2023-12-31-accounts

THAXTED AREA QUAKER MEETING OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) IN BRITAIN

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING 31[ST] DECEMBER 2023

Address: Quaker Meeting House, High Street, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1AA

Friends who served as trustees in 2023: Jacqueline Bartlett John Capper (Treasurer) Karl Gibbs Heather Kent Jonathan Morrell (Clerk)

Holding Trustees – Friends Trusts Ltd, Friends House,173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ

Registered as Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Charity no.1194893. Bankers – Cooperative Bank Ltd. PO Box 260, Delf House, Skelmersdale WN8 6WT and Barclays Bank PLC, 23 High Street, Royston, SG8 9AB

Independent Examiners- Bentens, Abbey House, High Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1AF.

Solicitors – Adams Harrison, Church Street, Saffron Walden.

STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT .

Thaxted Area Meeting is the main meeting for Church Affairs and is constituted of four Local Quaker Meetings at:

Saffron Walden – membership 47 - average attendance 22 Stansted - membership 7 - average attendance 7 Bardfield - membership 9 - average attendance 7 Dunmow - membership 4 – average attendance 3

We recorded 1 transfer in, 1 transfer out, 3 deaths and 1 resignation of membership. Total membership is 68 the same as 2022. There are approximately 36 attenders.

Each Local Quaker Meeting is responsible for the day-to-day management of its own Meeting House - and in the case of Saffron Walden other local properties - reporting to, and seeking advice from, trustees as appropriate. Financial contributions from each Meeting to Area Meeting funds are agreed annually by Area Meeting in session.

Thaxted Area Meeting operates according to its constitution as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The object of the constitution is the furtherance of the general and religious purposes of The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain, in Thaxted Area Meeting and beyond.

Appointment of Trustees

Trustees are appointed from its membership by Area Meeting in session following nomination by the Area Meeting Nominations Committee for an initial period of three years. Several Friends agree to renomination after this period. New trustees are provided with a copy of the Constitution (Governing Document), Minutes and supporting papers from the previous year and guided to the Britain Yearly Meeting website for access to the trustees manual and other relevant information.

Area Meeting Nominations committee has worked with the Area Meeting Safeguarding Co-ordinator in 2023 in order to comply with BYM Safeguarding recommendations when appointing trustees.

Other appointments

Area Meeting also appoints a representative and alternate to Meeting for Sufferings, and is invited to appoint representatives to Quaker Life Representative Council, Sibford, Ackworth and Leighton Park Schools General Meetings and a correspondent to Quaker Council for Church and Interfaith Relations. It receives occasional reports from each of these bodies. The Area Meeting also appoints two Friends to serve as trustees for The Greenwood Educational Trust.

FINANCE.

Trustees set financial reserves annually and submit to Area Meeting in session a proposed annual budget. The accounts are examined each year and are approved by the examiner. Accounts are submitted by the Treasurer to Friends House and the Charity Commission.

A Reserves Statement for the year ending December 31[st] 2023 forms Appendix A to this report.

Margaret Stubbs Memorial Fund. (MSMF)

The Margaret Stubbs Memorial Fund was established for the property at 2 Springhill Road Saffron Walden – a bequest from a Friend Jean Stubbs –and to benefit the Bursary Fund at Friends School Saffron Walden, (latterly Walden School).

The closure of the school in 2017 left the fund with a balance of £6,407. A decision made by trustees in 2018 and confirmed in 2019 and 2020 allowed income derived from the rents to be used to support young people in the Area Meeting, the balance at the end of the year to be divided between the Friends Schools Bursaries Fund and the Greenwood Educational Trust a charity whose purpose is to distribute small grants to eligible young people from four Area Meetings in East Anglia for the benefit of their education. Rather than draw on Greenwood Trust funds, grants agreed by Greenwood trustees to be made to young people from Thaxted Area Meeting are found from Thaxted’s own income. During 2023 a surplus of £4,600 from the Margaret Stubbs Memorial Fund was awarded jointly to Friends school in Ramallah, on the West Bank in Palestine and Brumanna High School near Beirut to reflect their greater need for funding during the continuing conflict. This decision was recommended by Saffron Walden Friends and approved by Area Meeting.

PROPERTY

2 Springhill Rd. Saffron Walden.

The tenancy to this property, which in 2021 was extended to September 2025, has been beneficial to both the tenants and to the Area Meeting, granting time to Area Meeting to consider the long-term future of the property.

Local Meetings were asked in late 2022 to consider the future of 2 Springhill Rd when the current lease expired. After consultation the following Minute was forwarded to Area Meeting in March 2023:

“We are aware that Stansted friends have already agreed a minute asking Area Meeting to seek legal advice on the possible future use of 2 Springhill Road, Saffron Walden. We agree that it would be prudent for us, as trustees, to take expert legal advice on the implications of the benefactor’s letter of intent with regard to the future of the property now that the original purpose is no longer being met. This advice can then be used to help inform a discussion about the future of 2 Springhill Road at Area Meeting on 11[th] June 2023. We seek AM’s approval to pay for this advice.”

It is clear from the legal advice received that the letter of wishes from Jean Stubbs about the use of the property has no legal force and does not create any binding legal obligations on the Area Meeting trustees. Her letter was for guidance only with Friends having “discretionary

powers at all times” which can be exercised “with reference to the changing scene in society”. With Friends School now closed, her main wish for the use of 2 Springhill Road cannot be fulfilled.

Given that there is no legal obligation on trustees to sell the property or the allotment, we are content that the existing arrangements should continue for the foreseeable future, with the house being rented out and the income used for educational purposes and the allotment developed for public benefit.

