INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON COUPLE AND FAMILY RELATIONS Charitable Incorporated Organisation UK registered charity no. 1192742
2024 ANNUAL REPORT
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The ICCFR CIO has been a registered charity in the UK since December 2020, as successor to the ICCFR Trust, a registered UK charity since 2003.
The Objects of the CIO are described in its Constitution:
To advance the education of the public in the social sciences and in particular in matters concerning family and interpersonal relationships. And
To achieve such other objects which are charitable within the laws of England and Wales as may be determined by the Trustees.
The Trustees must use the income and may use the capital of the CIO in promoting the Objects.
The ICCFR CIO’s Trustees are required to hold three Meetings per year either electronically or in person. Trustees are appointed for a 4-year term of office.
The following were in office during 2024:
Claire Barnes (USA)
John Goodchild (UK)
Sarah Hawker (Italy)
Gerlind Richards MBE (UK) (for part of the year)
Philip Richards (UK) - Treasurer
Anita Rodarte (USA)
Dr. Robert Simon (USA)
Suzie S Thorn Esq (USA)
Anne Berger (USA) as Honorary Assistant Treasurer manages the CIO’s US accounts.
ICCFR CIO is supported by five Patrons:
John Chambers OBE (UK)
Professor Marie-Claire Foblets (Belgium),
Sir Mathew Thorpe (UK),
Suzie S Thorn Esq (USA),
Professor Sabine Walpers (Germany).
ANNUAL REVIEW FOR 2024
Trustees and Positions:
At the AGM in January 2024, Trustee Gerlind Richards MBE concluded her term of office. The CIO held its three statutory meetings by electronic means (Zoom) including the January AGM. Moreover, the Trustees met regularly in the more informal context of the ICCFR Council Meetings, also held by Zoom.
Achievement of Objectives and Donations:
2024 saw the consolidation of ICCFR’s structural and strategic development.
In November, ICCFR held its second inperson conference Malta, with a number of notable keynote and workshop presenters.
The conference theme was “ Intergenerational perspectives in families – Challenges and Opportunities ”.
In the spring and summer of 2024 ICCFR hosted two webinars, “ Families affected by substance use: building resilience ” by Dr V Thurimagal and “ Avoiding fragmentation in family policy: reflections from some European countries ” in conjunction with Coface Europe CiSF.
At the beginning of the year, ICCFR launched its new website which proved an indispensable tool to publicise its plans and events.
In the course of the year, Trustees have taken on leading roles in ICCFR’s activities, chairing its Council and Standing Committees. Outreach initiatives renewing historic connections with organisations and people around the world met with positive responses and have encouraged further volunteer participation in both Council and the Standing Committees.
The ICCFR Council is currently composed of participants from nine different countries around the world encompassing a broad spectrum of the professions and organisations whose work has relationship support for families and couples as its focus. The Council holds regular Zoom meetings about every other month whilst its Standing Committees are scheduled to meet in the intervening months. As ICCFR relies almost entirely on volunteer work supported only by one part-time administrator, dividing up the different areas of responsibility allows a narrower focus and a faster pace of work.
Substantial grants to the CIO from the Government of Flanders and from the Government of Germany (now through the German national organisation AGF) were received in the course of the year. The Trustees are particularly obliged to Ms Karine Moykens (Flanders) and to Mr. Sven Iversen (Germany) who were instrumental in procuring these grants which were awarded to support ICCFR's educative objectives based on volunteer work, representing therefore designated funding. The CIO also received a grant from the Suzie Thorn Foundation and the Trustees are very grateful to Suzie Thorn and Claire Barnes for their invaluable assistance in obtaining this grant.
Future Plans:
ICCFR is in the initial stages of planning its next annual conference.
Further webinars during the first half of the year are at the planning stage. Identification of relevant content and developing plans for ICCFR activities, introducing new elements to the format of ICCFR events and updating and improving communications remain a priority.
There is a consensus that in-person conferences are an essential element of ICCFR’s work and identity but will henceforth need to be supplemented by online events and activities. Consolidating existing connections as well as forging new links will continue to be a priority in the coming year.
