## **Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO**
**Annual Report and Accounts**
31 December 2025
Charity Registration Number 1161450
**Contents**
## **Reports**
|Reference and administrative details of||
|---|---|
|the charity, its Trustees, and advisers|1|
|Trustees’ report|2|
|Independent auditor’s report|30|
|**Accounts**||
|Statement of financial activities|34|
|Balance sheet|35|
|Statement of cash flows|36|
|Principal accounting policies|37|
|Notes to the accounts|41|
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO
## **Reference and administrative details of the charity, its Trustees, and advisers**
|**Trustees**|Sister Patricia Mary Bell (deceased 2 May|
|---|---|
||2026)|
||Sister Esther Myong Soon Shin|
||Sister Monica Whelan|
||Sister Ellen Maseve|
|**Congregational Leader**|Sister Patricia Mary Bell (until 2 May 2026)|
|**Assistant Congregational Leader**|Sister Ellen Maseve (from 3 May 2026)|
|**Administrative address**|Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO|
||28 Trinity Crescent|
||Tooting Bec|
||London|
||SW17 7AE|
|**Telephone**|020 8682 0928|
|**Charity registration number**|1161450|
|**Auditor**|Buzzacott Audit LLP|
||130 Wood Street|
||London|
||EC2V 6DL|
|**Principal bankers**|The Royal Bank of Scotland plc|
||1st Floor, Houblon House|
||62-63 Threadneedle Street|
||London|
||EC2R 8HP|
|**Solicitors**|Stone King LLP|
||Upper Borough Court|
||Upper Borough Walls|
||Bath|
||BA1 1RG|
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **1**
**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
The Trustees present their report together with the accounts of Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO for the year to 31 December 2025.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 37 to 40 of the attached accounts and comply with the charity’s constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and 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 United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
## **Introduction and mission**
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO is the administrative centre of the worldwide Congregation of the Little Company of Mary (the “Congregation”) (LCM), a Roman Catholic religious congregation which is divided into six Congregational Community/Regions/Province and ministries in ten countries. The principal mission of the Congregation is to pray and care for the sick, the suffering and the dying.
The ministries of the Congregation are expressed in the provision of health, aged care, and welfare facilities/services, in the countries of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, South Africa, Tonga, United Kingdom, the United States of America and Zimbabwe. Each Congregational Community/Region/Province has a high degree of autonomy and is responsible for its own financial needs. Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO (the “charity”) acts as co-ordinator of the Congregation’s worldwide activities and provides assistance in an advisory capacity to the Congregational Community/Regions/Province in their work of providing health care within the ethos of the Roman Catholic religion. The charity’s expenditure is financed principally by an assessment or annual contribution from each of the Community/Regions/Province.
## **Charitable objects**
The object of the charity is the advancement of the Roman Catholic religion through the religious and other charitable work for the time being carried on anywhere in the world by or under the directions of the Congregation as the Trustees with the approval of the Congregational Leader shall think fit.
## **Public benefit**
When setting the objectives and planning the work of the charity, the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on the Public Benefit.
## **Activities and achievements**
The charity has continued to provide leadership and assistance to the Congregation in implementing the Chapter Statement of the Congregational Chapter 2023. The Congregational Community/Regions/Province have been supported in their mission and overall responsibility for health care services, hospices, aged care facilities and extensive outreach programmes, as well as the diverse ministries of prison ministry, pastoral ministry in hospitals, hospices, homes and parishes, bereavement ministry, health education ministry, counselling, spiritual direction, and refugee ministry.
Since the 19[th] Congregational Chapter in April 2023, the Congregational Leadership (Trustees), have developed an implementation plan of the Chapter Statement. All processes are in place to support the activities required to address every aspect of the
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **2**
**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
Chapter Statement entrusted to the Congregational Leadership on election at that Chapter.
Below are some of the significant achievements in relation to the implementation plan which are a part of a Creative Pathway developed by the Congregational Leadership. All Sisters who participated in the LCM Sisters 25 years and under Finally Professed meeting, October 2024 were invited to a Zoom meeting in February 2025. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the importance of maintaining connection and continuing to build relationships with each other.
After further consideration by Congregational Leadership (Trustees) of the information and suggestions received from the Sisters, the following were shared with the Sisters:
- 1) Focus on Canon Law with three (3) YouTube videos:
- a. Introduction to Canon Law: Adult Faith Formation Online – Seeds of faith
- b. Canon Law Basics for Superiors General with Sister Sharon Euart – Part 1 and Part 2.
- 2) A Summary Sheet on Shared Reflections and Learnings on Canon Law received from the participants were collated in an A5 Booklet to participants.
## _**Interculturality**_
Members of the Congregation are encouraged to maintain contact with one another and access webinars if they wished. On 1-7 June 2025, the Trustees attended the LCM Interculturality meeting held at the Carmelite Spirituality Center, Darien in Chicago, USA. The theme was _Pilgrims of hope on an unknown road._
Fifteen (15) LCM Sisters participated from the LCM Congregation. This meeting was enriching and empowering. A discernment leaflet was shared with Sisters who expressed interest at the Interculturality meeting in being members of the Intercultural Community and Ministry.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
## _**Spirituality**_
To continue to promote the LCM spirit and charism as a global expression of compassion through prayer and presence, the following actions have been taken:
- Reflections written by Sisters and Associates are shared monthly through the website.
- Twice yearly Newsletter includes relevant reflections for the times.
- Prayer requests are received through the Congregational and various Community/Regions/Province websites. These intentions are held in the prayer of the Sisters.
- When requested, and only in accord with the requirements of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Novena prayers for the needs of individual sick and dying persons are said throughout the Congregation with the person’s request and consent.
- Continuing our cherished tradition of the annual Motto.
## _**Caring for our Common Home (CFCH)**_
At the Congregational Chapter there was agreement to develop an LCM Congregational Plan so wider representation could be incorporated from the Congregation. A review of the initial Group was completed and our new plan commenced February 2024.The focus is on the Statement that was presented at the recent Chapter and by using the resources of the Laudato Si Action Platform. Regular Zoom meetings are held with the members of the Caring for our Common Home Group. Topics are centred on the Laudato Si’s Seven (7) Goals.
A Trustee and members of the CFCH worked together to complete a new version of our LCM Carbon Footprint Graphic and in March 2025, a copy was circulated to Leaders, Sisters and Associates. The aim for the electronic copy of the Go Green A4 Poster and A5 Booklet is to capture the essence of the Seven (7) Laudato Si Goals as well as to align with our current LCM Caring for Our Common Home Statement which is on our LCM Website: www.lcmsisters.org
Since April 2023 a Trustee was CFCH Co-ordinator. From mid-2025, two members of CFCH Group agreed to be the new Coordinators until end 2026.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
## _**Threshold of Transformation**_
Thresholds of Transformation is a multidisciplined transformative change process that offers an intentional way of exploring personal, communal and systemic transformation. The Thresholds of Transformation programme sponsored by the Trustees was held throughout 2025 and is now complete. The twenty-one participants found the programme enriching and beneficial.
## _**Increased promotion of the spirituality, mission, and ministry, including the prayer ministry globally through the use of electronic means**_
The Congregational website is regularly updated with monthly reflections, thoughts for the month and news and events. New social media pages have been developed by some Community/Regions/Province who are responsible to moderate content in keeping with relevant privacy laws.
The project to refresh and upgrade the Congregational Website was completed and launched in June 2024. The website was also upgraded with the feature for website translation with English, French and Korean.
## _**Promotion of the LCM spirit, through the vowed life**_
Each Community/Region/Province continues to explore suitable and effective ways in the issue of promotion of the vowed life in their local culture, if possible. The importance of sharing resources across the Congregation is emphasised. Congregational Leadership supports the various approaches of the Community/Regions/Province.
A Trustee is holding regular Zoom meetings with the members of the Cause for Venerable Mary Potter and Promotion of Her Spirit Special Focus Group. The focus is to promote the spirit of Venerable Mary Potter and the Cause for Beatification and Canonisation. The Group developed a new Prayer card with the inclusion of Our Lady of Good Counsel and the Prayer for the Beatification of Venerable Mary Potter. The digital Prayer card has been shared with Community/ Regions/Province for their printing and distribution.
A Trustee visits local London Churches which continue to be connected with the life of Venerable Mary Potter and distributes promotional material to highlight the importance of her Beatification and Canonisation.
A Summary of Novenas prayed since August 2023 will be shared with the Congregation. It is planned that a yearly Summary of Novenas will be distributed in January of each year.
## _**Promotion of the LCM spirit through global development of Affiliate and Associate**_
## _**programmes**_
The Congregational Leadership continues to facilitate the development of the Associate programmes across the Congregation. Responsibility for this rests in the local Congregational Community/Regions/Province Leadership. Creative ways of maintaining connection with groups across the Congregation have been sustained with the use of new digital technology and when possible, prayer group gatherings. The Region of the Southern Cross website indicates - _Many today are called to be Associates or Affiliates and we give thanks for their fidelity to the call and the generous way in which they live out this call through_
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
_their daily lives and the various ministries they are involved with, where they give expression to the LCM Charism_ _**.**_
## _**Congregational Associate Support Fund**_
In January 2023, £20,000 was received which was restricted and to be used on the request of the Congregational Community/Region/Province Leader to support activities to develop, form and promote the LCM Associates and Affiliates. It is for the use of the Region of the Queen of Peace and the Province of the Assumption. This fund is available thanks to the ongoing generosity of Community/Regions who have been blessed with excess resources. Financial support for the LCM Mary Potter Heritage Pilgrimage Programme in September 2024 totalling £8,303 came from the Congregational Associate Support Fund. In 2025, a further £7,988 was received but no Pilgrimage was held in the UK and therefore no funds were used.
## _**Sustainability of the Mary Potter Heritage Centre, Nottingham**_
The sustainability of the Mary Potter Heritage Centre (MPHC), Nottingham continues to be a focus of Congregational Leadership.
With effect from 1 February 2025, the MPHC came under the management of the Congregational Leadership with a Trustee as the main contact and therefore, the net assets and liabilities of the MPHC were transferred to the charity from Little Company of Mary Sisters England CIO (Charity Registration Number 1186617).
