Annual Report 2020
HELP US TO HELP OTHERS
www.qmcg.org.uk Charity Registration No. 211764
1
Hugo Barnard
HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy Patron
I would like to thank you, the Trustees and all Guild members, for your remarkable achievement. In spite of the pandemic, and against the odds, each one of you has contributed to the successful distribution of a huge amount of clothing and bedding to those in need around the UK.
I am very proud that this unique and long-established charity continues to provide effective support to so many, most particularly during this challenging year.
3
Patron: HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy Trustees: Gillie Jackson – Chairman of the Trustees Sharon Stewart – Hon. Treasurer Jane Fitzgerald Mary Guppy – from 23[rd] June 2020 Teresa Myers Linda Thompson Roisin Tierney Susan Wallace Executive Committee Linda Thompson - CEO Julia Knight - Vice CEO Sharon Stewart - Hon. Treasurer Ruth Briant – from 15[th] April 2020 Hadley Denny – from 5[th] March 2020 Sallie Hawkins Victoria Spendlove - President of the Royal Group Sherry Watson – from 5[th] March 2020 Secretary: Heather Mears Charity Number: 211764 Registered Address: 22 Stamford Brook Road London W6 0XH Independent Examiner Heyburn Bennett Ltd 9 Bridge Street, Walton on Thames Surrey KT12 1AE Investment Advisors: Investec Wealth and Investment Limited 30 Gresham Street London EC2V 7QN
4
TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31[st] December 2020
The Trustees present their accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2020. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the statement and notes to the accounts.
Purpose of the Queen Mother’s Clothing Guild (QMCG)
The aim of the Queen Mother’s Clothing Guild is to make, buy and source new clothing, sleeping bags and linen and to distribute these items once a year to British charities, operating only in the United Kingdom, to help vulnerable and homeless people.
Why our work is important
QMCG is one of the oldest charities in the United Kingdom and, from its inception in 1882, its purpose has been to support those in need. QMCG responds to requests from charities across the UK for new items they have difficulty in sourcing or funding themselves. In this year of COVID pandemic that help has been even more critical – the majority of the supported charities did not receive as many clothing donations from the public, so the Guild donations were needed more than ever. QMCG knows that the gift of brand new clothing and linen provides not only warmth and comfort but, importantly, also helps to restore dignity and self-respect.
How we work
Our list of supported charities includes refuges for women and children escaping violence, homeless shelters and outreach units, hostels providing support and rehabilitation for exservicemen and women, neonatal units and hospices providing respite and end of life care for children and adults - and many others. Each year we ask charities that we support for a list of items they most need and that will make a difference.
Each year QMCG supporters knit and stitch beautiful handmade items. In 2020, again in response to the COVID pandemic, Guild supporters hand stitched three ply cotton face masks which were shared between supported charities. Normal Guild fundraising events were not possible due to COVID restrictions. The Guild adapted and ran events and the annual raffle online to raise substantial sums to ensure funds to purchase linen, sleeping bags and clothing most needed by those we support. All of these items are normally distributed in the autumn from St James’s Palace. Due to COVID restrictions, the distribution took place at Hendall Manor Barns in Sussex with a very small team of 20, to ensure that the new clothing and bedding reached charities as normal. The timing of our annual distributions works particularly well for charities helping the homeless as their need is greatest during winter months.
Where we work
QMCG works with charities across the UK, but its main activities are in England and Scotland.
Public Benefit
In setting the objectives and activities of the charity, the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidelines concerning public benefit. QMCG continues to place great emphasis on its commitment to support other charities in their work, providing brand new clothing and linen to help where the charities have difficulty in sourcing these items themselves.
5
The public benefits of QMCG’s work are wide reaching through the varied charities it supports and can be seen as both direct and indirect in their nature. Direct through the practical help that is given to the charities QMCG supports in response to their actual needs. Indirect through the positive effect of these donations of new clothing and linen on those who receive them, helping to restore their sense of self-worth and dignity – both essential to those facing hardship. Direct also through the friendship, purpose and sense of belonging that knitting and stitching gives to the many supporters all over the country, some of whom are isolated at home.