All Trustees and Council Members will be involved in the effort to extend the ICCFR network and encourage active participation and support from newcomers.
Fund-raising aims and purposes for the long term remain:
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To allow sponsorship for ICCFR to mount a conference in a country where no local support can be expected;
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To provide funding for people working in one of the constituent areas of ICCFR wishing to benefit/learn from an ICCFR conference who are disadvantaged;
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To offer conference scholarships for younger post-graduates or researchers in one of the focal areas of the ICCFR’s work
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To promote original research pertaining to a particular conference topic (such as the joint project with Queen’s University Belfast in the past).
This concludes the Annual report for 2024 of the ICCFR CIO.
John Goodchild
Chair – ICCFR CIO London, January 2025
INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON COUPLE AND FAMILY RELATIONS Charitable Incorporated Organisation
UK registered charity no. 1192742
2024 ANNUAL REPORT
Financial Report for financial year ended 31 December 2024
1. Financial position
At the end of 2024 the CIO held $24,225 in the CIO’s US bank account and £17,199 in the Barclays Community Account. This amounts to the equivalent of £36,365 (exchange rate calculated at $1=£0.791).
Over 2024 to end of December the ICCFR CIO received a total of £8,497 in donations and grants. The ICCFR CIO provided £18,810 for the ICCFR CIO’s administration, and £7,530 towards the costs of the 2024 conference in Malta. £6,897 was received in income for conference registrations.
2. Grants received and grants given
We are extremely grateful for the continuing support of both the German Government, contributing £1,867 and the Flemish Government, contributing £5,442 towards the running costs of the ICCFR CIO. We are also very appreciative to the SS Thorn Family Foundation for their grant of £1,188 made during 2024.
3. Effects of foreign exchange
There have been no significant movements between GBP and USD for the full year (impact net £42).
Philip Richards FCA, Treasurer - ICCFR
January 2025
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ICCFR CIO Statement of Financial Activities 31 December 2024
| Not | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| e | Total | Total | |
| Funds | Funds | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Incoming resources | £ | £ | |
| Incoming resources from generated funds | |||
| Voluntary Income | |||
| Government grants, donations and gifts | 8,497 | 15,094 | |
| Conference registrations | 6,897 | 3,089 | |
| Total Incoming Resources | 15,394 | 18,183 | |
| Resources expended | |||
| Costs of generating funds | |||
| Fundraising: direct costs of events and department | - | - | |
| Charitable activities | |||
| Relief granted to individuals | - | - | |
| Conference organisation and hosting | (7,530) | (10,085) | |
| Donations | - | - | |
| Total charitable activities | (7,530) | (10,085) | |
| Governance costs | 1 | (20,971) | (17,805) |
| Total resources expended | (28,501) | (27,890) | |
| Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before interest | |||
| and foreign exchange | (13,106) | (9,707) | |
| Interest received | 2 | 565 | 203 |
| Net incoming/(outgoing) resources for the year | (12,541) | (9,504) | |
| Net movement of funds | (12,541) | (9,504) | |
| Total funds brought forward at 1 January 2024 | 48,864 | 59,447 | |
| Effect of foreign exchange on deposits | 3 | 42 | (1,079) |
| Total funds carried forward at 31 December | |||
| 2024 | 36,365 | 48,864 |
Notes:
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Governance costs are defined as Trustees expenses and CIO administration.
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Represents interest from both US and UK accounts.
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US bank accounts translated at year end rate 1 USD:0.791 GBP
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities. All funds are unrestricted in nature.
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ICCFR CIO Balance Sheet 31 December 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 36,365 | 48,864 |
| Debtors | - | - |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 36,365 | 48,864 |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT | ||
| LIABILITIES | 36,365 | 48,864 |
| Creditors | - | - |
| NET ASSETS | 36,365 | 48,864 |
| Represented by: | ||
| FUNDS | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 36,365 | 48,864 |
| Restricted funds | - | - |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 36,365 | 48,864 |
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