2023-03-31-accounts

Rachel’s Vineyard Birmingham Charitable Incorporation Organisation (Registered Charity Number 1191428)

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023

Trustees

Jade Broadley Victoria Leach Mike Weaver

Objectives and Activities

Our Charitable aims are "The advancement of the Christian religion in accordance with Catholic teachings for the public benefit by providing women and men with spiritual help during bereavement following an abortion decision."

Any death is significant and grieving is a natural part of loss; but with an abortion there is an extra layer of grief due to the guilt of their decision due to the part they may have played. Rachel’s Vineyard works through the stages of grief allowing participants to experience the love and mercy that God has for them.

Rachel's Vineyard weekends for healing after abortion are offered several times each year. The programme is an opportunity for participants to

• examine their abortion experience;

• identify the ways that the loss has impacted them in the past and present; and

• · acknowledge any unresolved feelings that many individuals struggle with after abortion.

Because of the emotional numbness and secrecy that often surrounds an abortion experience, conflicting emotions both during and after the event may remain unresolved. These buried feelings can surface later and may be symptoms of post abortion trauma.

Married couples, mothers, fathers, grandparents and siblings of aborted children, as well as persons who have been involved in the abortion industry have come to Rachel's Vineyard in search of peace and inner healing. Rachel’s Vineyard supports those suffering because they feel unforgiven enabling them to reconcile themselves to God and their child lost through abortion. The weekend is a lot of work but yields a fruitful harvest for all who are willing to labour there.

Our strategy is to:

• Run four retreat weekends throughout the year;

• Offer free places or reduced priced retreats for those who are financially disadvantaged and otherwise would not be able to attend;

• Offer a follow-up support programme to participants;

• Offer professional support pre- and post-retreat for higher risk participants;

• Introduce team development and training weekends;

• Offer free places and cover travel expenses for the Retreat Priest and the rest of team attending each retreat;

• Promote Rachel’s Vineyard to ensure the growth of the mission;

• Develop Rachel’s Vineyard Information Day Programme to engage a wider number of Priests, Counsellors, prepare for future growth;

• Support post-abortive people that may not go on retreat, but need advice, support and signposting to other help;

• Support new teams and develop growth of Rachel’s Vineyard throughout the UK;

• Support other Rachel Vineyard teams throughout UK; and

• · Lead ‘Leaders’ meetings and annual retreat of leaders in UK

In formulating this strategy trustees confirm that they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on safeguarding vulnerable people and achieving public benefit.

Achievements, Performance and delivering Public Benefit

This year, Rachel’s Vineyard Birmingham conducted four weekend retreats (May 22, October 22, November 22, and February 23). All the retreats were followed by an online group check-in, a retreatant WhatsApp group, and an in-person one-day reunion.

Rachel’s Vineyard Birmingham continues to host the 24/7 National phone number, and there were over two hundred enquiries via the line this year. We continue to have strong relationships with RV retreat leaders in other areas and support their retreats when required. This year, regional retreats took place in Scotland, SouthEast and East Anglia.

For most retreat attendees, the retreat weekend and reunion cover the support they need, and this remains the charity’s primary focus. However, we continue to identify the need for ongoing support for those retreatants who have additional unresolved trauma, e.g., sexual abuse, trauma from human trafficking, poor mental health, or relationship and/or housing difficulties. The charity has received several generous donations enabling us to support financially participants to attend professional counselling, psychotherapy, or other Christian healing retreats, e.g., Grief to Grace.

For other participants we continue to recognise and respond to a need to provide ongoing faith support to them through sponsoring places to Christian Conferences, for example, Youth 2000, and by offering online courses such as Alpha and Journeying with the Word of God.

In January-February 2023 we ran an eight-week online Alpha Course for past participants of any Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat. There were twenty-six participants and a team that completed the course. The aim of the online Alpha Course is to provide continued support and development for those who have attended Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats in the past, and to provide them with the opportunity to explore the Faith in a safe and structured environment.

Additionally, this year we have begun to host an online ‘Journeying with the Word of God’ group. This fortnightly meeting is open to anyone who has attended a Rachel’s

Vineyard Retreat in the past and is proving to be a place where people can continue on their healing journey with the support of others.

