2020-12-31-accounts - The Congregation Of The Sisters Of St Brigid

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The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements

for the financial year ended 31 December 2020

Charity Number: 232463

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid CONTENTS

	Page
Reference and Administrative Information	3
Trustees' Report	4 - 5
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities	6
Independent Examiner's Report	7
Statement of Financial Activities	8
Balance Sheet	9
Statement of Cash Flows	10
Notes to the Financial Statements	11 - 15

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees Sr. Carmel McEvoy Sr. Theresa Kilmurray Sr. Triona Driscoll Sr. Paula Conway Sr. Mary Patricia Mulhall Sr. Teresina Fingleton Charity Number in England and Wales 232463 Principal Address 48 Springfield Road Windsor Berkshire United Kingdom SL4 3PQ Independent Examiner Walsh O'Brien Harnett Chartered Accountants 104 Lower Baggot Street Dublin 2 Ireland Bankers Royal Bank of Scotland 24 Grosvenor Place London SW1X 7HN England Solicitors Stone King Sewell 13 Queen Street Bath BA1 2HJ England

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid TRUSTEES' REPORT

for the financial year ended 31 December 2020

The Trustees present their report along with the unaudited financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2020. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)", and comply with the Charity's trust deed and applicable law.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Brigid is an international religious order with an Ireland-UK Community. The IR-UK Community has a Charity in Ireland (Registered No: 6924) and a Charity in the UK (Registered No: 232463). The accounts accompanying this report are the accounts of the charitable trust on which the assets of the British side of the Ireland-UK Community (Charity No: 232463) are held and through which its charitable activities are accounted for. The trust is governed by a Trust Deed dated 1 May 1964 as amended by scheme of the Charity commissioners dated 22 December 2003 and is registered with the Charity Commission, Charity Registration No. 232463.

The Charity is governed by the Trustees who work with an extended leadership team in overseeing the activities and administration of the Charity. Some responsibilities are delegated to various management groups but are monitored by the leadership team/Trustees.

The Community Leadership Team is appointed by the Congregational Leader and Team after consultation with the members.

The Charity has 6 Trustees:

Sr. Carmel McEvoy Sr. Theresa Kilmurray

Sr. Triona Driscoll

Sr. Paula Conway

Sr. Mary Patricia Mulhall Sr. Teresina Fingleton

Public Benefit

In setting the Charity's objectives, the Trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. How the Charity fulfils this obligation is covered in the section below.

Objectives, Activities

The Charity's Trust Deed states its principal objective to be "such charitable purposes which would advance the religious educational and other charitable work for the time being carried on in England and Wales by, or under, the direction of the Society as Trustees with the approval of the Superior shall from time-to-time think fit".

Members of the Order undertake work in community-based programmes and local parish work, providing family support, helping the homeless and giving religious and material assistance.

Achievements and Performance

The following is a summary the activities that are undertaken by the members of the Charity to meet these objectives:

volunteer work with the local church
Involvement with an international NGO that works in conjunction with the United Nations on behalf of migrants, refugees and women and children in poverty.
care of elderly Brigidine sisters
one-off donations to people with pressing needs as well as to a number of local and international charities.

None of the activities carried out by the Sisters is remunerated. However, since each member of the Charity donates her pension or personal income to the Charity, the Charity provides accommodation, living expenses, medical or nursing care for each sister, as needed.

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid TRUSTEES' REPORT

for the financial year ended 31 December 2020

Review of Activities

Financial Review and Reserves Policy

At the end of the year ended 31 December 2020 the total funds of the Charity were £619,616 (2019: £598,202). Of this £79,690 represents fixed assets needed for the work of the Charity.

The balance of £539,926 represents approximately twelve times the operating expenditure of the Charity which the Trustees consider to be sufficient to sustain the Charity's activities for the foreseeable future.

The Charity has on-going commitment to the care of elderly sisters in the Community who devoted their lives to furthering the objectives of the Charity.

