2025-03-31-accounts - Manchester And Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society Of Friends)

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Charity no. 1172087

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends) Report and Audited Financial Statements 31 March 2025

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Reference and administrative details

For the year ended 31 March 2025	For the year ended 31 March 2025
Charity number	1172087
Registered office and	Friends Meeting House
operational address	6 Mount Street
	Manchester
	M2 5NS
Website	www.manchesterquakers.org.uk
Trustees	Trustees who served during the year	and up to the date of this
	report were as follows:
	John Booth, Assistant Clerk	(Appointed 1 January 2025)
	Margaret Calvert	(Resigned 31 December 2024)
	Christine Camacho	(Resigned 3 October 2024)
	Robert Card	(Appointed 28th May 2025)
	Valerie Clark
	Kate Conway, Clerk
	Jeffrey Dean
	Sharon Powell
	Kath Redmond	(Resigned 31 December 2024)
	Beck Solway, Clerk	(Resigned 31 December 2024)
	Richard Taylor, Treasurer
	Pauline Thorpe	(Appointed 1 January 2025)
	Ruth Turnock
	Andrew Wood
Key management	Sara Coyle, Events Manager
personnel	Clare McCann, Facilities Manager
	Alice Ng, Finance Manager (from 19	August 2024)
	Liz O’Neill, Executive Officer
Nominee for land	Friends Trusts Ltd
	Friends House
	173 Euston Road
	London, NW1 2BJ
Nominee for investments	Greenbank
and stockbrokers	30 Gresham Street
	London, CV2 7QN
Bankers	Co-operative Bank plc
	1 Balloon Street
	Manchester, M60 4EP

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Reference and administrative details

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Solicitors Shoosmiths The XYZ Building 2 Hardman Boulevard Manchester, M3 3AZ Auditors Godfrey Wilson Limited Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

The trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the financial year ended 31st March 2025.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 and 2 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the charity’s constitution, and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (effective from January 2019).

The Area Meeting consists of five Local Meetings and the Friends Summer School:

Central Manchester – 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS;
Eccles – 13 The Polygon, Wellington Road, Eccles, M30 0DS;
Sale – Park Road, Sale, M33 6WX;
South Manchester – 82 Wythenshawe Road, Northenden, Manchester, M23 0DJ; and
Warrington – Buttermarket Street, Warrington, WA1 2NR.

The Area Meeting burial ground is at our Sale Meeting House.

Our finances are largely managed at Area Meeting level, but each Local Meeting maintains a bank account to facilitate day-to-day transactions and local decision making. Friends Summer School manages a larger budget with support from trustees. Our Trading Subsidiary – Quaker Trading (Manchester & Warrington) Ltd – generates income through room-bookings. The financial statements that follow this report are consolidated, so they include the income, expenditure and other financial aspects of all parts of the charity and its trading subsidiary.

Readers may find it helpful to note that the term “meeting” is used widely amongst Quakers to refer to both the structures and groups in which we organise ourselves (such as a Local or Area Meeting) and the occasions on which we come together to worship, organise and make decisions.

Charitable objectives

The object of the charity, as stated in its constitution, is the furtherance of the general religious and charitable purposes of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain in the area of Manchester and Warrington Area Meeting and beyond.

To that end, the charity’s income and property are used solely to further this object by:

Strengthening the life and witness of Quaker Meetings in our own area of Manchester and Warrington, and beyond;
Spreading the message of Quakers and developing the thought and practice of the Religious Society of Friends;
Undertaking Quaker service for the relief of suffering at home and further afield;
Funding the concerns that Quaker Meetings (within our area or beyond) have adopted or agreed to support;
Providing for the pastoral care of individual members and attenders including for education and assistance to those in need;
Maintaining and developing Quaker Meeting Houses as places for public worship and from which to carry our witness into the world; and
Administering and maintaining the organisation of Manchester and Warrington Area Meeting and contributing to the support of Britain Yearly Meeting.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

In working to fulfil these purposes we seek the guidance of God, both as individuals and collectively as a community. Quakers are committed to a way of worship, and a way of life, that allows God to guide and transform us. We have found that the Spirit, if rightly followed, will lead us into truth, unity and love. We use principles and processes of discernment commonly referred to as the Quaker Business Method to decide matters that affect our Local and Area Meetings.

How we organise ourselves

The Religious Society of Friends in Britain has no clergy so all Friends (as we usually refer to our members and attenders) must share the tasks involved in running a religious body. We are actively engaged with Friends across Britain Yearly Meeting to consider ways of simplifying our meetings and practices, but this endeavour aims to manage, rather than remove the burden of service. There will always be both the need and the opportunity for members of our community to offer their time and talents in the service of our charitable aims. Our Area Meeting employs staff who support Friends in a variety of ways, but key roles must be filled by members and attenders, rather than paid staff.

Area Meeting met “in session” on 8 occasions during this reporting period. Scheduled Meetings for Worship for Business took place in April, June, July, October, December, January and March, while an additional Area Meeting was organised to consider our response to the Friends World Committee for Consultation’s World Plenary Meeting (on which more below).

All our trustees are members of the Area Meeting. They are responsible for the administration of the property and activities of Manchester and Warrington Area Meeting, in accordance with our constitution. Trustees’ meetings are also Meetings for Worship for Business. Trustees give their time freely and receive no remuneration or other financial benefits. The trustees delegate day-today management of the charity to the Executive Officer, who leads the staff team and is line managed by the clerk to trustees.

Public Benefit Statement

This report summarises what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. All our activities are undertaken to further the charity’s charitable purposes, for the public benefit. The report outlines the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity and its activities have brought to the public.

When reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning its future the trustees have considered the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. In particular, the trustees have considered how further planned activities will contribute to the achievement of the charity’s objectives.

Activities, achievements and performance

Meetings for Worship

Quaker Meetings for Worship, focused on silent waiting, are central to our spiritual life and charitable work. As Quakers, we believe that faith and action are inextricably intertwined. By worshipping together, we gain strength and inspiration and are challenged to take the action needed to change our world for the better. The holding of regular, public Meetings for Worship is essential for the fulfilment of our charitable objectives and our contribution to the public benefit. Meeting for Worship, which is open to anyone who wishes to attend, was held weekly in Eccles, South Manchester, Sale and Warrington, and twice a week in Central Manchester, throughout the year.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Welcoming Friends of all ages : All of our Local Meeting communities work to welcome children, young people and their parents throughout the year. Organised Children’s Meetings were held regularly at Central Manchester, Sale and South Manchester Meetings and occasionally at Eccles Meeting. All Age Worship is organised from time to time to allow everyone to participate in new and engaging ways of experiencing the light.

The residential Friends Summer School was held from 11 to 17 August 2024 at Fields Studies Council, Preston Montford in Shrewsbury. This annual event provides an opportunity for young people from across the North-West of England (and beyond) to spend time together in a welcoming and inclusive environment, to engage in fun activities and to get to know each other better.

