## **Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)** ## **Worcestershire and Shropshire Area Meeting Trustees** ## **Annual Report and Accounts 2020** ## **Charity Number 1175399** ## **Friends Meeting House,** ## **51 Arundel Drive, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 2HU** **Email: davidbaker854@btinternet.com** ## **Telephone: 01905 763806** **Contents:** **Page:** **1. Officers during 2020** **2. Information and Governance** **3. Public Benefit Achievements and Activities 4. Financial Review** - **2** **3** **4** - **8** **5. Appendices - Local Meeting Annual Reports 19** 1 ## **1. Officers during 2020** ## **Clerking Team:** Lynda Prescott Martin Layton Worcester Local Meeting Bewdley Local Meeting **Treasurer:** David Rolfe Telford Local Meeting **Assistant Clerk for Membership and Data Protection:** Colin Billett Bewdley Local Meeting **Area Meeting Trustees who served during 2020:** David Baker (Clerk) Worcester Local Meeting David Rolfe (Treasurer) Telford Local Meeting Marilyn Foxall Bewdley Local Meeting Christine Jones Shrewsbury Local Meeting Eoin McCarthy Malvern Local Meeting **Custodian Trustee:** Friends Trusts Ltd., Registered Charity 237698 173-177 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ **Bankers to the Area Meeting held accounts:** TSB, Church Stretton Branch. COIF Charity Funds, CCLA Investment Management Ltd. 80 Cheapside, London, EC2V 6DZ In addition, each of the local constituent meetings of the Area Meeting has one or more bank accounts that they manage. 2 ## **2. Information and Governance:** Worcestershire and Shropshire Area Quaker Meeting began operating as a Registered Charity from 1[st] January 2014 as Charity number 1155482. With effect from 26[th] October 2017, it re-registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation number 1175399. The Charity was established for the advancement of religious and other charitable purposes that derive from, or bear witness to, the principles and practices of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), within Worcestershire and Shropshire. Quaker Faith & Practice, the book of discipline of Britain Yearly Meeting, governs the Area Meeting’s affairs. The Area Meeting appoints the Trustees of the charity following nominations from the Nominations Committee. These appointments are without financial remuneration. The Annual Report recognises the requirement of Britain Yearly Meeting and the Charity Commission to outline the Public Benefit of the charity as indicated in Charity Commission publication April 2017 ‘ _telling your story well: public benefit reporting by charities’._ The template offered by Quaker Faith and Practice (5[th] Edition), Chapter 14, is used to compile this report. ## **2.1 Trustees normally meet four times a year. In 2020 the following items of business were considered, and details are available in the minutes of these meetings:** Dated: 8[th] February 2020 - i) Area Meeting Quota to Britain Yearly Meeting. - ii) New Arrangements for Area Meetings. - iii) Policy of payments from Area Meeting Funds. - iv) Employee Survey. - v) Data Protection Officers. - vi) Licence agreement re: Meeting Point House. - vii) Roles for the next triennium. Dated: 13[th] June 2020 - i) Document re: Expenditure from Area Meeting Funds - ii) 2019 Annual Reports - iii) 2019 Accounts. - iv) Salary, Pensions and Policy Documents. Dated: 7[th] July 2020 This was a special meeting convened to discuss the holding of Meetings for Worship and the Hiring of Meeting Houses during the COVID-19 Pandemic Guidance for Local Meetings. Dated: 29[th] October 2020 - i) Meeting for Worship in Wem – COVID risk assessment. - ii) Distribution of funds to schools in Midnapore (West Bengal). 3 ## **3. Public Benefit Achievements and Activities within the Area Meeting in 2020** ## **3.1 Membership information for 2020** Tabular Statement There were four new members recorded during the year, one by convincement and three by transfers in. One transfer out was recorded, and one member became no longer attached to a local meeting. There were eight deaths during the year. The net result is that total membership decreased by six from one hundred and eighty-five members to one hundred and seventy-nine members. |**Name of Local**
**Meeting**|**Men**|**Women**|**Other**|**Children**|**Total**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |**BEWDLEY**|||||| |Members|**12**|**18**|**0**|**0**|**30**| |Attenders|**1**|**5**|**0**|**4**|**10**| ||||||| |**CHURCH STRETTON**|||||| |Members|**3**|**7**|**0**|**0**|**10**| |Attenders|**1**|**1**|**0**|**2**|**4**| ||||||| |**MALVERN**|||||| |Members|**18**|**14**|**0**|**0**|**32**| |Attenders|**14**|**12**|**0**|**0**|**26**| ||||||| |**SHREWSBURY**|||||| |Members|**9**|**26**|**0**|**0**|**35**| |Attenders|**8**|**18**|**0**|**2**|**28**| ||||||| |**TELFORD**|||||| |Members|**9**|**25**|**0**|**0**|**34**| |Attenders|**5**|**10**|**0**|**3**|**18**| ||||||| |**WEM**|||||| |Members|**0**|**1**|**0**|**0**|**1**| |Attenders|**1**|**1**|**0**|**0**|**2**| ||||||| |**WORCESTER**|||||| |Members|**15**|**21**|**0**|**0**|**36**| |Attenders|**12**|**9**|**0**|**2**|**23**| ||||||| |**UNATTACHED**|||||| |Members|**0**|**1**|**0**|**0**|**1**| ||||||| ||||||| 4 ## **3.2 Strengthening the life and witness of Quaker Meetings** This year (2020) has been challenging for everyone. In January and February, Local Meetings conducted their Meetings for Worship and Business as normal. By March we were living with the COVID-19 pandemic, Government guidelines, lockdowns, and restrictions, which tested our ingenuity and creativity in finding alternative ways by which to worship and conduct our business. All our Local Meetings, apart from Wem, have continued to hold Sunday morning worship at 10.30 until 11.30 am, either online using Zoom, outdoors, or in person when permitted. Bewdley, Shrewsbury, Telford, and Worcester Meetings, have also held blended meetings. Every effort has been made to maintain worshipping communities by staying in touch with those Friends who have not felt comfortable enough to join on-line meetings during the lockdowns. Elders and Pastoral Care Friends have ensured regular readings from Advices and Queries and Quaker Faith and Practice. Bewdley, Church Stretton and Telford meetings have continued to involve their Children’s Meetings in worship, either online or outdoors when in-door meetings were not permitted. Worcester’s monthly Children’s Meeting stopped after February 2020. All our Local Meetings, except for Wem, have organised a range of online events to encourage all age interaction and strengthen the life of the Meeting. For details of these events see Local Meeting reports in the appendix. There has been a regular Area Meeting (mid-week) Meeting for Worship held online. ## **3.3 Spreading the message of Friends and interpreting and developing the thought and practice of the Society** We acknowledge that many of our usual activities were either postponed or reduced because of the restrictions of the pandemic. Local Meetings have nonetheless continued to organise a variety of discussions, workshops, and events, either outdoors or online. Details of these events can be seen in the Local Meeting reports in Appendix 1. Local Meeting Friends have joined in Woodbrooke and Britain Yearly Meeting facilitated events online, which has increased awareness of Quaker thought and practice. A Church Stretton Friend is convening a group of Friends from Wales and Southern Marches together with Meeting of Friends in Wales (Symud Ymlaen). We piloted a website for one of our local meetings on the Quaker Meetings Network, as a step towards having an integrated family of websites, including one for Area Meeting. 5 ## **3.4 Undertaking Quaker service for the relief of suffering at home and abroad** Although the restrictions of the pandemic have curtailed some activities, Friends have continued to participate in many voluntary roles within their local communities. The following are examples of Quaker service in action. Telford Local Meeting supported the STAY housing project. Church Stretton Friends invited a speaker from Quaker Service in Belfast to Engaging Issues. Malvern Friends have continued as active Prison Visitors when the pandemic regulations allowed. Bewdley Friends continue to be a collection point for clothes for refugees in Europe. ‘The Worcester Grassroots Alliance’ project has now been adopted by Area Meeting as a whole. Wider participation is evidenced by Local Meeting Friends being appointed to central Quaker work at Britain Yearly Meeting. For full details of the work being carried out by Local Meetings see Appendix 1. ## **3.5 Funding our Concerns** All Local Meetings have provided financial support as requested by Britain Yearly Meeting. Local Meetings and Local Friends have donated to Quaker led charities and other charities of particular interest to Friends. These donations were made through special collections, subscriptions and/or standing orders. ## **3.6 Providing for the pastoral care of individual members and attenders including assistance for those in need and for education** Area Meeting discerned that it was appropriate to rename our Overseers as ‘Pastoral Care Friends’ and this was agreed at Area Meeting for Worship for Business on 7[th] November 2020. The pandemic has increased the need and responsibility for providing care and keeping a watching brief on all Friends. Other Friends actively share in this care and try to ensure that no one is left out. A variety of methods has been used to remain in contact with Friends in need, such as, in person visits when appropriate, phone calls, letters and cards. Bewdley Local Meeting have held regular, online, ‘Time to Talk’ sessions. Fellowship of Healing groups have met in person, when and where appropriate, and in Spirit, throughout the lockdowns. Specific ongoing assistance to Local Meetings is provided by Area Meeting hardship fund. 6 ## **3.7 Maintaining and developing Quaker meeting houses as places of public worship and from which to carry our witness into the world.