Throughout 2025 significant updates in policies and procedures have been reviewed or established to ensure the continued ongoing development with the sharing of our LCM Charism, Spirituality and Story. In particular, emphasis has been on the importance of caring for our volunteers with the MPHC. This has occurred by ensuring all aspects of individual engagement with activities at the Centre by volunteers continues to be implemented in a professional manner.
The MPHC has welcomed a steady rise in visitors the past year. The staff and volunteers continue to ensure the Centre is run smoothly and welcome visits from a wide range of groups, including schools, parishes, friendship groups, Confirmation candidates, and visitors from overseas.
In September 2025, the MPHC participated for the third year in the nationwide event of the Heritage Open Days festival, which gives communities a chance to share places of historical and spiritual importance. The festival theme was _Architecture_ . The Heritage Centre showed how Venerable Mary Potter and the Little Company of Mary Sisters designed buildings that reflected their Mission of care and healing.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
Mary Potter Heritage Centre - prayer room
## _**Stewardship for Mission**_
In January 2023, the Congregational Mission Fund commenced. A policy has been developed to support the management of this fund to support the life and mission of the LCM spirit in the Region of the Queen of Peace and the Province of the Assumption. The support continues for the two Executive positions at St Anne’s Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe.
## _**LCM Congregational Archive - LCM Postdoctoral Research Fellow Project**_
The LCM Postdoctoral Research Fellow Project is progressing well, focusing on the growth during the first sixty years of the Congregation’s existence, up to its entry into modern day Zimbabwe. It will consider the early leaders of these international foundations and the stories of the Sisters who pioneered these initiatives. The project focuses on the direction taken by the Congregation in these localities, away from Mary Potter’s direct leadership, exploring the story from a cultural, social and spiritual perspective.
Since Dr Eilish Gregory commenced the history project in September 2022, there have been regular updates and presentations given to the Congregational Leadership. Eilish has prepared a draft book of the LCM story for the review of the Congregational Leadership (Trustees). Completion will hopefully be in spring 2026 with the book published in time for the 150 years celebration on 2 July 2027.
## _**Stewardship of our Archival Patrimony**_
The LCM Archives that were held at Tooting Bec are now securely stored at Durham University. The final agreement was signed on 1 July 2024, and the LCM Archives were transferred on 1 October 2024 to Durham University.
In June 2025, the Trustees attended the annual Bishop Dunn Memorial Lecture, and the Friends’ and Benefactors’ event, Durham. They also had the opportunity to tour the Archives in Durham University. The LCM digital catalogue has gone live at _Little Company of Mary Congregational Archives_ . Researchers can contact the Durham search room team directly who manage access to the University materials. On-site access to the Archives and Special Collections is available for both members of Durham University and external researchers.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
## _**Effective models of governance at Congregational Community/Regions/Province level through ongoing evolution of models to support life and mission**_
As Regions/Province take the decision to explore new ways of governance appropriate to reality and the future, the Congregational Leadership facilitates this through committees and roles to achieve the transition whilst being guided by the integral principles of inclusivity and relationship. The previous Provinces of the Southern Cross (Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga) and the Immaculate Conception (United States of America) were assisted by the Congregational Leader to transition to a Region in 2018. The previous Province of the Sacred Heart (Ireland and Italy) has been assisted by the Congregational Leader to transition to a Region in December 2021. The previous Region of the Maternal Heart (UK) was assisted by the Congregational Leader to transition to the Community of the Maternal Heart, England in direct relationship with the Congregational Leader in January 2023. The Congregational Leader has been in discussion with the Region of the Immaculate Conception, USA, the Region of the Southern Cross and the Region of the Sacred Heart, as they consider transition to being Communities in direct relationship to the Congregational Leader. Preparatory work is in progress and this will possibly happen within the next 2 years.
Congregational Leadership (Trustees) has developed and enhanced means of electronic communication and meetings with the introduction of Zooms software, providing flexibility and efficiency in the meeting process and giving support to the Congregational Community/Region/Province Leaders and the Sisters in the Congregation.
The CIO has policies in place to fulfil the requirements of GDPR. These are reviewed regularly.
Key to the success of any governance is maintaining and adapting processes of governance and management in light of civil requirements and to meet the evolving needs of the times. Enhanced technological capacity as a means of communication is essential to function both at Tooting Bec and in our governance approach of working remotely. The digital banking continues to be of great assistance. Monitoring of expenditure weekly by Trustees occurs through the use of the Clear Spend Banking App.
Congregational Leadership is a pastoral relationship, and we endeavour to be in frequent contact with, and offer support for, our Congregational Community/Region/Province Leaders, with regular visits to the various countries of the Congregation.
## _**Mission**_
As noted above, the charity provides leadership and guidance to each of the Congregational Community/Regions/Province in facilitating their work.
- _**Region of the Southern Cross - Australia/Aotearoa - New Zealand/Tonga**_ Conversations have begun to ensure that whatever shape the future Region governance takes or the transition of the Region to any other form, any requirements of the Little Company of Mary for the good functioning of Calvary Ministries has been well considered.
The Region Leadership will look into collaboration with the laity and that of Congregational Leadership will be essential as they look at developing a model of
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
governance that reflects “a collegial model of support for the life of the Sisters and their Mission”.
The Region of the Southern Cross will in the future become a Congregational Community in direct relationship with the Congregational Leader. A Trustee will be the Congregational Collaborator for this Community once established.
The Community Coordinator will be a lay person with delegated authority appointed by the Congregational Leader in consultation with the Sisters. In December 2025, a lay Community Coordinator was appointed.
In February 2025, a Trustee attended the Region of the Southern Cross, Australia/New Zealand/Tonga Gathering held at Mary MacKillop Centre, North Sydney. The Governance Development Committee proposal and work plan was endorsed at the Gathering. Future Gatherings were held throughout 2025.
Trustees continue to receive all documents and have input into these meetings as required. A proposed structure for the Community of the Southern Cross was finalised in November 2024 and was presented for Endorsement by the Region at the Gathering in February 2025.
November 2025 marked a significant milestone for the Region of the Southern Cross who celebrated the 140[th] Anniversary of the arrival of the Little Company of Mary Sisters in Australia.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
The Congregational Leader continues to have regular meetings via Zoom with the Region Leader to offer support and guidance.
## _Australia_
The Sisters, across all age ranges, continue to carry out volunteer ministries, including assisting the frail aged, sick and the underprivileged in both residential/hospice and community care, wherever the Sisters are present.
Calvary Ministries, a Pontifical Juridical Person, has the responsibility for the Little Company of Mary Health and Aged Care. The members of Calvary Ministries took up their appointment on 1 January 2011. On a regular basis, the Chairs of the Members Council and the Board of Trustees of Calvary Ministries meet in Rome with representatives of the Holy See.
## _Tonga_
The LCM spirit continues in Tonga. Sisters are involved in schools, hospitals and disability services as well as parish support and catechetical work. The ministry is now expressed through offering daily prayers for the sick and dying, holding LCM Affiliates’ prayer meetings, providing Chaplaincy at Vaiola Hospital, volunteer work with St Vincent de Paul visiting the elderly, working with women and children in crisis, school counselling and teaching Christian faith at Montfort Technical College. The Sisters join others in actions around the climate crisis, making pastoral visits and participating in the life of the Pea Parish. LCM hospital ministry, Tonga
## _New Zealand_
The Sisters continue to focus their financial and personnel resources on subsidised housing for the aged and on community support through volunteering. At Mary Potter Courts, people continue to reside in these houses, living independently, watching out for each other and enjoying access to the Mary Potter Community Centre, Christchurch.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
Mary Potter apartments, accessible rental housing
Mary Potter Community Centre
_The Region of the Southern Cross funds_
- A Palliative Care programme in partnership with the Sisters of St Paul de Chartres, Timor Leste.
- A Counsellor Training Certificate programme in Tonga to enhance prevention of, and intervention in, domestic violence and social problems.
- _**The Congregational Community of the Maternal Heart UK**_
Maternal Heart continues to provide a safe, loving environment for our Sisters who have spent their lives in ministry to the sick, the suffering and the dying. Many of these Sisters are beyond the statutory retirement age but are contributing invaluable volunteer ministry.
The Congregational Leader has held discussions with the Community Co-ordinator regarding the on-going support relationship as a community. One of the Trustees is a Collaborator for this community.
The Congregational Leader continues to have regular meetings with the Community Coordinator to offer support and guidance.
The Maternal Heart continues to support the Mary Potter Palliative Care Centre’s clinic activities in Korce, Albania financially and with administrative/evaluative visits when possible. In October 2025, an LCM Sister and a Trustee of the Maternal Heart visited Albania. The visit coincided with celebrating World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. The Little Company of Mary (Mary Potter Sisters - known in Albania) as Founders of Palliative Care in Albania, honoured them with a Dedication Certificate and District Emblem which was accepted by the LCM Sister on behalf of Little Company of Mary Sisters.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
The Mary Potter Palliative Care Centre, Albania
- _**Region of the Sacred Heart – Ireland and Italy**_
The Little Company of Mary retains a significant involvement in the ongoing governance of the Milford Care Centre, Limerick – Hospice and Aged Care Services, as well as Community Palliative Care.
Milford Care Centre, Limerick
The Sisters explored partnership with another organisation on a lease agreement to provide a property in Killarney for provision of services to women at risk in Killarney.
The Sisters continue to minister to the ageing in group housing and community and day care services, care for the aged or frail and sick Sisters. Some are involved in bereavement and family support groups, environmental work, refugees and homeless, social and pastoral work. This ministry happens in hospitals, hospices and prisons and takes the form of counselling and chaplaincy.
The Region of the Sacred Heart will in the future become a Congregational Community in direct relationship with the Congregational Leader. A Trustee will be the Congregational Collaborator for this Community once established. The Region has engaged consultants to assist and plans are developing. Discussions are held with the Trustees, Sisters and Congregational Leader regarding the future governance model for this Community.
