## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From Staffordshire Area Quaker Meeting Period start date 1[st] January 2022 To 31[st] December 2022 Period end date** **Charity name: Staffordshire Area Quaker Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain** ## **Charity registration number: 1192134** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The furtherance of the general religious and
charitable purposes of the Religious Society
of Friends in Britain in Staffordshire and
beyond.| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|
Strengthening the life and witness of the
Area Meeting and spreading the
message of Quakers.

Undertaking Quaker service for the relief
of suffering at home and abroad.

Funding the concerns that Staffordshire
Quaker meetings have adopted or
agreed to support**_._**

Agreed to support Sanctuary seekers
and prison visiting.

Providing pastoral care for members and
attenders.

Maintaining and developing our
Staffordshire Quaker Meeting Houses,
meeting the costs of Meeting House
maintenance from Area Funds via
Trustees when requested.

Administering and maintaining the
organisation of Staffordshire Area
Meeting, as shown in the accounts are
the Area Meeting contributions from
Local Meetings.

Also included are conference & travel
costs for individuals attending approved
courses or central Quaker committee| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees are fully conversant with the
Charity Commission’s guidance on the
requirement to report on the public benefit
derived from operating as a charity and
consider that such benefit arises from all the
activities of Staffordshire Area Quaker
meeting.| **Additional information (optional)** ## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||
SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|Grants are made to members/attenders of
the Meeting attendance at approved
educational and training needs, support for
voluntary activities e.g. prison chaplains and
for the relief of need (not covered by
statutory bodies).| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|Not applicable| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Staffordshire Area Quaker Meeting and its
constituent local Meetings is a volunteer led
organisation who provide the office holders
and carry out administrative functions| |Other||| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|Staffordshire Area Meeting comprises of 7
local meetings (LMs) across the county; with
one meeting in the county town and another
in the counties’ cathedral city with its
historical connections with George Fox
(founder of Quakerism).
During the year there was continued
recovery from the Covid pandemic, with all
Local Meetings returning to face to face
Meetings for Worship, with 4 Meetings
providing online facilities for Friends unable
to attend in person.
Also, Community Groups were able to
resume activities at our Meeting Houses.
Letting’s fees are charged at a**_not-for-profit_**
**_rate_**, enabling many small community
groups to meet, who would otherwise find
accommodation difficult to obtain. This
letting income also enables Quaker Meeting
Houses to continue in operation.
Area Meeting met seven times in 2022,
augmented by quarterly publication of The
Staffordshire Quaker.
Staffordshire Quakers continue to be| involved in work supporting sanctuary seekers, Lichfield meeting has supported an annual picnic for Women with Hope in August and supporting “Warm Place” initiative for people in need over the winter months. Wolverhampton Meeting continues to support local sanctuary seekers, in conjunction with Wolverhampton City of Sanctury. These include holiday and day trip arrangements, benefiting between 200 to 250 people. Stafford Meeting held an open day in October. Leek, Stoke, Stone and Uttoxeter Meetings have concentrated on in Meeting activities. All Meetings have concentrated on pastoral work following the Covid pandemic. ## **Additional information (optional)** |You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:| |---|---|---| |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|The objectives as set out in paragraph 3 of
the CIO constitution were met.| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|With the reopening of Meeting Houses
following the pandemic, there has been a
gradual increase in lettings income during
2022.| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|In 2019 £160,000 was invested, managed by
Rathbone Green Bank on behalf of the Area
Meeting to provide regular dividends in the
medium term through Ethical investments.
As of 31stDecember 2022, a fund value of
£164,823 reflecting market turbulence during
the year. The risk level was set to level 3 to
cover inflation.| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The Charity is solvent, with £76,393
(£62,137 in restricted funds) in liquid funds
and £164,823 in investments as of the
31stDecember 2022 as detailed in the
accounts. Staffordshire Area Meeting
Houses are insured for £4,121,523.| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The main financial risk against which
reserves are held involves the upkeep and
maintenance of Meeting Houses, especially
as 3 of them are listed buildings.
This has been covered through the review
and simplification of funds held in the
Staffordshire Area Meeting Charities
Account (completed 18/03/2021). Specific
funds for property maintenance and Relief in
Need have been set up.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|Formal amount of reserves held by Area
Meeting are £3,194, with a general fund of
£11,061. There is a restricted property fund
for the maintenance of buildings of £45,673.| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|N/A| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|None| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|There are no concerns regarding the charity
as an ongoing concern as of the 31st
December 2022.
However, with a declining and ageing
membership and difficulties in finding people
to fill posts, there is an ongoing wide-ranging
review of the future of Staffordshire Area
Quaker Meeting.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|
Para 1.47|
The charity’s principal sources of funds are
from,

Member contributions

Lettings income from the Meeting
Houses.