Teenage General Meeting (TGM), which generally takes the form of a residential weekend, offers young people a slightly different, and more frequent, opportunity for fellowship and exploration of their own spiritual lives. Our neighbours at Wirral and Chester Area Meeting had held responsibility for TGM since 2007 but laid this down in December 2024. With the enthusiastic support of Friends across our Area Meeting, trustees agreed in March to a proposal that our Summer School team would take on the organisation and administration of a continuing TGM programme, alongside their annual summer residential.

Young Adult Friends met regularly throughout the year reported, usually gathering fortnightly at Central Manchester Meeting House for Worship, discussion and mutual support.

Quaker Testimonies

Quakers do not have creeds or fixed statements of beliefs. We bear witness through practices of equality, peace, truth, simplicity and sustainability in our individual lives and in our corporate life together. We call these practices ‘testimonies’, which may be expressed in a variety of ways. During the year this has included:

Vigils focused on peace, equality and climate justice in the buildup to the UK General Election in July 2024;
A peace vigil challenging increased spending on the military and a joyful celebration of equality, walking in the Manchester Pride Parade, both in August 2024;
An exploratory meeting on research into the relationship between Northwest Quakers and Slavery , in September 2024;
Distribution of over 200 white poppies as an active and powerful act of remembrance for all victims of wars everywhere, in November 2024;
A deeply thought-provoking talk with visiting speaker Rex Ambler in February 2025, on the topic of Living in Dark Times ; and
A training session on Building Transformative Relationships from conflict, delivered just as the new financial year started in April 2025.

Part of a worldwide community

In August 2024, the Friends World Committee for Consultation held a World Plenary Meeting in Southern Africa with the theme of Living in the Spirit of Ubuntu (often translated as “I am because we are”). One of our members was privileged to attend this international gathering of Quakers in person and we also hosted a local hub to allow Friends to gather and join online sessions together. Inspiration from this shared experience led to a special Area Meeting on 1 March 2025, exploring how we can more effectively respond to the call to cherish creation and one another. This work continues.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Support for Other Groups

Recognising the limits that our numbers, talents and resources place on what we can do ourselves to fulfil our charitable objectives, Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting supports other charities and groups in a variety of ways, including:

Voluntary collections organised by each Local Meeting to support a variety of charities and other groups aligned with our charitable aims and objectives throughout the year;
Grant making through the Quaker Work Fund which this year supported challenging international work by the Conflict Minerals Campaign and Quaker Congo Partnership; an empowering and supportive grassroots network facilitated by local charity Women Asylum Seekers Together; and a community café / allotment group focused on improving equality in an area of significant deprivation; and
Sharing our Meeting Houses by hiring our spaces out to the wider community. This activity (which is managed by our trading subsidiary) generates vital income for the upkeep of our buildings and the delivery of our charitable work, but we include it here because this daily connection with the wider community allows us to reach those who may be interested in our spiritual path, and to be reached by those who have something to share with us. Groups meeting regularly across our Area Meeting include 12-step Support Groups, a choir of people impacted by suicide, multi-faith groups, a community playgroup and much more.

We maintain a specific fund to assist refugees and asylum seekers, including failed asylum seekers. Income for the fund is donated by Quakers for this purpose and our Social Justice Group decides how the fund should be spent, usually through grants to individual refugees and local support organisations. A grant of £1,250 was made to the charity Women Asylum Seekers Together this year. Work is now ongoing to simplify the application and decision-making processes.

Supporting, training and valuing our people

Volunteers: As noted under How we organise ourselves (page 4), service by our members and attenders is an essential part of our approach so everyone in our community is, to some extent, a volunteer. Those who hold defined roles such as clerks, treasurers, elders, pastoral care team and more are identified through discernment and serve fixed terms of office. This approach ensures that all teams are regularly refreshed and that every Friend can balance service with rest and prayerful support of others.

The activities undertaken by our volunteers include spiritual guidance (Elders), financial management (Treasurers), care for members of our community (Pastoral Care Team), and a wide range of roles contributing to regional, national and international Quaker work. Friends also serve as volunteer Chaplains to Higher Education institutions, and as Quaker representatives to ecumenical and multi-faith groups.

We encourage all volunteers holding specific roles to undertake training provided by Woodbrooke (a Quaker learning and research organisation), Britain Yearly Meeting and other relevant bodies including the Association of Church Accountants & Treasurers and safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight. We set aside money to pay for such training, including any travel or other expenses, to ensure that all volunteers can participate.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Financial support: Our Pastoral Care Team has a budget to allow them to give grants to individuals in need and for educational purposes. They can also draw on some restricted and designated funds available to help support Friends in need and help Friends apply for funds from other Quaker charities. Bursaries are also made to help Friends in financial need with the cost of attending Quaker events including Summer School and a community weekend at Glenthorne Quaker Centre in the Lake District.

Considering our future

Last year (2023/24) a condition survey of our five Meeting Houses revealed that, while all are structurally sound, each needs a substantial level of financial investment to overcome issues of damp, leaking roofs and windows, poor energy conservation and more. The maintenance of Quaker Meeting Houses is a core charitable objective, but Friends recognise the importance of asking difficult questions and a process of discernment began during the year reported, to consider what matters most for the future of our Area Meeting and its charitable mission. Quaker discernment is not rapid as we value the time taken to ensure that big decisions are made well and made together. As a result, this process of strategic consideration is likely to continue throughout the year ending in March 2026.

Financial review

Principal funding sources

As in recent years, the main sources of our income during the reporting period were donations and legacies; trading income from room bookings and car park lettings; domestic and commercial tenancies; and financial investments.

Donations income

During the financial year, Friends contributed donations and legacies of £211,312 (2023/24: £92,759), of which £163,797 was unrestricted (2023/24: £39,391). This substantial rise is very welcome but largely reflects the generosity of our late Friend David Blamires, who left the charity an unrestricted legacy of over £100,000.

Restricted donations received during the year came to £47,515 (2023/24: £53,368) with the majority (£31,222) being donated by Friends with the intention that these funds would be sent to support the work of Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM). This supports our charitable objective to further the general religious and charitable purposes of Quakers in Britain but we also gain back, as our own charity, in the services and support that BYM offers through training, guidance and much more.

The Financial Risks associated with donations income from Friends continue to include reduced disposable income and a wide range of competing causes, especially as our Quaker community engages directly with other causes which have their own need for funds. Communications were reviewed this year, leading a good number of Members and Attenders to either start giving for the first time or to increase their monthly gift. The impact of this positive shift is not very identifiable in the annual figures due to timing, with most increased standing orders only taking effect in the final quarter of the financial year.

Trading income from room bookings and car park lettings

Directors of our trading subsidiary set a low profit budget for this year, due to the need for significant investment, particularly in staffing and equipment. Positive variances during the year led to a better than predicted performance. The end-of-year profit (before the donation of last year's trading surplus) is £81,153, which is still notably lower than the previous two years (2023/24 £134,067; 2022/23 £156,383), despite similar levels of turnover (£808,291 this year; £798,119 in 2023/24).