The Congregational Leader continues to have regular meetings via Zoom with the Region Leader to offer support and guidance.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
In April/May 2025 a Trustee made a Pastoral visit to the Region of the Sacred Heart, Ireland. Discussions were held with the Region Leadership Team and Advisors to transition to a Community in direct relationship to the Congregational Leader. There was a significant event for the Trustee of planting two Redwood trees at the Woodlands, Limerick. The Woodlands has been an environmental project of the Region of the Sacred Heart for many years.
## _**Province of the Assumption – South Korea and the Philippines**_
Hospice, aged care and pastoral care continue to be the main ministries of the Sisters. In each aged care and hospice centre, Sisters are actively involved in hospice education for health care professionals.
The Pocheon Nursing Home provides high quality care to the aged.
Sisters are working as chaplains in three general hospitals to extend the Little Company of Mary charism and spirituality of healing ministry.
In May 2025, a Trustee attended the 60th anniversary of the opening of Calvary Hospice Clinic in Gang-neung, the cornerstone of the Province of the Assumption, a Mass and celebration were held at Imdang-dong Church, jointly presided over by the Bishop of the Chuncheon Diocese and about 10 priests celebrated the Mass. About 300 people gathered at the event, including LCM Sisters, Associates from all areas, staff, volunteers, and benefactors, to give thanks to God and their neighbors for the history that began with the dedication of 17 Australian LCM Sisters.
The Congregational Leader continues to have regular meetings via Zoom with the Province Leader to offer support and guidance.
Following the report and evaluation of the Baguio Mission, Philippines there will be one more year of discernment about the future of this mission.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
## _**Region of the Queen of Peace – South Africa and Zimbabwe**_
The Sisters manage Murambinda Mission Hospital – a generalist health care service in Buhera District, one of the poorest districts of Zimbabwe.
The Sisters continue to provide pastoral care and home visiting in a number of hospitals and local communities where they reside.
The Missionvale Care Centre, founded by an LCM Sister in 1988, is effectively managed, and used by the people in the township. The Missionvale Care Centre is a non-profit organization operating in the midst of crippled poverty, disease, drought and hunger. It is in a transitional phase moving away from a traditional welfare approach and embracing a more developmental and transformative tactic in their activities.
## _Missionvale news update_
**We launched a podcast!** We are so fortunate to have the most interesting, exciting, insightful and engaging conversations at the Centre every day. Be it with a community member, donors or volunteers, everyone offers a fresh perspective! For the first time, we are now able to invite you to listen in on our brand-new podcast, entitled Eavesdrop.
**Irish Week 2025** : Since 2008 we have had the wonderful privilege of having a group of Irish volunteers with us for a whole week. In February we welcomed 18 incredible souls who immersed themselves into the day-to-day operations of the Centre. Their generosity, kindness and support are beyond belief, and we are so grateful to have this continued link with the beautiful people from Sister Ethel's homeland!
**SA Harvest to the (food) rescue!** we have partnered with the remarkable people from **SA Harvest** and in a very short space of time they have become a treasured part of our Missionvale family. Through SA Harvest's vast network of food producers and logistics partners, we are extremely fortunate to have received lifesaving food donations.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
## Check out our new swag! **We have designed some fabulous T-Shirts, golf shirts and hoodies.**
**The impact of holistic care!** A grandmother looking after 5 children under the age of 12. Their mother tried to suffocate her baby girl when she was 5 weeks old. While the mother is in jail, the baby girl and her siblings all stay with granny. The children were deeply neglected and malnourished. Our
interventions began in our medical unit, assessing the entire family’s health, placing them on the nutrition program and regularly having weigh-in checks. With the assistance of our social worker, the children are now back into school. Our community health workers do weekly home visits. The home was dirty/untidy, but since the grandmother started seeing a psychologist, we have seen a visible change in her home and in her body language. She has stopped drinking; the house is clean. She now volunteers with us. In exchange she earns our token “MCC Bucks” – our moneyless token that can be exchanged for food, toiletries, household goods and clothing _._
Inpatient facilities for HIV/AIDS ministry continue in Mashambanzou Waterfalls, Harare and Murambinda in Zimbabwe. These provide essential medical and social services for the local people in impoverished communities.
The Trustees approved the request from the Region Leadership to partner and provide services through the re-opening of St Anne’s’ Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2020 to care for those affected by Covid-19. The Congregational Leadership supported this through the provision of funds and the coordination of financial support from across the Congregation.
Mary Mother of Hope Health Care Pvt Limited (St Anne’s Hospital), Harare is established with board membership and chair appointments. Congregational Leadership continued to give support with funding from the Mission Fund for the two Executive positions, of General Manager and Finance Manager.
The LCM’s mission funding has ensured continuity and provides for the funding gaps in supporting the poor living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in the high-density suburbs of the Greater Harare.
The Hospital operates on a referral basis to the general public for treatment and management of medical and surgical conditions including paediatric care and obstetrics, maternity, critical care unit and within the hospital is a pharmacy.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
The Congregational Leader continues to have regular meetings via Zoom with the Region Leader to offer support and guidance.
In December 2025 – February 2026 a Trustee made a Pastoral visit to the Region of the Queen of Peace, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
- _**Region of the Immaculate Conception - United States of America**_ While prayer for the suffering and dying is paramount, Sisters are actively engaged in the works of the healing ministry in Evergreen Park (IL); Torrance (CA) and Jasper (IN) in delivering compassionate care through their presence. This happens in a variety of ways through nurturing Hospice Nurses, Certified Spiritual Directors, Compassionate Hospital Visitors, Caring Home Visits to Shut-Ins, Food Pantry Worker, Advocate for the Poor and Prayerful Support to grieving families **.**
In June 2025, two Trustees held meetings and discussions with the Region Leadership. Further revision was made to the draft documents “Declaration of Trust – Legacy Fund”. The Region of the Immaculate Conception will in the future become a Congregational Community in direct relationship with the Congregational Leader. At the appropriate time, areas will be delegated to the lay people identified by the Sisters and already working with the Sisters in the current structure, these roles would act with delegation from the Congregational Leader and form an essential important part of Community administration and Sister support, enabling the Sisters to live their LCM life fully. This transition will happen on 11 October 2026. All documents are being reviewed to prepare for this transition. A Trustee will be the Congregational Collaborator for this Community once established.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
The Memorial hospital in Jasper Indiana have been sponsored by the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary for many years. The Congregational Leadership supported the Region Leadership decision in 2020 as they explored future stewardship and sustainability of the Memorial Hospital, Jasper, Indiana. In February 2024, that hospital and associated medical centres transitioned to stewardship and ownership by the Deaconess Health System, Indiana – another Catholic health care system.
The Region have been in discussion with the Leadership of OSF Little Company of Mary Foundation and permission is sought to establish an endowment for the on-going education for LCM professionals to help and ensure the quality of care for patients in the communities. The Region is in discussion to establish significant legacies they will support into the future. A Trustee is involved with these discussions.
The Region Leadership will look into collaboration with the laity and that of Congregational Leadership will be essential as they look at developing a model of governance that reflects “a collegial model of support for the life of the Sisters and their Mission”.
The Congregational Leader continues to have regular meetings via Zoom with the Region Leader to offer support and guidance.
## _**Donations policy**_
When planning their budget at the beginning of the year, the Trustees agree to set aside a certain amount for the organisations whose work is consistent with the objects of the charity. These organisations are usually known to the Sisters and include the missions of the International Regions and Province of the Little Company of Mary. The donations are decided upon by the Trustees and applications from other organisations are considered on an individual basis.
The donations policy was reviewed and amended in 2019 to increase the amount to be directed to donations with a particular focus on support for refugees, homelessness and eradication of Human Trafficking.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
## _Stories of gratitude from Beneficiaries_
**The Medaille Trust:** _Thank you so much for your generous donation of £1,000 to Medaille Trust. Your support will make a huge difference in our work supporting survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery. Thanks to donations like yours, we're able to continue providing essential services through our network of ten safehouses, as well as through our community outreach service, the Moving On Project. Your donation directly strengthens our ability to offer comprehensive support and build pathways to recovery for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society. Modern slavery remains a significant issue, with an estimated 120,000 people currently living in situations of modern slavery in the UK. Your support helps us move closer to our vision of a world where people are free from exploitation._
**The Salvation Army:** _Thank you very much indeed for your magnificent donation of £2,000 for the work of The Salvation Army. Please accept my sincere thanks for your kindness and generosity. To know that you thought so warmly of us that you wanted to help us in our wonderful mission of caring for people in real need brings such joy to me, and all of us at The Salvation Army. At a time when we are so heavily dependent on donations to sustain us, your gift is so very welcome, and much needed. Be assured of my most sincere thanks, and immense gratitude for your kindness. Your generous gift will enable us to bring hope into the lives of some of the most vulnerable people you could imagine. Isolated older people will receive the comfort and friendship that we can provide thanks to you. Families who are facing grinding poverty will receive our practical help and support. And our drop-in centres and Lifehouses will continue to support people who are homeless and have nothing. Your gift will help us do this day-in, day-out. Without the help of our kind supporters, we could not reach out to so many vulnerable people in genuine, urgent need. And, as the demand for our work becomes greater, we are ever more dependent on your generosity. Supporters like you are the lifeblood of our charity and without you our work would quite literally cease. We are delighted that we can count on your truly generous support - words cannot express how much this means to us and our beneficiaries. Thank you again for your wonderful donation._
**Aid to the Church in Need:** _Your generous donation of £1,000 is a beautiful expression of the Little Company of Mary's unwavering mission to bring compassion and care to those who suffer. Through this gift, you are not only standing with persecuted Christians—you are actively helping them find hope, healing, and strength in the face of unimaginable trials. Thanks to your support, we can continue to provide vital aid—such as shelter, education, and pastoral care—to Christian communities in urgent need. In regions where openly practicing the faith is dangerous, your generosity helps ensure that families can worship safely, children can learn, and clergy and religious can serve with courage. We are deeply moved by your solidarity and commitment. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry of compassion and healing._
**Solidarity Project Ltd:** _We wish to express appreciation for your donation of £5,000 towards the Solidarity with South Sudan initiative. We are deeply grateful for your assistance with the ministry programs which involve Catholic religious congregations from around the world. Thank you for always being by our side and for supporting our work._
- _Health: $4500 to cover cost for one nurse/midwife student for one year of a three-year program at our Catholic Health Training Institute in Wau._
- _Agricultural Programme: $2500 helps 10 households to increase and enhance_
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **18**
**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
_technical capacity of best agricultural methods, improve food security at household level and markets, prevent malnutrition among children under 5 years._
- _Education: $4500 to cover costs for one teacher student for one year of a two-year program at our Solidarity Teacher Training Centre in Yambio._
- _Pastoral Programme: $3500 to cover workshops conducted by Solidarity Pastoral Team in Trauma Healing, formation of Catechists, Youth, Women, and Priests._
**----- Start of picture text -----**
STTC, Yambio CHTI, Wau
Sap, Riimenze
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**Comunità di Sant’Egidio, Florence** : _We would like to sincerely thank you for the contribution of €8,255.69 to support activities for migrants and refugees welcomed as part of the humanitarian corridors project. In this very particular moment, those on the margins of our city, such as migrants, are the most exposed to social exclusion. The initiatives we carry out in favour of the most disadvantaged people and the poor living in our city are also possible thanks to your help, which we feel as support and encouragement to continue. Attached to this letter are some images of the reception of a Palestinian family who arrived in Florence through the humanitarian corridors._
_**Emergency Charitable Fund:**_ The Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO established a designated Emergency Charitable Fund of £49,988 in the year to 31 December 2024, of which £37,075 was utilised in the year to 31 December 2024. In the year to 31 December 2025, a further £36,988 was designated and £25,069 utilised. These funds are to be used to support those affected by natural world disasters on behalf of the Congregation. The funds are sourced at the same time of the annual assessment from the Congregational Community/Regions/Province with available funds. These monies are extra to the annual assessment and are recorded and managed as a separate cost centre. The annual limit is £50,000 and funds are sought annually to replace what has been dispensed and top up the fund. The Congregational Leader with consent of Council will authorise the use of this fund. The funds will be allocated through reputable Charities / Foundations / Appeals. Receipts
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **19**
**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
are required and expenditure is reported to the Congregation at the time of the donation and in more detail to the Congregational Community/Region/Province Leadership in the annual assessment process when top up funds are sought.