Dividends on investments| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|The investment policy is to maintain
sufficient capital and income from ethical
sources to maintain the objectives of the
Charity.| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|The principal risks facing the charity are:

A reducing and aging congregation,
leading to difficulties in filling positions to
maintaining the running and achieving
the objectives of the charity.

The maintenance of Meeting Houses,
particularly those which are listed
buildings.| |Other||Trustees met online 5 times in 2022,
covering the following;

Safeguarding policy and procedures
were extensively reviewed and
adopted.

Safeguarding training rolled out
across the Area Meeting

Safer recruitment procedures for
office holders across the Area
Meeting adopted.

Stoke-on-Trent Meeting finances
reviewed (because of Covid lettings
reductions) and a one-off grant made.

Received report of independent
Health & safety review for
Wolverhampton Meeting.

Resolved Wolverhampton Meeting
Warden tax liabilities with HMRC.

GDPR policy and associated
documents reviewed and adopted.

Conclusion
of
the
Banking
Ombudsman complaint against the
Co-operative Bank.| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|CIO constitution of the 18thOctober 2020.
The Staffordshire Area Quaker Meeting
Charities 18thMarch 2021.| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Charitable Incorporated Organisation| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Trustees are nominated by Nominations
Committee of Staffordshire Area Quaker
Meeting, subject to formal vetting
procedures and ratified by Staffordshire Area
Quaker Meeting in session at an area
meeting.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|
Para 1.51|
Newly appointed Trustees are encouraged
and supported to participate in formal
training provided by Woodbrooke Quaker
College in Birmingham (now online)| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|Staffordshire Area Quaker Meeting is part of
Britain Yearly Quaker Meeting of the
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
Staffordshire Area Meeting is made of seven
local Quaker Meetings in Staffordshire and is
the representative body that holds legal
powers (Buildings, finance, employment,
legal compliance etc.).
Day to day activities and management are
delivered by the local Quaker Meetings.
Friends Trust Ltd,173 Euston Road, London
NW1 2BJ in the Holding Trustee for land and
Meeting Houses held by the Charity.
Friends Trust Ltd are the holding Trustees.| |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|**Not applicable**| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Staffordshire Area Quaker Meeting of the Religious Society of
Friends (Quakers) in Britain| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|Staffordshire Area Quaker meeting (SAQM)| |Registered charity number|1192134| |Charity’s principal address|Friends Meeting House, 8B Summerfield Road,
Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 4PR| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Richard Ashwell|Area Trustee||Staffordshire Area Quaker
meeting| ||Bryan Cleary|Area Trustee||Staffordshire Area Quaker
meeting| ||Berry Dicker|Area Trustee
Safeguarding lead||Staffordshire Area Quaker
meeting Staffordshire Area
Quaker meeting| ||Jonathan Heal|Area Trustee||Staffordshire Area Quaker
meeting| ||Stephen Langford|Clerk to Trustees
Health & Safety
Lead||Staffordshire Area Quaker
meeting| ||Peter Moore|Area Trustee||Staffordshire Area Quaker
meeting| ||Nigel Peckett|Area Trustee||Staffordshire Area Quaker
meeting| Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved – **not applicable.** **Director name** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|| |---|---|---| |Friends Trust Ltd, Friends
House, 173 Euston Road,
London, NW1 2BJ,
