.600 160 2,130 2023 10,350 100 2. 124 10,350 100 2,124 Tol•ls PFP continued to be supported for Its work wllh £2,000 but thls Is nrm stopped. Taunton LM AM 8UPPOrt Clthng UK (Lwt no payment seem6 to have ten made In 2023). 6a - Resal• and Insuranc• valuo ￿lu• Of of Pro￿rtIeS lond •nd bulldin Mlnehead 585,000 Spiceland 778,000 Taunton 1.249,01)0 Wellinglon 752,000 MSlverton BuTlal Ground vth• ol 100.000 200.000 525.000 110.000 5,000 31112r2012 31112r2012 17107r2017 31112r2012 3111zr2012 T•t•ls 3 364 000 Bridgwts Sale Prwds18 a pemanent endmnent whose capital is protected and was used In the renovation of Taunton Meeting H￿Se. £122.193 of the value of the Taunton Meeling House is preser￿ for the Bridgwater FndrAwmAnt At fitlii IA+inTr T*iin+nn .- Page 6

8- Debtors and Cr￿ltOrS thbtopA . None Cr•dltors . £10,000 LO￿ Ilntere8t free) related to Taunton project repayable in 2025 The loans are planned to be repaKI from lellings income at Taunton Meeting Hou8e. Taunton centre fund is accumulating £1.(X]O per year to settle the interest free k)an. £20 of funds held AclirwJ as ￿ent YEI to be disbursed. Creditors repayable wiihin a year include the Acting as ￿nt funds held 9a - Desl natsd R•strlctsd and Endowment Funds Unr•strlot•d lunds are freety available for any purpose ￿ the Area Medng. D•slgnthd lunds are unrestdcted funds vthlch are set aside for 4)eafK purposes, but remaln at the dLscretion of the Area Meeling. R•striot•d fund% havè been earmarked by the donor or testator for certain specific purposes. Endowrn•nt funds must have their capital preserved, but the income can be used for the purposes 8pecIf￿d by the <)nor or tegtstor. AM D•slgnat•d funds - The property rna1ntenan￿ and devek)pment funds have been 8et a8ide to make pro¥i8k)n for future expendlture. L(xal Meetlng furnls are treated as Deslgnated. The8e furth remain at the dixrth'on of the Charity, AM R•strlot•d fund5 . Ilminster MH fund 18 8 donation restrkt&J to U8e for the purchase of a Meeting Hou8e for Ilminsler LM (with 80me Wid￿ appI￿lOnS shoukl Ilminster LM declde nol to use Ihe dorhk)n for purchase of a Meeting House). The Charlty CommS88ion has agreed to relax the restriclion to purchase (or its use in renovatlng an exlsting Meeling House) 80 that rf neceswy funds can be used for renl or leasé. . AM End¢Jvrn￿rt funds . The Assistance Fund h8S Use re8tr1¢Xed to assistance of hardsh. and Qu8ker Educatlon {Indudlng Yravelling in the Ministrf). Some £13,￿0 16 caprtal reslricled (only interest in the furKI - above this value - 18 expendable). Bridwater Maintenance fund18 re8trKthd to use in maintaining Meeting House8 in AM, il 18 not capilal reStrL￿. The fund is now exhausted. Brhlgwaler Sak Proceeds is a caprtal re8trict&l en(yMnent Used in the renovation of Twntan Methg House, its value is ncm flxed in wcpcxtion to the 2017 vahjation of TMH (£122,193:£525,1XI)). Looal M••tlngs - The funds mar* by ￿ con8tituenl Lwal Meelings are primarity for the expen8e8 of each Meetlng, but may 8180 be used for the centralty-managed work of the Swjety of Frlends. or other pU￿)se8 of the Area ￿ting. Each Local Meetiro is shchvn in Ihese consoltdated acc4)unts as an unrestricted desianated fund, plus other re8lricted or endwnent fund8 vhwe appropiiate. Pago 7

Fund b•knN• Ixought 9b. Movement of the funds Fund Unr•striot•d funds AM General Fund Flnch I Slmonds Legacy AM central debt Premlses Maintenance Reserve Premises Development ReseNe Bridgwater LM 8￿-s LM Ilminster LM Minehead LM Spwland LM Taunton LM Welllngton LM TaLJnton Centre Tètsls for unr•StrI￿ funds R•strlot•d fund• 52.575 {0) (10.0001 40,000 2,043 17.886 10.095 46,828 {0) (10.IXIO) 46,000 5,000 4.942 3.941 3,200 (800) 4,883 2,110 21,774 16,656 16,264 15,219 8000 1,677 11,134 18,712 6.350 7.792 47.856 1,690 10,560 18.063 3.452 8.032 47 561 2,097 17,676 12,078 14,162 14,881 9,000 166603 (4,674) (5,228) (5,000) <98) 705 706 Ilminster funds 317 814 317 814 900 900 326 367 T¢ Endovnn•nt funds ftlr Assistance Fund Totals lor •ndowm•nt fvnds Totals lor all fund6 20.851 554 6S4 706 603 366 P4e8

Ilminster fund is littlè changed - Ilminster ha¥, in 2023, relea8ed the funds for use improving and rnaintainirvJ AM Meeting Houses.. The reserves pobcy 18 for reserves to be held to cover om yea¢8 expenditwe (excepting property maintenan( which shwkj cover three ￿arfS). The proprty reseNe is assessed at £45,{￿) - w)d is able to cover planr expenditure In 2025 and unexpected expendiiure. Forecast PrO￿ty maintenance 8PWKI 18 £85,000. Total unre8tricled furKls stand at £156.0￿1. The amounl needed lo r￿7 Ihe reseNes poll¢y Is £130.0(Kl. The difference18 8 surplus of £26.000. Papo 9

Re ort of the inde ndent examiner I report on the accounts of Ihe Charity for the yEar ended 31 De(*mber 2024. which are set out on pages 3 to 10. Responslblllty - The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under seCt￿n 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) and that an independent examinalion is needod. It is Tny responsibllty to examine the accounts, to fdlow the proc&Jures la￿￿ down in the Genèral Directions gwen by the Charity Commission. and to state vknether particuSar matter5 have LY)me to my attention. Basls of the examinalion - My examinatton was carried out in accordance wih the General Directions givan by the Charity Commission. An examination indudes a r8Vi8w of the accounting records kèpt by the chartty and a compartson of the accounts present8d viith those records. It also indudes consideration of any unusual iiems or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking extA2nations from the trustees ￿nceming such matters. The procedu￿$ undertaken do not provide 811 the evKlence that would be required in an audit, and consequenty I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Examinees statement- In the ¢ourse of my examination. no matler has ￿me to my attention (1 } which gives me reasonable cause to believe tha( in any material respect, the truslees have not mel the requirements to ensure that proper acu)unting ￿G0rdS have been kept, and that accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting ￿(X)rdS and comFAy wllh the a(tounting requirements of the Act,. or (21 to which, in my oplnton. attents'on should be drawn in crder to enab18 a proper understanding of the ￿}unts to be reached. Sign8d Dats IL{￿£5 Name Address Ig 3uo