We continue to have strong relationships with other regional Rachel’s Vineyard Teams and host regular team leader meetings to discuss best practices, including Safeguarding. This group helped to develop a Clergy Training Day that has been used to share about the work of Rachel’s Vineyard Birmingham and equip clergy members to be able to better support those who confide in them after an abortion experience.

In July 2022 we hosted a 3-day retreat for Rachel’s Vineyard leaders, where the team received spiritual input and talks on the topic of trauma by Fr Dominic Allain. We continue to train new team members to be able to grow the size of the team on future retreats. This year we have trained six new team members, including a psychotherapist and a counsellor to support future retreats.

The Rachel’s Vineyard Birmingham team continue to support others, volunteer teams, and it is through the training and development of our volunteers that Rachel’s Vineyard will be able to expand in the U.K. and be able to support greater numbers of women and men who are suffering after abortion.

Throughout the year, trustees have monitored, reviewed, and updated, when necessary, the Safeguarding Policy and Procedures, as well as Risk Assessments. All the team have completed an online Safeguarding Course through Educare and have up-to-date DBS checks where relevant.

The Charity continues to take an active and creative approach to raising awareness of the support it offers, both in the Church and the wider community. The website is regularly updated, and social media is used to both publicise Rachel’s Vineyard, and to continue to support past retreat participants. Rachel’s Vineyard’s Facebook and Instagram pages are monitored regularly and posted on 2-3 times weekly. This has led to an increase in traffic through the website and has resulted in more calls to the advertised phone number for those who are seeking support. Rachel’s Vineyard Birmingham also has the ongoing support of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales and is advertised via their ‘Day for Life’ website.

Rachel’s Vineyard Birmingham has gained publicity via team members and past participants giving talks and sharing their experiences at several events. These engagements help with both publicising Rachel’s Vineyard across the U.K. and as a tool to reach those who have been affected by abortion and are seeking support.

The main beneficiaries of this work remain the women and men who are seeking support after the trauma of abortion. By increasing our networking, publicity and online presence, Rachel’s Vineyard Birmingham aims to be a signpost to the wider society that there is the hope of healing for anyone, regardless of age, gender, or religion. The hosting of weekend retreats will always be the priority of this Charity, but we are in a privileged position to be able to offer a wider, on-going support system to those who seek our help.

Financial Review

This is the third review of the Charity’s financial position since it was established in May 2020 and covers the period 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023.

The Charity’ income amounted to £67,453 comprising:

• Donations of £1,000 or more - £34,250 (51%)

• Donations under £1,000 - £25,228 (37%)

• Voluntary contributions made by beneficiaries attending retreats - £7,975 (12%)

Expenditure on charitable activities amounted to £55,065 comprising:

• Professional support before, during and after retreats £30,835 (56%)

• Costs of arranging retreats and charity development £11,050 (20%)

• Retreat accommodation – £13,180 (24%)

Over the year income exceeded costs by £12,388 (£33,519 in 2022).

Funds brought forward on 31[st] March 2022 amounted to £36,858. On 31[st] March 2023 accumulated funds had increased to £49,247. These funds are held in an account with TSB Bank plc. The sum carried forward provides a working capital reserve as a protection against adversity and is approximately equal to spending over 10 months.

The Charity benefits from significant volunteer contributions to charitable activity and this helps to minimise expense. The Charity is also grateful to those who generously donate to its work. Trustees will continue to encourage more donors to support the Charity’s endeavors.

The trustees are risk averse. The Charity is insured by Hiscox Insurance. Protective financial control measures are in place to protect the Charity from fraud and loss. Potential commitments are minimised until funding appears secure. Trustees receive regular financial reports and proposed expenditure on charitable activity is judged in the light of the prevailing and anticipated uncertainties. Trustees have no reason to believe that the Charity cannot continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered by the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 22[nd] September 2020. The Charity operates in accordance with its Constitution.

Trustees are recruited for their commitment to the mission of Rachel’s Vineyard and their particular skills relevant to meeting its objectives. Trustees receive induction

training and will undertake continuing professional development to ensure high standards of governance.

Trustees have a regular programme of meetings to consider public benefit obligations, assess risks, agree plans, monitor implementation and review progress against objectives. These meetings can be in person or virtually using information technology.

Trustees can provide professional services to the Charity for which they are paid. These services are in addition to their trustee duties which are undertaken voluntarily.

The Charity follows a conflict of interests policy and keeps a record of relationships with related parties.