Donations from the Congregation coordinated by the CIO Trustees include:
1. Catholic Charities USA support the wildfires in Los Angeles - £10,000, January 2025.
2. UNICEF UK – State of Palestine appeal - £5,000, March 2025.
3. St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Australia – Tropical Cyclone appeal - £2,500, March 2025.
4. St Vincent de Paul Society QLD, Australia – Tropical Cyclone appeal - £2,500 March 2025.
5. Caritas Australia – Myanmar Earthquake appeal - £5,000 April 2025.
**Catholic Charities USA:** _On behalf of Catholic Charities USA, please know how grateful we are for your most generous gift in the amount of $11,818.00 to support of our relief and recovery efforts in Greater Los Angeles. As our thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives have been devasted, your support will help us make a difference in getting them back on their feet. Staff and volunteers from Catholic Charities agencies provided life-sustaining assistance to those who need food, water, shelter and financial aid. Know that your gift will help us bring hope, love and compassionate care to those trying to rebuild their lives after this devastating event._
**St Vincent de Paul Society QLD, Australia** : _Heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation to the St Vincent de Paul Society QLD Cyclone Appeal. In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, many Queenslanders are facing immense challenges as they begin the long road to recovery. Your donation is making a real difference—providing hope and essential support to those who need it most. From emergency relief to practical assistance with food, clothing, and shelter, your generosity is helping families rebuild their lives. I want to reassure you that 100% of the funds raised for this appeal will go directly to those affected by the cyclone. We do not allocate any disaster relief donations towards administration costs—every dollar yo_ u _give goes to helping Queenslanders in crisis. Once again, thank you for your kindness and support. It truly means the world to those in need._
**St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Australia** : _On behalf of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW (Vinnies NSW) I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation to our Cyclone Alfred Disaster Appeal. Your commitment to supporting those in need during this challenging time is truly appreciated. Your donation will play a crucial role in helping individuals and communities impacted by the cyclone, including the many lives that have been devastated by the destruction of homes and businesses. Whether it’s providing immediate relief or offering long-term support for rebuilding, your generosity ensures that we can be there for those who need us most. Thanks to your generous contribution, Vinnies NSW is able to deliver immediate relief while also supporting the long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts for families and communities. Once again, thank you for your support. Your compassion and generosity are making a real difference in the lives of those impacted by this disaster._
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
**Caritas Australia:** _Thank you for your donation to Caritas Australia’s Myanmar Earthquake Appeal. Your donation will be used to support affected communities in Myanmar and surrounding regions, bringing hope to families impacted by the current earthquake crisis. If any excess funds remain after the crisis, or if there are changes beyond our control that limit our ability to use the funds, they are kept in the Emergency Response Appeal so that we can respond to ongoing needs and future crises around the world. Thank you again for your generosity. Together we are building a better world._
## **Fundraising policy**
The charity’s fundraising activity is negligible. However, it aims to achieve best practice in the way in which it communicates with donors and other supporters. It takes care with both the tone of its communication and the accuracy of its data to minimise the pressures on supporters. It applies best practice to protect supporters’ data and never sells data, it never swaps data and ensures that communication preferences can be changed at any time. The charity manages its own fundraising activities and does not employ the services of professional fundraisers. The charity undertakes to react and to investigate any complaints regarding its fundraising activities and to learn from them and improve its service. During the year, the charity received no complaints about its fundraising activities.
The Trustees continue to fully utilise social media to remain in contact with Sisters throughout the world. The Trustees with this governance model are able to function both in the UK and working remotely from their home countries.
## **Financial review**
## _**Results for the period**_
A summary of the year’s results can be found on page 34 of the attached accounts.
Total income for the year amounted to £2,613,959 (2024 - £434,863). This includes assessments from the individual Communities, Regions and Province of the Congregation totalling £355,231 (2024 - £355,231), additional contributions from Communities, Regions and Province of £36,988 (2024 - £49,998), and restricted donations to the Congregational Associate Support Fund of £7,988 (2024 - £nil). Bank interest amounted to £39,044 (2024 - £29,044). Income from the transfer of assets and liabilities of the Mary Potter Heritage Centre from Little Company of Mary Sisters England CIO (Charity Registration Number 1186617) totalled £2,173,218 (2024 - £nil).
Expenditure amounted to £531,445 (2024 - £401,875) and expenditure includes costs of coordinating and advising the Regions and Province of the Congregation amounting to £302,462 (2024 - £331,780), costs associated with the Mary Potter Heritage Centre amounting to £164,659 (2024 - £nil) and donations amounting to £64,324 (2024 - £70,105). Details of donations payable are included in note 5 to the accounts.
Therefore, the net income and the net increase in funds for the year to 31 December 2025 was £2,082,514 (2024 - £32,988). At 31 December 2025, the net assets of the charity amounted to £3,020,449 (2024 - £937,935).
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **21**
**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
## _**Investment policy**_
The Trustees have considered the cash requirements for the various projects they are involved in and have adopted a policy of keeping available funds in special interest-bearing deposit accounts and a treasury deposit account. An Ethical Investment Policy has been adopted by the charity.
## _**Reserves policy**_
The Trustees aim to maintain between two and three years of regular operating expenditure in free reserves (reserves not designated or invested in fixed assets). The Trustees consider this level of free reserves to be appropriate given the charity’s responsibility as co-ordinator of the Congregation’s worldwide activities, where in the event of an urgent need in any Congregational Community/Region/Province, immediate financial assistance can be provided. The Trustees will continue to keep this policy under review.
## _**Financial position**_
The balance sheet shows total reserves of £3,020,449 (2024 - £937,935). The tangible fixed assets fund totals £138,300 (2024 - £143,103) and is represented by tangible fixed assets used to support the work of the charity. The designated emergency charitable fund totals £39,817 (2024 - £27,898). The restricted fund totals £2,041,315 (2024 - £11,697) and is comprised of the Congregational Support fund (£19,685 (2024 - £11,697)) and the assets of the Mary Potter Heritage Centre (£2,021,630 (2024 - £nil)).
Funds available to co-ordinate and provide advice on the Congregation’s worldwide activities in the future are shown as general funds on the balance sheet and amount to £801,017 (2024 - £755,237). The Trustees are of the opinion that these free reserves are adequate but not excessive. The continuing worldwide economic uncertainties mean that the Trustees must have the flexibility to react quickly should the Regions or Province have urgent need of financial resources. As such, the Trustees believe it prudent to retain these reserves at the current time. This level of reserves is deemed appropriate, and the Trustees are content that the charity is a going concern.
## **Future plans**
The future plans of the charity are as follows:
- Trustees continue to attend appropriate educational meetings and webinars that will inform them of recent changes in the charity law that relates to the charity.
- Exploration and planning to address the future of the Congregation will continue.
- In April 2026 a Trustee will attend the Assembly of election, Province of Assumption, Korea.
- In September 2026 the Trustees will attend the Region of Southern Cross, Australia, New Zealand and Tonga transition from Region to Community in direct relationship with the Congregational Leader.
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**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
- In October 2026 the Trustees will attend the Region of the Immaculate Conception, USA transition from Region to Community in direct relationship with the Congregational Leader.
- In October 2026, a Heritage Pilgrimage for twelve Korean Associates will be held in London and Nottingham.
- In late 2026 or early 2027 the Trustees will attend the Region of the Sacred Heart, Ireland transition from Region to Community in direct relationship with the Congregational Leader.
- The Congregation will celebrate its 150[th] anniversary of the foundation on 2 July 2027. A Committee will be established in 2026 to organize and promote international activities. The focus will be on Legacy, Spirituality, Global Unity and Celebration and Visibility. Local activities will occur in each Community/Region/Province.
## **Governance, structure, and management**
## _**Governing document and background**_
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO is an incorporated charitable organisation, currently governed by a constitution dated 5 March 2018. It is a registered charity, Charity Registration Number: 1161450. The original constitution dated 28 April 2015 was amended by a Resolution dated 5 March 2018.
