Charitable Incorporated Organisation - Registered No. 1160486
SOCIETY OF ST COLUMBA TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023
CKM Accountancy
Society Of St Columba Contents Of The Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2023
Contents
| Contents | |
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| Charity Information | 1 |
| Report of the Trustees | 2 |
| Receipts and Payments Accounts | 4 |
| Statement Of Financial Position | 5 |
Society Of St Columba Charity Information For The Year Ended 31 March 2023
Registered Charity Number
1160486
Trustees
Rev. Beverley Thomas (Chair) Greg Valerio
Registered Office 1 Holloway Cottages Chactonbury Ring Road Chanctonbury West Sussex BN44 3DR
Bankers Co-operative Bank Skelmsdale Yorkshire WN8 6WT
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Society Of St Columba Report of the Trustees For The Year Ended 31 March 2023
Structure Governance and Management
The Trustees present their report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31st March 2023. The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comply with the Charity’s governing document and applicable law.
The Society of St Columba is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission with number 1160486.
The Society was established as a membership organisation, with the trustees and between two and 12 individuals as the only members. In 2022-2023 it made many significant steps forward and consolidated much of the progress made during 2021-2022.
During the year ended 31st March 2023 the trustees of the Charity were as follows:
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Rev. Caroline Armitage (Co-Chair).
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Rev. Beverley Thomas (Co-Chair).
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Greg Valerio.
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Simon Thomas (resigned 30 June).
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Jonathan Barnes (resigned 31 March).
Objects
The Society is established with objects to advance the Christian Religion. Its stated intent is to do this by the establishment of a new monastic community which will live in line with Christian principles of sustainability, environmental protection and stewardship.
Changes in Trustees
Simon Thomas stepped down as a trustee from 30 June. Simon was heavily involved in the establishment of the charity, bringing significant spiritual and much needed practical guidance and support in seeking to help fulfil the mission of the charity. He is very much missed.
Achievements and Performance
The Society works closely with its co-tenants of the site, Columba’s Barn CBS Limited, to advance the objects of the Society. A Co-Operation Agreement between the Society and the CBS to clarify and record the respective areas of responsibility was signed during the financial year. The Society was fortunate in being joined by two particularly enthusiastic and professionally qualified volunteers to work on the land, to revise and refine the basis of operation, to improve productivity and to develop a long-term plan for its maintenance. Some members and volunteers left, and others joined, inevitable in voluntary organisations.
In terms of its activities:
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Community Days continued to take place on a regular basis.
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Other spiritual / social events were arranged occasionally.
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The main pond was restored following the award of a £5,000 grant from the Wilder Horsham District / Network Recovery programme run by Horsham District Council in conjunction with the Sussex Wildlife Trust.
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There were regular sessions to tidy up the site and remove old equipment and materials.
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Several policies were reviewed and updated, including those for Health & Safety, Safeguarding, Data Protection and Privacy, and Volunteer Complaints
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More support in the areas of finance and administration was identified as a need, with an external accountant appointed.
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Society Of St Columba Report of the Trustees (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2023
Financial Summary
The Society ended the year with a cash balance of £14,567, about double the amount with which it started the year.
This was partly due to a significant reduction in costs incurred in organising activities, no doubt because there were a lot of ‘set-up’ costs in the previous year, so net receipts were almost double those of the previous year.
Reserves Policy
Most activities of the Society have been carried out by volunteers on an unpaid basis. While the Society has and continues to strengthen its financial position, the Society’s current policy is not to hold committed reserves.
Public Benefit
The Trustees affirm that its activities are carried out for the public benefit and have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance.
………………………………………………………… Rev. Beverley Thomas Chair 24 June 2024
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Society Of St Columba Receipts and Payments Accounts For The Year Ended 31 March 2023
| Receipts Voluntary receipts Charitable activities Total Receipts Payments Costs of generating voluntary receipts Governance and administrative costs Costs of charitable activities Total Payments Net Receipts/(Payments) Transfers Between Funds Cash Funds - Last Year End Cash Funds - This Year End |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds £ £ 10,347 10,280 - - 10,347 10,280 1,170 - 2,795 - 4,551 4,807 8,516 4,807 1,831 5,473 - - 2,308 4,955 4,139 10,428 |
Total Funds Last Year £ £ 20,627 29,115 - 600 20,627 29,715 1,170 1,982 2,795 959 9,358 23,238 13,323 26,179 7,304 3,536 - - 7,263 3,727 14,567 7,263 |
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Society Of St Columba Statement Of Financial Position As At 31 March 2023
| Cash Funds Cash at bank and in hand Liabilities Total Charity Funds |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds £ £ 4,139 10,428 - - 4,139 10,428 |
Total Funds Last Year £ £ 14,567 7,263 - - 14,567 7,263 |
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There are no guarantees given by the Society or debt outstanding at the date of this statement.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 24 June 2024
………………………………………………………… Rev. Beverley Thomas Chair
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