Rachel’s Vineyard Birmingham is committed to Safeguarding all adults and vulnerable adults who attend our retreats. We have a Safeguarding policy (that is available on the website) that has been approved by CSAS and is followed closely at all events. In the case of a Safeguarding Concern, we follow the guidance of the local Diocese and CSAS (Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service).

Official Address

89 Springthorpe Road Erdington Birmingham West Midlands B24 0PL

Email [e-mail] Website www.rachelsvineyard.org.uk Telephone [phone]

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.

Trustee Mike Weaver

Date 17[th] April 2023

Rachel's Vineyard Birmingham
Registered Charity Number 1191428
Statement of Financial Activities including Summary Income and Expenditure Account	1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023	1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022
	£	£
INCOME FROM:
Donations	59,478.68	69,555.71
Voluntary contributions made by beneficiaries attendingretreats	7,975.00	7,290.28
TOTAL INCOME	67,453.68	76,845.99
Less Expenditure on Charitable Activities
Professional support before,duringand after retreats	30,834.86	16,000.00
Costs of arrangingretreats and charitydevelopment	11,050.37	15,744.67
Retreat accommodation	13,180.00	11,582.20
TOTAL EXPENDITURE	55,065.23	43,326.87
SURPLUS	12,388.45	33,519.12
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:
Total funds brought forward	36,858.64	3,339.52
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD	49,247.09	36,858.64
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st March 2023
ASSETS
Cash at Bank and in hand	49,247.09	36,858.64
TOTAL ASSETS	49,247.09	36,858.64
CHARITY FUNDS
Unrestricted Funds	49,247.09	36,858.64
TOTAL FUNDS	49,247.09	36,858.64
Signed on behalf of Trustees
Mike Weaver	17th April 2023

Notes to the Financial Statements for the period 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023.

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at fair value, and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Rachel’s Vineyard Birmingham Charitable Incorporated Organisation meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

1.2 Going Concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. Having carried out a detailed review of the Trust’s resources and the challenges presented by the current operating and economic climate, the Trustees are satisfied that the Trust has enough cash flows to meet its liabilities as they fall due for at least one year from the date of the approval of the accounts. There are no significant financial uncertainties which the Trustees consider are a significant risk to the ability of the Trust to operate as a going concern in the foreseeable future.

1.3 Income

All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the Trust has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

1.4 Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Trust to the expenditure. The following specific policies are applied to categories of expenditure:

• charitable activities include expenditure on providing conferences; and

• support costs relating to oversight of the affairs of the Trust.

1.5 Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank includes cash and monies on short term deposit via current and deposit accounts at the bank and other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

1.6 Debtors

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

1.7 Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the Trust has 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 allowing for any trade discounts due.

1.8 Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. There are no critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement to note.

2. INCOME

2.1 The Charity’s main sources of income for the period were from donations and fees.

2.2 Overall income for the period was £67,454 (£76,845 2022)

3. EXPENDITURE

3.1 Expenditure on charitable activities amounted to £55,065 (£43,326 2022).

3.2 The Trustees received no remuneration in relation to fulfilling their role as trustees.

3.3 The Trustees arranged for an Independent Examination to be carried out. No charge was made for the Independent Examination.

3.4 The Charity uses the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) Online Donating System to enable donors to make contributions, securely and efficiently. CAF makes a small administrative charge for this service which is deducted from donations before they are paid to the Charity. The Charity makes no other use of commercial fund-raising organisations.

4. ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

4.1 Assets on 31[st] March 2023 amounted to £49,247 (£36,858 2022) and consisted of funds held by TSB Bank plc.

4.2 The Trust had no liabilities on 31[st] March 2023.

5. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS

5.1 On 31 March 2023 the Charity’s funds were £49,247 (£36,858 2022)

6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

6.1 Trustees received £304 (£169 2022) to reimburse their travelling expenses whilst engaged on the activities of the trust.

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Rachel’s Vineyard, Birmingham

(Registered Charity Number 1191428)

I report on the accounts of the Charity for the period 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The Charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

• examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act

• -to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 (5) (b) of the Act; and

• -state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of the Independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ' true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

• (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements

• to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and

• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or

• (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Stephen Howarth Dated: 21[st] April 2023

Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountant

Address: Fairways, 111 Canada Way, Lower Wick, Worcester WR2 4XD