Appendix One THAXTED AREA MEETING OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) IN BRITAIN Registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in June 2021 Charity number: 1194893 Trustees’ Report for the year ending 31 December 2024 Address: Quaker Meeting House, High Street, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1AA Friends who served as trustees in 2024: John Capper, Karl Gibbs, Timothy Regan (Treasurer), Heather Kent, Mark Pivac, Jonathan Morrell (Clerk) Holding Trustees from June 2021: Friends Trusts Ltd, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ Bankers: The Co-operative 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: Tees Law, 68 High Street, Saffron Walden, CB11 1AD Structure, Governance and Management Thaxted Area Meeting is the main local meeting for church affairs and comprises four Local Quaker Meetings: Saffron Walden (membership 48, average attendance 22) Stansted (membership 7, average attendance 7) Bardfield (membership 9, average attendance 7) Dunmow (membership 3, average attendance 3) Total membership at the end of 2024 was 67, with 37 listed attenders. One death and one application for membership were recorded during the year. The Area Meeting set up a working group to examine the viability of Dunmow Local Meeting. Each Local Meeting manages its own Meeting House, reporting to and seeking advice from trustees as appropriate. Financial contributions to Area Meeting funds are agreed annually in a session of Area Meeting. A Constitution as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) was adopted in April 2021 by Minute 08.04.21.3(a), replacing the previous governing document. The object of the Constitution is the furtherance of the general and religious purposes of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain, within the geographical boundaries of Thaxted Area Meeting and beyond. Appointment of Trustees Trustees are appointed by Area Meeting in session, following nomination by the Area Meeting Nominations Committee, for an initial period of three years. Friends may agree to renomination for a further three years, after which they normally step down. New trustees are provided with a copy of the governing document, minutes and supporting papers from the previous year, and are directed to the Britain Yearly Meeting website for the trustees’ manual and other relevant resources. Trustees are asked to undertake safeguarding training and are encouraged to attend BYM or Woodbrooke training on trusteeship. Finance Trustees set fiscal reserves annually and submit a proposed budget to Area Meeting in session. Accounts are examined and approved each year by the independent examiner and submitted by the Treasurer to Britain Yearly Meeting and the Charity Commission. The 2024 accounts have been approved and uploaded to the Commission’s website. Margaret Stubbs Memorial Fund (MSMF) The Margaret Stubbs Memorial Fund was established for the property at 2 Springhill Road, Saffron Walden (a house with garden and an allotment to the rear), a bequest from Friend Jean Stubbs, and to support the bursary fund at Friends School, Saffron Walden (later Walden School). Thaxted Friends also give financial support to the central work of Britain Yearly Meeting. In addition, generous contributions are made to other Quaker and - through designated appeals- non-Quaker charities that align with our Quaker witness. Property Owned by the Area Meeting ## Non-Meeting House properties 2 Springhill Road, Saffron Walden: a residential property let to tenants and managed by Arkwrights Ltd, Saffron Walden Rear allotment at 2 Springhill Road: managed by a local committee for public benefit. The group reports annually to Saffron Walden Local Meeting, which in turn reports to trustees 69 High Street, Saffron Walden: a commercial property with two tenants, managed by Arkwrights Ltd 69a High Street, Saffron Walden: the warden’s residence Meeting Houses Bardfield Friends Meeting House Dunmow Friends Meeting House Saffron Walden Friends Meeting House Stansted Friends Meeting House Employment The Area Meeting employs a part-time warden, who lives in the house next to the Saffron Walden Meeting House. The warden is overseen by a line manager who reports to the Saffron Walden Resources Committee. The warden is paid the National