The property (apart from the allotment) has been placed with Arkwright & Co of Saffron Walden for management.

During 2023 the allotment has developed as a resource for use by community groups such as The Community Shed, Dig It and U3A. The allotment has full public liability insurance for third party use.

69 High Street, Saffron Walden

Arkwright & Co of Saffron Walden continue to successfully manage this property on behalf of trustees. They are attempting to complete the leases for both the tenants but it is proving a long and tortuous business owing to continuing difficulties with the long-term tenant on the ground floor.

Meeting Houses

During the lockdowns necessitated by the pandemic, some meetings began to use Zoom as a platform for Meetings for Worship and in some cases this has continued. Friends otherwise prevented from attending in person have found this to be a way of sharing in the life of the meeting.

In 2023 trustees agreed to appoint surveyors to carry out a quinquennial survey on each of the 4 meeting houses.

Saffron Walden Friends

In 2023 our membership numbers 47 with 24 Attenders. 4 of our members live abroad and several others are widespread around the UK. However. the pastoral team attempts to keep in touch here possible.

Since Covid we have continued the practice of ‘blended’ Meetings for Worship using video conference facilities. This enables Friends who are living with disabilities or even living overseas to join us. The average attendance at Meeting is 15 to 20.

Lettings of the meeting house are recovering although have not yet reached preCovid levels. Because of the increase in fuel prices, we have had to increase our charges to users.

The meeting house remains a warm and welcoming environment for Friends and users and we are grateful to Helen Gibbs, our warden and Karl Gibbs her husband for work they do on our behalf.

The ‘wilding’ of the Peace Garden, with mown paths and areas set aside for gatherings has proved a great success and is a source of pleasure to Friends and visitors.

We have continued our representation with Churches Together and have been pleased that a representative has been allowed to attend meetings of church leaders. We have once again placed a wreath of white poppies on the local war memorial and have welcomed representatives of The Royal British Legion to visit the Commonwealth War Grave in the Meeting House burial ground.

Saffron Walden Friends appoint a representative to the World Day of Prayer (previously The Women’s’ World Day of Prayer.) and in 2023 hosted the meeting welcoming representatives from other churches.

The Children and Young People’s Group, (CYPG) continues to offer a space for families under the guidance of Clare Yerbury the Children and Young People’s Advocate,

In this year there have been 4 families who attend on an irregular basis and I family who attend regularly. The number of children has varied from 1 year to 16 years of age. The 16-year-old has begun to attend adult Meeting for Worship. Activities have been decided in discussions with parents and are frequently craft based or using learning from Quaker testimonies.

To comply with the Area Meeting safeguarding policy 2 adults are present during CYPG sessions one whom must be DBS checked.

Our children’s and Young Peoples Advocate and members of our Meeting keep in touch with some of the young people who do not attend Meeting with us, via email, text and occasionally in person.

It is greatly appreciated that the Local and Area Meeting continue to offer encouragement and financial support for our children and young people. This year 6 of our young people received grants from The Greenwood Educational Trust.

The safeguarding policy for Young Children and Vulnerable Adults is being reviewed. Our pastoral care team of four has striven to keep in touch regularly with everyone. They have found the work very rewarding and are glad to see people returning to Meeting although some still prefer to use Zoom as we continue to hold blended meetings with a Zoom Meeting on Sunday and Wednesday evenings.

We have been aware of tensions in the meeting with regard to trusteeship and property ownership and recognise that we need to spend time strengthening our community and learning to deal tenderly with one another over our differences,

Stansted Friends

In 2023 our membership numbers 7 with 5 Attenders.

Stansted friends continue to offer the Meeting House as an opportunity for outreach for hirers and visitors.

Early in November 2023 the Meeting hosted a visit by 1st Clavering cubs to help them gain a badge by learning about a religion or faith they knew nothing about before. It proved to be a richly rewarding form of outreach with 14 boy and girl cubs aged between eight and ten taking part along with two cub leaders and one or two parents. We have continued to meet on Zoom with Friends at Hill House Meeting in Accra, Ghana. This relationship is flourishing as we learn more about each other including how we understand what our Quakerism means to us. Topics for discussion have included Quaker testimonies and how they are inter-related. Most recently Friends held a discussion about the teachings of Christ and how central we consider them to be to Quaker practice. Interestingly, it became apparent that the words of Jesus have greater prominence for Friends in Ghana than perhaps they do for Friends in Britain. We look forward to building on our relationship with Accra friends in the coming year.

Following the death of our clerk in 2022 we reviewed roles and responsibilities across the meeting to make the best use of the talents of members and attenders. This included appointing a new clerking team and assigning specific responsibility for the care of premises, music and fellowship on special occasions, eldership, pastoral care, treasurership, visibility and publicity and the Accra meeting fellowship group.

The Experiment with Light group has continued to meet, normally on the second Saturday of each month. The healing group has also continued to meet. Both groups have provided a safe and confidential space for growth and to offer each other support. In November we laid an eco-friendly homemade wreath of white poppies in the Garden of Remembrance at St. John’s church.

Stansted friends continue to be involved with the local community and contribute to the local newsletter ‘The Link’ as well as remaining active members of Churches Together.

Bardfield Friends.

In 2023 our membership numbers 7 with 5 Attenders. We were delighted when one of our long-term Attenders was welcomed into membership in June. Our meeting continues to grow and we welcomed 2 new Attenders this year and we have been pleased to welcome Friends from other Meetings.

