FRIEIIDSOF
AGM 13" May 2024
Chalrnian's Report
This is the Annual Report for the year ending 31 De￿fflber 2023, the ninth full year sin
the Friend5 was launched.
The charity has been established as a Charitable Incorporated Or8anisation (CIO), re8iStration
number 1161272, with the following objectlve: to preserve and protect St James the Le5S
Church for the benefit of the public as a place of worship and such other charltable purposes
as the Trustees deem approprlate.
A close workin8 relationship has been esiablished with the Parochial Church Counal IPCC) to
Identify Improvements and modificatlons to the church which are beneficial In achieving
greater use of the church buildings for both fellglous and secular purposes. In additlon, the
Frlends are Involved in raising funds to finance developments agreed by the PCC.
Membershlp of the Friends is available to anyone who supports its objectlves and Is
Interested in fijrtherlng its purposes. General meetin8s of the Friends are held bi-monthly to
which all members are invlted. Members are also Invlted to tske part in the work of the
Yarious sub-groups. The Secretary of the Friends also malntslns a datsbase of supporters who
wlsh to be kept Informed of the activltles of the Friends but do not wish to play a more attlve
role in the runnin8 of the charity. These supporters are welcome to attend all our meetlngs
but do not have votlng rights. All datsbases are maintsined in accordan￿ with the General
Data Protertion Regulations.
The three Trustees of the Frlends are:
Chalrman, Trustee and Treasurer: Paul Whatmou8h
Trustee: Rlta Murphy
Trustee: Mel Winstsnley
The contsrt detsils of all the Trustees (an be found on the Charlty Commission website or by
contscting the Secretsry.
It is the role and responsibility of the Trustees to ensure that the organisation is run in
accordance with its constitution and charity law.
Charity No 1161272

Margaret Whatmou8h resigned as a Trustee at the AGM in 2023 as her period of tenure as a
Trustee had expired. Margaret agreed to continue as Secretsry to the Friends with the
consent of the membefs.
Flnanclal Review.
A copy of the Flnancial Ststement is attached to this report and will be discussed fully later
In this meeting under the item ofthe Treasurer's Report.
Events:
At the end of Aprll and be8innin8 of May volunteers from the Friends assisted the Parochial
Church Council with caterin8 at the Wray Scarecrow Festival and on the churth stall at Wray
Fair; a lot of bakln& soup and sandwich makin& washing up and hard work made for
enjoyable and rewardin8 days.
It was agreed that any plans to celebrate the King's Coronation was the responsibility of the
parish councils and the Friends would noL on this occaslon, be arranging an event,
On 20th May, a COn￿rt by the Lancaster Slngers was held at the chuich whlch was filled wlth
beautlful slnging and an atmosphere of community enjoyment. Li8ht refreshments were
served after the concert to both the choir and the audience which were greatly appredated
and, after expenses, £525 was added to our funds.
Due to uncertainty regarding the proposed repairs to the churdi roof and when the work
would be stsrtin& it was decided that the Friends would not be ableto plan for future events
at the church until the PCC wa5 in a position to clarify matter5.
As a charlty we are indebted to the members of our ICNJ Club and its administrator, Sue
Wood, for ensuring that our funds continue to grow to the tune of over £4,IXK) during the
vear and we are very grateful for this continued supporL
December 2023 saw members of the Frlends enjoyin8 3 Christmas meal atThe Hi8hwayman,
Outgoln8S:
It was agreed that the Friends would purchase a pop-up gazebo for use at their outdoor
events.
Charity No 1161272

A member of the community kindly donatsd jars of homemade jam and the Secretsry
agreed to use her datsbases to promote the sale of the jam. £122 was subsequently
transferred to the church accounL
The Friends are aware that the church roof needs repairlng and thatthe PCC is likelyto applv
for assistance in funding the work.
Paul Whatmou8h
Chalr
Charity No 1161272

Frlends of SL James the Le5S
ReOstered Chkn ￿mber 1161272
Rnaftdal Statorn•nt
31st Dtcomber 2023
Prepared and presented by-
Paul Whatmough
Coach House
Wennliwton
Treasurer and Trustee

Frlends of SL James the Less
9th Annual Gener•1 Meetlng
Tieasurer's Re
The Financial Statements relate to the year endin8 315t Decernber 2023.
The Financial Ststernents have not been independently examined because it 15 not a iequirernent of
the Charities Commission.

Frlends of St. J•mes the Lèss
lfttorn• a
In(ome
Oper* Gardais
Sale olJ*m
ar*d Br455 B•nd
L•nr•ster &"nAers
DoTh•iions
Jrplusfi(vn Iixsoub
Tot•1 In¢fft
189.1
1293.41
524.73
2630
4137.25
170_50
4319.25
4877.48
fj039.16
Ifm.(¥)
S•cr*tary expe￿1
Pop up Gailbo
Qu•en.5JUbl￿e P
Leoand Br•ss
Tfr to PCC
untlnl Fabrk ind Btsxrf
Totd Exwnd&lur•
10224
333.99
o.(
378.39
122.
55&23
2189.11
Annuil ￿p1¥S
4J19a5
R¢wes•rf•d by
•Thk baL•n¢• blh¥d
nu•1 5LNpIu
Blnk b•larK• dl*Yl
17753ail
4319.
21072.53
1390J.23
3850.L
1715128

Friends of SL James the Le5S
aub
In
Ye
ndE
2023
Income
Monthly MLYnbefship
6365.00
Ewdllure
Prize Mon
2201.25
"Profft. to General A/c
4163.75
8alanc• S•￿tt
at 3tst December 2023
Bank Balance
Le55 unpresented cheque (M Jack50nl
Less Pa￿l￿Trts in Advance
1666.00
106.
1560.00