The Association for Promoting Retreats 2023-2024 Report and Accounts
# **THE ASSOCIATION FOR PROMOTING RETREATS**
# **TRUSTEES’ REPORT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024**
## **Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisers**
**The Association for Promoting Retreats** will throughout this report and accounts be referred to as ( **the) APR.** The charity registration number is **222458.**
**Principal address:** c/o 5 Glebe Park Balderton Newark NG24 3GN **Telephone number:** 01636 555085 **Email and internet addresses:** Email: promoting.retreats@gmail.com Website: www.promotingretreats.org
## **The Trustees at the date of this report are:**
Revd Carol Smith (elected Jan 2018) Revd Alison Christian (elected Jan 2018) Ms Susan Parker (co-opted annually) Revd Ian Spencer (elected Nov 2023) Urs Mattmann (elected Nov 2023)
Mr Stewart McCredie (elected Sept 2017) Revd Cameron Butland (elected Apr 2021) Revd Nicholas Buxton (elected Oct 2019) Revd Dawn Harrison (elected Nov 2023)
No Trustee receives any remuneration from the charity.
## **The Officers who served during the year are:**
President Rt Reverend John Stroyan Chair Revd Carol Smith Vice Chair Revd Alison Christian Treasurer Ms Susan Parker Secretary and Administrator Ms Demelza Henderson
**Advisers:** Bankers Lloyds Bank PLC 98 Victoria Street London SW1E 5JL Independent Examiner Rachel Rudkin FCCA Duncan & Toplis 14 London Road Newark Nottinghamshire NG24 1TW
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The Association for Promoting Retreats 2023-2024 Report and Accounts
## **Structure, governance and management :**
The Association for Promoting Retreats (APR) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, number 222458. The charity is not required to be registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. The APR is an unincorporated association established under a trust deed in 1913. After various prior amendments a replacement Constitution was adopted in November 2012, followed by amendment by resolution of one minor administrative detail in October 2013.
The policy and general management of the affairs of the APR is directed by a committee of Trustees, which meets four times a year. Trustees are elected by members and serve up to three years, being eligible for re-election for two further three-year terms. The Trustees delegate the day to day running of the charity to the Administrator. During the absence of an Administrator roles were delegated to the Trustees.
The APR is a Founder Member of the Retreat Association, a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales with the number 1150792. The Retreat Association also retains its previous registration as an unincorporated association under the Charity Commission registration number 328746, which continues for the purpose only of receiving future legacies.
The Retreat Association brings together the APR with other member groups working with a joint purpose to promote and encourage retreats and Christian spirituality across the denominations.
In compliance with their legal obligation, the Trustees confirm that there have been no serious incidents in connection with APR which required a report to be made to the Charity Commission.
## **Objectives and activities:**
The APR was established and still operates for the advancement of religion by promoting the development of the Christian life through retreats, through the promoting of retreats within the Anglican Churches in the United Kingdom.
The Trustees have taken into consideration the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission, and particularly the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. The Trustees consider that the work carried out by the APR, both through the Retreat Association and as an independent charity, continues to be of great public benefit in terms of religion and education. To this end, the APR works to maintain and strengthen its promotion and support for going on retreat, throughout the Church and wider society. In addition to its support of the Retreat Association, the main activities of the APR have included:
- Promoting the use of Anglican retreat houses within the Anglican Church.
- Organising conferences and meetings for Leaders and Spirituality Advisers to the Anglican Church.
- Informing members through distribution of a twice-yearly newsletter, and the annual handbook _Retreats_ published by the Retreat Association.
- Supporting individuals to go on retreat who might otherwise not be able to afford it through a designated bursary fund.
- Organising retreats and other events for members and other events, using subscribers’ retreat premises wherever possible.
- Providing complimentary membership of APR to those recently ordained to the diaconate and priesthood.
Further information about the APR can be found at its website, www.promotingretreats.org
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The Association for Promoting Retreats 2023-2024 Report and Accounts
## **Chairman Annual Report:**
Reflecting on the year under report, let us rejoice that the APR’s ministry has continued to grow and to thrive. Apart from acknowledging God’s blessings, no small thanks for this are due to the work of committed trustees and the steadfast support of all our members. Particular noteworthy items now follow.
As members will be aware, APR subscription rates which had remained unchanged for nearly a decade were reviewed in 2023 and the following modest increases which were communicated and reported on in our Spring 2024 newsletter came into effect from 1[st] April:
|April:|||
|---|---|---|
|**Membership Category**|**Current**
**subscription**|**Subscription**
**from**
**1 April 2024**|
|Individual|25|30|
|Concession|20|25|
|Newly-qualified Spiritual
Director|15|20|
|Group|35|35|
|Friend|50|50|
|Small House (<6 beds, or non-res)|30|40|
|Medium House (7-19 beds)|50|60|
|Large House (>20 beds)|100|100|
|Retreat giver (in-person or online)|-|50|
_(I will leave any other financial reporting in the capable hands of our wonderful Treasurer, Susan Parker.)_
We held our Diocesan Spirituality Advisers’ Conference : ‘Renewal and Re-Creation’ in April at Launde Abbey when feedback received from the 34 people representing 26 different dioceses who attended was overwhelmingly positive. Led by Ruth Harvey (Leader of the Iona Community), with an introduction by Bishop John Stroyan and talks by Susanne Carlsson (Spirituality Advisor to Rochester and Canterbury Dioceses); Alison MacTier (Executive Director of the RA) and Cameron Butland (APR Trustee and RA Chair), participants received a rich variety of resources for their work in spiritual direction or accompaniment. Safeguarding and Supervision needs and processes in this context were also shared. The programme also allowed for plenty of time for networking, which was valued.