Fundraising
Under the Charities Act 2016, all charities in England and Wales that spend more than £100,000 a year on fundraising are expected to make a voluntary contribution to the regulator’s running costs.
As QMCG spends considerably less than £100,000 a year on fundraising it is, therefore, not eligible to pay the voluntary contribution to the regulator’s running costs that would be required under the Charities Act 2016.
Risk Assessment
Again this year, in making decisions, the Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission Guidance on public benefit, in compliance with section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 and have given consideration as to how the activities of QMCG contribute to its charitable status.
In terms of QMCG’s risk assessment policy, the programme of visits to the charities we support was carried out in the first part of the year before the first COVID lockdown in March. All charities we support, existing and proposed, are regularly visited by a team of two Guild members. These visits provide us with information about the charities, their current needs and how best we can assist them. Importantly, visits help to guard against inappropriate use of our donations and help us monitor whether our donations are relevant and reaching those we aim to help. During the COVID lockdowns our CEO contacted the directors/CEOs of supported charities to reassure them that they could rely on help from the Guild despite the effects of the pandemic.
The other main areas of risk are QMCG’s two annual events, Packing Week and the AGM. Public Liability insurance continues in place – it was not possible to hold the AGM and the Packing Week was a much smaller event than normal to comply with COVID restrictions in place at the time.
The Guild in Scotland
Despite the COVID pandemic, Guild Ambassadors in Scotland, led by Clare Russell, managed to distribute 2,581 much needed items of clothing and bedding to 14 charities all over Scotland. Shona Doherty and her group yet again beat their previous record, allocating 1,300 handmade blankets and garments from their View Day to 8 charities. Lynn Benge, who has led a group and organised a marvellous Annual View Day for over 30 years, donating huge numbers of wonderful items to Scottish charities, was sadly not able to distribute to charities this year as both she and her husband have suffered from poor health this past year. We wish them both well. Mrs Pipe’s wonderful legacy continues to fund the purchase of new linen and clothing - this year 1,281 items were sourced.
6
Chairman’s Report
In my August letter I began by mentioning the strange and difficult times we have been living through, times that could not have been predicted when I wrote my last Report. The Guild was faced with a year in which no physical charity visits were possible, our AGM was unable to go ahead and Packing Week became 2 days in Hendall Manor Barns, managed by just 20 helpers in an amazingly successful way.
It has been the most challenging of years for so many charities - but I am deeply proud to be able to report that QMCG rose superbly to the challenge, with online fundraising, a wonderful new website (qmcg.org.uk), Zoom meetings and, most rewarding of all, we donated 57,221 items to some 60 charities in the autumn, ensuring, as always, that we gave just what was needed. 14,000 of these items were PPE gloves and masks – with an additional 600 3-ply masks 'made with love' by our wonderful members. It is moving and heart-warming to report that we proved to be a lifeline for many of our recipient charities and their beneficiaries: what more could one ask at such a time. I do want to express my heartfelt thanks to all our Friends and Ambassadors for all the very hard work and for the wonderful donations, that made this possible.
We are thrilled to now have 84 new Friends and 24 Ambassadors and Honorary Ambassadors.
I also want to give the biggest thank you to both the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee for their unstinting hard work and dedication throughout the year. We have been very pleased to welcome Helen Whitbread as a Trustee: both Helen and the Whitbread family have been strong supporters of the Guild over many years. We have also been delighted to welcome Sherry Watson, Hadley Denny and Ruth Briant on to the Executive Committee.
We record our heartfelt thanks to HRH Princess Alexandra for her continued and valued support for the Guild, as we look ahead to another year of providing vital help to the needy.
We are pleased to confirm that the accountants Heyburn Bennett Ltd and the financial advisors Investec Wealth and Investment Limited have been re-appointed to act for the Guild for a further year.