** Church Stretton, Telford and Wem Local Meetings do not have their own Meeting House. Church Stretton Friends rent appropriate premises. Telford Friends hold a licence to worship in Meeting Point House (an ecumenical building). Wem did meet in a Friend’s home. Bewdley, Malvern, Shrewsbury and Worcester have Meeting Houses which are currently well maintained through a regular review of their condition. During the pandemic lockdowns, our Meeting Houses have remained closed to in person meetings for worship. Only those rentals to special support groups, exempt from the COVID-19 restrictions, have continued during this time. Bewdley Meeting House has a newly installed audio-visual system which has enabled zoom and blended Meetings for Worship to take place. ## **3.8 Administering and maintaining our organisation and contributing to the support of Britain Yearly Meeting** Area Meeting met nine times during 2020. Two Meetings were held in person at Worcester and Shrewsbury Meeting houses. The remaining seven meetings were held online on Zoom. Britain Yearly Meeting Recording Clerk joined us for our online Area Meeting in May. All Local Meetings had regular Meetings for Worship for Business. Local Meetings had representatives on Area Meeting and Britain Yearly Meeting committees. ## **3.9 Safeguarding and Health and Safety Policies** Trustees were satisfied that Area Meeting and constituent Local Meetings complied with their responsibilities to safeguard children and vulnerable adults in accordance with Area Meeting’s Safeguarding Policy. In respect of fulfilling Local Meetings’ duties under health and safety legislation, and COVID-19 restrictions, an apparent lack of compliance at one Local Meeting was raised by Trustees and was immediately addressed by Area Meeting. ## **3.10 Sustainability Considerations** Local Meetings are encouraged to act on the growing concern for the welfare of Planet Earth and to adopt sustainable practices where possible. 7 4 Financial Review |**Incoming Resources**
Donations, legacies, and similar
Income from activities to generate funds
Investment income
Quaker Activities
Other Income
**Total incoming resources**
**Resources expended**
Costs of Quaker activities
Grants and donations
Costs of generating funds
Support Costs
Governance
**Total resources expended**
**Net incoming resources before transfers**
**Transfers**
Transfers between funds (Quota)
Other Transfers between Meetings
Other transfers
**Net incoming resources before revaluati**
Gains (losses) on investments
**Net movement in funds**
**Revaluation of Property**
Total funds brought forward, 1 January
Prior year adjustment
**Total funds carried forward, 31 Decembe**
**These balances are held as:**
Total fixed assets
Net current assets
**Net assets**
**Acting as agent**
**B/Fwd**
In
Out
**C/Fwd**
**State**|**State**|**W**
**ment of F**|**orcestershire and Shropshire Area Meeting**
**inancial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2020**||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||| |||**NOTES**|1
2 3
4
**Unrestricted**
**AM Central**
**Funds**
**Unrestricted**
**Local Funds**
**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Endowment**
**Funds**|**Total 2020**|**Total 2019**| |||5|3,056
45,395
48,451
493
8,817
8,817
2461
3,399
5,860
80
80
2,094
2,094|48,944
8,817
5,860
80
2,094|46,405
30,962
6,518
0
2,765| ||||**5,517**
**59,785**
**65,302**
**493**|**65,795**|**86,650**| |||6|1,690
3,050
4,740
244
6,620
27,053
33,673
47,125
47,125
996
1,560
2,556
1,694
913
2,607|4,984
33,673
47,125
2,556
2,607|6,960
25,741
43,403
8,183
4,364| ||||**11,000**
**79,701**
**90,701**
**244**|**90,945**|**88,651**| ||||(5,483)
(19,916)
(25,399)
249|(25,150)|(2,001)| |||7
7
7|7,440
(7,440)
0
638
(638)
0
0|0
0
0|0
0
0| |||**ons**|**2,595**
**(27,994)**
**(25,399)**
**249**|**(25,150)**|**(2,001)**| ||||6,316
6,316|6,316|14,019| ||||**2,595**
**(21,678)**
(19,083)
**249**|**(18,834)**|**12,018**| |||
9|807,987
283,591
1,091,578
643
(1,140)
(1,140)|0
1,092,221
(1,140)|**(898,613)**
1,980,985
(2,168)| |||**r**|**810,582**
**260,773**
**1,071,355**
**892**|**1,072,247**|**1,092,222**| ||||800,000
100,548
900,548
10,582
160,225
170,807
892|900,548
171,699|899,232
192,990| ||||**810,582**
**260,773**
**1,071,355**
**892**|**1,072,247**|**1,092,222**| |||8
8|1,719
1,719
2,987
2,987
2,880
2,880|1,719
2,987
2,880|6,597
4,878| ||||**0**
**1,826**
**1,826**
**0**|**1,826**|**1,719**| 8 4 Financial Review ## **Worcestershire and Shropshire Area Meeting** ||**Balance**|**Balance**|**Restricted**
**Central**
**Local**
**Special**
**Total 2020**
1
2 3
4
800,000
800,000
0
100,548
100,548
**800,000**
**100,548**
**0**
**900,548**
1,650
1,650
107,332
107,332
10582
56,124
892
67,598
**10,582**
**165,105**
**892**
**176,579**
4,880
4,880
0
**10,582**
**160,225**
**892**
**171,699**
**810,582**
**260,773**
**892**
**1,072,247**
**Sheet Summary as at 31st December 2020**
**Unrestricted Funds**|**Restricted**
**Central**
**Local**
**Special**
**Total 2020**
1
2 3
4
800,000
800,000
0
100,548
100,548
**800,000**
**100,548**
**0**
**900,548**
1,650
1,650
107,332
107,332
10582
56,124
892
67,598
**10,582**
**165,105**
**892**
**176,579**
4,880
4,880
0
**10,582**
**160,225**
**892**
**171,699**
**810,582**
**260,773**
**892**
**1,072,247**
**Sheet Summary as at 31st December 2020**
**Unrestricted Funds**|**Restricted**
**Central**
**Local**
**Special**
**Total 2020**
1
2 3
4
800,000
800,000
0
100,548
100,548
**800,000**
**100,548**
**0**
**900,548**
1,650
1,650
107,332
107,332
10582
56,124
892
67,598
**10,582**
**165,105**
**892**
**176,579**
4,880
4,880
0
**10,582**
**160,225**
**892**
**171,699**
**810,582**
**260,773**
**892**
**1,072,247**
**Sheet Summary as at 31st December 2020**
**Unrestricted Funds**|**Restricted**
**Central**
**Local**
**Special**
**Total 2020**
1
2 3
4
800,000
800,000
0
100,548
100,548
**800,000**
**100,548**
**0**
**900,548**
1,650
1,650
107,332
107,332
10582
56,124
892
67,598
**10,582**
**165,105**
**892**
**176,579**
4,880
4,880
0
**10,582**
**160,225**
**892**
**171,699**
**810,582**
**260,773**
**892**
**1,072,247**
**Sheet Summary as at 31st December 2020**
**Unrestricted Funds**|| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||**Unrestricted Funds**||**Restricted**||| ||||**Central**|**Local**|**Special**|**Total 2020**|**Total 2019**| |**Fixed assets**
Land and buildings
Fixtures and fittings
Investments||**Notes**
9|1
2 3
4
800,000
100,548|||800,000
0
100,548|800,000
0
99,232| |**Total fixed assets**|||**800,000**|**100,548**|**0**|**900,548**|**899,232**| |**Current assets**
Debtors
Short term deposits
Cash at bank and in hand||10|1,650
107,332
10582
56,124
892|||1,650
107,332
67,598|4,233
127,592
64,841| |**Total current assets**|||**10,582**|**165,105**|**892**|**176,579**|**196,666**| |**Current liabilities**
Creditors within one year
Creditors after oneyear||11|4,880|||4,880
0|3,676
0| |**Net current assets**|||**10,582**|**160,225**|**892**|**171,699**|**192,990**| |**Net assets**|||**810,582**|**260,773**|**892**|**1,072,247**|**1,092,222**| 9 4 Financial Review ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS** ## **Note 1. Unrestricted funds, the centrally managed accounts** ||**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
**Note 1. Unrestricted funds, the centrally managed accounts**|**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
**Note 1. Unrestricted funds, the centrally managed accounts**|**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
**Note 1. Unrestricted funds, the centrally managed accounts**|**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
**Note 1. Unrestricted funds, the centrally managed accounts**|**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
**Note 1. Unrestricted funds, the centrally managed accounts**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||**Financial Activities for the year ended December 31 2020**||||| ||**Incoming Resources**
Contributions (and tax reclaimed)
Bank interest on deposits
Dividends on shares,etc.|**Notes**|**Unrestricted**
**Designated**
**General**
**Extension**|**Total**
**2020**|**Total**
**2019**| ||||3,056
5
2,456|3,056
5
2,456|0
10
2,685| ||**Total Incoming Resources before transfers**||**3,056**
**2,461**|**5,517**|**2,695**| ||||||| ||**Total Incoming Resources**||3,056
2,461|5,517|2,695| ||**Resources Expended**
**Costs of Quaker activities**
Children and young people
Committees and conferences
BYM Gathering
Refund of expenses to Trustees
Refund of expenses to Officers, etc.
