2023-12-31-accounts - John Fisher Network

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John Fisher Network

Annual report and financial statements

31 December 2023

Charity Registration Number 1200617 (England and Wales)

Reports
Reference and administrative information	3
Trustees’ report	4
Independent Examiner’s report	7
Financial statements
Statement of financial
activities	8
Balance sheet	9
Principal accounting policies and notes
to the accounts	10

Trustees

Baroness Sheila Hollins Archbishop Mark O’Toole Dr Helen Costigane Stephen Macklow-Smith

Company Secretary

Chris Wyatt

Charity Registration Number 1200617 (England & Wales)

Registered Office

4 Rectory Rd, London SW13 0DT

Independent Examiner

Mary Nugent ACA

Bankers

Lloyds Bank plc

The Trustees present their report for the period 7 October 2022 to 31 December 2023 together with the financial statements of the John Fisher Network for the period 7 October 2022 to 31 December 2023. This is the first annual report of the charity which has been granted permission by the Charity Commission to report for a 16-month period starting from the grant of its charitable status.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 10 of the attached financial statements and comply with the Charity’s governing document, applicable laws and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Mission

The objects of the John Fisher Network are to provide support and mentoring services to leaders of religious institutions.

The John Fisher Network meets its obligations by running a helpline open to religious leaders who are seeking advice, psychotherapy, mentoring, support and coaching. The Charity also runs a private list of senior psychotherapists, and the convenors on its helpline seek to introduce clients to suitable practitioners. The database is maintained by a clinical advisory group which reports to the trustees.

Governance, structure and management

The John Fisher Network is an unincorporated trust. Its trustees and those on the clinical advisory group provide their services gratis .

Governing Document

The governing document of the Charity was registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales on 7 Oct 2022 and a summary can be found on their website at https://register-ofcharities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5193572/governing-document

Trustees

The management of the Charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Trust deed.

Appointment of Trustees

Trustees are appointed in accordance with the governing document

Trustees who served during the period 7 October 2022 to 31 December 2023

Baroness Sheila Hollins Archbishop Mark O’Toole Dr Helen Costigane Stephen Macklow-Smith

Charity activities

The John Fisher Network raises funds through donations to support its work.

Organisational structure and decision making

The Trustees meet at least four times a year and make all policy decisions for the Charity and receive reports from those running its activities.

All of the John Fisher Network’s charitable work is carried out on a voluntary basis. The charity pays a retainer to those who staff its helpline. All clients enter into a separate contract with the practitioner to whom they are assigned. All of the practitioners are self-employed and none of them are employees of the John Fisher Network.

Governance, structure and management (continued)

Risk management

The trustees maintain a risk register and review risk regularly. In the period under review the Charity was initiating operations by setting up systems and a helpline and recruiting members of its Clinical Advisory Group and convenors for its helpline. The Charity’s first client was directed to a practitioner before the end of the period. The Charity’s operational risk is therefore at this stage low.

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies

Activities and specific objectives in the period

As stated above the objects of the Charity are providing support to office holders in Christian churches including by referring or facilitating access to a range of psychological and educational services such as psychotherapy, leadership training and professional supervision.

Main activities

The Trustees confirm that they have given due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and planning its objectives.

The John Fisher Network meets its charitable objectives by various activities which are described in the sections which follow.

The Charity has set up a Clinical Advisory Group [CAG] comprised of psychotherapy and counselling professionals, who give their time on a voluntary basis. The CAG has recruited two convenors to run the charity’s helpline and assessed their credentials. It has also created a list of suitable psychotherapy and counselling professional to whom potential clients can be directed.

Investment policy

A cash deposit is held with a retail bank with the aim of maximising the rate of interest achieved without taking undue risk.

Financial report for the period 7 October 2022 to 31 December 2023.

Results for the period

Total income for the period was £84,829. Income was generated from donations and bank interest. Total expenditure for the period was £7,564. The charity generated a surplus of £77,265 for the period.

Reserves policy and financial position

Reserves policy

The aim of the Trustees is to hold sufficient reserves to produce a regular revenue stream, which will be used to further the Charity’s charitable work. The Charity’s initial grant was very generous and is fully sufficient for the Charity’s immediate needs, meaning that no further funds need to be raised this year. As the pool of potential clients increases in size the Charity will review its ongoing needs.

As at 31 December 2023, the Charity had an unrestricted fund balance of £77,265.

Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities (continued)

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

¨ select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
¨ observe the methods and principles in Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102);
¨ make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
¨ state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
¨ prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Each of the Trustees confirms that:

¨ so far as the Trustee is aware, there is no relevant information of which the charity’s Independent Examiner is unaware; and
¨ the Trustees have taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a Trustee in order to make himself/herself aware of any relevant information and to establish that the charity’s Independent Examiner is aware of that information.

This report was approved by the Trustees on 9[th] October 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

Stephen Macklow-Smith (Trustee) Date 9[th] October 2024

Independent Examiner’s report to the trustees of the John Fisher Network

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Trust for the period 7 October 2022 to 31 December 2023 which are set out on pages 8 to 10.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records of the John Fisher Network were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or,
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or,
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concern and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Mary Nugent ACA Date 14 October 2024 Chartered Accountant ICAEW

Gosden Common, Bramley GU5 0AQ

Statement of Financial Activities for the Period ended 31 December 2023

Incoming Resources Voluntary Income Donations Unrestricted Investment Income Bank Interest Total Incoming Resources Expenses Charitable Activities Convenors’ Expenses Support Costs Governance Costs Independent Examiner’s Fee Total Resources Expended Net Incoming Resources		£ 83,920 909 ______ 84,829 4,800 2,264 500 _____ 7,564 ______ 77,265

Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2023

Current Assets Cash and Bank Current Liabilities Accrued Liabilities Net Current Assets Funds Unrestricted Fund Total Funds	£ 77,765 (500) __ 77,265 77,265 ____ 77,265

Principal accounting policies

These financial statements have been prepared for the period 7 October 2022 to 31 December 2023. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (‘Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charitable Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006. The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 10.

Funds

All funds constitute a single fund which is unrestricted and can be used for the objects of the Charity.

The underlying Charity reserves policy, approved by the Trustees, is to maintain a level of unrestricted reserves that will enable the Charity to maintain a continuity of activity together with the ability to adjust in a measured way to significant changes in the external economic environment and demands for the grants provided by the Charity.

Going Concern

The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis, no material uncertainties that may cause significant doubt about the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern have been identified by the Trustees.

Notes to the accounts

Incoming resources

A single donation amounting to £83,920 provided most of the incoming resources for the period.

Support costs

Support costs relating to the Charity's charitable activities comprised:

IT expenses Meeting expenses Accountancy Administration expenses Total support costs	£ 1,584 318 90 272 ______ £2,264

Investments

Investments are funds held on interest bearing deposit with Lloyd’s Bank.

Trustees' remuneration and expenses

None of the Trustees was remunerated or received any reimbursement of expenses during the year. Signed on behalf of the Trustees

Stephen Macklow-Smith (Trustee) Date 9[th] October 2024