The charity was registered with the Charity Commission on 28 April 2015. The charity’s activities commenced on 1 July 2015 following the transfer of activities, assets and liabilities from a charitable trust called the Generalate Community of the Little Company of Mary. From the date of the transfer, the charitable trust became dormant and has since been removed from the Central Register of Charities.
## _**Membership of the CIO**_
The Congregational Leader for the time being shall automatically, by virtue of holding that office, be ex-officio the sole member of the CIO. If the CIO is wound up, the member of the CIO has no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities.
## _**Trustees**_
The charity had four Trustees during the year: The Congregational Leader and three Congregational Councillors. The Trustees are elected for a term of six years at the Congregational Chapter by the elected delegates of the Congregation’s membership. The current Trustees were elected in April 2023 at the Nineteenth Congregational Chapter held in Knock, Ireland, and began their term of office on 2 July 2023 as Trustees of the incorporated charitable organisation.
The names of the Trustees who served during the period are set out as part of the reference and administrative details on page 1 of this annual report and accounts and brief biographical details of each of the Trustees in office at the year-end is given below.
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **23**
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- _Sister Patricia Mary Bell – Congregational Leader (until 2 May 2026)_ Sister Patricia Mary Bell has been a Sister of the Little Company of Mary since 1976 and has a wide range of experience in health care in Australia. Having graduated from Nursing at Lewisham, Sydney, she later undertook her midwifery at St Margaret’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney, and Oncology at the College of Nursing. She has had wide experience in nursing in medical, surgical, midwifery and especially in palliative care, her “great love”. Previously, Sister Patricia Mary has held Charge Sister positions at Lewisham, Wagga Wagga, Hobart, Canberra and Coordinator of Hospice Home Care at Bethlehem, Melbourne and was Director of Mission in Hobart from 1996 until 2005. She has Grief Line and Life Line Counselling Certificates. She was elected as Province Councillor for Australia in 2004, a role she held until her election as Congregational Councillor/Trustee in 2005. Returning to Australia in 2011 she ministered as a Volunteer in the Community Palliative Care Team at Kogarah, was involved with ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Human Trafficking), provided support to refugees and asylum seekers in detention and was the Province Coordinator for the Affiliates and Associates for the Little Company of Mary. In March 2017 she was elected at the Congregational Chapter as a Councillor for 6 years and served as the Congregational Treasurer. In April 2023, at the LCM Congregational Chapter in Knock, Ireland, she was elected as the Congregational Leader for a period of 6 years and consequently is serving as a Trustee of the charity.
- _Sister Esther Myong Soon Shin –_ Congregational Councillor (and Congregational Leader from 3 May 2026) Sister Esther Shin entered the Congregation in 1986 in Korea. She has a professional background in Nursing, experience as a general nursing and hospice palliative nursing in hospital and clinics from 1995 to 1999, also Mary Potter Palliative Centre in Albania from 2000 to 2002. She has experience in formation as a Novice Formator and Temporary Professed Sisters Formator from 2005 to 2011. She served as a chaplain for general patients and hospice patients at the hospital from 2011 to 2016. In 2014, she was a postgraduate of Culture and Spirituality at the Catholic University of Korea. She was elected Province Councillor of the Assumption Province from 2005 to 2011 and elected Province Leader and as a Trustee of the Little Company of Mary Sisters South Korea from 2016 to 2021. In April 2023, at the LCM Congregation Chapter in Knock, Ireland, she was elected as the Congregational Councillor for a period of 6 years and consequently is serving as a Trustee of the charity.
- _Sister Monica Whelan –_ Congregational Councillor Sister Monica Whelan has been a Sister of the Little Company of Mary since 1990 and has a wide experience in both non-clinical healthcare services and in education as a teacher and school administration. Whilst most of her experience has been in Australia, she also worked at Australian Catholic University as a sessional lecturer as well as facilitating health care programs in Timor Leste for over ten (10) years. She graduated with a Diploma in Teaching, Catholic teachers College, Sydney 1976 and completed a Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies in 1982. Thesis for this degree was titled Integration of Physically Disabled Children into New South Wales State and Catholic Schools. She has wide experience in educational leadership and is always keen to see others learn and succeed in life. Other qualifications include Bachelor of Theology 2002 and Master of Philosophy 2009. Further professional background in health care includes
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **24**
**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
seven (7) years as Director of Mission Calvary Health Care, Canberra. Three (3) years’ experience in Pastoral Care, Bethlehem Hospital, Melbourne and twelve (12) years’ experience in education for Mission integration with Little Company of Mary Health Care, Australian Province. She was elected as Province Councillor for Australia in 2005 until 2010. In 2017 she was elected as Region Councillor for Australia, New Zealand, Tonga a role she held until her election as Congregational Councillor in April 2023 at LCM Congregational Chapter in Ireland. This role is for a period of 6 years whereby Sister Monica is a Trustee of the charity and Congregational Treasurer.
- _Sister Ellen Maseve –_ Congregational Councillor Sister Ellen Maseve joined the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary in 1997. She trained in Systemic Child Counselling, nursing, psychology, and Religious Formation. Worked in the hospital as a ward nurse and in administration. Journeyed with those in Religious Formation. From 2011-2018, Sister Ellen served as the member of the Leadership and Governance Team within the Queen of Peace Region, South Africa and Zimbabwe and from 2018-2021 she served as the Region Leader. She was the Hospital Executive Manager for Queen of Peace Murambinda Mission Hospital until her election in April 2023 as the Congregational Councillor at the LCM Congregational Chapter in Ireland for a period of 6 years and consequently is serving as a Trustee of the charity.
## _**Trustee Formation**_
Representatives of the Congregational Leadership (Trustees) attended the following meetings and conferences during the period:
|**Date**|**Details**|
|---|---|
|**December**
**2024**|♦Charity Property Law 2024 Part 1 and Part 2 Looking ahead 2025,
Stone King – Christopher Jones. Sister Patricia Mary Bell
♦Safeguarding Stone King – Lee Coley. Sister Patricia Mary Bell
♦Employment Law, Reference on a Year of Change, Harriet
Broughton, Stone King. Sister Patricia Mary Bell
♦Routes for Religious Workers, Stone King, Julianna Barker. Sister
Patricia MaryBell|
|**January 2025**|♦UISG webinar: Examining the Final Synod Document for
Consecrated Life - Part I. Maria Cimperman, RSCJ. Sister Esther
Shin
♦UISG webinar: Safeguarding: Responding to Concerns and
Allegations. Sister Monica Whelan|
|**February**
**2025**|♦UISG webinar (September 2024): The Interconnection between
Integral Ecology, Spirituality, Charism, Social and Environmental
Justice. Sister Monica Whelan
♦Annual Day for Consecrated People, St Peter’s Vauxhall
Celebrant: Archbishop John Wilson. Sister Monica Whelan
♦Conference of Religious: Friday: New Ways of Working and
Organizing Ourselves. Sister Monica Whelan
♦UISG webinar: Taking Up Our Prophetic Role Again in this New
Moment Examining the Final Synod Document for Consecrated
Life by Maria Cimperman RSCJ. Sister Ellen Maseve
♦Stone King Webinar: Conflicts of interest: how to manage them
well byAlexandra Steffensen, Senior Associate. Sister Ellen|
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **25**
**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Date Details
Maseve
♦ UISG webinar: Examining the Final Synod Document for
Consecrated Life - Part II, by Maria Cimperman RSCJ and
companions. Sister Ellen Maseve
♦ UISG Safeguarding Webinar: Responding to Concerns and
Allegations by Tina Campbell. Sister Ellen Maseve
♦ UISG webinar: "The "Good" Economic Management of a Religious
Institute Today" by Alessandro Pellizzari. Sister Ellen Maseve
March 2025 ♦ The Faith-consistent Investing Interest Group’s Quarterly Forum:
The Power of Shareholder Engagement. Sister Monica Whelan
♦ Using Walking into the Future Together – Final Opportunity to
Shape our Priorities for 2025 – 2031. Sister Monica Whelan LCM
♦ UISG webinar with members of the Dicastery and the Asian group
of Superior Generals of Religious Life – Looking at the Challenges
of Religious Life of the future, Leadership and Governance. Sister
Patricia Mary Bell
♦ CAFOD Event - Reception to celebrate the Jubilee Year: State
Rooms, Speaker’s House, House of Commons, London. Sister
Monica Whelan
April 2025 ♦ Faith-consistent Investing: Core Principles and Practices. Sister
Monica Whelan
May 2025 ♦ LCWR Zoom Webinar Envisioning Charism: Now and For the
Future: Maria Cimperman, RSCJ. Sister Ellen Maseve
♦ Canon Law workshop at UISG Rome. Sister Patricia Mary Bell
♦ UISG Assembly in Rome. Sister Patricia Mary Bell
♦ Buzzacott webinar Changes to SORP for 2026 – Katherine Patel
and Edward Finch. Sister Patricia Mary Bell
June 2025 ♦ The Next Years of Laudato Si': Examining Climate Migration and
Grassroots Change. Sister Monica Whelan
♦ USIG Communication Office: “Spiritual abuses. How to listen and
accompany a cry”. Sister Monica Whelan
July 2025 ♦ Online webinar on Strategic branding for Religious Congregations
and ecclesiastical Institutions by Pablo Pages sponsored by UISG.
Sister Ellen Maseve
♦ USIG Communication Office: “Spiritual abuses. How to listen and
accompany a cry” by Sister Tizian Merlette SFP. Sister Esther
Shin
♦ UISG Online webinar on Strategic branding for Religious
Congregations ecclesiastical Institutions by Pablo Pagès. Sister
Esther Shin
September ♦ CoR Ecology and the Church: Our vocation for prophetic action
2025 and investment for our Common Home, Dr Lorna Gold of the
Laudato Si’ Movement, London Jesuit Centre. Sister Monica
Whelan
♦ Online webinar entitled; ‘Why Study Dementia’ hosted by Anna
Trust Foundation. Sister Ellen Maseve
♦ Online webinar entitled; The Art of Photography hosted by UISG.