Our silent worship is frequently deep and vocal ministry thoughtful. We value the period of Afterword at the end of meeting when we can share any thoughts that may have arisen from the silence or from vocal ministry. We especially value the time spent together over coffee in the kitchen. In being able to share with each other not only spiritual insights but also pleasures and concerns from our everyday lives, our small community has grown in trust and understanding.

Because of lapses in the regular readings of Advices and Queries we decided this year that in the future we will arrange for A & Q to be read on the first Sunday of each month. Likewise, we have agreed to hold more regular Meetings for Business.

We intend to start regular Meetings for Learning led by Friends with a particular interest in the chosen topic. In this way we hope to encourage our Attenders to gain better understanding of Quakers.

In this Coronation year one of our members arranged a (very Quakerly!) competition for local schoolchildren to design postage stamps for the new reign and make crowns. A ‘coronation’ was held in the Meeting House with the local vicar officiating.

We were saddened by the death of a long-term Friend who had, for several years been unable to attend meeting. Her private funeral was held in Brighton and we held a Memorial Meeting for her in April.

The Meeting House continues to be used by groups in the village and from further afield;-Heartsong Choir, Bardfield History and Horticultural Societies, Essex Audi Theatre and from time to time, the Parish Council.

Throughout the summer months we are occasionally obliged to leave a notice on the gate saying there will be no Meeting for Worship that day, but by forward planning we can almost always make sure that at least one of us can be there to open up and welcome any visitors. It is a pleasant surprise when someone from the AM or further afield joins us. We are not struggling to keep going but instead rejoice on the days when all of us meet together. We are in good heart.

Dunmow Friends

In 2023 our membership numbers 4 with 2 Attenders.

While a very small meeting, Dunmow Friends have continued to uphold each other in their weekly meetings and play an active role in the life of the Area Meeting. The work of the meeting has devolved very significantly onto a very small group of Friends. This year we began to consider the future of both the worshipping group at Dunmow and the Meeting House itself which is in a poor state of repair and may need substantial investment to restore it. A group pf Friends met with the trustees to begin the process of discernment.

There have been some difficulties this year with the suppliers of electricity as the location of the electric meter has made reading the meter hazardous. We continue to work to resolve this.

There have also been some frustrations with regard to opening a bank account. The Wren Nursery which is the only source of income except for contributions from Friends continues to use the Meeting House but we are aware of the possibility that this arrangement may have to cease owing to their financial difficulties.

While we are not very active we uphold the work of Area Meeting and offer a place for quiet reflection.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

All our Meeting Houses offer public worship each week as well as supporting local community activities principally through meeting house lettings and, where appropriate, the use of our gardens as places of quiet reflection.

SUSTAINABILITY

As well as meeting in person, we have continued to use Zoom and blended meetings where possible, thus helping to limit our carbon footprint by reducing the need to travel. Where possible we continue in our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint including, for example, Stansted Friends buying energy from renewable sources including a biogas component and Saffron Walden and Bardfield Friends having contracts for green energy supply. Individual Friends remain active in local sustainability initiatives.

SAFEGUARDING

Following Area Meeting’s adoption in December 2021 of the BYM Safeguarding Policy and Safeguarding procedures/toolkit, a safeguarding subgroup was approved by AM, to undertake to review and monitor safeguarding matters across all meetings. Heather Kent was appointed as a trustee in June 2022, and confirmed in her role as AM Safeguarding Co-ordinator from that date. She is also a member of the National Safeguarding Forum for Quakers.

The subgroup has met on three occasions via zoom, and engaged with aspects of the AM Safeguarding Policy and Procedures. Initial focus has been on:DBS matters, including the appointment of an AM DBS Verifier which AM confirmed in June 2022.

• Record keeping, safe storage and qualified/limited access.

• Training via 31:8 online courses for roles deemed as ‘essential’ under the procedures – Safeguarding Co-ordinator; Clerk to Trustees; DBS Verifier; Pastoral Friends working with children and young adults and adults at risk. The courses have been paid by AM.

• Safer Appointments, including using/adapting the suggested BYM procedure for the appointment of a Trustee and the preparation of Role Descriptions (deemed as essential under the Safeguarding Procedure) for all the notified forthcoming AM appointments.

• This year we have begun to examine the best ways to offer in house training for local meetings using the material in the toolkit. We expect to continue this work next year.

• 2023 is the completion of the first year of the subgroup’s work and we have reported to Area Meeting who have approved our report and agreed that we should continue for a further year.

We are appreciative of the support offered by BYM Safeguarding Coordinator Mark Mitchell in the form of updates and bulletins to keep us abreast of the latest legislation. We are pleased that no safeguarding matters/concerns have been notified for 2023.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

• In 2023 our Area Meeting Clerk continued to work closely with the Regional Area Meeting Clerks Network and the Local Development Officer. They have begun to seek ways to work cooperatively across meetings in East Anglia.

• Our trustees were represented at a consultation on the revision of the Trustees Handbook.

• In September 2023 our Area Meeting treasurer attended the residential treasurers conference near Milton Keynes.

• On November 5[th] all our trustees were present at a special Area Meeting workshop on trusteeship.

TRUSTEES AIMS FOR 2024

Our principal aim as trustees is to further the aims and purposes of The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and the living out of our Testimonies to Simplicity, Truth, Equality, Peace and Sustainability.

We will continue to support the practical and spiritual life of our local meetings as well as making sure we have robust safeguarding arrangements in place across our Area Meeting. In doing so, we will be mindful of some of the areas in which current advice on best practice doesn’t accord with our spirit led tradition. We will continue to be open to advice and compromise. Trustees will also explore how AM’s nominations process can apply safer appointments practice.