Quaker Quest
Child Protection
Other costs of Quaker activities|1
3|600
992
76
22|0
1,592
0
0
76
0
0
22|0
2,150
562
0
168
0
0
20| ||**Total costs of Quaker activities**||**698**
**992**|**1,690**|**2,900**| ||**Grants, subscriptions, donations**
... to BYM
… to ecumenical and interfaith bodies
…. Woodbrooke
…. CCPAS (thirty one eight)
…. To Individuals|4
2
5|5,500
1,000
120|5,500
0
1,000
120
0
0|2,000
0
0
120
0
0| ||**Total costs ofgrants, etc**||**6,620**
**0**|**6,620**|**2,120**| ||**Governance and Support costs**
Insurance excess paid
Insurance - AM wide
Professional fees
Trustee meetings
General support costs||1,694
788
208|0
1,694
788
0
208|0
3,124
2,070
0
320| ||**Total costs of support andgovernance**||**2,690**
**0**|**2,690**|**5,514**| ||**Total Resources Expended before transfers**||**10,008**
**992**|**11,000**|**10,534**| ||**Transfers to and from Local Meetings**
Receipt of Quotas from Local Meetings
Donations from LM's||**(7,440)**
**(638)**|(7,440)
(638)
0|**(7,040)**
**(2,000)**
0| ||**Total Transfers to Local Meetings**||**(8,078)**
**0**|**(8,078)**|**(9,040)**| ||**Prior Year Adjustments**
**Total resources expended**|||0|**0**| ||||**1,930**
**992**|**2,922**|**1,494**| ||**Revaluation of Property**|||0|**(898,613)**| ||**Net movement in funds**||**1,126**
**1,469**|**2,595**|**(897,413)**| ||Total funds brought forward 1 January||802,793
5,194|807,987|1,705,400| ||**Total funds carried forward 31 December**||**803,919**
**6,663**|**810,582**|**807,987**| ||These funds were held as follows:
**Fixed Assets**
Property
Current Assets
COIF deposit account
Lloyds current account
less Current Liabilities
Creditor|||800,000|800,000| |||||1,380
9,202|1,380
6,608| |||||10,582|7,988| ||**Net current assets**|||**10,582**|**7,988**| ||**Total Assets**|||**810,582**|**807,988**| 10 4 Financial Review Annotations to Note 1 - 1.1 Costs of attending committees and conferences and training for roles in our AM are charged under this heading, together with any contributions made by AM towards courses and activities undertaken by Members and Attenders to develop theirs and the Meeting’s spiritual lifes. - 1.2 The cost of annual registration with C.C.P.A.S to meet our responsibilities for the care and protection of children. - 1.3 Other costs of Quaker Activities include the purchase of some volumes of Quaker Faith and Practise or alternative books for distribution to new members. - 1.4 Contributions to the Ecumenical Team Ministry in Telford and to Churches Together in Worcestershire and Shropshire. - 1.5 Assistance to individual Friends in financial difficulties during the year.. Financial Report on the Centrally Managed Accounts The General Fund is intended to meet the normal running expenses of the Area Meeting, together with donations to Britain Yearly Meeting and other Quaker Concerns as determined by Area Meeting. Due mainly to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year saw a great reduction in the number of Friends attending training courses. To compensate for this, we gave donations to Woodbrooke and BYM to make up for their loss of income. No increase in quota was necessary to meet our costs. We made an Area Meeting grant to Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) early this year, as part of our regular practice of making a donation to BYM early in the year from any surplus of funds from the previous year. Friends also make contributions to BYM individually, as do some local meetings. The centrally managed General Fund income was boosted this year by a legacy of £3000. The quota brought in £7440 ( up slightly from the previous year’s figure). Shrewsbury Meeting donated £638. The General Fund includes the value of the properties owned by the Area Meeting. In 2019 we had these professionally valued and the values were determined to be much lower than we were carrying forward in our Insurance valuations. The values do not include Worcester Meeting House, which is separately owned by Worcestershire Friends Charity. There has been some concern expressed by Friends that our properties are valued too low. The trustees are considering this currently in light of a revaluation of Malvern Meeting House. Any uplift in values will be reflected in the accounts for 2021, as new figures were not availble at the end of 2020. The fixed assets of the Area Meeting centrally amount to 800,000 which is all held in property and therefore not available to meet our ongoing expenditure. The net current assets, across both the General Fund and the Extension Fund, amounted to £10582 (previous year £7988). The uplift is due to the legacy of £3000. The current assets are sufficient to cover the annual level of expenditure at 2020 levels. The greater part of the income of the Extension Fund derives from a gift by two members of the Area Meeting in 1965. In accordance with the wishes of the donors, the income is normally designated for projects or to pay for courses or conferences, which will strengthen the spiritual life of our Meeting. The expenditure from the Extension Fund was £922, which is significantly down on the previous year as fewer Friends went on Spiritual Courses due to the pandemic. The income to the Extension Fund normally amounts to just under £3,000 per year, and used to be paid early in the year, but seems to get later and later each year, and in 2020 arrived at the end of the year. We should have sufficient resources for 2021. 11 4 Financial Review ## **Note 2. Local Unrestricted Funds (designated)** **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year ended 31st December 2020** ` |**Incoming Resources**
Donations, legacies, and similar
Income from activities to generate funds
Investment income
Quaker Activities
Other income|||**Total**|**Total**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||**Notes**|**Bewdley**
**Church**
**Stretton**
**Malvern**
**Shrews'y**
**Telford**
**Wem**
**Worcester**|**2020**|**2019**| |||6,123
1,205
10,521
9,827
7,130
270
10,319
1,200
2,931
1,990
2,696
188
2,613
486
4
107
80
347
1,747|45,395
8,817
3,399
80
2,094|45,412
30,962
3,823
0
2,765| |**Total incoming resources**||**7,858**
**1,205**
**16,065**
**14,050**
**7,134**
**270**
**13,202**|**59,784**|**82,962**| |**Resources expended**
Costs of Quaker activities
Grants and donations
Premises and paid employees
Costs of generating funds
Management and administration||90
1,294
846
321
285
215
1,110
300
5,050
9,293
2,409
120
8,771
7,120
253
12,681
8,706
645
17,721
1,560
173
72
338
330|3,050
27,053
47,125
1,560
913|3,293
23,621
43,403
5,793
1,240| |**Total resources expended**||**8,320**
**2,020**
**20,208**
**18,320**
**3,677**
**120**
**27,037**|**79,701**|**77,350**| |**Net incoming resources before transfers**||**(461)**
**(815)**
**(4,143)**
**(4,269)**
**3,457**
**150**
**(13,835)**|**(19,917)**|**5,612**| |**Transfers**
Transfers to AM (quota)
Transfers from Restricted Funds
Other transfers||(1,240)
(360)
(1,360)
(1,560)
(1,400)
(80)
(1,440)
(638)|(7,440)
0
(638)|(7,040)
0
(2,000)| |**Net incoming resources before revaluations**||(1,701)
(1,175)
(5,503)
(6,467)
2,057
70
(15,275)|(27,994)|(3,428)| |Gains(losses)on investments||6,550
(235)|6,316|14,019| |**Net movement in funds**||**(1,701)**
**(1,175)**
**1,047**
**(6,702)**
**2,057**
**70**
**(15,275)**|**(21,678)**|**10,591**| |Total funds brought forward, 1 Jan
Prior year adjustment||33,276
14,090
107,103
70,289
8,673
254
49,906
(1,140)|283,591
0
(1,140)
0|275,169
0
(2,169)| |**Total funds carried forward, 31 Dec**||**31,575**
**12,915**
**107,010**
**63,587**
**10,730**
**324**
**34,631**|**260,773**|**283,591**| |**These balances are held as:**
Total fixed assets
Net current assets||95,260
5,288
31,575
12,915
11,750
58,299
10,730
324
34,631|100,548
160,225|99,232
184,359| |**Net assets**||**31,575**
**12,915**
**107,010**
**63,587**
**10,730**
**324**
**34,631**|**260,773**|**283,591**| 12 4 Financial Review **Note 3. Local Unrestricted Funds (designated) Balance Sheet Summary as at 31st December 2020** ||Total|Total|Total|Total| |---|---|---|---|---| |**Total fixed assets**
Land and Buildings
Fixtures and Fittings
Investments|Notes|**Bewdley**
**Church**
**Stretton**
**Malvern**
**Shrews'y**
**Telford**
**Wem**
**Worcester**|**2020**|**2019**| |||95,260
5,288|0
0
100,548|0
0
99,232| |**Total Fixed Assets**||**0**
**0**
**95,260**
**5,288**
**0**
**0**
**0**|**100,548**|**99,232**| |**Current Assets**
Debtors
Short term deposits
Cash at bank and in hand||914
736
25,981
2,603
49,101
2,892
26,755
5,594
12,915
11,382
8,411
8,673
324
8,824|1,650
107,332
56,124|4,233
126,212
57,590| |**Total Current Assets**||**31,575**
**12,915**
**13,984**
**58,426**
**11,565**
**324**
**36,315**|**165,105**|**188,035**| |**Current Liabilities**
Creditors within one year
Creditors after oneyear||2,234
127
835
1,684|4,880
0|3,676
0| |**Total Current Liabilities**||**0**