Living Wage, pro rata, for 25 hours per week. Public Benefit – General Statement Our Meeting Houses offer public worship each Sunday morning, with provision for children where appropriate. Saffron Walden and Stansted Meetings also offer blended Meetings for Worship via Zoom, and some midweek meetings are available. Contact details for our meetings are published on the Area Meeting website. All Meeting Houses are available for hire by the public for a range of activities, providing opportunities for people to learn about Quakers and helping raise funds for maintenance, improvement, and other Quaker causes. Sustainability The continued use of the Zoom platform for worship and business meetings has helped reduce the Area Meeting’s carbon footprint. Risks Trustees regularly review risks in the areas of finance, property, safeguarding, and governance. Major risks identified include the cost of maintaining our Meeting Houses, the financial sustainability of lettings, and ensuring continued compliance with safeguarding and health and safety requirements. Trustees manage these risks by maintaining adequate reserves, appointing responsible officers, keeping policies under regular review, and seeking professional advice where needed. In 2024, a quinquennial survey of all properties was commissioned to inform future repairs and improvements. Trustees’ Aims for 2025 Trustees are grateful to all who serve the Area Meeting and the wider Quaker community in Britain and beyond. We look forward to the year ahead, upholding Quaker practice and sustained by faith, community, and shared witness. Trustees will continue to fulfil their responsibilities as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) THAXTED AREA MEETING Annual Accounts for the year onding 31 December 2024 The report and accompanying accounts cover the financial affairs of Thaxted Area Meeting consolidated those of its four constiiuent meetings. namely Bardfield, Dunmow, Saffron Walden and Stansted Local Meetings. As a charity the full title is 'Thaxted Area Quaker Meeting of the Religious society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain., Thaxted Area Meeting in shorl, Registered number 1194893. Allhough the Area Meeting. Ihrough its Iruslees. is ultimately responsible in practi the care and mainlersance of the Meeting Houses and other properties is undertaken by the Local Meetings and this is reflected in their accounts. The Trustees have an agreed reserves policy and review the reserves each year. All the accounts have been examined by a qualified person not connecled with any of the meetings. John Capper, Treasurer 18 Landscape View, Saffron Walden, CB114AU Legal and Administrative Infonnation Constitution and Purpose The Area Meeting is a Charflable Incorporated Organisation. charity number 1194893. Its objects are defined in f(s constitution, in particular the furtherance of the general religious and harilable purposes of the ReligK)us SoGiely of Friends (Quakers) in Britain. The principal activity is Ihe holding of Meetings lor Worship in the constituent local meetings of Bardfield, Dunmow, Saffton Walden and Slansled. The affairs of the Area Meeting are govetned by 'Quaker Failh and Practi￿, the Book of Discipline of Britain Yearly Meeting. There are lthemoranda of Understanding with Ihe Local Meetings. The membeis of the Area Meeting are 811 those persons whose names are recorded in its official register. The Managing Tnjslees ate appointed by a Meeting for worship for Business ofthe Area Meeting which also appoints a represenlalive and an alternate to serve on Meeting for Sufferings, the representalwe borty which advises Ihe Trustee body for the cenlrally managed work of Britain Yearly Meeting. Address for Correspondence Margaret SomeNi1￿, 54 Glebe Avenue. Biainlree, Essex, CM7 4SR Meeting House Addresses Bardfield FrTrends Meeling House. Brook Street. Great Bardfield. Essex, CM7 4SR Dunmi)w Friends Meeting House, New Street, Gre31 Dunmow. Essex. CM6 1 BH Saffron wa￿en Friends Meeting House. High Slreel, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1AA Slansted Friends Meeting House. 87 Chapel Hill. Stansted. Essex, CM24 8AE Managing Trustees. The folloiving Friends served in 2024- Maik Pivac, Cleik. 72 Old Mill Road, Saffron Walden. Essex, CB11 3ER John Capper,18 Landscape View. Saffron Walden. Essex, CB114AU Jonathan Morrell. 