Sister Ellen Maseve
♦ USIG online webinar “Series on Dementia in Religious life”, The
Anna Trust. Sister Esther Shin
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Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **26**
**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
|**Date**|**Details**|
|---|---|
||♦UISG Online webinar “The art of Photography”. Sister Esther Shin
♦Association Provincial Bursars Conference, High Leigh
Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, Herts. Sister Monica Whelan|
|**October 2025**|♦Jubilee year for Consecrated Life, Rome. Sister Monica Whelan
♦USIG online webinar “Series on Dementia in Religious life”, The
Anna Trust. Sister Esther Shin
♦Online webinar entitled; “Caring with Foresight: Planning for the
Wellbeing of Members in Religious Life” hosted by Anna Trust
Foundation. Sister Ellen Maseve
♦CoR’s Online Health Care Forum: 1. Employment of Lay Staff in
Religious Settings 2. Changes to Employment Law 2026. Sister
Monica Whelan|
|**November**
**2025**|♦NRVP: Following Jesus in a VUCA World – National Office for
Vocation, Father Gonzalo Fernandez Sanz CMF. Sister Monica
Whelan
♦NRVP: Following Jesus in a VUCA World – National Office for
Vocation, Fr Gonzalo Fernandez Sanz CMF. Sister Esther Shin
♦Online webinar entitled; Safeguarding: Abuse of adult women and
false mysticism hosted byUISG. Sister Ellen Maseve|
|**December**
**2025**|♦CAFOD Annual Advent Carol Service held at St. George’s
Cathedral, Southwark Sister Monica Whelan
♦USIG online webinar “Series on Dementia in Religious life”, The
Anna Trust Foundation. Sister Esther Shin
♦USIG online webinar “Series on Dementia in Religious life”, The
Anna Trust Foundation. Sister Ellen Maseve
♦UISG online webinar “Consecrated Life a Hope that Transforms
60thAnniversaryof UISG. Sister Patricia MaryBell.|
## _**Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities**_
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ report and accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing the accounts the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles 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 United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102);
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts;
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **27**
**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
- prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, applicable Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the charity’s constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## _**Structure and management reporting**_
As a result of the international scope of their work and travel, the Trustees meet regularly to review developments with regard to the charity or its activities and make any important decisions. The Trustees use electronic means to be informed and kept up to date with developments within the Congregation and the charity. When necessary, the Trustees seek advice and support from the charity’s professional advisers including property consultants, solicitors, and accountants. The day-to-day management of the charity’s activities, and the implementation of policies, is delegated to the appropriate members of the Congregation or senior staff.
## _**Key management**_
The Trustees consider that they alone comprise the key management of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running, and operating the charity on a day-to-day basis. All of the Trustees are members of the Little Company of Mary (“the Congregation”). Whilst their living and personal expenses are borne by the charity, they receive no remuneration or reimbursement of expenses in connection with their duties as Trustees.
## _**Risk management**_
The Trustees undertake an annual review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces categorising the risks between those affecting the governance and management of the charity, operational risks, financial risks, reputational risks, and those which occur because of circumstances outside of the charity's control such as changes in government policy, laws, and regulations. They regularly review the measures already in place, or needing to be put in place, to establish policies, systems, and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the annual review and ensure that action is taken to implement changes to those policies, systems and procedures should they be needed to minimise or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.
In November 2019, the Trustees commenced using the Bankline service of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) for payments by electronic transfer. This process minimises risk and ensures effective safeguards are in place. A policy for digital banking has been developed.
This work has identified two key risks for the charity which are described below together with the principal ways in which they are mitigated:
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **28**
**Trustees’ report** Year to 31 December 2025
- Operationally the charity works with children and vulnerable adults including older people. The Trustees recognise the absolute necessity of ensuring the protection and safety of all those that the charity serves. This means that Sisters engaged in any ministry in Great Britain and all those who work or volunteer for the charity and work with children or vulnerable adults must obtain clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Trustees are committed fully to implementing the policies of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) and the new dedicated Religious Life Safeguarding Standard Service.
- From time to time, the charity donates significant sums in support of the wider Congregation and other organisations. The vast majority of donations sent overseas are to fund projects administered directly by members of the Congregation. Whether or not the funds are used here in Great Britain or overseas, the Trustees always ensure that they are fully briefed about and familiar with the work of a potential recipient of funds, that funds are transferred via bank transfer, that proof of receipt is obtained and that, wherever possible (and always in the case of monies sent overseas), a full written report is obtained.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees:
Trustee: Sister Monica Whelan LCM Date:
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **29**
**Statement of financial activities** Year to 31 December 2025
**Independent auditor’s report to the Trustees of Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the accounts of Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows, the principal accounting policies, and the notes to the accounts. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the accounts:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 December 2025 and of its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the accounts in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the accounts, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the accounts is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the accounts are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, including the Trustees’ report, other than the accounts and our auditor’s report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the accounts does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **30**
**Statement of financial activities** Year to 31 December 2025
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the accounts or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the accounts themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- the information given in the Trustees’ report is inconsistent in any material respect with the accounts; or
- sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
- the accounts are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
## **Responsibilities of Trustees**
As explained more fully in the Trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 27 and page 28, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of accounts that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the accounts, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts**
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the accounts as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.
Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **31**
**Statement of financial activities** Year to 31 December 2025
the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these accounts.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below:
_**How the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud**_ Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
- The engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
- We identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charity through discussions with one of the Trustees and from our knowledge and experience of the charity sector;
- We focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the accounts or the activities of the charity. These included but were not limited to the Charities Act 2011, Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102); and
- We assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of those charged with governance and review of minutes of Trustees’ meetings.
We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s accounts to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
- Making enquiries of those charged with governance as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
- Considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
- Performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
- Tested and reviewed journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
- Carried out substantive testing of expenditure;
- Assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias; and
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **32**
**Statement of financial activities** Year to 31 December 2025
- Investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
- Agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
- Reading the minutes of meetings of Trustees; and
- Enquiring of as to actual and potential litigation and claims.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s Trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s Trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Buzzacott Audit LLP Statutory Auditor 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL
Date: 25 June 2026
Buzzacott Audit LLP is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **33**
## **Statement of financial activities** Year to 31 December 2025
|Notes|**Un-**
**restricted**
**funds**
**£**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**|**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**|Unrestricted
funds
£|Restricted
funds
£|2024
Total
funds
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Income from:**
Donations
1
Bank interest
Other sources
. Heritage Centre net assets
18
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
. Co-ordination and direction
of, and the provision of
advice to, the Regions and
Province of the Congregation
2
. Heritage Centre
3
. Donations
5
**Total expenditure**
**Net income (expenditure)**
**and net movement in funds**
6
Balances brought forward at 1
January 2025
**Balances carried forward at**
**31 December 2025**|**392,469**
**26,763**
**—**|**9,228**
**12,281**
**2,173,218**|**401,697**
**39,044**
**2,173,218**|405,819
29,044
—|—
—
—|405,819
29,044
—|
||**419,232**|**2,194,727**|**2,613,959**|434,863|—|434,863|
||**302,462**
**—**
**63,874**|**—**
**164,659**
**450**|**302,462**
**164,659**
**64,324**|323,467
—
70,105|8,303
—
—|331,770
—
70,105|
||**366,336**|**165,109**|**531,445**|393,572|8,303|401,875|
||**52,896**
**926,238**|**2,029,618**
**11,697**|**2,082,514**
**937,935**|41,291
884,947|(8,303)
20,000|32,988
904,947|
||**979,134**|**2,041,315**|**3,020,449**|926,238|11,697|937,935|
All recognised gains and losses are included in the statement of financial activities.
There is no difference between the net movement in funds stated above and the historical cost equivalent.
All activities of the charity derived from continuing operations during the above two financial years.
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **34**
## **Balance sheet** 31 December 2025
|Notes|**2025**
**£**|**2025**
**£**|2024
£|2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
9
**Current assets**
Debtors
10
Short term deposits
Cash at bank and in hand
**Current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
11
**Net current assets**
**Total net assets**
**Represented by:**
**The funds of the charity**
Restricted funds
13
Unrestricted funds:
. General fund
. Designated funds
14|**15,513**
**1,130,209**
**352,901**|**1,563,652**
**1,456,797**|12,606
538,576
264,630|143,103
794,832|
||**1,498,623**
**(41,826)**||815,812
(20,980)||
||**801,017**
**178,117**||755,237
171,001||
|||**3,020,449**||937,935|
|||**2,041,315**
**979,134**||11,697
926,238|
||||||
|||**3,020,449**||937,935|
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Sister Monica Whelan LCM Trustee Approved by the Trustees
on:
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **35**
## **Statement of cash flows** Year to 31 December 2025
|Notes|**2025**
**£**|2024
£|
|---|---|---|
|**Cash flows from operating activities**
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
A
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Purchase of short-term deposits
Interest receivable
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
**Cash flow from the transfer of the Heritage Centre (note 18)**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 2025**
B
**Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2025**
B|**(25,977)**|6,457|
||**(7,768)**
**(591,633)**
**39,044**|—
(20,991)
29,044|
||**(560,357)**|8,053|
||**674,605**|—|
||**88,271**
**264,630**|14,509
250,120|
||**352,901**|264,630|
|**A**
**B**|**Notes to the statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 December 2025**
**Reconciliation of net income and net movement in funds to net cash used in operating**
**activities**
**2025**
**£**
2024
£
**Net expenditure and net movement in funds (as per the statement**
**of financial activities)**
**2,082,514**
32,988
**Adjustments:**
Depreciation charge
**85,832**
12,150
Interest receivable
**(39,044)**
(29,044)
Transfer of Heritage Centre fixed assets (note 18)
**(1,498,613)**
—
Transfer of Heritage Centre cash (note 18)
**(674,605)**
—
Increase in debtors
**(2,907)**
(416)
Increase (decrease) in creditors
**20,846**
(9,221)
**Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities**
**(25,977)**
6,457
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
**2025**
**£**
2024
£
Cash at bank and in hand
**352,901**
264,630|**Notes to the statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 December 2025**
**Reconciliation of net income and net movement in funds to net cash used in operating**
**activities**
**2025**
**£**
2024
£
**Net expenditure and net movement in funds (as per the statement**
**of financial activities)**
**2,082,514**
32,988
**Adjustments:**
Depreciation charge
**85,832**
12,150
Interest receivable
**(39,044)**
(29,044)
Transfer of Heritage Centre fixed assets (note 18)
**(1,498,613)**
—
Transfer of Heritage Centre cash (note 18)
**(674,605)**
—
Increase in debtors
**(2,907)**
(416)
Increase (decrease) in creditors
**20,846**
(9,221)
**Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities**
**(25,977)**
6,457
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
**2025**
**£**
2024
£
Cash at bank and in hand
**352,901**
264,630|**Notes to the statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 December 2025**
**Reconciliation of net income and net movement in funds to net cash used in operating**
**activities**
**2025**
**£**
2024
£
**Net expenditure and net movement in funds (as per the statement**
**of financial activities)**
**2,082,514**
32,988
**Adjustments:**
Depreciation charge
**85,832**
12,150
Interest receivable
**(39,044)**
(29,044)
Transfer of Heritage Centre fixed assets (note 18)
**(1,498,613)**
—
Transfer of Heritage Centre cash (note 18)
**(674,605)**
—
Increase in debtors
**(2,907)**
(416)
Increase (decrease) in creditors
**20,846**
(9,221)
**Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities**
**(25,977)**
6,457
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
**2025**
**£**
2024
£
Cash at bank and in hand
**352,901**
264,630|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Net expenditure and net movement in funds (as per the statement**
**of financial activities)**
**Adjustments:**
Depreciation charge
Interest receivable
Transfer of Heritage Centre fixed assets (note 18)
Transfer of Heritage Centre cash (note 18)
Increase in debtors
Increase (decrease) in creditors
**Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities**
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**|**2,082,514**
**85,832**
**(39,044)**
**(1,498,613)**
**(674,605)**
**(2,907)**
**20,846**
**(25,977)**
**2025**
**£**|32,988
12,150
(29,044)
—
—
(416)
(9,221)
6,457
2024
£|
||Cash at bank and in hand|**352,901**|264,630|
No separate statement of changes in net debt has been prepared as there is no difference between the movements in cash and cash equivalents and movement in net cash (debt).