**0**
**2,234**
**127**
**835**
**0**
**1,684**|**4,880**|**3,676**| |**Net Current Assets**||**31,575**
**12,915**
**11,750**
**58,299**
**10,730**
**324**
**34,631**|**160,225**|**184,359**| |**Net Assets**||**31,575**
**12,915**
**107,010**
**63,587**
**10,730**
**324**
**34,631**|**260,773**|**283,591**| 13 4 Financial Review ## **Note 4 Restricted Funds** We only have one restricted fund. Friends in Telford Meeting give money to provide “starter packs”, which are given to homeless young people when a home is found for them by the STAY project. The money is held in a fund by Telford meeting and only spent when starter packs are bought. This money is only available for the purpose for which it was given. ## **Note 5. Activities to Generate Funds** Most of this income came from the letting of premises. Due to the pandemic the Meeting Houses were empty for most of the year and so income was greatly reduced. The figures were: Bewdley £1200; Malvern £2931; Shrewsbury £1990; Worcester £2,696. This is huge decrease on the previous year. ## **Note 6. Support costs** These include expenditure on services such as caretaking, casual maintenance, warden and bookkeeping, as well as costs such as rent and maintenance charges for meetings without meeting houses and insurance, utility bills and sundry building maintenance for meetings with meeting houses. ## **Note 7. Transfers between funds** These consist of 2 elements: - a. Transfers of Quota from Local Meetings to Area Meeting. - b. Transfers of donations between Local Meetings and Area Meeting. 14 4 Financial Review ## **Note 8 - Acting as agent** |**Received**
Held over previously
Collections
**Paid Over**
Net Held|**Central**
**Bewdley**
**Ch Stretton Malvern**
**Shrewsbury Telford**
**Wem**
**Worcester Total 2020**
**2019**
608
209
569
333
**1,719**
484
241
2,332
414
**2,987**
6,113| |---|---| ||**0**
**0**
**0**
**608**
**450**
**2,901**
**0**
**747**
**4,706**
**6,597**| ||**323**
2,066
491
**2,880**
4,878| ||**0**
**0**
**0**
**608**
**127**
**835**
**0**
**256**
**1,826**
**1,719**| The table above shows money collected by local meetings Acting as Agents. Bewdley,Church Stretton, and Wem Meetings keep any special collections completely separate from their normal finances and do not “Act as Agents”. 15 4 Financial Review ## **Note 9. Land and Buildings** The Value of Worcester Friends Meeting House appears in the accounts of Worcestershire Friends Charity. The values of Bewdley, Malvern and Shrewsbury Meeting Houses appear in the accounts of the Area Meeting. The Area Meeting Trustees act as Managing Trustees for these properties, with Friends Trusts Ltd. as custodian trustees. Local Meetings have been asked to update the insurance valuation with an actual valuation once every 5 years as part of their quinqennial survey, but all properties were professionally valued at the end of 2019 as follows: ## **Valuation of Property** |**Market values**:
£| |---| |Bewdley FMH 150,000| |Malvern FMH 350,000| |Shrewsbury FMH300,000| |**Total** **800,000**| |**Insurance (rebuild) values**: £| |Bewdley FMH 217,000| |Malvern FMH 308,000| |Shrewsbury FMH350,000| |**Total** **875,000**| ## **Note 10. Debtors** Debtors are as follows: Shrewsbury QM £914 Worcester QM £736 **£1650** ## **Note 11. Creditors** Creditors are as follows: £ Malvern QM 2234 Shrewsbury 127 Telford QM 835 Worcester 1684 **4880** All creditors are payable within one year 16 4 Financial Review **ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## **Basis of accounting** The Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for accounting by Charities has been followed in so far as it is applicable to these accounts. ## **Income and expenditure** Accruals and prepayments have been included in the income and expenditure where the amounts are significant and their inclusion will give greater clarity to the financial statements. ## **Contributions and grants** Contributions and grants are treated as income in the year in which they are received. ## **Transfers** Movements of money between funds are shown as transfers, and consist of the Quota payable by local meetings to the area meeting, and any other voluntary transfers between meetings. ## **Interest, dividends, rents, and legacies** These are all taken into account when received and treated as income in the year. ## **Direct taxation** All the activities of the Area Meeting are charitable and therefore exempt from income tax, capital gains and inheritance tax. There are no trading profits. ## **Fund accounting** In order to differentiate how Funds can be used, they are categorized according to the following definitions: _Unrestricted:_ Funds which are freely available for any purpose of the Area Meeting. Designated Funds are a subcategory of these. They have been set aside for specific purposes, but they remain at the discretion of the Area Meeting which can change this purpose at any time. _Restricted:_ Funds which have been earmarked by the donor or testator for certain specific purposes. ## **Land and buildings** These consist of the meeting houses which are held for the furtherance of the Area Meeting's charitable objects. **See Note 9** ## **Investments** Investments are included at their market or estimated realizable value at 31 December. ## **Trustees remuneration** No Trustee received any remuneration in respect of service given during the year. 17 4 Financial Review Independent Examinerfs Report to the Members of WorcoSte￿h1r@ and Shropshlr• Ar•a M••ting I report on the accounls of the Worcestershire and ShrcpshTrre Area Meetir¥J for the year ended 31st December 2020. whith ate set oul ￿ pages 11010 . Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent exarniner The ¢hariWs Iruslees are restM)nsible for the preparation of the awunts. They I￿sider that the audit requirement of section 43(2> of the Charibes Act 1993 (the Act) does Mt apply. 5115 my re5POn5ibility to 51ale. on the basis of PT(KeduiE5 specified in the General Dire¢tions given by the Charity Commissioneis under Secti￿ 4317Xb) of the A¢1. whelher particular matters have o)me to my attention. Basis of Independènt examinerfs report My examination was CArried out in accordance with the General Direth"ons given by the CharTty Commissioner5. kn examination indudes a re￿eW of the accounting records kept by the charily and a comparison of the accounts presented wth ihose records. 11 also includes consideration of any unusual ilems CK ¢Jisclosures in th& a¢xountS. 8nfJ seeking explanations from the trustees conceming any suth matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the ewdence that would be required in an audit. and consequently I do not express an audit opinion ￿ the ￿eW given by the aLxxJunts. Independent examinorfs sLitemtrnt In connecticN) with my examination. no ￿￿tter has come to my attenbon {1) whith gives me reasonable cause to believe Ihal in any material respecl Ihe requlrem8nts . to keep a¢￿Unting reo)rds in accc*dance vrith sedion 41 of the Act., . lo prepare accounts whith ac£ord v￿th the accounting record5,' and . to comply wilh the accountiro requirements of Ihe Act have not t£en mel: or {2) to whlch, In my oplnion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper undeistanding of the ac￿unIS to be reathed. Signed. Date.. 18 ## **5 Appendices -Local Meeting’s Annual Reports** **Quaker Local Meeting Annual Report 2020** ## **Annual Report for Bewdley** ## **(1) Strengthening the life and witness of our Meeting.** Bewdley Friends and attenders have been fortunate in that everyone has access to internet technology, which has enabled us to continue to maintain contact and to worship as a community in challenging, creative and ultimately rewarding ways. When regulations permitted Premises Committee took diligent action to enable blended meetings to take place, with friends in the meeting house able to see and worship with those projected on the screen in Bewley. Online worship has allowed our young friends to be fully involved in the life of the meeting; each week they enter a break-out room and rejoin us for the final ten minutes, sharing their ministry with us. Once Friends had become more confident in using Zoom, they began to take up the opportunities offered for Worship, by Area Meeting in mid-week Worship, and in joining Woodbrooke and BYM facilitated events. Elders and Pastoral Care Friends have ensured regular contact with those Friends who were unable to join in either on-line or in person meetings during this period of uncertainty. Living adventurously and bringing Friends together in as many ways as possible, has continued to strengthen the Spiritual Life of Bewdley Meeting. Our seasonal gathering in December took place on Zoom, and was much enjoyed by all. ## **(2) Spreading the message of Friends and interpreting and developing the thought and practice of the Society.