4 Priory Court, Apton Road. Bishops Slortford, Herts. Cm23 3SF Kail Gibbs, 69a High Street. Saffron Walden, Essex. CB10 1AA Heather Kent, 13. The Spike. Rad￿￿￿ter Road, Saffron Walden. CB11 3GA Tim Regan, Treasurer, Devon Cottage. Dunmow Road, Great Bardfield, Essex, CM7 4SE Bankers Co-operative Bank, P.0. Box 260, Delf House, Soulhway. Skelmersdale, WN8 6wr Barclays Bank PLC, 23 Hiqh Street, Royslon. SG8 gAB Custodian Trustee Friends Trusts Ltd. Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London, NW12BJ Page 2 Actounting Policies Basis of accountlng. These accounts have been prepared in accoidance with the Charity Commission Ststemtrrt of R¢commended Pra¢tice SORP 2015 (Statement of Financial Activities). Income aDd expenditure. Contributions, grants. legacies, inteTest, dI￿dends, and rents are all ireatcd as income in the yeAr in whicli they are received. Gift Aid recovetcd is tre￿¢d as income for the year in which the donations are made. Land and buildings. The properties owned by the Area Meeting cotnprÈsinu the Meeting HO￿eS aThJ Wardens, accotnfftodation are held for the furtheJ2nce of the Area Nlee(ing's charilable objects. There are two invcslmenl pro￿rtIeS, 69 Hkgh Street. Saffron Ivalden 8nd I Springhill Road. Saffron Walden. Oil the recommendation of the Quaker Stewardship Coillmitte£ of Briiain Yearly Meeting, capital value of the properti¢5 15 included in the accounts. The value of the properties is based on the illsuraiice Value. which is reviewed every year by ihe Meihodist Insura￿¢ CoTnpatLy. Th¢ contents of the M¢eting HOUS￿ are written off at purchase. Reserves. The Reserves are a littk I￿, primarily due lo some withdrnwais. They are in line with the reservrs policy and 8Jr review'ed each year. Local Meetings. In accordance with guIda￿e from ihe Charity CommÉssion and the Quaker Stewardship Committee Ihe unrwtrict¢d fvDd5 of L¢MI Meetings shown as designated funds. PrL8entation of the Accounts Th¢ accounts have b£en prepared ￿￿rtg Data Developments ':FitwKe Co-ordinattsr", th¢ software packag¢ recommended by ACAT (The A550cialion of Church Accounts and Trusurers). This does not SUP]y)n a spreadsheet showing in one table a breakdown of income and expenditure for the Are Mertirtg and all its constiliient Local Meetings, so these have been printed sewdrnt¢ly. Page 3 Report of tbe Independent Examiner I report on the consolidaied accounts of Thaxted Arca Quaker Meeting for the year ended 31 December 2024 . which are set out below. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's irustees are responsible for the prepardtion of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider thai an audit is not required for this year under section 144{2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 201 l Act) and thai an independent examination is nttded. It is my rcsponsibility to= examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act. to follow the proccdurc5 laid down in the generdl Directions given b> the Charity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of the 201 l Act. and to state ivhether particular matters have Come to my artention. Basis of independent examiner's report My examination w&% carried out in a¢¢ordan¢e with the general Directions giveTt by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept b￿. the charity and a Comparison of the accounts presented with those records. li also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, seeking explanations from truslees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would E* 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 limitcd to those matter5 set out in the statement below. Independent examiner'5 Statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: ( l ) which gives me re&sonable 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 accouniing.records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been mel. or (2) to which, in my opinion. attention should be drdwn in order to ¢nable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 4fjla Name: Amanda Prentice Address: Benten4 Abbey House, 51 High StreeL Saffron Walden. Essek CB10 I AF Page 4 THAXTED AREA MEETING STATEMELYT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES PERtOD I JANUARY - 31 DECEMI BER 