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2023-12-31-accounts

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts

31 December 2023

Charity Registration Number 232632

Contents

Reports

Reports
Reference and administrative information 1
Trustees’ report 3
Independent auditor’s report 26
Accounts
Statement of financial activities 30
Balance sheet 31
Statement of cash flows 32
Principal accounting policies 34
Notes to the accounts 40

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust

Reference and administrative information Year to 31 December 2023

Trustees Brother Patrick Hanlon Brother Michael Curran Brother John Deeney Brother James Kilty Brother Nicholas Sellors The trustees are incorporated under the Charities Act 2011. Provincial superior Brother Patrick Hanlon Chief Financial Officer Kevin Humphrey Administrative address 140 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7BP Charity registration number 232632 Auditor Buzzacott LLP 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL Bankers The Royal Bank of Scotland plc 62-63 Threadneedle Street London EC2R 8LA Investment managers Rathbones Investment Management Limited 8 Finsbury Circus London EC2M 7AZ

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 1

Reference and administrative information Year to 31 December 2023

Solicitors Clyde & Co LLP 1 George Square Glasgow G2 1DY

Clyde & Co LLP 2 New Bailey Square Stanley Street Salford M3 5GS

Stone King LLP Boundary House 91 Charterhouse Street London EC1M 6HR Insurance brokers Marsh Commercial 1[st] Floor Gail House 5 Lower Stone Street Maidstone ME15 6NB

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 2

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

The trustees have pleasure in presenting the report and accounts of The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust (the “charity” or the “Trust”) for the year to 31 December 2023.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 34 to 39 of the attached accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 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).

Introduction

The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (the “Institute”) is an international Roman Catholic Religious Institute founded in France in 1680. Its Generalate is located in Rome. The Institute is divided into a number of separate Provinces and extends to 80 countries throughout the world. The work of the Institute is predominantly in education.

The Province of Great Britain of “The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools” also known as the “De La Salle Brothers”, had 24 members at 31 December 2023. Of these, 1 lived overseas and the remainder lived in 3 regionally separate groups known as “communities”.

The accounts accompanying this report are the accounts of the charitable trust on which the assets of the Province of Great Britain are held and through which its finances operate. The charity is governed by a trust deed dated 24 July 1947 as varied by a Scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 12 November 1987, a Deed of Revocation and New Appointment for Charitable Trusts dated 17 May 1989, a Deed of Revocation and Appointment relating to the Province of Great Britain dated 27 November 2000, a Deed of Variation dated January 2013, a Deed of Variation dated June 2014 and a Scheme dated 2 May 2024. The charity is registered with the Charity Commission, Charity Registration No. 232632.

Objectives and activities

Objectives

The main objectives of the charity as set out in its trust deed and subsequent amendments are:

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

Objectives (continued)

When setting the objectives and planning the work of the charity, and when encouraging the work of individual brothers and those who work with them, the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

Activities

The principal areas of activity are:

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

Activities (continued)

Relevant policies

Fundraising statement

The income of the charity derives mainly from the covenanted salaries and statutory pensions of members of the Institute and the proceeds of investment funds. The general public are not asked to contribute to the funds of the charity but on occasions the charity receives donations and voluntary income. It aims always to achieve best practice in the way in which it communicates with donors and other supporters. It takes care with both the tone of its communications and the accuracy of its data to minimise the pressures on donors and supporters. It applies best practice to protect their data and never sells data, it never swaps data and ensures that communication preferences can be changed at any time. The charity manages its own activities in respect to raising funds and does not employ the services of professional fundraisers. The charity undertakes to react to and investigate any complaints regarding its activities for raising funds and to learn from them and improve its service. During the year, the charity received no formal complaints about its activities for raising funds.