** In February we showed a film, ‘The Accidental Anarchist’, which drew an appreciative and interested audience, and hoped this would be the start of many such gatherings, but sadly not. Our meeting house, often a place for visitors to share the experience of stillness, has been closed for much of the year, but we have found ways, often outdoors, to meet when possible and also join the wider circle of Friends through the internet. Our online presence includes a website, but most activity is seen through Facebook. A small group continue to share Quaker experiences and messages from now and across our history, with 160+ followers. ## **(3) Undertaking Quaker service for the relief of suffering at home and abroad.** Bewdley Friends continue to be a storage centre for donations of clothing for refugees that are collected and distributed to camps throughout Europe. We were able to continue collecting for the Kidderminster Food Bank for the first three months of the year, and Friends made direct contributions after lockdown. ## **(4) Funding our concerns.** 19 The inability to meet in person seems to have much curtailed our giving, but we did make one significant donation during the year towards supporting a Kenyan Friend to continue to study at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre. ## **(5) Providing for the pastoral care of individual members and attenders including assistance for those in need and for education.** Friends have continued to meet in new ways in our smaller groups. Friends Fellowship of Healing meet in spirit, and find it quite refreshing to be still and quiet knowing a number of us are gathered to uphold friends. Groups nationwide and abroad hold the needs of their Meeting and individual members in the loving, recreative power of God; to be a channel for healing and so deepen the spiritual life of the Meeting. ‘Time to Talk’ has met regularly to support each other, and meet monthly. ‘Over the time we have each listened to each other, valued the space to meet and share a multiple of things that have perhaps troubled us. We have shared hints and tips on possible ways that have helped some of us overcome problems from our experience, without being a ‘fix it’ group. This is all done in a safe confidential manner of friends.’ Each time we meet we continue to develop our faith and practice. ## **(6a) Maintaining and developing Quaker Meeting Houses as places of public worship and from which to carry our witness into the world.** The new audio-visual system has been most usefully employed in providing zoom-only and combined meetings. As parts of the building are listed we require further authorisation for works to be carried out. We have replaced the guttering in sympathy with the age of the building. The main door (from the garden) and casement were showing signs of deterioration and have been sympathetically replaced. The committee have been very active in ensuring the building complies with Covid-19 regulations in order for in-person worship to take place based on government guidelines. Our maintenance schedule showed a need for two new lights, one internal and one external. These have been duly replaced. The maintenance schedule for other appliances & systems is up to date. The oven in the kitchen has also been replaced as the existing one was unsafe. Disabled access into the garden has been improved by way of a ramp, together with hivis edging for the paving stones to delineate the pathway. ## **(6b) How are we acting sustainably?** An experiment to re-wild the garden is in progress. As individual friends we continue to monitor our own lifestyles and how they impact on the world. ## **(7) Administering and maintaining our organisation and contributing to the support of Britain Yearly Meeting.** Our treasurer’s report will feed in to the AM treasurers report, but we do note that the inability to let the meeting house has led to a serious drop in income during 2020, as is the case with all meeting houses. We are fortunate that all posts were filled in 2020, but do not go forward with this confidence. 20 In addition, trustees need to be satisfied that we are complying with our responsibilities to safeguard children and vulnerable adults in accordance with Area Meeting’s Safeguarding Policy and fulfilling our duties under health and safety legislation. Could you answer the following questions. ## **8. Are all those working with children appointed in accordance with our policy by:** |**Procedure**|**Yes or No + comments**| |---|---| |Asking them to complete a helper’s
form|Yes| |Obtaining references where appropriate|Yes| |completing a criminal records
disclosure|Yes| |Providing induction into health and
safety and their role|Yes| ## **9. Are there any arrangements in place for supporting and training those working with children?** Not formally, but quick action was taken as events developed. Early on in lockdown, a group of families and other Friends got together on Zoom to explore what we might do to support the children and young people during this strange and difficult time. We were away from our schools and our friends and we were looking for ways to connect and be together. The move to the internet has done much to give a greater voice to the children themselves: ‘Yes, these past months have had lots of challenges and difficulties, and we all miss seeing people face to face and being with Friends in meeting. But in lots of ways, we have also felt closer and more connected with our Quaker community and with each other than ever have before. It has been much easier to join things, to meet up and to have time together.’ ## **10. For those with a building: Worcester, Malvern, Shrewsbury, and Bewdley** ## **Have you got the following in place?** ||Yes or no|Comments| |---|---|---| |Accident book|Yes|| |Fire Safety signs
Fire Evacuation procedure
Fire extinguisher/s
maintained and up to date.|Yes|| |Portable electrical appliance
testing|Yes|| 21 |Health and safety policy
reviewed.|Yes|Area Meeting trustees
have provided this.| |---|---|---| |||| |Warning signs in place.|Yes|| |Conditions of use for hirers|Yes|| 22 ## **Quaker Local Meeting Annual Report 2020** ## **Annual Report for Church Stretton Local Meeting** ## **(1) Strengthening the life and witness of our Meeting** As our contribution to the local churches together Lent offering, we arranged a series of half hour meetings for worship at the library. These were attended by a small but faithful group. Ten days before lockdown in March, the non-Quaker members of the group said they were beginning to feel uncomfortable meeting physically and would it be possible to meet online. John Dennison and Lesley Richards worked together to learn about Zoom and the next week we met online. The group continued to meet beyond the original commitment to do so through Lent and it forms the basis of the Area Meeting Wednesday evening meeting for worship. We have met each week for worship, online during the lock downs, in a Friend’s garden when we could not meet indoors or in the Sylvester Horne Institute (SHI) when we were able to do so. When we were in the SHI in September and October we met in the large hall where we were able to have chairs well-spaced. However not all Friends have been comfortable with these arrangements and individual Friends have found their own preferred pattern of belonging. At the start of the year, we were holding monthly children’s meetings. When we have met on Zoom the children have often joined us for the last few minutes of worship and stayed to have a drink with us and show us the pictures they have drawn. When we have met physically they have also joined us quite regularly and there has been a lot of space for them to run around without getting close to the rest of us. They have also participated in events organised for children across the whole of AM and wider. We are very conscious that the meeting has not been able to play as full a part as it would like in the spiritual nurture of our children. ## **(2) Spreading the message of Friends and interpreting and developing the thought and practice of the Society.** Lesley Richards is convening a group of Friends from the four Area Meetings that cover Wales and the Marches together with Meeting of Friends in Wales (Symud Ymlaen), working towards setting up a single charity while maintaining the five existing bodies. ## **(3) Undertaking Quaker service for the relief of suffering at home and abroad** A speaker from Quaker Service in Belfast was invited to ‘Engaging Issues’, the next morning a coffee morning for this charity was organised by Church in Together in the Stretton. As a result of this £644.15 was raised. ## **(4) Funding our concerns.** Church Stretton LM sent £300 to BYM. ## **(5) Providing for the pastoral care of individual members and attenders including assistance for those in need and for education** Together with Area Meeting we funded Lucy Aphramor to take the Equipping for Ministry course at Woodbrooke. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, the course didn’t run and the money was returned. 