We will provide support to Area Meeting as it seeks to discern the way forward for the long-term future use of 2 Springhill Road and the associated allotment, taking into account legal advice and the wishes of local meetings.

We will continue to support the work of our Local Development Worker and consider ways of working more closely with area meetings across East Anglia.

August 2024

APPENDIX A

Thaxted Area Meeting Reserves December 2022

At the end of 2022 the Area Meeting reserves were: Deposits (£) Investments (£) Total (£) Current Account MSM Account (restricted): 13 600 30 100 43 700 0 Area Meeting 27 500 12 900 40 400 3 100 S Walden : 36 300 36 300 8 900 Stansted 48 500 48 500 14 100 Dunmow 2 900 18 100 21 000 5 300 Bardfield 5 800 Total (excluding Springhill Rd) 66 700 79 500 146 200 34 100

£9 000 was withdrawn from Saffron Walden Reserves in 2022; The value of the existing investments has decreased so the total value has fallen by £13 000 this year. Restricted Reserves (MSM) are treated separately. Unrestricted Reserves total: £183 400

For historic buildings it is recommend that 2% of the insured value is kept in reserves. Excluding Springhill Road, the insured value of the AMs property is 4 600 000. 2% of this is 92 000; 3% would be £138 000

Stansted also has £15 000 on long term loan to Green Pastures

Likely expenditure not covered from current income is: Dunmow: £15 000 for central heating Saffron Walden: some thousands dealing with the damp cellar in 69a

£50-60 000 replacing heating system in the next 10 years

		Suggested Format for Reserves:	Suggested Format for Reserves:	Suggested Format for Reserves:	Suggested Format for Reserves:
Meeting	Unforeseen Emergency 2% valuation	Uncertain Income 2 months	Expected Commitment	Uneven Cash Flow	Total Required	Actual
Bardfield	11 800	1 000			12 800	5 800
Dunmow	10 500	1 000	15 000 (central heating)		11 500	26 300
Saffron Walden	47 500 69 8 800 69a 5 800	11 600	In due course 55000 (Heating)		59 100 8 800 5 800	45 200
Stansted	3% 10 900	1 800			12 700	62 600
Area Meeting	0	1 000	0	4 000	5 000	43 500
Total	95 300	16 400	70 000		115 700	183 400

RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) Annual Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2023 The report and accompanying accounts (x)ver the financial affairs of Thaxied Area Meeting consolidated with those of its four constituent meetings, namely Bardfield, Dunmow. Saffron Walden and Stansted Local Meets'ngs. As a charity the full Iwue is Yhaxted Area Quaker Meeting of the Religious society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain". Thaxted Area Meeting in short. Registered number 1194893. Ajthough the Area Meeting. through its trustees, is ults"mately responsible in practi the care and maintenance of the Meeting Houses and other properties is undertaken by the Local Meetings and this is reflected in their accounts. The TNstees have an agreed reserves wlicy and review the reserves each year. All Ihe accounts have been examined by a qualified person not connected with any of the meetings. John Capper, Treasurer 18 Landscape View. Saffron Walden. CB114AU Page 1

Legal and AOrnintm*irf•_ 3p Constitution and Purpose The Area Meeting is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, charity number 1194893. Its objects are defined in its constitthion, in particular tha furth4Jrance of the general reltgiou$ and charitable purposes of the Religious SLKety of Friends (QLBker8) in Britain. - princ',p31 activity is the holding of Me4tings fOr￿￿¥shIP in ts constituent local meetings of Bardfield, D￿rnow, Saffron Walden and Starthd. The affairs of the Area Meeting are goverrEd by "Quaker Faith and Practice", the Book of DisGipline of Brttain Yeady Meeting. There are Memor2rvJa of Undetstanding with the Local Meetings. The members of the Area Meeting are all those persons whose names are recorded in its official register. The Managing Trustees are appointed by a N4eeting for worship for Business of the Area Meeting which also appoints a representative and an altemate to seNe onmeeting for Sufferings, the representative body advtses the Trustee body for the ¢entrally managed work of Britan Yearly MethJ. Address for cOr￿spondenCe Margaret SOMe￿ille, 54 Gtebe Aven￿. Braintr￿, Essex. CM7 4SR PAeetln9 House Addresses Bardfield Frierttls Meeting House. Brook Street, Great Bardfield. Essex, CP17 4SR Dunmow Frtends Meeting House, New Street, Great Dunmow. Essex. CM6 18H Saffron Watden Friends Meeting House, High Stre4. L?ffron Waklen. EsLcthx, CB10 1AA st8nsted Ffiends Meeting House. 87 Chapel HIH. Stansted. Essex, CM24 BAE Mana9in9 TnISt￿. The following Friends LArved in 2023: Jacqueline Bartlett. Clerk. 4 The Green Saffron Watden, Essex, CB10 2DS John Capper, Treasurer, 18 Landscape ￿￿w. Saffron Walden. Essex, CB114AU Jonathan Morrell, 4 Priory Court, Apton Road. Bishops Stortford. Herts, Cm23 3SF Karl Gibbs, 69a High Street, SalFronWalden. Essex, CB1Es Heather Kent 13, Tr Spike. RadwÉnter Road. Saffron Walden, CB113GA BankerJ Ctroperatsve Bank, P.0. Box 260, De￿ House, Scuthway, Skelmersdale. WNB 6WT Barclays Bank PLC. 23 High Street Royston. SG8 9AB Holding Trustee FrEnds Trusts Ltd, Friends Hwse. 173 Euston Road. London. 2 Page 2