At a residential meeting at the Royal Foundation of St Katharine (RFSK) in July your board of trustees conducted their usual annual review, celebrated the past year, considered the present and sought counsel together as to what the next 12 months might hold. RFSK’s delightful chapel, beautifully kept gardens and superb hospitality leant themselves extraordinarily well to this exercise as we immersed our work and ourselves in prayer. God’s good gifts certainly blessed us with energy and creativity! For example, here is a taste of what is to come:
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The Association for Promoting Retreats 2023-2024 Report and Accounts
In order to extend APR’s desire to ‘care for the carers’ whilst simultaneously promoting retreats we agreed to introduce **New Bursary Scheme provision** for:
- **Church of England School teachers and headteachers** _(for up to 50% of the cost of a retreat, to a maximum of £150, which must be taken at an APR member retreat house. Applications to be made through Retreat House wardens using a bespoke form (as with the NHS Bursary Scheme)._
- **Retreat House Wardens** _(usual bursary conditions to apply)._
- **APR Administrator** _(bursary assistance to go on a retreat every other year)._
Other new initiatives to look forward to in the future are:
- a **Wellbeing Event** for **Retreat House Wardens** _(details to follow when available)_ and
- an **APR Annual Weekend Retreat** , which in 2025 will be held from 7[th] to 9[th] March at Sheldon House _(full booking details to follow in due course)_ .
And finally – as I write – we are looking forward to our 2024 Annual Retreat to be held at St Katharine’s Parmoor from 22[nd] to 24[th] October, to be led by Revd Canon Dr Andrew D Mayes, author of ‘Beyond the Edge’ – Spiritual Transitions for adventurous souls. This retreat will help us reflect on the changes and transformations to which Christ beckons us, and will include opportunities for prayer, silence and corporate worship _._
## **Financial Review:**
The accounts, which 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) (effective 1 January 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) are set out on pages 6-11.
Total income of £31,794 has increased this year compared with last year of £18,427. Total expenditure has decreased to £37,624 compared with last year of £47,261. This increase in income has occurred due to the Spiritual Advisors Conference which is biannual and the Bursary contribution being higher this year, which incurs most of the income and Expenditure.
The investments show an unrealised profit of £11,369 for the year compared with PY loss of £6,094. This has resulted in an overall net surplus for the year of £5,539 (2023: £34,928 deficit). See notes 3 & 6 for further details.
## **Approved by the Committee of Trustees and signed on its behalf by:**
The Reverend Carol Smith, Chair of the Committee of Trustees
**Dated:**
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The Association for Promoting Retreats 2023-2024 Report and Accounts
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees**
I report on the accounts of the APR for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages 6 to 11.
## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner**
The charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity'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 needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 of the Act);
- follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes the review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be 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 limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable 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 accounting records and comply with the requirements of the 2011 Act have been met.
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable the proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Rachel Rudkin FCCA Duncan & Toplis Limited Chartered Accountants 14 London Road Newark Nottinghamshire NG24 1TW
Dated:
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The Association for Promoting Retreats 2023-2024 Report and Accounts
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024**
|**Income and Expenditure**|**Note**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**|**Restricted**
**Funds**|**Total**
**Funds**|**Total**
**Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**2024**|**2024**|**2024**|**2023**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Income from:||||||
|_Charitable activities_||||||
|-Membership subscriptions||10,890||10,890|10,775|
||||-|||
|-Spirituality Advisers’ conference||7,383|-|7,383|440|
|-Sundries/events||4,989||4,989|471|
||||-|||
|-Donations and legacies||2,636||2,636|1,507|
||||-|||
|-Investment income||3,740||3,740|4,178|
||||-|||
|-NHS bursary fund||123|-|123|1,056|
|-Spiritual Directors||75|-|75|-|
|-Gift Aid||1,941|-|1,941|-|
|-Ordinands||16|-|16|-|
|Total income||**31,794**|**-**|**31,794**|**18,427**|
|Expenditure on:||||||
|_Expenditure on charitable activities_||||||
|Direct charitable expenditure|2|27,808|-|27,808|39,204|
|Bursary expenditure||9,816|-|9,816|8,057|
|Total expenditure||**37,624**|**-**|**37,624**|**47,261**|
|Net outgoing resources for the year||(5,830)|-|(5,830)|(28,834)|
|(Losses)/profits on investments:||||||
|Unrealised|3|11,369|-|11,369|(6,094)|
|Realised||-|-|-||
||||||-|
|Net movement in funds||5,539|-|5,539|(34,928)|
|Total fund balance brought forward||||||
|at 1 April 2023||137,485|-|137,484|172,412|
|Total fund balance carried forward||||||
|at 31 March 2024||**143,024**|**-**|**143,023**|**137,484**|
|_The attached notes on pages 7-11 form_|_part of_|_these accounts_||||
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The Association for Promoting Retreats 2023-2024 Report and Accounts
## **BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
||**Note**||**2024**||**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||**£**||**£**|
|Fixed Assets||||||
|Investments|3||135,531||134,162|
|Debtors|4|-||-||
|Current Assets||||||
|General fund||8,642||2,516||
|Bursary fund||1,210||3,026||
|Cash at bank||9,852||5,542||
|Total Current Assets||9,852||5,542||
|Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year|5|2,360||2,220||
|Net current assets|||7,492||3,322|
|Creditors: amounts falling due|5|-||-||
|after more than one year||||||
|Net Assets|||143,023||137,484|
|Funds||||||
|General fund
Bursary fund (designated)|6||134,381
8,642||134,969
2,516|
||||**143,023**||**137,484**|
**Approved by the Committee of Trustees on …………………………. and signed on its behalf by:**
The Reverend Carol Smith, Chair of the Committee of Trustees
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The Association for Promoting Retreats 2023-2024 Report and Accounts
## **1. Accounting policies**
The accounts 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) (effective 1 January 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).