23 A difficult situation occurred during the year. We recognise we did not meet the needs of one of our members and a great deal of hurt was caused. Area Meeting (Elders and Overseers?) held a listening meeting to support our Friend, Attempts were made to set up a meeting to help Local Friends understand the issues. It was felt that these conversations would be better held in person, rather than on Zoom. This meant they were delayed because we could not meet physically because of the pandemic. Friends who were not comfortable worshipping online sometimes joined us for the chat over coffee. We have maintained contact by phone with those Friends who did not want to use zoom at all. ## **(6a) Maintaining and developing Quaker Meeting Houses as places of public worship and from which to carry our witness into the world.** n/a ## **(6b) How are we acting sustainably?** ## **(7) Administering and maintaining our organisation and contributing to the support of Britain Yearly Meeting** We have held regular Local business meetings, physically when possible and online when this is not. These have been well attended, in fact attended by all except the one couple who are not comfortable at all on zoom. We have had a good representation at the on-line AMs. Lesley Richards was appointed to the group reviewing the holding of Yearly Meeting. In addition, trustees need to be satisfied that we are complying with our responsibilities to safeguard children and vulnerable adults in accordance with Area Meeting’s Safeguarding Policy and fulfilling our duties under health and safety legislation. Could you answer the following questions: ## **8. Are all those working with children appointed in accordance with our policy by:** (There are no formal requirements in the AM policy for anything other than the criminal records disclosure.) The children’s committee feel it is important for the children to get to know all the members of the meeting so working in pairs, everyone has at some time taken responsibility for children’s meeting. ||| |---|---| |**Procedure**|**Yes or No + comments**| ||| ||| |Asking them to complete a helper’s
form|No| ||| 24 Obtaining references where No appropriate completing a criminal records Yes disclosure Providing induction into health and No safety and their role ## **9. Are there any arrangements in place for supporting and training those working with children?** When it has been possible to hold our monthly children’s meetings, there was always one more confident and experienced Friend supporting and working with a less confident Friend. We have sometimes used ideas and materials in Journeys in the Spirit supplied by Friends House. 25 ## **Quaker Local Meeting Annual Report 2020** ## **Annual Report for** Malvern ## **(1) Strengthening the life and witness of our Meeting:** This has been a challenge, as it has for all Meetings, during the various lockdowns caused by the Covid pandemic. However, our Co-Clerk and her husband swiftly made Zoom Meetings for Worship available, starting on 5[th] April as a 30 minute Meeting for Worship. This has continued every week and was extending to the full hour in October. These Meetings have been well attended and often been deeply gathered. When they could others worshipped outdoors, following regulations; then for a number of weeks in the Meeting House, duly protected. Our witness for Peace in November was necessarily very low key, as the usual services were cancelled; however, white poppies were again on sale and a white poppy wreath was still placed at the town memorial. ## **(2) Spreading the message of Friends and interpreting and developing the thought and practice of the Society.** Discussion groups that the Elders had planned had to be postponed for obvious reasons; but various local Friends have taken the opportunity for on-line Woodbrooke courses, increasing their awareness of Quaker thought and practice. ## **(3) Undertaking Quaker service for the relief of suffering at home and abroad** Friends in our meeting continue as active Prison Visitors, when regulations allow. Service opportunities have been limited, but we continue to support the relief of suffering through our Special Collections for various charities, for example the Farmers’ Overseas Action Group (FOAG) in Uganda. ## **(4) Funding our concerns.** Our Collector sent out an appeal letter early in the year, inviting Friends to re-consider their giving to Quaker work locally and nationally and reminding them of the convenience of standing orders direct to our meeting account. ## **(5) Providing for the pastoral care of individual members and attenders including assistance for those in need and for education** Pastoral care was carried out by phone calls and occasionally emails when it was not possible to meet. We continue to arrange groups of about six in each so that friends are encouraged to keep an eye on, and a listening ear for, others in their group. Zoom Meeting for Worship helped in this also, with some lapsed Friends returning via that route, and new ones ‘finding’ us. **(6a) Maintaining and developing Quaker Meeting Houses as places of public worship and from which to carry our witness into the world.** 26 After much thought we decided that, as well as re-surfacing the wheelchair route to access at the rear of the building, we should ask the same contractors to renew the entire surface surrounding the Meeting House, since it had begun to break down. Our Listed Building status now imposes certain restrictions. ## **(6b) How are we acting sustainably?** We have for many years used entirely ‘green’ electricity. In addition, we are now getting quotes for a more efficient heating system to replace very old heaters. ## **(7) Administering and maintaining our organisation and contributing to the support of Britain Yearly Meeting** For the past triennium, our meeting has had two Co-Clerks to deal with administration at local level. This teamwork appeared to work well, with complementary skills from each. We make an annual commitment to send a large donation to BYM, which we have been able to increase in recent years. In addition, trustees need to be satisfied that we are complying with our responsibilities to safeguard children and vulnerable adults in accordance with Area Meeting’s Safeguarding Policy and fulfilling our duties under health and safety legislation. Could you answer the following questions. ## **8. Are all those working with children appointed in accordance with our policy by:** ||| |---|---| |**Procedure**|**Yes or No + comments**| ||| ||| |Asking them to complete a helper’s
form|Yes.| ||| ||| |Obtaining references where
appropriate|This has not been applicable recently.| ||| ||| |completing a criminal records
disclosure|Yes| ||| ||| |Providing induction into health and
safety and their role|This has not been applicable recently| ||| ## **9. Are there any arrangements in place for supporting and training those working with children?** Yes. 27 ## **10. For those with a building: Worcester, Malvern, Shrewsbury, and Bewdley** ## **Have you got the following in place?** |**ave you got the following in**|**place?**|| |---|---|---| |||| ||Yes or no|Comments| |||| |Accident book|Yes|| |||| |Fire Safety signs
Fire Evacuation procedure
Fire extinguisher/s
maintained and up to date.|Yes to 1 and 3 in this box|| |||| |||| |Portable electrical
appliance testing|Yes|Not in use since first
lockdown began.| |||| |||| |Health and safety policy
reviewed.|Yes|| |||| |||| |Warning signs in place.|Yes|| |||| |||| |Conditions of use for hirers|Yes|| |||| 28 ## **Quaker Local Meeting Annual Report 2020** **Annual Report for** ……Shrewsbury……………………………………… ## **(1) Strengthening the life and witness of our Meeting** - We have maintained a weekly worship throughout the year. This has been in person where possible, via zoom when prevented during lockdown and also outside when permitted by government rules. - We have held a number of blended meetings for worship, combining Friends worshiping in the Meeting House with those worshiping on line via zoom. - We have installed wifi into our Meeting so that we can continue to hold blended meetings even after the difficulties associated with the pandemic are over. - We have strengthened out ties with churches together and area meeting through regular contact **.** ## **(2) Spreading the message of Friends and interpreting and developing the thought and practice of the Society.** - Our Light Group has continued to meet where possible. This has been in person in the Meeting House and some have also joined an international Light Group via zoom from time to time. - Our website presence has been considerably modernised and now links effectively with other appropriate sites including BYM - We have used zoom to offer a range of discussions for enquirers and attenders after Meeting for Worship. ## **(3) Undertaking Quaker service for the relief of suffering at home and abroad** - We have had limited use of our Meeting House since March because of the pandemic legislation. Prior to that we provided free rental for our Syrian refugees and Sapphire groups as well as providing low cost rental for a number of local community groups. ## • ## **(4) Funding our concerns.