AeeounliDg Polieies 8351s of accountlng. These accounts have been prepaied in accordan￿ with the Charity Commission Statement of Recojnmended Practice SORP 2015 (Statemellt of Financial Attivities). Income and expendit[￿e. Contribution5, gran￿ legacies, itttetesL dtviden&% and ients are" all tr.eated as iffcoine iti the in which th￿Y ar¢ TeceivL4I. Gift Aid Tether￿ is treated a) incthme for thc in which thc donations are made. Lalld and buildings. The properli¢% owlled by the Area Meetlllg (xymprising the 14eetinY Houges and w￿der< acvommiidation are held lor the fiwihrnce of th¢ AEeaMeeling's cl)aritable obiecis. TheK¢ ar¢ two investmnt properties, 69 High StffeL Saffl-on Il'alden Saffron Walden. On the recoo]melldatkon of the Quaker stev￿0s￿p Con]m￿ee of BrttaiEE Ye8rl}' Nle¢tin& the capital valu¢ of the proFthte5 is illcluded in the accounts. The Tralu- of the properties is based the illsuratEce value, whÉch is revievied cFery year by the fvf¢thodist Insurance Cottkpany. The contcnts of the Meeting Houses are written off at purcbase. SwingFiill Roa Res¢aTes. The Reserves are a liÈt]e les% pTimarity due to a drop in the Vah￿ of investm¢llts. Th¢y are in line with th¢ reserves and are reviewed each year. cal Me*tings. In accordance with guidall￿ fmm the Cbaritycommissioll and the Quaker Stewardsbip Committee Presentation of the Aeeounts The accoullts have prwed usiag Data DeYek)pmtnts -Finance CIH)Tdinator". the softwAr¢ package by ACAT (Th¢ A￿lation of Chur¢b ACCOU￿ aod TreasTrirers). ThÉs d(Ks ot support a spreadsheet showing one tabk a bT¢akdown of inCo￿te and ¢xpcnditEEre for the Area Page 3

Report of the IndepeBdent ￿￿Miller lyeport onthe consolidated of Th&xted Area Merfing fi*th¢year ended 31 2023 . which are set out below. The charity's truste¢s aEe ￿sPonsible for the preparatffiw of Ihe ￿COunts. The charitys truste¢s consider that all audit ts not Tequirryj for this year wtion 144(2) of th¢ Charities Art 2011 (the 2011 Act) attdthat an Inde￿ examillation is necded. It is my respons￿1 ilty to: examine the accouJAts Ullder srttioo 145 of the 2011 Actr. to follow the pr(K¢dwcs laid dovm in the gen¢ral Directions given by Ihe Charity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of th¢ 2011 Ac¢ and Basis of independent examiner's report My aryamination ￿led out in thaoc¢ with the gen￿￿ Direclions given by the cI￿lty Commission. An exa￿lD￿tiOn inch￿e8 a review of the aecoUDtll￿ ￿CordS kw by the cbatity and a comparÉs(Trn of th¢ accounts presented with those recy)rds. It aL<o includes consideration of unktsual ltell￿ or disclosu￿ in the account% s¢¢king explanations from trustees concerning any such malters. The pmcedur¢s undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be wired iri audit 3.nd con8equelltly no opinion is given 8S to vkndher 1h¢ accou5￿ presellt a %Tue and fair view and the report is limited to tI￿se n]atters set out in the staiement below. Iiid¢peDdent oxamiDer's statement In connection with my examlDaiio￿ no matter has cometo my attention: (l) which gives me We￿￿￿h￿ cawe to believe that inany the tequiT¢1￿etsts. to keep accowrting accor￿ with section 130 of thc 2011 Ac¢ and to prcpire accounts which accord with the accounti￿ re£or& and c(xwity with the accoun￿8 Tequirnents of the 2011 Act have not been me¢ or (2) to which, in my opinioJL att¢ntioB sl%)ukl be dra￿ in OTd¢rto enable a Proper Unde￿ing of th¢ accoullts to ￿ reach￿. igls l)6?q Addtess. Bent¢DS, Ablw Hoose, 511Sgh Strt Saffm Wal(kn4 E&￿e￿ CBIO IAF

TH.4NTF.D ARE.4 1%.IF.ETlING T.4TEIIEINT OF FI,%AINCltlL .4CI"IVITIES PERIOD I J.4NI L'ARI'_ 31 DF,CEIMBER 2023 -i"0 r..KL I.'N. HFSTRicfLD PRIOR YF.AR I'OTAL FI":NtKs Incotne'aiid endowmcnt$ from DonaEions and le(TdLies InLome froin charitabl¢ activities Ini'esimcnls Other 35548 66?49 215i 34082 51688 1858 103949 87758 Expetjditure Raisiiits funds ENpLndirure charitable activÉties Other expcndilLtre 436i) 53654 50200 49582 Total expenditure 97664 99782 Excess income over expenditure 6286 ( 12024) Gainsllosses on investments 1386 ( 15946} Net incomelexpi'nditure 7672 ( 27970) Other rceounised gaÉnsAosses Gains on revaluations 615J77 1?76525 Nct movetnCTEt in funds 623049 1248155 Total fixc(1 gsseL% blfwd TY)tal other fuiids blfwd Tu(dl bllwd 4866090 24004) 510613) ii89965 268053 38i7978 Total clfwd 5729182 5106J33 PAGE S