Charity Commission
Number: 237698||| ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others – not applicable.** Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** **Type of Name Address adviser** ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s)** **Full name(s)** **Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)** **Date** Staffordshire Area Meeting 2022 Accounts Charlty number ao 1192134 Income and expenditure foryearend 31 Dec 2022 2022 2021 Cash books opening balances. Triodos Reliance 58638.89 22010.05 / 80648.94 59593.82 16654.66 76248.48 INCOME Rathbone dlvldends Area meetln8 transfers. Dcnatlonslsales Interest Triodos bank. Insurance contribution. Fund ￿¢0very 2310.58 2140.00 0.00 267.09 1724.56 1990.00 92.00 53.76 200.00 50CK),00 0.00 4717.67 9060.32 EXPENDITURE Peacemakers donatlon. Exam accounts. Bank charges Commltteeslconferènce. Support Costs. Supplies/prlntlng Outreach Fees Payment to Stoke Building work 500.00 500.00 70.70. 235.00 133.77 234.00 0.00 0.00 4000.00 3300.00 500.00 500.00 53.30 66.99 50.75 95.01 63.81 3330.0 8973.47 4659.86 Gish books at 31 De¢ 2022 76393.14. 80648.94 Represented by . Triodos. Rellance. 57916.56 18476.58 58638.89 22010.05 BANK FUNDS General Fund in Reliance Bank. Educational Fund in Reliance Bank Reserve Fund In Reliance Bank Quaker prison Chaplain Fund in Rellance bank Property Fund in Triodos Bank Relief in Need Fund in Triodos bank 11061.06 2273.74 3194.42 1947.36 45673.55 12243.01 14594.53 2273.74 3194.42 1947.36 46395.88 12243.01 PAC6 1 Staffordshire Area Meeting Investment Funds Rathbone Greenbank 2022 2021 Opening value at start of year Valuatlon at end of year 195,203.04. 164,823.90. 178,580.00 195.203.04 Meetlng House Insurance valuation 813,445 695,081 788.722 407,319 1,416,956 753,434 643,935 731,081 377,392 1.313,382 Stafford Stoke Uttoxeter Wolverhampton Notes I, Rathbone investmènt estlmated annual Income- £26051 yleld-1,58%1 2. There are slx designated funds, two are restricted l Rellef in need and Property I held In the Trlodos bank- the four other funds are in the Reliance bank. 3. Meeting house insurance is paid by the Local meetln8. fAQr L Staffordshire Area Quaker Meeting Treasurers, Guide 2023 - Examlner's statement Independent Examiner's Statement Thls indeFendent examinerfs report template (SORP FRS 102) was taken from HM Government's website on 01-12-2022: httPS'.//www.gov. uk/government/publicationsllndependent-examiners-report- template-sorp-frs- 102 NB: The wordlng given below should al￿￿¥& be used by the independent examlner. It supersedes earller versions. CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examlnefs report on the accounts S?ct40n A Indep¢n¢Jent Examlner'$ Report A•portto th• tru•l••&ldlr•¢tor•l sitiile h£cA Quaker MeetSng ecli 20tL Ch•TIty no.: 1192134 I rewl to the Clwly trust8gs on ol tha ac4xAmls ol th8 R••ponBfbUltl••*nd A5 thè chwtys In￿1885 CO tho Cwwny l*tho arg also dtrèdors trflh• b••l• ol r•port CunpaThos Act 21Th1'bae 2006 Acri. to bo 8udrtwF for this y•er under Pert 16 of thg 2CKIO Ad el•3lblo th￿￿e￿t&x￿rynfikn, I Inresmx ofmy wmbnglth olyo a5 e8med ￿d￿r socits)n 145 ot ChwRlos 2011 nhe 2011 Ad'l. In cenyw out ry eXAmm￿￿, I havg foll¢A*tyd the DKacltffts ChNtyCrynmBskn sedm 145(SMbldth• 2011 Ad. Ind•p•ml•nl •xamln•rf• xtat•m•nl tK*t 396 oftho comp￿Te5 Ad 20￿ oth8rthgn ￿Y tww￿￿lthQt tt Ajunts give 8 Iw8 ar¥J fo￿ vlewthch is not a mNttgr ¢imS￿d 85 Wt an &y2rninab￿, or SORP (FRS1￿2l. Octob•r 2018 Staffordshire Area Quaker Meeting Treasurers. Guide 2023 - Examlner's statement h 8%amin8tion to 8ttenlion stKMAd b8 this 18p)rt 21 1121 PrNFoSF R•l•v•nt pmf•••lon ¥￿Im￿a￿0￿1•j or body {fjt aryl.. IFA M ? SF31 gectioii Disclosure Only C￿npre19 Il the gxaminw no8dg lo htylight mat8rt81 [n8tt￿.$ of cnncwn KleFKe kn gY4YTWS). Glv• h•Y• brfrfd•t•ll• ol •ny tt•m• th*t thè •xwnln•r WI•1￿ to IER Qetob•r 2018 90