Protection of Children and Adults at Risk

The trustees are committed to implementing all the policies and procedures of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) and have their own policy entitled “Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk”. St. Cassian’s Retreat Centre has additional directives which specify how the trustees’ guidelines are applied at the Centre. The Centre’s activities are monitored regularly by the Management Committee, the Province’s Safeguarding Coordinator and by a Diocesan appointed inspector. The Schools follow the guidelines issued by local authorities and the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency. The Institute (and hence the charity) is now a member of the Religious Life Safeguarding Service which manages the safeguarding needs, in Great Britain, of a number of religious congregations.

Investment policy

The charity has a portfolio of listed investments which, together with cash held for investment, had a market value at 31 December 2023 of £27,684,030 (2022 – £19,435,029).

These are held and managed by Rathbones Investment Management Limited. The investment managers have designated authority to invest as they deem appropriate within the stated policy guidelines set by the trustees and excluding certain areas of investments contrary to the objectives of the charity.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Relevant policies (continued)

Investment policy (continued)

The objectives of the charity’s listed investments are to produce a mutually agreed annual level of income and to protect the underlying capital value of the investments in the medium to long term without taking undue risk. The level of income required is determined as part of an annual budget and where necessary may be supplemented by a managed capital drawdown. The income raised is essential to the objectives and activities of the charity.

Environmental policy

The charity recognises that many of its activities have some impact on the environment. It is the aim of the trustees to minimise this impact where possible through a programme of continuous improvement and by encouraging those working for the charity to act responsibly towards the environment.

Achievements and performance

The paragraphs below outline briefly the charity’s achievements during the year in each of its main activities.

Support for Schools

The Trust continues to support the work of the Lasallian Educational Mission Committee, known as the MEL Committee. The members of the Committee include Heads, Chaplains, Brothers and other educators. The MEL Committee’s main aims are: to promote the Lasallian Mission across the network of Lasallian schools in the country; and to empower all stakeholders in the Lasallian network of schools to fulfil the mission of the Trust, which is to provide a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor and vulnerable.

During this year, the Trust had access to the services of a Director of Mission who coordinates efforts in these areas and accompanies this Committee in its work. The Trust also continued to benefit from the services of a Director of Formation and Vocation Ministry (on secondment from De La Salle School, St. Helens until August 2023). From the beginning of September 2023, this latter position ceased to exist and instead the Trust set up two alternative roles, Coordinator for Vocations (part-time) and Coordinator for Mission Initiatives (on part-time secondment from De La Salle St Helens for the AY 2023-2024, renewable). The Trust has since September 2023 bought into the services of an external specialist in Lasallian Formation based in Ireland who serves as the Director of Formation for the District of Ireland, Great Britain and Malta.

The Trust also has the services of an Educational Consultant who is responsible for:

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (continued)

Support for Schools (continued)

The Trust was able to support opportunities for key groups of educators to receive training, to network and to share good practice. The main in-person conferences offered this year were:

This year, the following annual events were also in the calendar of events:

The Trust, through the work and services of the MEL Committee , the Director of Mission and the Director of Formation and Vocation Ministry , and from September 2023 the Director of Formation, provided schools and others ministries in the network with various formation programmes. These programmes are aimed at different groups with varied experience and understanding of the Lasallian Mission. (A formation programme is an experience that would typically span 24 hours to a week. It consists of several components that are organised so that a person may integrate their reflection with their experience and continue their personal, professional and spiritual development).

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (continued)

Support for Schools (continued)

The Director of Mission and Director of Formation and Vocation Ministry (and from September 2023 the Director of Formation ) are also available to schools through visits and in-service Ethos and Mission training. The work of the Director of Mission and the MEL Committee continue to be complemented and supported by the efforts of two other groups whose aim is also that of fulfilling the De La Salle mission. Namely, the District MEL Council and the District Young Lasallians Council . Since September 2023, there is an additional group that support this work. This is the District Commission on Vocation Ministry which serves the primary role of a thinktank to support events, programmes and initiatives which encourage all in the Lasallian network to find their purpose in life and to live their full potential. These two councils and new Commission have a broad remit that includes the UK. Their projects and initiatives are supported by the Trust and contribute greatly to all schools in the De La Salle network in the UK.