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

A key Financial Risk to our room bookings and car park income is competition from a range of other providers, particularly as city centre workspaces evolve to include more varied options for meetings and events. Rising staff and energy costs also present an ongoing risk.

Income from tenanted properties

In addition to our five Meeting Houses, the charity owns a cottage attached to each of Sale and Eccles Meeting Houses, a flat at South Manchester and two properties (a cottage and commercial unit) very close to Warrington Meeting House. There is also office space in the basement at Central Manchester that is let out to tenants. All the residential properties are let at fair market rates through an independent letting agent, while the staff team handle lettings of commercial properties directly. Income from these properties was £53,769 (£50,626 in 2023/24). Tenancy income has, for some years, been received by our trading company and reached the parent charity via donated profits. During the financial year Trustees and Quaker Trading Directors agreed to simplify our finances and better reflect the ownership of the properties by having the charity receive tenancy income directly – a change that took effect from July 2024 onwards. This move will have a long-term effect on the reported profit of the trading subsidiary, but at the same time brings income into the charity more quickly.

The primary Financial Risks for this income stream remain the potential for properties to fall vacant, rent arrears and the cost of maintaining the properties themselves.

Income from financial investments and interest

The charity holds investments valued at £1,503,811, of which £612,311 relates to listed investments that are managed on our behalf by Greenbank, the specialist ethical investment branch of Rathbones Investment Management Ltd. We received income of £13,619 from our listed investments this year (£16,936 in 2023/24, when the market value stood at £606,913) and this was reinvested in our listed portfolio to support our long-term approach to financial investment.

Property portfolio

The charity’s property portfolio includes five Quaker Meeting Houses (Central Manchester, Eccles, Sale, South Manchester and Warrington) which are all classified as functional properties, and the tenanted properties included in note 14, which are held for the purpose of financial investment.

The value of our properties is declared within the accounts at market value, though each is insured at a higher level to recognise potential rebuilding costs. The investment properties were revalued in July 2025, when they were valued upwards by a net £71,000.

A Condition Survey of all five meeting houses, completed in early 2024 has assisted trustees in prioritising repair works across our portfolio of buildings, though the availability of suppliers and trades to complete some of the work has proved a significant barrier to progress. As noted in last year’s report, major work to rebuild the substantial North Boundary Wall at Warrington Meeting House was completed in summer 2024. The year reported also saw smaller works across all five Meeting Houses and some repairs to investment properties, alongside preparation and investigations for window replacements at Warrington Meeting House and roof repairs at Central Manchester Meeting House, which are both Listed at Grade II.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Financial policies

Funds held

The total value of the Area Meeting’s unrestricted funds is £7,956,617 but most of this money is not actually available for use by the charity as it includes the monetary value of the Meeting Houses that we need for worship and as a base for trading activity. The revaluation reserve of £2,380,144 is wholly attributable to property values and therefore not available to use.

Designated funds

We hold the following designated funds as set out in note 22 to the financial statements:

Legacies. In July 2017 Area Meeting created a special fund to hold around £30,000 received from legacies that were generously given without restrictions. This fund is for use on the costs of improving the sustainability of our buildings. Trustees have approved expenditure from this fund for work taking place in the financial year ending March 2026;
Quaker Work Fund . Each year we allocate money to be distributed to good causes. The distributions during the last period are described on page 6 of this report and our grant giving policy is described on page 10; and
Local Meeting funds. Each of our Local Meetings maintains a bank account for its own use. The separate Local Meeting accounts are consolidated with the Area Meeting’s finances in the financial statements.

Friends Summer School

Summer School has its own bank account and, in many ways, operates similarly to Local Meeting funds. However, as all of its income is spent on residential events for young people (now including Teenage General Meeting – as reported on page 5 it is treated as a Restricted Fund. Money is collected from Summer School participant fees as well as donations from our own and other Area Meetings and from individual Friends. Summer School pays its own expenses and aims to cover its costs each year. The account is consolidated within the financial statements.

Reserves policy

In January 2025 the trustees adopted a new reserves policy. Simplicity was a key priority in developing the new policy which states:

We aim to hold reserves with a minimum value equivalent to six months’ expenditure by the full charity (including Quaker Trading) and a maximum value equivalent to twelve months’ expenditure by the full charity (including Quaker Trading). To balance out the highs and lows of different years, the value of six- and twelve-months’ expenditure will be calculated by averaging the total expenditure of the previous five years.

Applying this policy for the first time, the target minimum level of free reserves is currently £362,350 and the target maximum is £724,701. The total value of the Area Meeting’s unrestricted funds is £7,956,617 which exceeds the target maximum, but most of this money is not actually available for use by the charity. The general fund is valued at £5,540,427 and is largely made up of the value of the Meeting Houses that we need for worship and as a base for trading activity. The revaluation reserve of £2,380,144 is wholly attributable to property values and therefore not available to use. The actual free reserves of the charity, which are our general funds less tangible fixed assets and investments, are £860,157, which currently exceed the reserves target.

The trustees have agreed a deficit budget for the financial year ending 31 March 2026 and also anticipate significant costs on future building work so are satisfied that adequate plans are in place to use our reserves to further the charity’s objectives, for the public good.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Investment policies

Trustees continued to follow the investment policy agreed in February 2022 and reviewed with our Investment Managers in December 2023. This prioritises growth over an anticipated ten-year horizon and, as would be expected, a strong ethical perspective. Our criteria for investments have a particular focus on the Quaker testimonies of equality, peace, and sustainability and preclude investment in the sale of weapons, alcohol or tobacco. We have divested from fossil fuel investments and ask our that our portfolio includes positive investments in ethical companies and products as well as avoiding those we find ethically dubious.

Grant-making policy

Our Refugee & Asylum Seekers Fund is a restricted fund dedicated to supporting work with refugees and asylum seekers, as described in more detail in note 11. It has become clear that the application process for this fund is presenting a barrier to those who it is intended to help, so work is ongoing to identify an appropriate new process.

As noted on page 6, our Quaker Work Fund makes grants to support a wide range of good causes, both in the UK and overseas. Donations are accepted to the fund, but the majority of its expenditure is allocated by trustees from core funds at the start of the financial year. Written applications are reviewed by a panel of Friends; all work funded must be compatible with Quaker concerns; and projects supported usually have a Quaker connection of some kind. The highest priority is given to applications that address a concern already identified by Area Meeting or one of its constituent Local Meetings and, in general, we prefer to support small projects with a local connection.

The Pastoral Care Team makes small grants from core funds to support individual Friends with particular needs and Area Meeting also makes an annual contribution to the Northern Friends Peace Board.