Gillie Jackson Chairman Board of Trustees
7
ACCOUNTS For year ending 31[st] December 2020
Please refer to the separate signed Accounts 2020 document.
Summary of income and expenditure account for the financial year ended 31[st] December 2020
In the current year, total outgoings exceeded income by £3,561. This compared to 2019 where there was a surplus of £17,869. Overall income was £71,477 compared to £92,830 in 2019. The income figure in 2019 includes the cash withdrawal of £40,000 from the investment portfolio which was used to purchase items of clothing and linen. There was a £10,000 cash withdrawal in 2020 which was used to fund the new website and branding.
In a year when fundraising was difficult due to the COVID pandemic we were delighted to raise over £10,000 with our virtual sponsored walk around the UK. Together with an online raffle and the selling of novelty knitted items on our new Etsy shop this increased our fundraising income to £14,266 (£10,886 in 2019). Donations of £22,405 (£15,448 in 2019) were boosted by the setting up of the Friends’ scheme.
Overall outgoings were £75,038 in 2020 compared to £74,961 in 2019 (£77 increase). Purchasing of clothing and linen, including those items distributed to Scottish charities with the income from Mrs Pipe’s fund, was £51,396 compared to £51,531 in 2019. The costs of running the Charity in 2020 were £23,642 compared to £23,430 in 2019.
Our grateful thanks go to all those individuals, organisations and grant-giving trusts who continue to support us and contribute to our work.
8
OJEEN CLoifHTr4GIWLD .i¥b
119 Legaaes Grarts 72W¥ 15A4• 2 FITas1¢ E¥erfs Rattle Sthsof Notdetsl Card5 sal of 8ae5 Saks Ca Scella Irrt¢mt J.7D4 831 Maln F InFw 11T.7•7 1131 210.1Y6 4*447 51.J9¢ io
1019 ¥334 til5tiLyWIPThe wetsit¢& Serre¢arfal Fees Expr .1 22.402 1Tr.I 7Ji s lipe's FLtyJ 123.4•H 132.924 in Fthd ws lipe's Fd E4055 lJ)19£4mll 4$ a (Clle(lif>J5 tt4ryef m&nagirethtrAYrfrllo Majh FLY¥J 5 Pty¢.$Fj inJ 7.1 IJ.175 4730 trtsin FLtyJ rs pe.5 Fths 1$7.111 iTO.4 515.SDT 510.071 YJ24w£587.758 11019 E618J81
The charity's tmsteesare resp0ngbftTre preparnt)n ofth&C0ts. 11th8lTWSt$tÈes corh5ider thatan audit is not requi¥ed for this year under section 144 of thecharities Art 2011 Iihe Cha¢itie>Attl and that an ithlepndent ey•minatw)n Jti5 my reS110.' EAamine thÈactOuntsun(l¥se¢tN 145ofthe charit Tofollowthe procedures down in genetal DireCuon58iTh bythe Chartty commlon un(lerseaion 145151 b of the CharItSL and to ststÈwhetherparbcular matters have tomÈtO rnyattentn. My ernInlI0 wa5£arned out inaccorfanceith the8ener31 Directionsgfven by thecharity Commi%Sion. An ÈxaminatK)n in¢lLrtles¥ revwofihe atcountir8r£xords kept bythecharity comparison of the accouThtspre5ented wih those records. ttalso includes cOnderatn of any unusual ftems or disck)S{es1l1f axwntsand eknng ExpliAl1n5fro thetru5teescoKernir any such matter5. The prOdreS undertaken do noi prode all the e¥entthat Would required In an audit and no tsBwen a5 iowhethertheaccounts presenta trye and fairf wewand the rwrt is IlnW ¢Ottsxemattersset out in thÈ5tatemertbelow. ItkWndentexamlnrfsststm In ¢onne¢bon