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **36**
**Principal accounting policies** Year to 31 December 2025
The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the accounts are laid out below.
## **Basis of preparation**
The accounts have been prepared for the year to 31 December 2025 with comparative figures given for the year to 31 December 2024.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with 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 United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (Charities SORP FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policies below or the notes to these accounts.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102).
The accounts are presented in sterling and are rounded to the nearest pound.
## **Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement**
The most significant areas of adjustment and key assumptions that affect items in these accounts are the estimation of the useful life of tangible fixed assets for the purpose of determining the depreciation charge and estimating future income and expenditure flows for the purpose of assessing going concern.
## **Assessment of going concern**
The Trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these accounts. The Trustees have made this assessment in respect to a period of at least one year from the date of approval of these accounts.
The Trustees are of the opinion that the charity will have sufficient resources to meet its liabilities as they fall due. The most significant areas of judgement that affect items in the accounts are detailed above.
The Trustees of the charity have concluded that there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern.
## **Income recognition**
Income is recognised in the period in which the charity has entitlement to the income, the amount of income can be measured reliably, and it is probable that the income will be received
Income comprises donations and interest receivable.
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **37**
**Principal accounting policies** Year to 31 December 2025
Donations, including assessments and additional contributions receivable from individual Community Regions and Province, are recognised when the charity has confirmation of both the amount and settlement date. In the event of donations pledged but not received, the amount is accrued for where the receipt is considered probable. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity, and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
## **Expenditure recognition and the basis of apportioning costs**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenditure comprises direct costs and support costs. All expenses, including governance costs, are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings. The classification between activities is as follows:
- Expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs associated with furthering the charitable purposes of the charity through the provision of its charitable activities. Such costs include costs specifically relating to the co-ordination and direction of advice to Regions and Province of the Congregation, donations payable and governance costs, and the costs of running the Mary Potter Heritage Centre.
- The making of grants and donations is not a central part of the charity’s activities. Donations are made only in cases where the Trustees consider there is real need following a review of the details of each particular case and comprise single year payments rather than multi-year grants. Grants and donations are included in the statement of financial activities when approved for payment. Provision is made for grants and donations approved but unpaid at the period end.
All expenditure is stated inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
## **Governance costs**
Governance costs comprise the costs involving the public accountability of the charity (including audit costs) and costs in respect to its compliance with regulation and good practice.
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **38**
**Principal accounting policies** Year to 31 December 2025
## **Tangible fixed assets**
All assets costing more than £1,000 and with an expected useful life exceeding one year are capitalised and valued at historical cost.
- a) Freehold land and buildings comprise the following:
- Non-specialised buildings which are used for the direct charitable work of the charity. These are included in these accounts at their historic cost at their date of acquisition together with the cost of additions and improvements to date. Functional freehold properties are depreciated at a rate of 2% per annum on a straight-line basis in order to write the buildings off over their estimated useful economic life to the charity.
- Specialised buildings comprise the Heritage Centre in Nottingham which was transferred to the charity at fair value from Little Company of Mary Sisters England CIO (Charity Registration Number 1186617) on 1 February 2025. Depreciation is charged on a straight-line basis over the remaining useful economic life at the date of transfer (15 years).
- b) Heritage Centre furniture, fittings and equipment comprise the following:
- Assets transferred to the charity at fair value from Little Company of Mary Sisters England CIO (Charity Registration Number 1186617) on 1 February 2025. Depreciation is charged on a straight-line basis over the remaining useful economic life at the date of transfer (between 4 and 10 years).
- Asset purchases since the transfer are capitalised and depreciated between 4% and 20% per annum depending on the nature of the assets, on a straight line basis in order to write off the cost of each asset over its estimated useful life.
- c) Furniture, fittings and equipment
Other furniture, fittings and equipment are capitalised at cost and depreciated at a rate of 20% per annum on a straight-line basis in order to write them off over their estimated useful lives:
## **Debtors**
Debtors are recognised at their settlement amount, less any provision for non-recoverability. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid. They have been discounted to the present value of the future cash receipt where such discounting is material.
## **Short term deposits and cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand represents such accounts and instruments that are available on demand or have a maturity of less than three months from the date of acquisition. Deposits for more than three months but less than one year have been disclosed as short-term deposits i.e. current asset investments. Cash placed on deposit for more than one year is disclosed as a fixed asset investment.
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **39**
**Principal accounting policies** Year to 31 December 2025
## **Creditors and provisions**
Creditors and provisions are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are recognised at the amount the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt. They have been discounted to the present value of the future cash payment where such discounting is material.
## **Leased assets**
Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
## **Fund structure**
General funds represent those monies which are freely available for application towards achieving any charitable purpose that falls within the charity’s charitable objects.
The tangible fixed assets fund comprises the net book value of charity’s tangible fixed assets, the existence of which is fundamental to the charity being able to perform its charitable work and thereby achieve its charitable objectives. The value represented by such assets should not be regarded, therefore, as realisable.
Designated funds are funds which the Trustees have designated for specific purposes.
Restricted funds comprise monies raised for, or their use restricted to, a specific purpose, or contributions subject to donor-imposed conditions.
## **Services provided by members of the Congregation**
For the purposes of these accounts, no value has been placed on administrative and other services provided by the members of the Congregation.
## **Pension contributions**
Contributions in respect to the charity’s defined contribution ‘stakeholder’ pension scheme are charged to the statement of financial activities when they are payable to the scheme. The charity’s contributions are restricted to the contributions disclosed in note 6. There were no outstanding contributions at the year end.
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **40**
**Notes to the accounts** Year to 31 December 2025
## **1 Income from: Donations**
||**Un-**
**restricted**
**funds**
**£**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**|**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**|Un-
restricted
funds
£|Restricted
funds
£|2024
Total
funds
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Contributions from
individual Regions and
Province of the
Congregation
Other donations|**392,219**
**250**
**392,469**|**7,988**
**1,240**
**9,228**|**400,207**
**1,490**
**401,697**|405,231
588
405,819|—
—
—|405,231
588
405,819|
## **2 Expenditure on: Co-ordination and direction of, and provision of advice to, individual Regions and Province of the Congregation**
||**Un-**
**restricted**
**funds**
**£**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**|**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**|Un-
restricted
funds
£|Restricted
funds
£|2024
Total
funds
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Premises costs
Sisters’ living expenses
Other direct costs
including travel
Governance costs (note
4)|**37,974**
**71,850**
**179,438**
**13,200**
**302,462**|**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**
**—**|**37,974**
**71,850**
**179,438**
**13,200**
**302,462**|37,082
62,306
209,479
14,600
323,467|—
—
8,303
—
8,303|37,082
62,306
217,782
14,600
331,770|
## **3 Expenditure on: Heritage Centre**
||Restricted funds
**2025**
**£**
2024
£
**91,398**
—
**73,261**
—
**164,659**
—|Restricted funds
**2025**
**£**
2024
£
**91,398**
—
**73,261**
—
**164,659**
—|
|---|---|---|
|||2024
£
—
—
—|
|Heritage Centre operating expenses
Depreciation|||
## **4 Governance costs**
|**Governance costs**|||
|---|---|---|
||Unrestricted funds
**2025**
**£**
2024
£
**13,200**
14,600||
|||2024
£
14,600|
|Auditor’s remuneration|||
## **5 Expenditure on: Donations**
The charity makes donations to both individuals and institutions in accordance with its donations policy set out in the Trustees’ report.