Risk Management

The Trustees have reviewed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and seek to control these risks to mitigate any impact they may have on the Charity in the future.

Post Balance Sheet Events

There have been no significant events affecting the Charity since the year-end.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 27 October 2021 and signed on its behalf by:

Sr. Carmel McEvoy

Trustee

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

for the financial year ended 31 December 2020

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities and financial position of the Charity as at the financial year end date and of the surplus or deficit of the Charity and otherwise comply with the Charities Act 2011.

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

select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the relevant financial reporting framework, identify those standards, and note the effect and the reasons for any material departure from those standards; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in operation.

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the above requirements in preparing the financial statements.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. 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.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 27 October 2021 and signed on its behalf by:

Sr. Carmel McEvoy Trustee

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE SISTERS OF ST BRIGID

We have examined the financial statements of the Charity for the financial year ended 31 December 2020, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The Charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. The Charity's Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this financial year under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination is required.

It is our responsibility to:
examine the financial statements under section 145 of the Act;
follow the procedures laid down by the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) of the Charities Act 2011; and
state whether particular matters have come to our attention.

Basis of independent examiner's report

Our 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 by the Charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from the 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 our examination, no matter has come to our attention which gives us cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act 2011
the financial statements do not accord with those accounting records
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the 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 (FRS102)
there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

We have no concerns 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 financial statements to be reached.

WALSH O'BRIEN HARNETT

Chartered Accountants 104 Lower Baggot Street Dublin 2 Ireland

27 October 2021

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

for the financial year ended 31 December 2020

		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
		Funds	Funds		Funds	Funds
		2020	2020	2020	2019	2019	2019
	Notes	£	£	£	£	£	£
Income
Donations and legacies	3.1	63,927	-	63,927	64,787	-	64,787
Investments	3.2	1,043	-	1,043	2,055	-	2,055
Other income	3.3	-	-	-	31,110	-	31,110
		───────	───────	───────	───────	───────	───────
Total income		64,970	-	64,970	97,952	-	97,952
		───────	───────	───────	───────	───────	───────
Expenditure
Charitable activities	4.1	43,556	-	43,556	223,507	-	223,507
		───────	───────	───────	───────	───────	───────
Net income/(expenditure)		21,414	-	21,414	(125,555)	-	(125,555)
Transfers between funds		-	-	-	-	-	-
		───────	───────	───────	───────	───────	───────
Net movement in funds		21,414	-	21,414	(125,555)	-	(125,555)
for the financial year
Reconciliation of funds
Balances brought forward at	9	448,699	149,503	598,202	574,254	149,503	723,757
1 January 2020
		───────	───────	───────	───────	───────	───────
Balances carried forward		470,113	149,503	619,616	448,699	149,503	598,202
at 31 December 2020
		═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the financial year. All income and expenditure relate to continuing activities.

The notes on pages 11 to 15 form part of the financial statements

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid BALANCE SHEET

as at 31 December 2020

		2020	2019
	Notes	£	£
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets	7	79,690	86,893
		───────	───────
Current Assets
Cash at bank and in hand		543,798	515,181
		───────	───────
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year	8	(3,872)	(3,872)
		───────	───────
Net Current Assets		539,926	511,309
		───────	───────
Total Assets less Current Liabilities		619,616	598,202
		═══════	═══════
Funds
Restricted trust funds		149,503	149,503
General fund (unrestricted)		470,113	448,699
		───────	───────
Total funds	9	619,616	598,202
		═══════	═══════

Approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 27 October 2021 and signed on its behalf by