## a) Subscriptions, donations, etc.
Subscriptions, donations, and tax recoverable on payments under gift aid are accounted for when received by the APR. During the year to 31st March 2024 there were 295 full members and 164 concessionary members.
## b) Investment income
Investment income is included in the accounts when received.
## c) Investments
Investments are included in the accounts at market value.
## d) VAT
The APR is not registered for VAT and the irrecoverable VAT is written off in the accounts.
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The Association for Promoting Retreats 2023-2024 Report and Accounts
|**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024**
**3. Investments**
**2024**
Assets are held with The Central Board of
Finance of the Church of England as follows:
**£**
Investment fund shares
Market value at 1 April 2023
134,162
Value of shares sold in year
(10,000)
Unrealised investment profit/(loss)
11,369
Market Value at 31 March 2024
**135,531**
**4. Debtors**
**2024**
**£**
Prepayments
-
**-**
**2. Direct charitable expenditure**
**2024**
Charitable expenditure
**£**
Contributions paid to the Retreat Association
3,750
APR administrator
9,705
Publicity & website
341
Newsletters/postage
1,698
RA journal and cost of events
7,797
NHS bursary
-
IT software and consumables
-
Travelling and meetings
778
Independent examination fee
2,804
SAC Expenses
-
SAC refunds
-
Stationery and office expenses
935
**Total direct charitable expenditure**
**27,808**||**2023**
**£**
5,400
8,490
1,276
1,385
5,970
1,649
447
889
2,901
9,664
160
973|
|---|---|---|
|||**39,204**|
|||**2023**
**£**
160,256
(20,000)
(6,094)
**134,162**
**2023**
**£**
-
-|
||||
||||
||||
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The Association for Promoting Retreats 2023-2024 Report and Accounts
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2024**
|**5. Creditors**
Amounts falling due within one year:
Accruals
Donations payable
**6. Reserves**
**Assets from balance Sheet**
General fund at 1 April 2024
Bursary fund at 1 April 2024
**Planned expenditure**
Yearly cost of administration
Running costs
Project allocation
**Surplus**|**2024**
**£**
2,360
-
**2,360**
**£**
15,000
50,000
25,000
|**2023**
**£**
2,220
-|
|---|---|---|
|||**2,220**|
|||**£**
134,381
8,642
143,023
(90,000)
**53,023**|
At present the Trustees consider that a surplus of around £60,000 should be maintained, and is justified because:
- It is important to maintain a year’s expenditure.
- Membership income is expected to increase in future years.
- The Trustees need to underwrite the costs of major events such as the biennial diocesan Spirituality Advisers’ Conference, next taking place in April 2026.
The Association of Promoting Retreats (APR) remains committed to maintaining robust cashflow management to ensure long-term operational sustainability. While investment income has provided a necessary buffer, the charity is actively reviewing both income sources and expenses to optimize financial performance.
This includes broadening our fundraising efforts through individual donations and partnerships, aiming to reduce dependency on investment withdrawals over time. We regularly assess expenses to identify opportunities for cost efficiency without compromising the quality of our services. Our investments are closely monitored to balance short-term liquidity needs with long-term growth potential, ensuring sustainable returns while supporting the charity's objectives.
The Trustees have also implemented a plan to conduct a comprehensive review when the investment fund reaches £100K. At that point, APR will evaluate its achievements and determine the best course of action for continuing its mission with reduced funds.
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The Association for Promoting Retreats 2023-2024 Report and Accounts
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2024**
## **7. Trustee expenses**
Trustee travel expenses totalled £778 (2023: £889) during the year. All trustee expenses are reimbursed when incurred.
## **8. Exceptional items**
During the year, an unrealised profit was made on investments of £11,369 (2023: loss £6,094).
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