THE TEMPLAR PILGRIMAGE TRUST (OTJ) TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE PERIOD 1 JANUARY 2022 – 31 DECEMBER 2022
Reference and administration details
Patron Alistair McCabe
President The Grand Prior of the Order of Knights Templar in the United Kingdom
Trustees
Sorin Ionut Balaban John Culley (Chair) Anthony Cuthbert Cicelyn Hinds (Hon. Secretary) Mavis Jacobs Jeremy Lee (Hon. Treasurer) Rev. Canon Philip Norwood Jason Tailby (appointed 22 November 2022)
Charity number 1191505 Contact address 28 Clifford Road, South Norwood, London SE25 5JS
The Trust
The object of the Trust is the advancement of the Christian religion by helping people make journeys of pilgrimage to recognised Christian shrines and helping young people make educational visits to recognised places of Christian worship or learning. The shrines and places of worship may be in this country or overseas.
The Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (‘CIO’) whose only voting members are its charity trustees. The Trust’s governing document is a CIO Foundation Constitution, registered on 28 September 2020.
The Trust succeeded the Templar Pilgrimage Trust (OTJ), charity number 326561, which was established in 1984 under a deed of trust. That charity was closed in November 2021, its funds being transferred to the Trust to enable the continuation of its charitable work.
1
The Trust was originally founded in the 1980s by members of the Knights Templar and current donors include Members of the Grand Priory of Knights Templar in the United Kingdom (‘the Grand Priory’ / ‘GPUK’). The Trustees, therefore, consider it appropriate to maintain links with the Grand Priory and a Memorandum of Understanding dated 20 July 2021 sets out the basis on which the two organisations aim to work together.
The Trustees
The Trust is managed by a board of eight trustees. Currently, four Trustees are Members of the Grand Priory and four are independent of the Grand Priory. The Trustees come from different Christian denominations: the board includes members of the Church of England, the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
The Trustees’ names are set out on page 1. The Trustees whose names are marked with an asterisk are Members of the Grand Priory. Anthony Cuthbert, the serving Grand Prior, is the Trust’s President.
During 2022, Jason Tailby was appointed as an independent Trustee.
The Trustees met six times during 2022. All the meetings took place as videoconferences. The Trustees also maintained contact by e-mail between meetings.
The Trust’s Activities
The Trust’s main activity is making grants to groups and individuals planning to make pilgrimages. Without the Trust’s financial support, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for them to do so.
In 2022, after two relatively quiet years, the number of applications increased, approaching pre-pandemic levels. As a result, the number and value of the grants agreed increased markedly. During the year, the Trust made 17 grants (2021: 3), which together amounted to £6,000 (2019: £1,900). The Trustees were pleased to note that there was a wider range of applicants, all of whom made initial enquiries through the Trust’s website. Compared to the year before the pandemic, there was a smaller proportion of pilgrimages made to places overseas: in 2019, 80% of grants were for overseas pilgrimages, but in 2022 the proportion was about 60%.
The Trust’s finances are covered in more detail on page 3.
At their four regular meetings, the Trustees reviewed reports and updates on the Trust’s finances, grants and marketing activity. They also reviewed the Trust’s governance and its marketing generally, as well as its Safeguarding and Data Protection Policies.
The Trustees discussed safeguarding in considerable detail during 2022. They recognised that the Charity Commission expects charities to identify and manage safeguarding risks to which it may be exposed. They held two additional meetings devoted exclusively to safeguarding matters. The Trustees reviewed the Trust’s situation. It does not meet applicants face-to-face but communicates with them in writing. Applicants make their own arrangements (for example, whether to travel alone or in a group, whether to use a tour company) so that the Trust does not select any tour or travel companies. The Trust’s work does not involve caring for or supervising children or adults at risk of abuse. Nevertheless, the Trustees had concluded
2
it was appropriate for applicants to provide assurance that organisations arranging pilgrimages had considered safeguarding risks and taken appropriate steps to manage those risks. They reviewed the existing policy, which required confirmation from organisations should be provided before a grant was paid. They decided that pilgrims travelling alone should assume responsibility for managing their own safeguarding risks and that pilgrims under 18 would not be given grants unless they were travelling in a group, because of the significantly increased risks that under 18s would assume by travelling alone.