Fundraising Practices

The charity does not use external fundraisers. We do not currently ask for funds from the general public, though some of those who use our buildings or come across our work offer donations, which we are pleased to accept. Trustees have also this year recognised that the likely need to replace the roof of Central Manchester Meeting House makes a future public fundraising campaign likely.

Friends see it as part of our Quaker discipline to make financial contributions to the running of our Local and Area Meetings, as well as supporting our national body, Britain Yearly Meeting (also known as Quakers in Britain). We make an annual appeal to Friends, taking care to recognise that everyone’s financial circumstances are different. We are confident that our fundraising efforts do not involve unreasonable intrusions on anyone’s privacy and that they are not unreasonably persistent.

Plans for the future

As in previous years it is important to note that our main priority is to continue to hold Meetings for Worship that are open to all. It is from our experience in worship together that we support each other to live out the Quaker testimonies and it is through worship that other plans should flow.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Looking ahead to the new financial year (2025/26) and beyond we continue to invest significant time and financial resources in our buildings, making up for the slowing down of maintenance and refurbishment work that inevitably flowed from the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic. Works to replace windows at Warrington Meeting House and to make relatively short-term repairs to the roof at Central Manchester Meeting House are substantially complicated by the Grade II Listed status of both buildings. We are pleased, however, that both projects are (at the time of writing) now at the detailed planning stage.

As noted above, a process has begun that may lead the charity to consider significant changes. In this and all matters we will continue to be led by discernment through worship, as we seek together to be guided in the ways of truth, unity and love. What will never change is our commitment to working together as a community and in fellowship with others to nurture and support peacemaking, environmental protection, and social and racial justice.

Structure, governance and management

The Area Meeting is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered as a charity on 16 March 2017 in England and Wales.

Membership

Our Area Meeting membership is checked and reported at the end of each calendar year. On 31 December 2025 there were 184 members and 142 attenders not in membership, together with an additional 36 children associated with adult members and attenders. Changes in membership are recorded by Area Meeting throughout the year and include Friends moving between Area Meetings as well as births and deaths. We were pleased to welcome three attenders from our own community into membership during the year.

Trustees

The trustees are members of the charity, but they have no beneficial interest in the charity. We value turnover of trustees as a way of ensuring that we hear fresh ideas and prevent stagnation. Trustees serve terms of up to three years and are limited to two consecutive terms of service, with a minimum break of a further three years before reappointment can be considered. New trustees are appointed most years, through a process of careful discernment followed by confirmation by Area Meeting in session.

The Area Meeting Treasurer (who is also a trustee) is nominated by the standing nominations committee and usually appointed by the Area Meeting for one year at a time. In practice, the total term of service for the Treasurer usually exceeds one year and often matches the maximum length of service for Trustees, i.e. six years. Trustees complete declarations of interest forms, which are kept on file. Any connection between a trustee or senior manager of the charity and any other relevant organisation must be disclosed to the full board of trustees in the same way as any other contractual relationship with a related party. At the start of each meeting trustees are again invited to declare an interest in relation to any item of business on the agenda.

Trustee guidance and policy documents were taken online this year with trials indicating that a private shared drive was the most effective tool for the job. Our use of this means of sharing and communicating is still in development. Training is offered and this year a total of just under £500 was spent on training, travel, events and related expenses for trustees and Quaker Trading Directors. Most trustees serve on a subgroup to support greater depth of consideration between full trustee meetings.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

As with other Quaker bodies, trustees do not vote on decisions and instead seek the will of God through discernment. This usually leads to decision making on which all trustees are agreed, but there is also the opportunity to record through formal meeting minutes, when the group is not in unity.

The trustees who served during the year, together with any changes up to the date of approving this report, are shown on page 1 of this report.

Payments to trustees

None of our trustees receive payments or other benefits in kind from their work with the charity but they are entitled to claim expenses to ensure that nobody is prevented from serving in this role due to the cost of doing so. No expenses were paid to trustees in respect of their office. One trustee was reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in relation to other Quaker work (£47).

Related Parties and Relationships with other Organisations

The charity owns Quaker Trading (Manchester & Warrington) Limited which has a board of directors. The Area Meeting Treasurer (who is also a trustee) is a director of the company ex officio and so is both a trustee and a director. Another five or six members and/or attenders of the Area Meeting serve as directors while remaining independent of Area Meeting trustees. Two joint subgroups (finance and staffing) allow trustees and directors to explore issues in detail together, but any recommendations made by the groups are considered separately by trustees and directors.

The company is responsible for undertaking trading activity and day-to-day upkeep of the premises used for its hospitality business. The company pays rent to the charity for the use of the Meeting Houses and the charity makes a financial contribution to the trading company for staffing costs and overheads. These arrangements were reviewed during the year, with new rates agreed with effect from 1 April 2025.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting is a constituent meeting of Britain Yearly Meeting and support for this wider body of Quakers in Britain is a key aspect of our charitable object. We therefore co-operate with Quakers and Quaker groups across the country. We follow guidance provided by the Quaker Stewardship Committee to assist trustees of Quaker Meetings. As an Area Meeting, we follow the discipline of Britain Yearly Meeting as expressed in Quaker faith & practice .

Employment

The charity and its trading subsidiary Quaker Trading (Manchester & Warrington) Ltd, jointly employ a staff team to operate the business and support many aspects of our charitable work. The most senior staff member, our Executive Officer, is line-managed by the clerk of trustees and holds delegated authority to manage the staff team and make operational decisions. The Executive Officer reports to both trustees and Quaker Trading directors and usually attends their meetings, though time without staff is protected on all trustee meeting agendas. A scheme of financial delegation, making it clear when staff may make spending decisions and when these must be referred to trustees, is in place but has been identified for review before 31 March 2026. Most staff are based at our Central Manchester Meeting House, but we also employ four part-time caretakers, based at Eccles, Sale, South Manchester and Warrington Meeting Houses respectively.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

We are an accredited Living Wage employer, committed to paying a fair and decent wage to all our employees. Historically, staff salaries were set with reference to the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale and this continued to be used as a framework for setting staff remuneration during the year. As the financial year came to an end, increases outside of the pay scale were agreed for those staff members who would otherwise fall below the Living Wage Foundation’s recommended outside of London ‘Real Living Wage’ of £12.60 an hour.

Total remuneration of the senior management team was £147,539. No members of staff received remuneration in excess of £60,000.

Safeguarding

Trustees take overall responsibility for safeguarding throughout our Area Meeting, with a lead trustee for safeguarding identified each year and a standing agenda item for trustee meetings. We have a detailed safeguarding policy and toolkit, adapted from a model developed by Britain Yearly Meeting and this is reviewed regularly. The policy encompasses work with children, young people and adults at risk. It makes explicit our commitment to providing a safe environment and culture, while recognising that our policy and processes help manage risks but that these will never be entirely eliminated.