with ryeNaminatK)n. nowottET15(ometo my4ttentKwb Which gNe5 me thE¥ea50nable(au5eto beliethat In, anymaterfal respec[ the requiremens to keepaccovMi records in acCOrdae ith secrkjn 130of the Chare$A to prtyaie aCCKha¢¢tyO th theacityjntini re(ord5atKlcornptywith the accoufflti requirementsofthe charitArt habt MJLbeen met.. OR 2. to which, in myopinion. atteiition shoukl drawn in ordertoen•blea kwr undeistsr¥lin8tsfthe atctyjntstotsereathed. Mèrkjohn Heybum Heyburn Bennett Ltd Chartered Certified Atcountantsand Regigttred AlI{L5 9 Bre Street, waltoh oThThar.SurreY Kfiz L4E Date.. 28 Ici 12
BENEFICIARIES 2020
*Newly supported in 2020
| Charities supported in England: | SSAFA,Central London |
| Age UK Wiltshire | St Anne’s,Little Sisters of the Poor,London |
| Alabare,Salisbury* | St Luke’s Hospice,Essex |
| Barons Court Project,West London | St Peter & St James Hospice,East Sussex |
| Cardinal Hume Centre,Central London | Stonepillow,East Sussex |
| Caritas Anchor House,East London* | Swindon Women's Aid* |
| ChangingPathways,Essex | The Passage,Central London |
| Companions of the Order of Malta,London* | The Upper Room,London |
| CrawleyOpen House,West Sussex | Veterans Aid,London |
| Croydon Refugee DayCentre,Croydon | |
| Emmaus Greenwich, London | Neo Natal Units supported: |
| Emmaus Hastings,East Sussex | Northwick Park Hospital,Harrow |
| Glassdoor,London | Royal London Hospital,East London |
| GSTT CharitySamaritan Fund,Central London* | Stoke Mandeville Hospital,Bucks |
| Havens Hospice,Essex | St Thomas' Hospital,London |
| Home of Comfort,Southsea | |
| Hope Kitchen,East Sussex | Charities supported in Scotland: |
| Kairos, London | AberNecessities, Aberdeen* |
| Leonard Cheshire St Cecilia’s,Bromley | Bethesda Hospice,Stornoway |
| London CityMission,London | Cardinal Winning,Glasgow |
| Manna Society,London | Cyrenians,Aberdeen |
| Nelson Trust,Swindon | Erskine House,Renfrewshire |
| Pram Depot, London (supporting Birth Companions, Doctors of the World UK & Happy BabyCommunity)* |
Highland Hospice,Inverness |
| Rachel House, Kinross | |
| Pottergate Arc,Norwich* | Rachel House,Kinross |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities,London | Robin House,Balloch |
| SalisburyWomen’s Refuge,Wiltshire | Simon Community Govan Hill Women’s Project,Glasgow |
| Salvation Army,Eastbourne* | St Vincent’s Hospice,Johnstone |
| Salvation Army Hoxton, London | Women’s Aid, Caithness |
| Seaview,East Sussex | Women’s Aid,Glasgow |
| Snowflake,East Sussex | Women’s Aid,Inverness |
| Spitalfields Crypt Trust,East London | Women’s Aid,Sutherland |
13
FRIENDS OF QMCG AS OF JUNE 2021
AMBASSADOR *HON. AMBASSADOR
| Allan,Ms Angela | Londesborough,Lady |
|---|---|
| Berthon,Mrs Alex | Manners,Mrs Lucy |
| Benge,Mrs Lynn** | Mansfield,Ms Sarah |
| Blake,Mrs Susan | Marchant,Mrs Barbara |
| Briant,Mrs Ruth(EC) | Marsh,Miss Wendy |
| Briant,Mr Julian | Mavor,Mrs J. Elizabeth |
| Buckmaster,Mrs Julia | Mount,Mrs Gabrielle |
| Carter,Miss Pamela | Mulryne,Mrs Eithne |
| Carver,Mrs Elizabeth* | Myers,Mrs Teresa(T) |
| Clarendon,Dowager Countess** | Myers,Mrs Louise |
| Clarke,Mrs Daphne** | Newman,Mrs Mary |