Sr. Carmel McEvoy Trustee

The notes on pages 11 to 15 form part of the financial statements

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

for the financial year ended 31 December 2020

		2020	2019
	Notes	£	£
Cash flows from operating activities
Net movement in funds		21,414	(125,555)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation		7,203	12,640
		───────	───────
		28,617	(112,915)
Movements in working capital:
Movement in debtors		-	50,000
		───────	───────
Cash generated from operations		28,617	(62,915)
		───────	───────
Cash flows from investing activities
Payments to acquire tangible assets		-	(10,053)
Receipts from sales of tangible assets		-	107,461
		───────	───────
Net cash generated from investment activities		-	97,408
		───────	───────
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		28,617	34,493
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 2020		515,181	480,688
		───────	───────
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2020	10	543,798	515,181
		═══════	═══════

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the financial year ended 31 December 2020

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid is a Charity registered in the United Kingdom. The registered office of the Charity is 48 Springfield Road, Windsor, Berkshire, United Kingdom, SL4 3PQ which is also the principal place of business of the Charity. The financial statements have been presented in Pound Sterling (£) which is also the functional currency of the Charity.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the Charity’s financial statements.

Basis of preparation

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items initially recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policies below or the notes to the accounts.

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 Charities SORP (FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The Congregation constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

Fund accounting

The following are the categories of funds maintained:

Restricted funds

Restricted funds are those donated for use in a particular area for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose and the restriction means that the funds can only be used for specific projects or activities.

Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds are general funds that are available for use at the Trustees' discretion in furtherance of any of the objectives of the Charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside at the discretion of the Trustees for specific purposes. The designated fund for fixed assets is that part of the unrestricted funds that represents fixed assets used in the day to day operations of the Charity.

Income

Donations, including salaries and pensions of individual sisters are recognised when the Congregation has entitlement to the income, the amount can be reliably measured, and it is probable that the income will be received. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the Charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the Congregation and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period. Cash donations collected are recognised as income when the Charity gains control and the amount can be reliably measured.

Legacies are included in the statement of financial activities when the Congregation has been notified by the executors that the payment will be made, property transferred, and the amount can be reliably measured.

Investment Income from financial assets and Interest on funds held on deposit are included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Congregation.

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

continued

for the financial year ended 31 December 2020

Expenditure

Expenditure is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when incurred and included any attributable value added tax which cannot be recovered.

Expenditure comprises of the following:

a) Charitable activities expenditure comprises expenditure on the Congregation's primary charitable purposes.

b) Support costs are those that assist the work of the Charity but do not directly represent charitable activities. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the Charity.

c) Governance costs comprise the costs directly attributable to the organisational procedures and the necessary legal procedures for compliance with statutory requirements.

Going Concern

The Trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these financial statements and have made the following assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of these financial statements.

The Trustees have concluded that there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that would cast significant doubt on the ability of the Congregation to continue as a going concern, and they have sufficient reserves to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost or at valuation, less accumulated depreciation. The charge to depreciation is calculated to write off the original cost or valuation of tangible fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives as follows:

Land and buildings freehold 0-2% Straight line - Fixtures, fittings and equipment 10% Straight line Motor vehicles - 25% Straight line

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand comprises cash on deposit at banks requiring less than three months’ notice of withdrawal.

Taxation

The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Brigid is a registered Charity and therefore, is not liable to income tax or corporation tax on income derived from its charitable activities, as it falls within the various exemptions available to registered charities.

3.	INCOME
3.1	DONATIONS AND LEGACIES	Unrestricted	Restricted	2020	2019
		Funds	Funds
		£	£	£	£
	Members’ salaries and pensions	63,927	-	63,927	64,787
		═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════
3.2	INVESTMENTS	Unrestricted	Restricted	2020	2019
		Funds	Funds
		£	£	£	£
	Bank interest	1,043	-	1,043	2,055
		═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════

continued

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the financial year ended 31 December 2020