THAXTF.D AREA MEETING BALANCE SHEET- DETAILED PERIOD I JANUARY - 31 DECEMBER 2023 As8t A5at 3111212023 3111212022 Fixed Assets SatTron Walden Meeting House Stansted Meetsng House Bardfield Meeting House Dunmow Meetin(T Ilouse 69A I liJ(T Street (Watden's House) 69 FliJ Str¢et 2 Sprin&hill Road 2730141 2375212 398155 i61653 64789) 5x8452 5804()4 5•71 jj 3J4006 290584 i0567) 439935 28519) 283099 Tot21 Pixed Assets 5481467 4866090

Current Assets De5igngted Co-L)p Account SatTron Walden COIF Deposit aecounE Saffton Waldcn Colk Inveestinent Fund Accumulation Units MSM Accouni Sprinuhill Road Barclays MSM COIF Deposit Account Smith & Nephew MSM Shares Co-op Account Th&xted Area Meeting Afvl COIF Deposit Account M&(i Charibond Unit5 AM B￿10 Ilnits AM 9705 8924 29ilO 13?Oi 13614 30140 30140 4601 3087 6818 6588 971 940 12744 12042 AM COIF Accumulation Uniis 23757 20Y62 DuiiTnow Friends ProvidenVBSO Investment 19924 18150 Dunmow Peity Cash Dunrnow Co-op Account Bardfield Co-op Bank Bardlield Triodos Bank 39 34 5662 2932 3087 295? 2882 Stan51ed Barclay5 AucL)unt Stan%ted CAI". l.-ixed Interes1 Investment 57982 48509 Stansted Green Pa5lures 15000 15000 Total Current Assets 247715 Net Asset surplus (Dcficit) 5729182 i1061iJ PAGE 7

5106133 7672 ( 38i7975 12024) 15946) 1276125 liil in period Other o&ins (losses) in the period GainsJl(losse5) OD revaluation of fixed a55ets Rounding difE 61 i377 5729182 5106133

Selected period: 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 Income and endowments DtMafjons and legacies 20). Donat￿8¥a LM 201- Collections 202-GiftAKI Redan 631 . Baydfiehl Conlthtims GEAhl8ble 632. B8idfdd Contrbtthrts GiftAtilab 636. eardfield GiftAkl 701 ~ DunrnDW Contrknubons 706- DunmcAvN5celt8neo 14.438.61 IIITI.61 444.71 1.300. 14.438.61 72.Iftr.61 5.444.71 1,￿.09 15,865.13 10.692.00 5.835.00 1,105.00 295.00 1,4>t.84 685.00 1.4Y.64 ZD) 35.547.5T . 35.547.57 2.13 26,￿1. 16.354.94 Iw.00 2D.W1.OD 16.3>4.94 l L6U.00 19,054.00 12,134_66 1.890.00 386.10 9,000.00 1.815.00 600.110 222.27 6.972.00 203- Leltings 204- 69 Hiyh Street Reni S00- Contributions from Lhts 501- DniidendsThaxled AM $60- Rent, 2 sp￿￿￿￿%11 RD•I 633- B3rdfwtd Hfrings 702- titJnmovJ Hirings 7US. DunrnLW Payments fromlthns 906- Stanstsd Letbnys 998- St8nsted Otherlncm8 9.IWJ.QO 9,180.00 1,500. 1.758.67 9,862.00 T,T5&67 9.6K2.IKJ 66.24&59 .248.59 52.074.03 Income from C￿rItabh actlvities Totsls 344.21 344.21 254.48 829.40 459.07 bg.J=, 11.57 26.42 65.W2 857.89 131.54 190- Interest SWCOIF DeposrtAeoxJnt 191-AM COIF DeptsSftAc￿U1tt 561- Dividend Srnrth & Nephew 562. MSM CCiA Dep05itAccoLmt Irkne 630- Bat(ffield Triodos lfttstest 637-Triodos Extra Intsiest 703- Dunmow Bttslne￿ Irwestor Interest 704- Dunrnow Treasurers TrustAlc Itrter851 11.57 3.59 450.rJJ Incury 2.407.75 . 1131.èo 2,407.75 l.i38.71 InvoStm9nts Totals JV£ I 1rfrf£5YEIs fi*AIthS Otherincome 130.00 130.00 txhor incomè Tola15 5334.91 8T,824.87 Income and endornts Grdnd totals 105354.91 CXg1

Tola "Raislng funits 522-65 Hyh Stre 375.00 375.U) Ralsingfiffids Totats 375. 301- Donationsto BYM 302- Donations tts QLthr Charrt 303- DonaÉMs to llOF> QuefChaFitS 304. Grants agrBed byLocal Mtir 325- Annual Contribution toTWedAM 327.Anth￿al SubscripiYon5 eg CCLI, Ctsw SS0- Cootses 3nd Conference5 Thaxled AM 551- Child ProteLtiofi Fee 552. Examinabon ofAccourts 553.AM Off￿er & Trnslee Expen585 554- Annual Subs LiviF59 We. QICJ 592- Grdnts to Youftg Frends 594- Grantto GrÈ8MvoodTTU5t 595- Grafiis lo au8k8rEd￿atlOfta1 Bthlies 640- Bardfield Clèaoer 641- B#rdfi>Ld MalEt 842. Bardfiekl Fire and 643. Bardfidj Etedr 644- Bardfiekt Water 645- Bardfield Gardener 846- B8r¢fi81d InsU￿[tre 647- Ba￿lf¢kI ContFI)￿￿oThto AM 15,645.&) 7,187.￿¢ 4XJ7.50 15,645.50 7,187.50 4Z3750 5.237.50 8,757.5 2,525. IOD.QU 1.080.DD 225.OCS 402.00 129.00 780.oj 108.37 142.00 1.150.QO 1,000.00 5.6UO.00 590.00 9.01 g4.00 500_78 163.42 370.00 796.52 720.00 460.30 145.WJ 145.00 186.82 14920 1.350.(KJ 186.82 149.20 1,350.00 5.3co.r 5.300.tXJ 845.OD 63.48 543.82 t56.28 240.OD 875.77 240.(KI 875.7T 751- Dtsnmowwater 752- Dunmow Electt¥Jty 753- Dunmow Gardè 754- Duftmow MainiÈnaneÈ& Rep2Ns 755- Dunmow Firè Prolectron 756. Ounmowmscellarjeous 757- In5uian(8 758- Ounmowcontribubth) tohm 891- SL>lictior Feè 955- Stansted Rwrs and MarrteTrance 957. Stsnsted Conlribulion to MeEbng 958- StaFtsted CortribtthTrtoBYM 959- Startstad Donation$ 2. Stansted Fumitvre & Eqw)v 3- Fire &windows wAinten•)t .94 513.24 225.￿j 267.94 543.24 225.00 273.52 1.323.77 275.OD 562.6D 67.92 72.42 26.OD 785.40 240.00 870.00 1.131.LKI 26.( 715.24 360.00 1.461.67 240 ' 240.C 2.O90.00 3,017.89 39.99 165. 165.00 44.504.86 44,504.86 50,201.04 15 Marth 2024 Pag& 1D