Some of the initiatives that have been of great benefit to schools in the UK this year were:

The Trust, to support its schools and pastoral centre in their mission to advance the Trust’s mission encourages and supports the use of either (or both) of the following resources:

Over the last year, the Trust continued to build on the 5-year objectives (2022-2027) which were the result of the Trust’s work with Caplor Horizon in 2022. Caplor Horizon is a UKbased charity that works with other charities and responsible businesses, locally, nationally and internationally. The Trust engaged Caplor to support it with the development of a strategy for the sustainability and vitality of the Trust’s network of schools. This work, captured in a document titled, Strategy On A Page (SOAP) was the starting point for the 2nd District Mission Assembly held in Malta in February 2023. The Assembly brought together representatives from all the schools and the pastoral centre in England together with colleagues from Northern Ireland, Jersey, the Republic of Ireland and Malta to advance this reflection and to identify the actions needed at all levels to ensure the growth and development of the network. The process of the Assembly was organised around three themes mirroring the 5-year objectives (2022-2027) for the Trust:

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (continued)

Support for Schools (continued)

The outcomes of the District Mission Assembly constitute the following 7 Directional Statements:

At the service of young people and our educational communities, we must be prophetic and explore new means to fulfil God’s Dream for humanity.

DS1 Our Response is to set up a Fund to support projects that promote the Church/Institute’s Call for Integral Ecological Commitment; promote awareness and action in favour of those on the peripheries; strengthen the spiritual formation of the young; and promote the 5 Core Principles of a Lasallian School.

DS2 Our Response, in the spirit of co-responsibility, is to future-proof our District’s Governance Structures and Mission Leadership and Administration.

At the service of young people and our educational communities, we must engage with the question, ‘To whom are we called?’

DS3 Our Response is to listen and act on the needs and realities of all those whom we are called to serve, and in a special way, to those on the peripheries . Following a process of deep listening and discernment, new opportunities for formation will emerge.

DS4 Our Response is to support all in the Lasallian Family, and in a special way the young people entrusted to our care , in finding their purpose in life and discovering a vocation of service through Faith Formation with/and leadership opportunities.

At the service of young people and our educational communities, we must build a District-wide network comprising those who help animate the Mission (Animators, Animation Teams, Chaplains, etc).

DS5 Our Response is to create a District-wide Lasallian Animation Network (DLAN) to provide formation and accompaniment in order to build relationships, to share best practices, and support each other.

At the service of young people and our educational communities, we must build our leadership capacity as Lasallian Leadership which is critical to mission sustainability.

DS6 Our Response is to create formation and accompaniment programmes for those discerning leadership positions at all stages and who are called to be courageous and intentional about the future.

At the service of young people and our educational communities, we must continue to accompany those who served, presently serve, or will serve in the future, as the “heart, memory and guarantors of the charism” (Rule 157) on the journey of Association and vocation.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (continued)

Support for Schools (continued)

DS7 Our Response is to be audacious in the invitation to, and the creation of, Intentional Lasallian Communities throughout the District in different geographical areas . These Intentional Communities will offer support and enrich the vocation journey of those who feel called to deeper Association. These Communities will be open, inclusive, and responsive to local realities and needs.

St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre

St Cassian’s Centre, just outside the village of Kintbury, in rural Berkshire, became a retreat centre in 1975. It welcomes young people for retreats and provides them with an opportunity to step outside their normally busy lives and enjoy a few days of reflection and dialogue with each other, accompanied by a dedicated staff and a team of young volunteers. At the same time, the Centre seeks to bring the faith to these young people in ways that resonate with their experience and are relevant to the world in which they live. The input comes from the four senior staff (the Retreat Team), and the volunteer team, which comprises between 5 - 9 young adults between the ages of eighteen and thirty who enthusiastically commit themselves to a year of devoted service to peer ministry and community living. The opportunities for the staff and volunteer team are many and varied and contribute to a rich experience of ministry especially to young people.