** - We give annually to a number of local and Quaker charities and have increased our contribution to the food hub to £25 a month - We have given a grant of £500 to YFGM from the Gawen Harvey legacy fund. ## **(5) Providing for the pastoral care of individual members and attenders including assistance for those in need and for education** - Our Pastoral Care Friends have maintained regular contact with Friends and attenders, despite the difficulties incurred during the recent pandemic. ## **(6a) Maintaining and developing Quaker Meeting Houses as places of public worship and from which to carry our witness into the world.** 29 - We have maintained our premises despite the Meeting House being closed for much of the year. Our caretaker has inspected it weekly and our cleaner has continued to ensure that the fabric of the building is looked after - We conducted a full risk assessment prior to opening in August and have continued to abide by the rules and regulations that have been in place throughout the pandemic - The quintennial inspection was carried out in July and any recommendations have been implemented ## **(6b) How are we acting sustainably?** - We have solar panels on the roof of the meeting house which generate a significant amount of energy over the year - We have ensured that our energy provider is ethical and provides green energy ## **(7) Administering and maintaining our organisation and contributing to the support of Britain Yearly Meeting** - We have been able to absorb a drop in income of over £7000 from rentals due to the nonavailability of the Meeting House because of pandemic regulations. As a result, we are able to report that our finances remain strong. In addition, trustees need to be satisfied that we are complying with our responsibilities to safeguard children and vulnerable adults in accordance with Area Meeting’s Safeguarding Policy and fulfilling our duties under health and safety legislation. Could you answer the following questions. ## **8. Are all those working with children appointed in accordance with our policy by:** |**Procedure**|**Yes or No + comments**| |---|---| ||| ||| |Asking them to complete a helper’s
form|n/a| ||| ||| |Obtaining references where
appropriate|n/a| ||| ||| |completing a criminal records
disclosure|n/a| ||| ||| |Providing induction into health and
safety and their role|n/a| ||| ## **9. Are there any arrangements in place for supporting and training those working with children?** ## **We currently have no children attending our meeting** 30 ## **10. For those with a building: Worcester, Malvern, Shrewsbury, and Bewdley** ## **Have you got the following in place?** |**ave you got the following in**|**place?**|| |---|---|---| |||| ||Yes or no|Comments| |||| |Accident book|Yes|| |||| |Fire Safety signs
Fire Evacuation procedure
Fire extinguisher/s
maintained and up to date.|Yes
yes|| |||| |||| |Portable electrical
appliance testing|Yes|| |||| |||| |Health and safety policy
reviewed.|Yes|| |||| |||| |Warning signs in place.|Yes|| |||| |||| |Conditions of use for hirers|Yes|| |||| 31 ## **Quaker Local Meeting Annual Report 2020** ## **Annual Report for Telford Meeting** ## **(1) Strengthening the life and witness of our Meeting** **The effects of the pandemic created challenges in 2020, some of which may be viewed in a positive light. For example:** **We were sorry that being unable to meet in person for much of the year excluded a few members and attenders who cannot or choose not to join Meeting for Worship (MfW) online on Sundays. However, some Friends joined us online who have been unable to get to MfW in person for a long time. We maintained contact with everyone by phone, email, card and letters. Our elders offered a suggested reading from** _**Quaker faith and practice**_ **for each MfW on Sundays, Thursdays and monthly on Fridays (Bridgnorth). Those who wish can read the same passage at home at the start of each MfW as a way of keeping us together as one worshiping community. A few of our Meetings were blended: online and in person.** **It was difficult to find times when our children and young people could meet together in person. The priority in 2020 was to keep in touch as an all-age community. A private cinema trip (Covid-safe) was a highlight but other plans were cancelled by lockdown. The committee met occasionally with the youngsters online and between them they organised a very successful quiz event which raised a substantial sum for the ShelterBox charity. We submitted pictures of ourselves when very young and then had to guess who we all were!** **Our various regular groups continued as follows: discussion group (online), Experiment with Light (virtual) and Friends Fellowship of Healing group (online and virtual).** **We actively sought ways to strengthen our community during the restrictions on meeting in person. A Friend held a garden meeting twice during the summer for the allowed 6 people. There were a few walks and occasional online events including a quiz, afternoon tea and, on Christmas Day, a coffee morning.** ## **(2) Spreading the message of Friends and interpreting and developing the thought and practice of the Society.** **We were not allowed to organise a public peace vigil on Remembrance Sunday but two Friends stood quietly at Wellington Peace garden.** ## **(3) Undertaking Quaker service for the relief of suffering at home and abroad** **We continued to support the STAY housing project by donating packs of essential household items for new residents which they can take with them when they move on. Friends donated money for this and one Friend purchased items and assembled the packs. Friends in Broseley have continued to help run the food bank there but we were unable to collect donation items on Sundays. Many Friends gave to their local food banks. Other Friends were active in a refugee group, Wellington Peace Garden, Telford Interfaith Council and arranging Food for Thought talks (as members of Broseley Churches Together).** ## **(4) Funding our concerns.** 32 **In 2020, our special collections were for Quaker Social Action, Tree Aid, Friends Housing Bursary Trust and ShelterBox. While we were unable to collect cash, we provided Friends with the information needed so that they could donate direct to these charities. As a Meeting, we subscribed to Telford Christians Together and Broseley Churches Together.** ## **(5) Providing for the pastoral care of individual members and attenders including assistance for those in need and for education** **Pastoral care Friends (formerly overseers) and elders joined together near the start of the pandemic in their common aim of supporting the Meeting and Friends. Towards the end of 2020, with the new Area Meeting appointments in place, it was agreed to function as two separate groups again. Following the encouragement of Area Meeting, plans were underway to involve more people in pastoral care – more of that to come in the 2021 report!** **During 2020, we were saddened to lose four of our members. Two funerals were held in the manner of Friends and we held one memorial meeting. It is hoped to hold a further memorial meeting in 2021 for the fourth Friend.** ## **(6a) Maintaining and developing Quaker Meeting Houses as places of public worship and from which to carry our witness into the world.** **Throughout 2020, we were in contact with Area Meeting trustees and the manager of Meeting Point House, working with them to arrange Meetings for Worship while it was still possible and to comply with the requirements of the pandemic. A small group of Friends was appointed to carry out the practical aspects of this.** **Our appointed representative is active on the board of Meeting Point Trustees.** **Our notice boards, leaflet racks and sail banner are not currently visible or available for outreach (in common with all Quaker Meetings). There were no events where we might have had ‘a Quaker presence’. We look forward to the development of the new Area Meeting website which will include information about our meeting.** **We do not have a Meeting House so would not normally be able to offer a space for other groups to meet. An unexpected benefit of the pandemic has been that we have been able to offer the use of our Zoom account to other groups who need somewhere to meet online.** ## **(6b) How are we acting sustainably?** **Unfortunately, the pandemic has increased the use of plastic and disposable products generally but holding meetings online will have had a beneficial impact on the environment, with the reduction in travel, heating and lighting etc. When we were able to meet in person at Meeting Point House, we had started to use the former chapel, which has an external door. This helped to reduce the risk of infection for those attending and the staff member looking after us. It also meant that the manager did not have to open up and heat the first floor of the building just for us.** 33 ## **(7) Administering and maintaining our organisation and contributing to the support of Britain Yearly Meeting** **Our Meeting made a donation to BYM funds in addition to individual donations. We continue to contribute to appeals for other Meeting Houses’ repairs and building costs.** In addition, trustees need to be satisfied that we are complying with our responsibilities to safeguard children and vulnerable adults in accordance with Area Meeting’s Safeguarding Policy and fulfilling our duties under health and safety legislation. Could you answer the following questions. ## **8. Are all those working with children appointed in accordance with our policy by:** **Each member of our Children and Young Peoples Committee has clearance from the DBS scheme. These Friends are appointed through the usual Quaker nomination process so application forms and references are not felt to be needed or appropriate. Health and Safety regulations are the responsibility of Meeting Point House.** ||| |---|---| |**Procedure**|**Yes or No + comments**| ||| ||| |Asking them to complete a helper’s