Tf)t81 L￿ty0 Dtherexpendklure 300.WaFdèn Wages 305- InstJr8nce Saffron)NsSJèTr LM 3(￿. Reyai¢s and Maintensrtt Hc 307 Repaits and Maintena￿6￿4 308- Equpment 309- Garden 310. E￿r￿ty 22.836.47 3,034.62 1.418.72 20.99 948.21 1,467.S) 6,489.41 22.196.23 2W.47 J.034.62 1.418.72 1.39LI.80 677.23 241.97 2,360.30 5.437.32 884.42 2,485.89 484.59 33.66 476.08 1.467. 489.41 312- co￿￿1T&% 314. ClpafiwYJ MthlaLs 315- Cering 35£. PublKity tnc NewsW, outreath 317-PathFEg Pe￿ts 318-BooNkeepercharge 319-Webse and Zoam 320- lrtem6t inG Si￿[￿$. rKéziwn 2.579.E 39113 13026 Z38.20 2,519.66 39113 130.25 106.CQ 453.OD 300.00 584.12 313.20 313.20 [111 97.(Kl 360.00 219.00 360.00 78.59 321- Fiiend 324-Window CEeaning 326-StabDnary & Poge 328-Telephone 33LI- Plaques 332- Hurnidth2T Expe115P> 59D- SpringhillRoad Insuranc 591 - SpringhiH Road Rep2u5 and MeintenarKe 595-Springhill Rad Garden 951- Stanstad CLeane 952- Stattsted MaterTrals & Stpfv 954- StanstedWatEr a Sew4È 955. %￿n51ed Gas, ekdrioty. Y 956- Stansted Insuran 960- Siaristed oth*r costs af Qua￿&1Y4 961- Stansted Gafdener 235.94 144.(Q 249.97 744.uo 249.97 374. 273.06 1.328.00 450.00 1,651.00 122.64 343.61 1.613.6B 512.18 2.878.85 2,878.85 1,260.0 189.50 232.76 1.69929 563.14 492.01 1.260.00 I￿.50 232.76 1.59929 .14 49101 0.00 875.QO o. Other expendith fot&ts 784. 52,784.01 49,582.39 Exppnditure Grand totals 9T.￿87 97,66387 "99,78X43 I5"ma￿ 2ff24 Page 71

A6 at 31 Deeember X123 Clas$ •nd nomlnal ¢odg Lastye 31 .. SalTfOn Walden Paeetiny Ho 2.. St8nsted House 2,7Xt.141.LKI. 39B,155.iLI Ino.141.OD 39B,755.00 2,375,2t2.1)J 361,653.OD 003.. 88rdfieid FkJse 647.893.Wtr 647,893.00 588,452.IX) 5N404.( s￿.40&00 527,155.00 4.￿593￿ 4.¥￿,593.(mI 3,852,472.00 005". 69A Hiyh Strèet Wardens Ho￿} 006.. 69 High Street 007: 2 SpriFtyill Road 334,006.Tr) S.675.(V) 334,006.00 505,675.00 290,584.00 35.00 .19I1JO 285.193.0 3,D59.20 1,124.874. 1.124.074.0? 1,013,618.20 Curr•ntasselt. Cash 8t ba￿{ and in harnl 1QO.. CTrop Account Saffron WaideTr LM 250.. MSM B8rdaysAttwntSpr¥Will Road 310.. CLbop AcwvnlTraxtedA¥&a PAeetlng T13.. Dunm(w P Cash 774: D1￿m}￿c￿Op Account 9.704.90 9,704.90 8.924.01 33.4fj 2.931.75 2.931.7> 5,651 5.661.93 870.. BardfEld Cwi bar, 871 . Ba[dr￿d Tllodos Ba￿ 4.6g1.OY 4,6LII.Og 3,Q87.49 2.952_16 2.952.16 2.88157 970.. StsnstEd Ba￿aY5AcCOurrt 57,981.59 57,987.Sg 14,19t>.95 83￿.￿ 81905.71 37,688.0 1a4.. COIF ￿liActI)u￿S8ff[otI Waln 5: COIF Iwestsllent Fund AcoJnul8tion Unh5 251 .. MSM COIF Deposft Plcourrt 11.741.23 11.741.23 29,509.56 13,202.95 10.372.29 26,037 08 13.613.38 29.Xg. 13.WL95 ).140. 30.140.011 30.140.00 6.588.?2 Q40.13 351 .. AM COIF deposf(AG¢ount 352". M & G Charibmd UntsAM 353.. BMO Unts TThf Coiumbk3ThTeadneath 6.817.97 6,817.97 97(F.Tt 1174426 Il744.26 12.042.$4 23757.19 20.Q61.59 354.. AmCOIFAc￿M￿7atltin Unts 23.757.19 19524A7 I9.￿24A7 18,149.C: 48,kQ) 31 971 . Stansied CP.F Fi¥ed Inleresilnvth)Ert 972: Stansted Green Pa5tuies 15,OIK).OQ 15,OQO.00 163.808.40 163.808.40 202,￿4.￿9 5, I06,132.Li Nettolal ass•ts 5.729.181.t1 S.729,181.f1 15 March 2024 Page 12