As agreed in 2021, during the year the Trustees considered ways of raising funds from other sources, with a view to providing a larger and broader income base. They agreed to approach grant making charities that supported charities with a Christian ethos. Towards the end of 2022, approaches were made to a number of potential funders.
The Trustees confirm they referred to the guidance from the Charity Commission on public benefit when reviewing the Trust’s governance, as well as when considering its activities, aims and objectives.
Finances
The Income and Expenditure Account for 2022 is attached as an appendix to this Report. At the beginning of the year, the General Fund stood at £24,014 (2021: £21,919). At the end of the year, it stood at £18,416 (2022: £24,014). Grants agreed amounted to £6,000 (2021: £1,900).
The Trustees set a grants budget at the beginning of each year. Having agreed it would be appropriate to use capital to increase the amounts paid in grants, at the beginning of 2022 the Trustees set a grants budget above the level of donations they expected to receive. In setting the grants budget, the Trustees were mindful of their aim to make grants to as wide a range of pilgrims as possible. Later in the year, it also became clear that rising inflation meant the costs of making pilgrimages, which had been rising, would be rising further, so reducing the real value of the grants the Trust makes. The Trustees feel it is important for grants to lose as little value as possible, because significant losses in value could call into question the value of the Trust’s activities.
During 2021, factors such as the increase in the Accumulation Fund and insurance compensation meant that income exceeded expenditure by £2,095. Having regard to the level of the Trust’s reserves, the Trustees agreed the excess from 2021 could also be applied towards the 2022 grants budget, which they set at £6,000.
Donations in 2022 were £1,560 (2020: £2,226). The income item showing the largest change from year to year was the value of the Accumulation Fund, which had increased by £1,277 in 2021 but unexpectedly reduced by £841 in 2022.
As a result of lower income and higher level of grants, in 2022 there was an overall excess of expenditure over income for the year amounting to £5,598, compared to a £2,095 excess of income over expenditure in 2021.
3
The Trustees noted the effects of the pandemic receded during 2022, as shown by the higher number of applications. They also noted, however, the effects have not disappeared altogether, as shown by the relatively high proportion of domestic pilgrimages. The Trustees consider that broader economic issues, such as rising pilgrimage costs and greater unpredictability around the value of investments, will be issues demanding greater attention in 2023.
The Trustees wish once again to record their thanks for continuing donations from Members of the Order and from friends of the Order. They wish to thank donors who have covered costs relating to the operation of the Trust. They also take this opportunity to confirm that Trustees do not receive any remuneration from the Trust.
4
THE TEMPLAR PILGRIMAGE TRUST stered Char INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACcOuP FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2022 Re 1191505 2022 2021 Income Donations received Returned Grants Gift Aid Reclaimed Interest on Investment account Accumulation Fund increase in value Compensation Re Insurance £s 2,226 250 249 1,560 256 92 1,277 300 4,304 1,067 Expenditure Insurance Website Grants £5 320 345 6,WO 6,665 309 1,900 2,209 Exce55 of Expenditure over Income 5.598 120951 Assets in £s as at 31.12.22 31.12.21 LLOYDS Current Accounts 1.542 9,049 7,826 4,391 10,957 8,667 COIF Deposit Fund COIF Ethical Investment Fund Totsl Assets at Year End £18,417 £24,014 Approved at their meeting on 14 Marth 2023 and signed on behalf of the Trustees Signature: Full Name: JOHN ANDREW CULLEY Position: CHAIR OF TRUSTEES Date: 14 Marth 2023
THE TEMPIAR PILGRIMAGE TRUST Re "stered Char 1191505 INCOME & EXPENDITURE AccouKf FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2022 Income 2021 Donations receNed Returned Grants Gift Aid Reclaimed Interest on Investment atcount Accumulation Fund decrease in value Compensation Re Insurance 60 2226 250 249 9Z 1277 300 1067 4304 Expendlture Insurance Website Grant5 309 345 19C 2209 Excess of Expendfture over Income 5598 120951 Assets 31.12.22 31.12.21 LLOYDS Current Accounts COIF Dep051t Fund COIF Ethical Investment Fund 1542 4390 10957 7826 8667 18416 24014 I have examined the books and records of the Trust and confirm that these accounts are in agreement herewlth A.K.HODGE (INDEPENDENT EXAMINER) The Trustees would like to record thelr thanks for those who have given time and resources without charge to help wlth the work of the charlty J.LEE ITrEASURERI