3.3	OTHER INCOME		Unrestricted	Restricted	2020	2019
			Funds	Funds
			£	£	£	£
	Gain on disposal of fixed assets		-	-	-	22,240
	Sundry income		-	-	-	8,689
	Refunds		-	-	-	181
			───────	───────	───────	───────
			-	-	-	31,110
			═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════
4.	EXPENDITURE
4.1	CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES	Direct	Other	Support	2020	2019
		Costs	Costs	Costs
		£	£	£	£	£
	Support of Members and their Missions	43,556	-	-	43,556	220,474
	Governance Costs (Note 4.2)	-	-	-	-	3,033
	───────		───────	───────	───────	───────
		43,556	-	-	43,556	223,507
	═══════		═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════
4.2	GOVERNANCE COSTS	Direct	Other	Support	2020	2019
		Costs	Costs	Costs
		£	£	£	£	£
	Support of Members and their Missions	-	-	-	-	3,033
	═══════		═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════
4.3	SUPPORT AND GOVERNANCE COSTS				2020	2019
			Basis of		£	£
			Apportionment
	Legal and professional		Actual		-	3,033
					═══════	═══════
5.	NET INCOME				2020	2019
					£	£
	Net Income is stated after charging/(crediting):
	Depreciation of tangible assets				7,203	12,640
					═══════	═══════

6. TRUSTEES' AND KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONAL REMUNERATION

All Trustees are members of The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Brigid. The Trustees consider that they alone comprise the key management of the Charity. As members of the Congregation, the Trustees' living and personal expenses are borne by the Charity, but they receive no remuneration in connection with their duties as Trustees (2019: none).

continued

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the financial year ended 31 December 2020

7.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
			Land and	Fixtures,	Motor	Total
			buildings	fittings and	vehicles
			freehold	equipment
			£	£	£	£
	Cost
	At 31 December 2020		165,768	64,363	57,736	287,867
			───────	───────	───────	───────
	Depreciation
	At 1 January 2020		93,289	57,488	50,197	200,974
	Charge for the financial year		3,315	1,375	2,513	7,203
			───────	───────	───────	───────
	At 31 December 2020		96,604	58,863	52,710	208,177
			───────	───────	───────	───────
	Net book value
	At 31 December 2020		69,164	5,500	5,026	79,690
			═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════
	At 31 December 2019		72,479	6,875	7,539	86,893
			═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════
8.	CREDITORS				2020	2019
	Amounts falling due within one year				£	£
	Accruals and deferred income				3,872	3,872
					═══════	═══════
9.	FUNDS
9.1	RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENT IN	FUNDS		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total
				Funds	Funds	Funds
				£	£	£
	At 1 January 2019			574,254	149,503	723,757
	Movement during the financial year			(125,555)	-	(125,555)
				───────	───────	───────
	At 31 December 2019			448,699	149,503	598,202
	Movement during the financial year			21,414	-	21,414
				───────	───────	───────
	At 31 December 2020			470,113	149,503	619,616
				═══════	═══════	═══════
9.2	ANALYSIS OF MOVEMENTS ON FUNDS
		Balance	Income	Expenditure	Transfers	Balance
	1	January			between 31 December
		2020			funds	2020
		£	£	£	£	£
	Restricted funds
	Restricted Fund	149,503	-	-	-	149,503
	───────		───────	───────	───────	───────
	Unrestricted funds
	Unrestricted Fund	448,699	64,970	(43,556)	-	470,113
	───────		───────	───────	───────	───────
	Total funds	598,202	64,970	(43,556)	-	619,616
	═══════		═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════

The restricted fund represents the amalgamation of assets of the Brigidine Congregation as established in Wales.

continued

The Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the financial year ended 31 December 2020

9.3 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND

9.3	ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND
		Fixed	Current	Current	Total
		assets	assets	liabilities
		- charity use
		£	£	£	£
	Unrestricted general funds	79,690	543,798	(3,872)	619,616
		───────	───────	───────	───────
		79,690	543,798	(3,872)	619,616
		═══════	═══════	═══════	═══════
10.	CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS			2020	2019
				£	£
	Cash and bank balances			543,798	515,181
				═══════	═══════

11. POST-BALANCE SHEET EVENTS

There have been no significant events affecting the Charity since the year-end.