2024 TOT.4L L,N- RESTRICtED PRIOR YFAR TOTAL FLryDS In¢0￿e and endowments fro Donations and legaci¢s Income from charitable activities Investments Other 39089 66811 3122 2212 111234 35548 66249 2153 103950 Expenditure Raising ￿ndS Expenditure on charitable activities Other expenditur¢ 752 69419 58060 375 436)) 53654 Total expenditure 128231 97664 Execss ineome over expeNditure 16997) 6286 Cains1105ses on investmeThts 5283 1386 Net incomelexpenditllrt 11713) 7672 Other recognised gainsllosses Gainsl{losses) on revaluations 80735 615377 Net movement in funds 69022 62i049 RhfjE S THAXTED AREA MEETING BALANCE SHEET- DETAILED PERIOD I JANUARY- 31 DECEMBER 2024 A5at Asat 3111212024 3111212023 Vixed Assets Saffton Walden Meeting House Stansted MeetiJJg House Bardfield Meeting House Dunmow Meeting Hollse 69A High Street (Warden's House) 69 High Street 2 SprinJ(T ill Road {MSM) 2801103 2730141 398155 398155 647893 647893 580404 580404 J42668 334006 505675 505675 292606 285193 Total Fixed A55ets 5568504 5481467 Current Assets Designated Co-op Account Saffron Walden COIF Deposit account Saffton Walden COIF Inveestment Fund Accumulation Units MSM Accollnt SpriThghill Road Barclays MSM COIF Depo51t Account s￿1th & Nephew MSM Shares Co-op Account ThLxted Area fvle¢ting AM COIF Deposit Account M&G Charibond UT)its AM BMO Units AM AM COIF Accumulation Units Dunmow Friends Providenb8SO Investtnent Duninow Pety Cash Duwnow Co-op Account Bardfield Co-op Bank Bardfield Triodos Bank Stallsted Barclays ACcoL￿t Stansted Green Pastures 5074 9705 73?6 11742 31189 29510 34 33 li999 13203 23838 30140 2488 7229 6818 959 971 12744 12744 25109 23757 16190 19924 29 39 3859 5662 1356 4601 3021 2952 60256 57982 15000 15000 Total Current A&sets 2297 247715 r4et Asset surplus (Defieit) 5798204 5729182 RESERVES Starting balance Excessldeficit ID period Other gainsl(losses) in ihe ￿riod Gaind(losses) on revaluation of fixed ￿ets 5729182 5106133 6286 16997) 528J.17 1386 80735 615377 5798204 i729182 Phog 7 Notes t(b the Accounts Trustee Remuuerntion Trustees were not remunerated. Trustee Expenses There were no expenses claimed by the Trustees in 2024. Related Party Transgctions There were no related party transactions. Ex Gratia Payments There werc no ex gratia payments. Contributions to BYM and other eharitios. Local Meetings agree any grants lo Britain Ycarly Meeting. Saffron Ivalden has weekly collections. Thc charity to be collcGted for on a particular week 15 agreed at a lo¢al meeting for business and individual Friends rnake Contributions if they ivish lo support the charity concerned. the last ¢olle.-tion eacli month is for central fund5. Occasionally a local meeting for business will agree to support a particular appeal, often for Local Mecling Building Appcals, from Local Meeting funds. these are shown separately in the ac¢ounts under"Grdnts agreed by Local Meeting" RA4E 5 Report of the Independent Examiner I report on the consolidated accounts of Thaxted Area Quaker Meeting for the year ended 31 December 2024 . which are set out below. Respective responsibiliti&s of truslees examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The ¢haritv'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 ne¢d¢d. 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 b! the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act- and to stale whether particular mattets have come to my attention. Basis of 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 bv the charity and a Comparison of the ac¢ounts presenred with ihose records. It also includes considerntion of any unusual items or disclosures in the a¢¢ounls, seeking explanations from trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'tru¢ and fair view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the slatemeni below. Independent examiner's statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention= ( l) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements.. to keep accounting records in a¢cordan¢¢ with section 130 of the 201 l Act- and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met: or (2) to which, in my opinion. attention should be drnwn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Name: Amanda Prentice Address: Bentens. Abbey House. 51 High Street, Saffron Walden, Essei CB10 IAF "1tr(7 lis Page 4