Safeguarding Coordinators, who are members of our Area Meeting but are not trustees, work with the lead trustee for safeguarding to support the practical work of putting policy into practice and this team is available to role holders across our local meetings and Summer School to support them with safer recruitment and responding to any safeguarding incidents that arise. We are members of Thirtyone:eight, a charity providing specialist safeguarding advice and support, including access to training and an emergency helpline. Further training this year was accessed through Manchester City Council and internal sessions to “cascade” learning amongst Friends. New courses undertaken by Friends this year included Managing Abusive Behaviours and Mental Health and Safeguarding.

We have an Area Meeting Receiving Group whose role is to liaise with professionals acting on behalf of offenders or ex-offenders who wish to attend a Quaker Meeting. Friends appointed to this group receive specialist training and support to ensure that we prioritise the protection of children, young people and adults at risk while also supporting an approach to rehabilitation that recognises there is ‘that of God in everyone.’

Risk management and compliance

Our risk register encompasses strategic, operational, financial, compliance and reputational risks. Controls in some areas are delegated to the staff team, but responsibility remains firmly with trustees who review the risk register regularly. Specific areas of focus this year have included:

Data Protection and information assurance. We recognise the importance of managing data well and complying with all relevant regulations. We are registered with the Information Commissioner and are confident that our processes are fit for purpose but have begun a review to identify ways that we can manage personal data more effectively; and
Health and Safety. Staff training and fire safety were the prominent themes this year, including specialist surveys conducted at all Meeting Houses, leading to a programme of minor improvements rolled out in the early months of the new financial year.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Going Concern

Trustees have recorded their view that Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting is a Going Concern. This means that trustees are of the view that the charity is likely to be operating at least twelve months from the date on which this report is signed. Our accounts and financial statements have been prepared on a Going Concern basis.

Serious incidents

We have not reported any Serious Incidents to the Charity Commission in this period and are not aware of any unreported Serious Incidents.

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with 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).

The trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the group and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the net income or expenditure, of the charity and the group for the year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements 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 the group and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditors are unaware; and
the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Members of the charity have no liability to contribute to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Auditors

Godfrey Wilson Limited were re-appointed as auditors to the charity during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

Approved by the trustees on 20 November 2025 and signed on their behalf by

Kate Conway – Clerk of trustees

Independent auditors' report

To the members of

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends) (the 'parent charity') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the consolidated statement of financial activities, consolidated and parent charity balance sheets, consolidated statement of cash flows and the related notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. 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 the Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the group and parent charity's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of the group's incoming resources and application of resources, including 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 financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and the provisions available for small entities, in the circumstances set out in note 9 to the financial statements, 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 financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements 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 group and charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements 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 trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the group and parent charity financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the group and parent charity financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Independent auditors' report

To the members of

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in 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 there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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 Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent charity, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us;
the parent charity financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns;
certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not obtained all the information and explanations necessary for the purposes of our audit.

Responsibilities of the trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out in the trustees’ report, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, 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.

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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 financial statements 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 the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Independent auditors' report

To the members of

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

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 procedures we carried out and the extent to which they are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, are detailed below:

(1) We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, and assessed the risk of non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Throughout the audit, we remained alert to possible indications of non-compliance.

(2) We reviewed the charity’s policies and procedures in relation to:

Identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations, and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance;
Detecting and responding to the risk of fraud, and whether they were aware of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and
Designing and implementing internal controls to mitigate the risk of non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud.

(3) We inspected the minutes of trustee meetings.

(4) We enquired about any non-routine communication with regulators and reviewed any reports made to them.

(5) We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and assessed their compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

(6) We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected transactions or balances that may indicate a risk of material fraud or error.

(7) We assessed the risk of fraud through management override of controls and carried out procedures to address this risk. Our procedures included:

▪Testing the appropriateness of journal entries;

▪Assessing judgements and accounting estimates for potential bias;

▪Reviewing related party transactions; and

▪Testing transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. Irregularities that arise due to fraud can be even 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.

Independent auditors' report

To the members of

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charityʼs members, as a body, in accordance with section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and the regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charityʼs members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditorʼs 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 charityʼs members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Godfrey Wilson Limited

Date: 20 November 2025

GODFREY WILSON LIMITED

Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Consolidated statement of financial activities

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Restricted Note £ Income from: Donations and legacies 3 47,515 Charitable activities 4 28,633 Other trading activities 5 - Investments 6 - Other income - Total income 76,148 Expenditure on: Raising funds - Charitable activities 62,268 Total expenditure 8 62,268 13,880 Net gains on investments 14 - Net income and 13,880 net movement in funds 9 13,880 Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward 12,963 Total funds carried forward 26,843 Net income before gains on investments	Unrestricted £ 163,797 1,740 801,422 67,388 754 1,035,101 678,529 249,709 928,238 106,863 41,520 148,383 148,383 7,808,234 7,956,617	2025 Total £ 211,312 30,373 801,422 67,388 754 1,111,249 678,529 311,977 990,506 120,743 41,520 162,263 162,263 7,821,197 7,983,460	Restated 2024 Total £ 92,759 20,960 747,524 67,562 7,128
			935,933
			612,090 218,307
			830,397
			105,536 25,657
			131,193 131,193 7,690,004
			7,821,197

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 22 to the accounts.

Prior period income has been restated for reclassification of income, as set out in notes 5 and 6. There is no impact on total prior year income.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Consolidated balance sheets

As at 31 March 2025

		The group	The group	The charity	The charity
		2025	2024	2025	2024
	Note	£	£	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets	13	5,828,149	5,860,875	5,822,375	5,860,875
Investments	14	1,268,311	1,191,913	1,503,811	1,494,413
		7,096,460	7,052,788	7,326,186	7,355,288
Current assets
Debtors	17	206,663	149,067	38,153	44,256
Investments	18	155,257	180,211	155,257	180,211
Cash at bank and in hand		656,412	554,331	431,083	150,738
		1,018,332	883,609	624,493	375,205
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due
within 1 year	19	(131,332)	(115,200)	(36,366)	(24,748)
Net current assets		887,000	768,409	588,127	350,457
Net assets	21	7,983,460	7,821,197	7,914,313	7,705,745
Funds	22
Restricted funds		26,843	12,963	26,843	12,963
Unrestricted funds:
Designated funds		36,046	846,767	36,046	846,767
Revaluation reserve		2,380,144	2,323,019	2,380,144	2,323,019
General funds		5,540,427	4,638,448	5,471,280	4,522,996
Total charity funds		7,983,460	7,821,197	7,914,313	7,705,745