lastyw 1.846.1 1.846.04 Zd.213.80 {1,432.261 23?13.80 23.213.80 6.844.66 6.590.18 Dg5iqnated.AMr DesSgn8led. B Dewwated. 8aTthkl OesigD*ed- Dunrnow Des￿nated- Designated-MSMDep De$19￿318d- MandG Qes>gnaled- SWLM De5ign8ted-SmithNeph D65Tgnatsd- Started D¥Tgnal¢d-ZPensir> 6,844.66 14,287.16 14,222.98 14.287.16 594,421.4 550.720.84 655,44625 eth.¢Y2929 655.446.25 6D6,029.29 281,455.39 278.970.19 281,455.39 12.612.34 13.482.34 12.61134 I.￿.97 l.(WJ6.97 1.026.33 3,151.062.48 34,524.00 3.F20.751. 34.524.fKS 3,62D.757.00 34,524.00 471.135.59 439.353.26 471,136.59 122.38} (22.381 (22.38} 5.729.181.11 5,729.181.11 5.106.132.80

to the Accounts Tr￿￿tee Ren)uneration Tn￿tee Expenses There were expenses ¢lainKd by the Tr[￿eeS 2023. Related Party Tr%nsactioDs Ex Grati¥t Payme.nts Contributions to BYM aDd other tharities. Local Me¢tings agree any grants to Britain Yearty Meeting. Saffton Walden has weekly coll(*tAolls. The cbarity to be colle¢teAI for OD a particular week is agtted at a local meeting forbusiDCSS and individual Friends contributions iftheywish to support the charity concerned. the last coll¢ction each month is for Itntral fiinds. Oc¢asionally a local meetÈng for business will agree to support a partkcular appeal, often for Local Meeting Buji ding Appeals, from Local Me¢ting fimd5" these are sbown seydfdtely in the accounts und¢r-Grants agreed by Local Meeting-. PagE 14

Rg¢elpts and payments Selectsd ￿. 01 January 2023 to 31 DeCem￿r 2023 Thaxted Area laeet•¥ 2023 01 January 2022 T• ￿ ol￿ber2023 31 Dec￿nber 2022 1,89b.00 28S.10 495.98 '. 75&98 2,276.10 1.755.98 276.10 ExPTrnth￿rè 402.C f29. 780.00 10B.37 142.00 chi￿ ProtethoTh Fee AM OffKw &TTUStee Expense5 Annual Subs Ltr4ingWage. QICJ 1&.82 148.20 1.911.02 1,5S1.37 1311.02 1.SS1.37 20FebNary 2024 Page 15

Report of the Independent Examiner Decembcr 2023 , wbiGh set out below. The charitys trustees are wnsible for the pryatation of the accounts. Th¢ cbartty's t￿Ste¢S c4)nsid¢r that an audit is not required for Lhis year ulld¢r Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) alldthat an Inde￿dent exatnination is needed. It is my Tesponsil)ility to.. examine the acwunts wtion 145 ofth¢ 2011 Act" to follow the pT(Kedwe5 laid dovm in the gen¢Trl Directions given by the Clwity Commi&%ion nder sertion 145(5Xb) of the 2011 A¢L and to state whether parti¢tdar mJtteTS b￿¢ cometo my attentiOAL Basis gf independent examiDu's report My cxarnin2tion was canied out in thaac¢ with the general Ditertions given b). tlke Charity Commissiim. ATr examinatictk includes a reviev4 of the accoillthg records kept by the cbarity and a compatison of the accounts PT¢sented wtth those rec4)rds. Tt aLoo includcs contrderation of any unusllal items or disclosures in the account4 s¢eking W1￿1{)￿s from InL8tees ¢4mc¢rning any such malters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidett¢¢ that woiild be reqiiired in an Riidit g.nd consequentty no Opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a %rue aDd fair view and the report is limited to those n]atters set out in the staiement below. IndepeD_deDt ￿￿mine￿5 statement In co1)n￿tiOn with my exami￿0￿ no matter has come to attentiOD: (l} which Eiv¢s me r£asowble ¢ause to believe Ihat 1&a￿Y Materi￿ re4)ect the fequiremetkts.. to keep ac¢ountiEk.tv ths in accord￿ with section 130 of the 2011 Act and to pre￿¢ accounts Iwhich accord with th¢ accoullting Eecords and compty with the awJ*g requiremeth5 of tht 2011 Act hav¢ not beeTh met: or (2) to Whic￿ iD my opinio￿ attention should be drawn in OTdcrto cnable apToper Und¢r¥￿nding of the ac¢owkts to be reached. isls l?62q Addr¢ss: Bentm Abbey Housw 51158b Strrt Saffron walde￿ CBIO IAF Page 4