Donations and grants payable to institutions during the period were as follows:
||**Un-**
**restricted**
**funds**
**£**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**|**2025**
**Total**
**funds**
**£**|Un-
restricted
funds
£|Restricted
funds
£|2024
Total
funds
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Donations payable|**63,874**|**450**|**64,324**|70,105|––|70,105|
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **41**
**Notes to the accounts** Year to 31 December 2025
Donations payable to institutions during the period comprised the following:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Un- 2025 Un- 2024
restricted Restricted Total restricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds funds funds funds
£ £ £ £ £ £
Aid to the Church in Need 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000
Barnabas Cathedral 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000
CAFOD 1,000 — 1,000 8,000 — 8,000
Caritas Australia 5,024 — 5,024 5,015 — 5,015
Caritas Espanola — — — 5,015 — 5,015
Caritas International — — — 5,015 — 5,015
Caritas Internationalis — — — 5,015 — 5,015
Catholic Charities USA 10,015 — 10,015 5,015 — 5,015
Comunita'di St' Egidio 7,015 — 7,015 7,015 — 7,015
Durham University 2,000 — 2,000 — — —
Annunciation RUSHC (Rushcliffe) 1,275 — 1,275 –– — ––
Little Sisters of the Poor 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000
Missionvale Care Centre Trust 5,515 — 5,515 3,015 — 3,015
RCAOS Our Lady of La Salette and St Joseph 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000
Saint John of God Hospitaller Services (Olallo
House) 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000
Solidarity Project Ltd 5,000 — 5,000 5,000 — 5,000
Spires 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000
St Anne’s Church 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000
St Anselm’s Church 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000
St George’s Cathedral (Southwark) 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000
St Vincent de Paul Society 7,030 — 7,030 2,000 — 2,000
The Medaille Trust 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000
The Most Holy Trinity RC Church Dockhead 1,000 — 1,000 1,000 — 1,000
The Passage 2,000 — 2,000 2,000 — 2,000
The Salvation Army 2,000 — 2,000 2,000 — 2,000
UNICEF UK 5,000 — 5,000 5,000 — 5,000
Donations under £1,000 — 450 450 — — —
64,874 450 64,324 70,105 — 70,105
**----- End of picture text -----**
During the year to 31 December 2025, no grants were paid to individuals (2024 - none).
## **6 Net income (expenditure) and net movement in funds**
This is stated after charging:
||**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**|Total
funds
2024
£|
|---|---|---|
|Staff costs (note 7)
Auditor’s remuneration (including VAT)
. Statutory audit fees
.. Current year
.. Prior year
Depreciation
Operating lease rentals (note 12)|**107,537**
**13,200**
**—**
**85,832**
**1,680**|44,020
12,000
8,800
12,150
2,005|
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **42**
**Notes to the accounts** Year to 31 December 2025
## **7 Staff costs and remuneration of key management personnel**
|**Staff costs and remuneration of key management personnel**|||
|---|---|---|
||**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**|Total
Funds
2024
£|
|Gross salaries
Pension costs|**96,841**
**10,696**
**107,537**|38,278
5,742
44,020|
The average number of employees (excluding agency staff and contractors), analysed by function, was as follows:
||**2025**
**No.**|2024
No.|
|---|---|---|
|Co-ordination and direction of, and provision of advice to, individual
Regions and Province of the Congregation
Heritage Centre (from 1 February 2025)|**1.00**
**1.83**
**2.83**|1.00
—
1.00|
No employees earned £60,000 or more during the year (2024: none).
The Trustees consider that they alone comprise the key management of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running, and operating the charity on a day-to-day basis. All of the Trustees are members of the Little Company of Mary i.e. the Congregation and whilst certain of their living and personal expenses are borne by the charity, they receive no remuneration or reimbursement of expenses in connection with their duties as Trustees (2024 - none).
## **8 Taxation**
The Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO is a registered charity and, therefore, is not liable to income tax or corporation tax on income derived from its charitable activities, as it falls within the various exemptions available to registered charities.
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **43**
**Notes to the accounts** Year to 31 December 2025
## **9 Tangible fixed assets**
## Freehold land and buildings
||Non-
specialised
£|Specialised
£|Heritage
Centre
furniture,
fittings and
equipment
£|Furniture,
fittings and
equipment
£
39,973
—
7,768
47,741
35,255
2,687
37,942
**9,799**
4,718|**Total**
**£**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Cost**
At 1 January 2025
Transfer from Little
Company of Mary Sisters
England CIO (note 18)
Additions
At 31 December 2025
**Depreciation**
At 1 January 2025
Charge for the year
At 31 December 2025
**Net book values**
At 31 December 2025
At 31 December 2024|494,214
—|—
1,034,825|—
463,788
—||**534,187**
**1,498,613**
**7,768**|
||494,214|1,034,825|463,788||**2,040,568**|
||355,829
9,884|—
27,167|—
46,094||**391,084**
**85,832**|
||365,713|27,167|46,094||**476,916**|
||**128,501**
138,385|**1,007,658**
—|**417,694**
—||**1,563,652**
143,103|
It is likely that there are material differences between the open market values of the charity’s land and buildings and their book values with the market value being considerably higher than the net book value at 31 December 2025.
At 31 December 2025, the charity had no capital commitments (2024 - none).
## **10 Debtors**
|**Debtors**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**
**£**|2024
£
12,127
479
12,606
2024
£
20,980|
|Prepayments
Sundry debtors
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|**14,099**
**1,414**
**15,513**
**2025**
**£**
**41,826**||
|Accruals and deferred income|||
## **11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Included within the above is £20,000 (2024 - £nil) of deferred income relating to assessment income received in the year to 31 December 2025 which relates to the year to 31 December 2026.
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **44**
**Notes to the accounts** Year to 31 December 2025
## **12 Financial commitments**
At 31 December 2025, the charity had total commitments under non-cancellable operating leases in respect to equipment as follows:
|leases in respect to equipment as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**
**£**|2024
£
2,005
1,680
3,685|
|Payable:
. Within one year
. Within two to five years|**1,680**
**—**
**1,680**||
## **13 Restricted funds**
|**Restricted funds**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**At 1**
**January**
**2025**
**£**|**Income**
**£**
**7,988**
**13,521**
**21,509**
Income
£
—
—|**Expenditure**
**£**
**—**
**(165,109)**
**(165,109)**
Expenditure
£
(8,303)
(8,303)|**Transfers**
**£**|**At 31**
**December**
**2025**
**£**|
|Congregational Associate
Support Fund
Heritage Centre Fund|**11,697**
**—**
**11,697**
At 1
January
2024
£|||**—**
**2,173,218**
**2,173,218**
Transfers
£|**19,685**
**2,021,630**
**2,041,315**
At 31
December
2024
£|
|Congregational Associate
Support Fund|20,000
20,000|||—
—|11,697
11,697|
**Congregational Associate Support Fund:** This fund supports activities to develop, form and promote the LCM Associates and Affiliates.
**Heritage Centre Fund:** With effect from 1 February 2025, the net assets and liabilities of the Heritage Centre were transferred from Little Company of Mary Sisters England CIO (note 18). The fund was established within Little Company of Mary Sisters England CIO in 2006 from a donation from the Little Company of Mary Generalate in order to establish a Heritage Centre in Nottingham. In 2009, donations amounting to £2,695,600 were received by Little Company of Mary Sisters England CIO from the Congregation’s Provinces/Regions in Australia, Ireland, Korea, New Zealand, Southern Africa and United States of America to help finance the development of the Heritage Centre.
This Heritage Centre was officially opened on 10 February 2010 and is used to present artefacts and memorabilia relating to the foundress of the Little Company of Mary, Venerable Mary Potter.
## **14 Designated funds**
|Emergency Charitable Fund
Tangible fixed asset fund|**At 1**
**January**
**2025**
**£**
**27,898**
**143,103**
**171,001**|**Income**
**£**|**Expenditure**
**£**
**(25,069)**
**(12,571)**
**(37,640)**|**At 31**
**December**
**2025**
**£**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**36,988**
**7,768**
**44,756**||**39,817**
**139,300**
**178,117**|
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **45**
**Notes to the accounts** Year to 31 December 2025
||At 1
January
2024
£|Income
£|Expenditure
£|At 31
December
2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Emergency Charitable Fund
Tangible fixed asset fund|14,985
155,253
170,238|49,988
—
49,988|(37,075)
(12,150)
(49,225)|27,898
143,103
171,001|
**Emergency Charitable Fund:** This fund represents funds set aside within the Congregational budget to support those affected by natural world disasters on behalf of the Congregation.
**Tangible fixed asset fund:** This fund represents the net book value of the charity’s freehold properties and other tangible fixed assets (excluding the Heritage Centre fixed assets which are included in restricted funds above). A decision was made to separate this fund from the general funds of the charity in recognition of the fact that the tangible fixed assets are essential to the day-to-day work of the charity and as such their value should not be regarded as funds that would be available in order to meet future contingencies.
## **15 Analysis of net assets between funds**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2025
£ £ £ £
Fixed Assets –– 138,300 1,425,352 1,563,652
Current Assets 842,843 39,817 615,963 1,498,623
Current Liabilities (41,826) –– –– (41,826)
Total 801,017 178,117 2,041,315 3,020,449
Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2024
£ £ £ £
Fixed Assets — 143,103 — 143,103
Current Assets 776,217 27,898 11,697 815,812
Current Liabilities (20,980) — — (120,980)
Total 755,237 171,001 11,697 937,935
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **16 Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions during the period (2024 – none) and no donations were received from the Trustees (2024 - none).
## **17 Membership of the CIO and ultimate control**
The Congregational Leader for the time being shall automatically, by virtue of holding that office, be ex-officio the sole member of the CIO. If the CIO is wound up, the member of the CIO has no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for settling its debts and liabilities. The Congregational Leader for the time being shall automatically, exofficio be a Trustee for as long as she holds that office. All other Trustees are appointed by a resolution in writing by the Congregational Leader.
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **46**
**Notes to the accounts** Year to 31 December 2025
The Congregation does not hold any assets, incur liabilities, or enter into any transactions in its own right. Assets and liabilities of the Congregation are administered in the Trustees of the charity, who undertake all transactions entered into in the course of the Congregation’s charitable activities.
## **18 Transfer of the Heritage Centre**
With effect from 1 February 2025, the net assets and liabilities of the Mary Potter Heritage Centre were transferred to the charity from Little Company of Mary Sisters England CIO (Charity Registration Number 1186617). The net assets comprised the following:
||**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**|
|---|---|
|Tangible fixed assets
Cash at bank and in hand|**1,498,613**
**674,605**
**2,173,218**|
Little Company of Mary Congregation CIO **47**