Approved by the trustees on 20 November 2025 and signed on their behalf by

Kate Conway – Clerk of trustees

Richard Taylor - Treasurer

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Consolidated statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Cash used in operating activities: Net movement in funds Adjustments for: Depreciation charges Gains on investments Dividends, interest and rents from investments Increase in debtors Increase in creditors Net cash provided by operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Dividends, interest and rents from investments Proceeds from the sale of investments Purchase of investments Purchase of tangible fixed assets Net cash provided by investing activities Increase in cash and cash equivalents in the year Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year Cash and cash equivalents comprises: Cash at bank and in hand Cash held in current asset investments Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	2025 £ 162,263 40,425 (41,520) (67,388) (57,596) 16,132 52,316 67,388 118,301 (153,179) (7,699) 24,811 77,127 734,542 811,669 656,412 155,257 811,669	2024 £ 131,193 40,335 (25,657) (103,493) (16,229) 7,309
		33,458
		103,493 138,166 (116,677) -
		124,982
		158,440 576,102
		734,542
		554,331 180,211
		734,542

The group has not provided an analysis of changes in net debt as it does not have any long term financing arrangements.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies

a) General information and basis of preparation

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends) is a charitable incorporated organisation registered in England and Wales. The registered office address is:

Friends Meeting House 6 Mount Street Manchester M2 5NS

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends) meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

b) Group accounts

These financial statements consolidate the results of the charity and its wholly-owned (controlled) subsidiary on a line by line basis. Transactions and balances between the charity and its subsidiary have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. Balances between the two entities are disclosed in the notes of the charity's balance sheet. A separate Statement of Financial Activities for the charity is not presented as the charity has taken advantage of the provisions of section 24 of the SORP.

c) Going concern basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern, which the trustees consider appropriate having regard to the current level of unrestricted reserves. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

d) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from the government and other grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

d) Income (continued)

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the Trust that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor's intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

Income received in advance of provision of services is deferred until criteria for income recognition are met.

e) Investment income

Interest on funds held on deposit, dividends and other investment income are included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity. This is normally upon notification of the amounts paid or payable by the bank or investment managers.

f) Funds accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particularly areas of the charity's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

h) Allocation of support costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, including the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. These costs have been allocated in full to charitable activities in the current and prior year on the basis that most fundraising activity is carried out by the trading subsidiary and allocated directly.

i) Grants payable

Grants payable are charged in the year in which the offer is conveyed to the recipient except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attached have been fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions at the year end are noted as commitment but are not accrued as expenditure.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

j) Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

Land and buildings 100 years Furniture and equipment 4 years

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £1,000.

k) Investment property

Investment property is property (land or a building, or both) held to earn rentals or for capital appreciation or both.

Investment property is initially measured at cost, including transaction costs. Investment property is subsequently measured at fair value at the reporting date. This method of valuation applies to all the charity’s investment properties.

Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of investment property are included in net profit or loss on the face of the Statement of Financial Activities for the period in which they arise.

l) Listed investments

Listed investments traded on a recognised stock exchange are stated at fair value at the reporting date, which is deemed to be their market value. Any gain or loss, whether realised or unrealised, is taken to the Statement of Financial Activities.

m) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

n) Current asset investments

Current asset investments consists of cash equivalents held on deposit for investment purposes with a maturity date of less than one year and more than three months from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

o) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

p) Creditors

Creditors and provisions are recognised where there is a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

q) Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

r) Accounting estimates and key judgements

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

The key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements are described below.

Depreciation

As described in note 1j to the financial statements, depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life.

Investment properties

The valuation of investment property is deemed to be the market value of the land and buildings, as determined by a RICS registered surveyor every 3 years, and subsequent annual review by the trustees.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

2. Prior period comparatives: statement of financial activities (restated)

Income from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Other trading activities Investments Other income Total income Expenditure on: Raising funds Charitable activities Total expenditure Net income before losses on investments Net losses on investments Net income Transfers between funds Net movement in funds	Restricted £ £ 53,368 39,391 19,305 1,655 - 747,524 - 67,562 - 7,128 72,673 863,260 - 612,090 70,817 147,490 70,817 759,580 1,856 103,680 - 25,657 1,856 129,337 2,843 (2,843) 4,699 126,494 Unrestricted	Restated 2024 Total £ 92,759 20,960 747,524 67,562 7,128
		935,933
		612,090 218,307
		830,397
		105,536 25,657
		131,193 -
		131,193

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

3. Income from donations and legacies

Collections and other donations Legacies Donations to Local Meetings and Summer School Total income from donations and legacies Prior period comparative: Collections and other donations Donations to Local Meetings and Summer School Total income from donations and legacies 4. Income from charitable activities Listed Places of Worship grants Income relating to events Total income from charitable activities Prior period comparative: Listed Places of Worship grants Income relating to events Total income from charitable activities	Restricted £ £ 33,120 38,076 - 113,880 14,395 11,841 47,515 163,797 Restricted £ £ 40,517 38,575 12,851 816 53,368 39,391 Restricted £ £ - 1,740 28,633 - 28,633 1,740 Restricted £ £ - 1,655 19,305 - 19,305 1,655 Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted Unrestricted	2025 Total £ 71,196 113,880 26,236
		211,312
		2024 Total £ 79,092 13,667
		92,759
		2025 Total £ 1,740 28,633
		30,373
		2024 Total £ 1,655 19,305
		20,960

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

5. Income from other trading activities

Subsidiary trading income	2025 Total £ 801,422	Restated 2024 Total £ 747,524

All income from trading activities was unrestricted in the current and prior years.

Income from other trading activities has been restated to include £35,931 of car parking income previously included within investment income.

6. Income from investments

Dividends and interest Income from investment properties Total income from investments	2025 Total £ 13,619 53,769 67,388	Restated 2024 Total £ 16,936 50,626
		67,562

All income from investments was unrestricted in the current and prior years.

Income from investments has been restated to reclassify £35,931 of car parking as income from other trading activities.

7. Government grants

The group received government grants, defined as funding from the Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme (DCMS) to fund charitable activities. The total value of such grants in the period ending 31 March 2025 was £1,740 (2024: £1,655). There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to these grants in 2024/25.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

8. Total expenditure

Total expenditure
Investment management costs Subsidiary trading costs Grants payable (note 11) Other direct costs Property costs Depreciation Office and admin costs Governance costs Sub-total Total expenditure Prior period comparative Investment management costs Subsidiary trading costs Grants payable (note 11) Other direct costs Property costs Depreciation Office and admin costs Staff travel, training and recruitment Governance costs Sub-total Total expenditure Allocation of support and governance costs Allocation of support and governance costs Salary costs (including subsidiary) (note 10) Local Meetings and Summer School expenditure Salary costs (including subsidiary) (note 10) Local Meetings and Summer School expenditure	Raising funds £ 332,292 3,605 340,707 - - - 1,925 - - 678,529 - 678,529 Raising funds £ 259,731 5,589 346,770 - - - - - - - - 612,090 - 612,090	Charitable activities £ - - - 28,624 46,604 2,510 - - - - 77,738 234,239 311,977 Charitable activities £ - - - 51,113 31,710 10 - - - - - 82,833 135,474 218,307	Support and governance costs £ 70,130 - - - - - 99,865 38,500 16,109 9,635 234,239 (234,239) - Support and governance costs £ 49,965 - - - - - 27,153 40,335 1,521 7,285 9,215 135,474 (135,474) -	2025 Total £ 402,422 3,605 340,707 28,624 46,604 2,510 99,865 40,425 16,109 9,635
				990,506 -
				990,506
				2024 Total £ 309,696 5,589 346,770 51,113 31,710 10 27,153 40,335 1,521 7,285 9,215
				830,397 -
				830,397

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

9. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Net movement in funds This is stated after charging:
	2025	2024
	£	£
Depreciation	40,425	40,335
Operating lease payments	657	657
Trustees' remuneration	Nil	Nil
Trustees' reimbursed expenses	47	110
Auditors' remuneration (excluding VAT):
▪Statutory audit and accounts preparation	12,100	11,350
▪Other services	350	350

Trustee expenses relate to ID certification and travel to a conference for 1 trustee (2024: 2 trustees).