form|**No. Only appointed members of our**
**Children and Young People’s Committee do**
**this work.**| ||| ||| |Obtaining references where
appropriate|**No. Only appointed members of our**
**Children and Young People’s Committee do**
**this work.**| ||| ||| |completing a criminal records
disclosure|**Yes**| ||| ||| |Providing induction into health and
safety and their role|**No**| ||| ## **9. Are there any arrangements in place for supporting and training those working with children?** **We do not provide training but we encourage and support members of our CYP Committee to make use of materials provided by Britain Yearly Meeting and to attend relevant support meetings, courses and conferences.** **Our overall programme is decided by the CYP Committee. It is modified as needed to be appropriate for whichever young people attend on any particular Sunday. Each session is planned by the pair of workers who will run the session. If a new worker joins the group, s/he will work initially with a more experienced person.** ## **10. For those with a building: Worcester, Malvern, Shrewsbury, and Bewdley** 34 ## **Have you got the following in place?** |**ave you got the following in**|**place? **|| |---|---|---| |||| ||Yes or no|Comments| |||| |Accident book||| |||| |Fire Safety signs
Fire Evacuation procedure
Fire extinguisher/s
maintained and up to date.||| |||| |||| |Portable electrical
appliance testing||| |||| |||| |Health and safety policy
reviewed.||| |||| |||| |Warning signs in place.||| |||| |||| |Conditions of use for hirers||| |||| 35 ## **Quaker Local Meeting Annual Report 2020** ## **Annual Report for Worcester Meeting for the year 2020** ## **(1) Strengthening the life and witness of our Meeting** Meeting for Worship has been held via Zoom for much of the year following the lockdown due to the Corona Virus Pandemic. Whilst the Meeting House was open in the early part of the year, Meeting for Worship was held on Sunday and Wednesday. Once the Meeting House was closed on 23 March, Meetings were held via Zoom. Initially, Sunday MfW was held for 30 minutes, but from 19 April it reverted to the normal 1 hour and has remained at that ever since. After a while, the Wednesday Meeting for worship was cancelled owing to very low attendance. The Meeting house reopened on 13 September, following an extensive risk assessment. At that time our Meetings became blended with members attending both at the Meeting House and via Zoom. Attendance at both Zoom and blended meetings has been fairly consistent with around 20 people present. The Meeting House was closed again, in line with Government Guidelines, from 5 November. Owing to the complications caused by the various lockdowns, it has been difficult to maintain any formal study groups. We have, however managed to hold a number of social events via Zoom. The Zero Carbon Future Project continued to develop during 2020, even though the funding for the project through Friends House did not materialise. It developed as a local project, involving a number of local organisations and is now ‘The Worcester Grassroots Alliance’, which is now supported by Area Meeting as a whole, rather than just Worcester Meeting. Again, owing to the pandemic, there have been no childen attending Meeting since 2020. Small numbers of children attended MFW on one Sunday during January and Frebruary. We discussed Simpler Meetings at our Meetings for Worship for Business and action will be discussed during our first MfWfB in 2021. We have had one shared lunch in February which was followed by an impromptu concert. We have had one 'Craftivism' session in February to create bookmarks to given away at the World Day of Prayer evening session which was held at the Meeting House in March. A small number of Friends have continued to support Café Mix, by meeting for lunch each month, until it was prevented by the pandemic. 36 ## **(2) Spreading the message of Friends and interpreting and developing the thought and practice of the Society.** We were delighted to hold the evening World Day of Prayer event in early 2020 where over 50 people attended. We continue to produce a Newsletter three times a year. It is being distributed within the Meeting as well as copies being available for visitors to take away. Notices are emailed to all those who are on our list as and when they are given to the Clerks. Paper copies are provided for those not on email. We continue to make available the minutes for both Local and Area Meeting for Worship for Business, and keep copies in the Clerks Information File held in the Meeting House. Our participation in inter-church activities has continued over the last year with our attendance at the Worcestershire Interfaith Forum (WIFF) via Zoom. Extinction Rebellion continued to use a room at the Meeting House until it was not possible due to Covid 19 Government restrictions. ## **(3) Undertaking Quaker service for the relief of suffering at home and abroad** We regularly support Maggs Day Centre in Worcester and the local Worcester Street Café At home we have supported diverse charities for the vulnerable and the sick. We have also collected and given items of food to the local food bank when that was possible. The Meeting has continued to support two Uganda based charities with funds, skills and practical input into events. ## **(4) Funding our concerns** As we have been unable to hold a normal charity collection for much of the year, the meeting has donated £150 to each of the charities nominated for this year, from its own funds. ## **(5) Providing for the pastoral care of individual members and attenders including assistance for those in need and for education** 37 Elders and Overseers have met regularly and keep a loving watch on the Meeting. Also, in accordance with Advices and Queries 1.05 'Duty of Reading' a paragraph from Advices and Queries is read out and recorded each month at Sunday Meeting for Worship (MfW). Elders and Overseers have encouraged friends to complete a Funeral Wishes form. ## **(6) Maintaining and developing Quaker Meeting Houses as places of public worship and from which to carry our witness into the world.** Our Resident Friend has continued to extend a friendly welcome to users of our Meeting House when it has been possible. Unfortunately due to Government restrictions use of the Meeting House has been greatly restricted The Meeting House and garden are well maintained and we are thankful for the work of our cleaner and contract gardener. Those using the Meeting house very often spend time in the quiet of our garden. ## **(7) Sustainability** We have changed to a ‘Green’ energy supplier during the year.. ## **(8) Administering and maintaining our organisation and contributing to the support of Britain Yearly Meeting** **In addition trustees need to be satisfied that we are complying with our responsibilities to safeguard children and vulnerable adults in accordance with Area Meeting’s Safeguarding Policy and fulfilling our duties under health and safety legislation. Could you answer the following questions?** ## **(9) Are all those working with children appointed in accordance with our policy by?** |**Procedure**|**Yes or No + comments**| |---|---| |**Asking them to complete a**
**helpers form**|**Yes**| |**Obtaining references where**
**appropriate**|**No**| |**Completing a DBS disclosure**|**Yes**| |**Providing induction into**
**health and safety and their**
**role**|**Yes**| 38 ## **(10) Are there any arrangements in place for supporting and training those working with children?** We have a convener of Children’s Meeting who provides guidance. ## **(11) For those with a building: Worcester, Malvern, Shrewsbury, and Bewdley** ## **Have you got the following in place?** ||Yes or No|Comments| |---|---|---| |Accident book|Yes|| |Fire Safety signs
Fire Evacuation
procedure
Fire extinguisher/s
maintained and up to
date.|Yes|| |Portable electrical
appliance testing|Yes|| |Health and safety
policyreviewed.|Yes|| |Warning signs in place.|
Yes|| |Conditions of use for
hirers|Yes|| 39