| Cobbett,Mrs Jane | Orlebar,Mrs Nicola** |
| Craufurd,LadyGeorgina | Parry,Mrs Rachel* |
| Crawford,Mrs Tessa* | Phillips,Mr Lindsay |
| Daughtree,Mrs Sheilah** | Purslow,Mrs Jayne |
| Davies,Dr Diane | Rivaz,Mrs Fiona |
| De Souza,Mrs Caroline | Robins,Mrs Naomi** |
| Denison-Pender,Hon. Mrs Clare | Russell LVO,Mrs Clare* |
| Denny,Mrs Hadley (EC) | Sarfaty,Miss Abigail |
| Dix,Mrs Diana* | SherryArcher,Mary |
| Docherty,Mrs Shona* | Spendlove,Mrs Victoria(EC) |
| Edney,Mrs Jean* | Spendlove,Mr Thomas |
| Eliot Cohen,Mrs Susie** | Spendlove,Mr Harry |
| Everall,Mrs Annie | Squire,Mrs Nicola* |
| Fitzalan Howard,Ms Sarah | Stewart,Mrs Sharon(EC,T) |
| FitzGerald,Mrs Jane** | Tham,Mrs Jane** |
| Franks,Mr Stephen | Thomas,Mrs Sylvie** |
| Goolden,Mrs Sigi | Thompson,Mrs Linda(EC,T) |
| Guppy,Mrs Mary (T) | TierneyMVO,Miss Roisin(T) |
| Hanmer,LadyA.M | Trinder,Mrs Kate* |
| Hart,Mrs Donna* | Vandenwijngaerden,Mrs Su |
| Hawkins,Ms Sallie* | von Pistohlkors,Amelie |
| Helliar,Ms Norma | Wallace,Mrs Susan(T) |
| Hillery,Ms Iris | Wallace,Mr Philip |
| Hime,Miss Roz | Watson,Miss Sherry (EC) |
| Jackson,Mrs Gillie(T) | Webster,Mrs Maureen |
| Johnson,Mrs Wendy | Whitbread,Mrs Helen(T) |
| Jones,Mrs Liza** | Wilkinson,Mrs Caroline |
| King,Mrs Pauline | Williams,Mrs Gabrielle |
| Knight,Mrs Julia* | Windham,Mr C Will F |
| Laverty,Mrs Linda* | Woodford,Mrs Matilda |
| Littleton,Miss Jeni | Wright,Mrs Fiona |
14
THANK YOU LETTERS
COMPANIONS OF THE ORDER OF MALTA, LONDON
‘I want to thank you so very much for your incredibly generous donations to the CoMs. Last night we unpacked all the bags and boxes and it was a fabulous collection of important items for the homeless at our soup kitchens. Many day centres and soup kitchens are closing in London with the change in Covid guidelines again, and so for the homeless the soup kitchens we are running are extremely important. Last night we managed to give out the space blankets and thermals, amongst other items, that are vital as the weather becomes cold. Not forgetting the beautiful masks you made for us.’
SWINDON WOMENS AID
‘I am absolutely over whelmed by the generosity of what we received. It is just so fantastic, there is just so much wonderful new clothes, bedding, towels etc. We are truly grateful, some of the residents have already benefited from the wonderful clothes that we have given to them. All of the staff here are delighted and giving the women and children brand new clothes and not second hand clothes will really help their self-esteem and not feel like they are second rate individuals.’
MANNA SOCIETY, LONDON
Thank you for the QMCG’s very generous donation of clothes, sleeping bags, PPE & especially the handmade face masks to the Manna Society (as you can see from the attached they are very welcome!). Your donation and ongoing support is greatly appreciated and essential to the continuation of the services we offer here to some of the most disadvantaged people in our society. Your clothes will be distributed via our clothing store which operates three days a week.
15
QM CG QUEEN MOTHER'S CLOTHING GUILD FOUNDED 1882