In common with other charities of our size and nature we use our auditors to assist with the preparation of the financial statements and to prepare and submit returns to the tax authorities.

10. Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages Social security costs Pension costs	2025 2024 £ £ 362,612 276,816 22,756 14,665 17,054 18,215 402,422 309,696

No employee earned more than £60,000 during the current or prior year.

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Trustees, Executive Officer, and Senior Management Team. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £147,539 (2024: £74,347).

Average number of employees	2025 No. 17	2025 FTE 12	2024 No. 17	2024 FTE 10

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

11. Grants making activities

Total grants committed to during the year were as follows:

Britain Yearly Meeting Grants via Quaker Work Fund Refugee and asylum seekers Small Grants and Donations Summer School Total grants payable to institutions	2025 £ 19,180 8,194 1,250 - - 28,624	2024 £ 30,211 8,250 - 11,193 1,459
		51,113

In the current year, all grants were made to institutions. In the prior year, 1 grant, included in Small Grants and Donations was made to an individual. The remainder were made to institutions. No support costs were allocated to grant-making activities in either year.

Grants and donations are made to support Quaker work or to other organisations whose work advances Quaker concerns, as set out in the annual report.

12. Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes. The charity's trading subsidiary, Quaker Trading (Manchester and Warrington) Limited donates available profits to the parent charity under the gift aid scheme.

13. Tangible fixed assets Group Cost At 1 April 2024 Additions for the year At 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024	£ £ 6,260,000 221,433 - 7,699 6,260,000 229,132 399,125 221,433 38,500 1,925 437,625 223,358 5,822,375 5,774 5,860,875 - Land and buildings Furniture and equipment	Total £ 6,481,433 7,699
		6,489,132
		620,558 40,425
		660,983
		5,828,149
		5,860,875

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

13. Tangible fixed assets (continued) Charity Cost At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024	£ £ 6,260,000 165,750 399,125 165,750 38,500 - 437,625 165,750 5,822,375 - 5,860,875 - Land and buildings Furniture and equipment	Total £ 6,425,750
		564,875 38,500
		603,375
		5,822,375
		5,860,875

Included in land and buildings is land valued at £2,410,000, which is not subject to depreciation.

Following the introduction of FRS102 and adoption of the Charity SORP based on it, freehold land and buildings were restated at their deemed cost at 1 January 2014 based on a professional valuation.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

14. Investments

Market value at 1 April 2024 Additions Disposals proceeds Gains / losses Market value at 31 March 2025	£ 606,913 153,179 (118,301) (29,480) 612,311 Listed investments	£ 585,000 - - 71,000 656,000 Investment properties	Group Total 2025 £ £ 1,191,913 302,500 153,179 - (118,301) (67,000) 41,520 - 1,268,311 235,500 Loans to group undertakings	Charity Total 2025 £ 1,494,413 153,179 (185,301) 41,520 1,503,811	Group Total 2024 £ 1,187,745 116,677 (138,166) 25,657 1,191,913	Charity Total 2024 £ 1,490,245 116,677 (138,166) 25,657
						1,494,413

Investment properties include income generating portions of meeting houses owned by the charity. All properties were last valued in July 2025 by Fifield Glyn Chartered Surveyors, with the valuation of all investment properties being based on market value. The trustees are of the opinion that there has been no further change in the fair value of the properties.

See note 25 for a description of the inter-company loan terms.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

15. Subsidiary undertaking

The Charitable Incorporated Organisation is the owner and sole member of Quaker Trading (Manchester & Warrington) Limited, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England. The company registration number is 03094920 and the registered office is Friends' Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS. The subsidiary is used for non-primary purpose trading activities.

Available profits are Gift Aided to the charitable incorporated organisation, with this donation being shown as an expense in the trading subsidiary's accounts. A summary of the results of the results of the subsidiary are shown below:

Turnover Gross profit Administrative expenses Other operating income Operating surplus Interest payable (Deficit)/Surplus for the financial year The aggregate of the assets, liabilities and funds was: Assets Liabilities Funds	2025 £ 808,291 808,291 (839,881) 1,111 (30,479) (15,826) (46,305) 2025 £ 399,613 (330,466) 69,147	2024 £ 798,119
		798,119 (644,002) 33
		154,150 (20,083)
		134,067
		2024 £ 533,404 (417,952)
		115,452

16. Parent charity

The parent charity's gross income and the results for the year are disclosed as follows:

Gross income Results for the year	2025 £ 500,132 208,568	2024 £ 212,864 2,874

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

17. Debtors

Trade debtors Accrued income Prepayments	2025 2024 £ £ 138,911 113,187 39,405 27,564 28,347 8,316 206,663 149,067 The group	2025 2024 £ £ 1,174 253 9,967 44,003 27,012 - 38,153 44,256 The charity	2025 2024 £ £ 1,174 253 9,967 44,003 27,012 - 38,153 44,256 The charity
			44,256

18. Current asset investments

Cash held in deposit accounts Cash held in investment portfolio Creditors: amounts due within 1 year Trade creditors Accruals VAT liability Deferred income (note 20) Other creditors Deferred income At 1 April 2024 Deferred during the year Released during the year At 31 March 2025	2025 2024 £ £ 140,904 137,300 14,353 42,911 155,257 180,211 2025 2024 £ £ 58,428 18,393 27,721 42,589 11,638 12,923 28,542 39,513 5,003 1,782 131,332 115,200 2025 2024 £ £ 39,513 28,192 28,542 39,513 (39,513) (28,192) 28,542 39,513 The group The group The group	2025 2024 £ £ 140,904 137,300 14,353 42,911 155,257 180,211 2025 2024 £ £ 19,486 2,314 16,880 22,434 - - - - - - 36,366 24,748 2025 2024 £ £ - - - - - - - - The charity The charity The charity	2025 2024 £ £ 140,904 137,300 14,353 42,911 155,257 180,211 2025 2024 £ £ 19,486 2,314 16,880 22,434 - - - - - - 36,366 24,748 2025 2024 £ £ - - - - - - - - The charity The charity The charity
			-

19. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year

20. Deferred income

Deferred income relates mainly to advance bookings and rental fees in advance.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

21. Analysis of net assets between funds £ Tangible fixed assets - Investments - Net current assets 26,843 Net assets at 31 March 2025 26,843 Prior year comparative £ Tangible fixed assets - Investments - Net current assets 12,963 Net assets at 31 March 2024 12,963 Restricted funds Restricted funds	£ - 36,046 - 36,046 £ - 846,767 - 846,767 Designated funds Designated funds	£ 2,098,317 281,827 - 2,380,144 £ 2,112,192 210,827 - 2,323,019 Revaluation reserve Revaluation reserve	£ 3,729,832 950,438 860,157 5,540,427 £ 3,748,683 134,319 755,446 4,638,448 General funds General funds	£ 5,828,149 1,268,311 887,000 Total funds
				7,983,460
				Total funds £ 5,860,875 1,191,913 768,409
				7,821,197

In the current financial year, the trustees adopted a new, simpler reserves policy which removed designations on two funds: Sinking funds for maintenance and Cost contingency, as described in Note 22 and the Trustees' report.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

22. Movements in funds

Movements in funds
At 1 April 2024 £ Restricted funds Collections 2,765 Contributions: BYM - Ditton Trust 5,315 1,174 Summer School fund - 3,709 Total restricted funds 12,963 Designated funds: 616,588 Cost contingency 191,000 Legacies funds 24,167 Quaker work fund 3,970 Local Meeting accounts 11,042 Total designated funds 846,767 General funds 4,638,448 Revaluation reserve 2,323,019 Total unrestricted funds 7,808,234 Total funds 7,821,197 Refugees and asylum seekers Restricted Local Meeting accounts Unrestricted funds Sinking funds for maintenance	Income £ 899 31,222 - 1,000 28,633 14,394 76,148 - - - 150 11,842 11,992 1,023,109 - 1,035,101 1,111,249	£ (2,264) (21,905) (1,250) (1,250) (22,552) (13,047) (62,268) - - - (8,194) (11,005) (19,199) (895,164) (13,875) (928,238) (990,506) Expenditure	£ - - - - - - - - - - - - - (29,480) 71,000 41,520 41,520 Gains / (losses)	£ £ - 1,400 - 9,317 - 4,065 - 924 - 6,081 - 5,056 - 26,843 (616,588) - (191,000) - - 24,167 4,074 - - 11,879 (803,514) 36,046 803,514 5,540,427 - 2,380,144 - 7,956,617 - 7,983,460 Transfers between funds At 31 March 2025
					26,843
					- - 24,167 - 11,879
					36,046 5,540,427 2,380,144
					7,956,617
					7,983,460

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025 22. Movements in funds (continued) Purposes of restricted funds Collections For contributions to other Quaker connected charities. Contributions: BYM For contributions to the Britain Yearly Meeting. Ditton Trust For the Warrington Meeting, for the relief of the necessitous poor, the assistance of Friends in need and the education of children of Friends. Refugees and asylum To support work with refugees and asylum seekers. seekers Summer School fund Monies for the running costs of Friends' Summer School. Restricted Local Meeting Monies for the concerns and activities of Local Meetings. accounts Purposes of designated funds Sinking funds for Reserves set aside for payment of substantial or unplanned maintenance maintenance expenses. Cost contingency Reserves set aside to cover short-term excess of expenditure over income and to cover all potential redundancy costs. Legacies funds Monies donated in the form of legacies. Quaker work fund For the giving of grants to worthy causes. Local Meeting accounts Monies held for local use.

Purposes of transfers between funds

The transfers from general funds to restricted funds represents small overspends on the funds in the year supported by the charity's general reserve.

The transfers from designated funds to general funds reflect the adoption by Trustees of a new, simpler reserves policy, as described in the Trustees' Report.

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

22. Movements in funds (continued) Prior year comparative At 1 April 2023 £ Restricted funds Collections 144 Contributions: BYM - Winifred Locke legacy 185 Ditton Trust 5,622 318 Summer School fund - 1,995 Total restricted funds 8,264 Designated funds: 616,588 Cost contingency 191,000 Legacies funds 24,167 Quaker work fund 9,330 Local Meeting accounts 10,850 Total designated funds 851,935 General funds 4,492,911 Revaluation reserve 2,336,894 Total unrestricted funds 7,681,740 Total funds 7,690,004 Sinking funds for maintenance Unrestricted funds Refugees and asylum seekers Restricted Local Meeting accounts	Income £ 9,450 30,211 - - 856 19,305 12,851 72,673 - - - 890 4,704 5,594 857,666 - 863,260 935,933	£ (6,829) (30,336) (185) (307) - (22,023) (11,137) (70,817) - - - (8,250) (4,512) (12,762) (732,943) (13,875) (759,580) (830,397) Expenditure	£ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25,657 - 25,657 25,657 Gains	£ - 125 - - - 2,718 - 2,843 - - - 2,000 - 2,000 (4,843) - (2,843) - Transfers between funds	£ 2,765 - - 5,315 1,174 - 3,709 At 31 March 2024
					12,963
					616,588 191,000 24,167 3,970 11,042
					846,767 4,638,448 2,323,019
					7,808,234
					7,821,197

Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting (Religious Society of Friends)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

23. Financial instruments at fair value

Financial assets measured at fair value	2025 2024 £ £ 612,311 606,913 The group	2025 2024 £ £ 612,311 606,913 The charity

Financial assets measured at fair value comprise listed investments.

24. Operating lease commitments

The group and charity had operating leases at the year end with total future minimum lease payments as follows:

Amount falling due: Within 1 year Within 1 - 5 years	2025 2024 £ £ 657 657 55 712 712 1,369 The group	2025 2024 £ £ - - - - - - The charity

25. Related party transactions

Since 1 May 2017 Quaker Trading (Manchester & Warrington) Limited and Manchester and Warrington Area Quaker Meeting have been working with one another under a Hospitality and Facility Agreement. Quaker Trading is responsible for undertaking all the trading activity (primarily room hire and the provision of catering and audio-visual equipment) and for day to day management of the buildings and grounds on behalf of the charity.

The charity previously formally agreed a loan facility of up to £300,000 available to Quaker Trading (Manchester & Warrington) Limited, later agreeing to extend this facility. At the year end, the subsidiary had drawn down £235,500 of this facility (2024: £302,500).

The intercompany loan is repayable upon 24 months' notice and the annual rate of interest payable on the loan is 2% above the base rate then prevailing of the Bank of England. Total interest paid by the subsidiary to the charity in the year was £15,826 (2024: £20,083).

During the year, the charity received £55,000 (2024: £55,000) rental income from the trading subsidiary, and paid cost contributions to the trading subsidiary of £17,500 (2024: £17,500).

In addition, during the year, Quaker Trading paid £127,458 (2024: £nil) to the charity with respect to the company's 2024 trading profits. This is shown as an expense in the company's accounts.