The Management Committee appointed by the trustees, in liaison with the Director of the Centre, is responsible to the charity for the running of the Centre. The Committee meet several times a year. The remit of the Committee is similar to that of a school governing body. Apart from monitoring the work of the Centre and its finances, the Committee has a responsibility, on behalf of the trustees, for such important issues as the implementation of the trustees’ safeguarding guidelines and compliance with current health and safety regulations. During 2024 the current management committee is to become an advisory board to assist and support the Centre Director in the centre operations with responsibilities for safeguarding and finance being handled by a newly formed management committee.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (continued)

St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre (continued)

Every year as part of the residential community the young volunteers live, work and share the Brothers’ vision for a new apostolate. Our retreats, known as The Kintbury Experience, follow a theme of Welcome, Awareness, Reconciliation and Good News.

The retreat programme, devised to meet the needs of people from different backgrounds, has a full scope and sequence that builds upon itself. It is also designed to be developmentally appropriate for each year group in school as they cultivate their spirit of faith along with their skills of reasoning, highlighting the relevance of Lasallian Charism and of our faith to life and contemporary culture.

2023 began with an outreach retreat at St Augustine’s school in Trowbridge. January also saw retreats for Y11 students from St Joseph’s College, Swindon ; St Margaret Ward, Stoke on Trent ; St Edward’s, Poole ; The Campion School, Essex and St Augustine’s, Trowbridge. We ran retreats for Y10 students from DLS St Helens, The Campion School and St Paul’s School, Milton Keynes.

Team saying goodbye to a group

February and March saw Confirmation retreats for St Joseph’s, Basingstoke ; Our Lady of Angels, primary school retreats for St Thomas More ; Our Lady & St Joseph’s, St Francis and St Anne’s & St Benedict’s from Nuneaton, day retreats for the Salesian College and St Joseph’s School, Reading and Bishop Challenor Chaplaincy team. The first open retreat for students aged Y11 upward was organised – this retreat gave them time to revise, relax and discover what it is like to be on the volunteer team at St Cassian’s. A number or tear ten retreats were run with participants from St Joseph’s, Port Talbot; St Alban’s, Pontypool ; St Edward’s Poole ; Cardinal Langley School, Middleton ; St Joseph’s, Stoke ; St Gregory’s, Bath ; Bishop Challenor School. Year seven and Eight were run for At Alban’s School and St Gregory’s School. The Centre hosted two Lasallian events – the Chaplains and Heads of RE group twenty-four-hour meeting (CHORE) and the annual Lasallian Teachers CPD weekend at the end of March/beginning of April. The annual Past Teams Retreat ran in February 2022, with around 18 previous volunteers in attendance.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (continued)

St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre (continued)

After Easter the centre welcomed Year seven and eight from St Paul’s School, Milton Keynes, year five from St Thomas Aquinas Primary School, Y9 from St Gregory’s, St Simon Stock School, Maidstone; DLS St Helens ;St Joseph’s, Swindon ; Bishop Challenor, St Edward’s, Poole, and a Confirmation retreat for the Sacred Heart and St Thomas More Parish’s. It also hosted year eight students from St Jospeh’s, Beulah Hill for a day retreat.

In May the retreat team leaders and volunteer team team made the annual pilgrimage to Italy, which this year included a visit to the De La Salle Brothers’ project in Scampia, Naples, as well as the regular pilgrimage to Rome for the Papal Audience and a visit to the De La Salle Brothers Generalate. A Family weekend at the end of the school May half term holidays attracted over 35 participants for the retreat.

The school residential retreats continued in June and July, with visits from Bishop Parker Primary school and St Benedict’s Primary schools. The centre also welcomed Year nine students from St Catherine’s, Bexleyheath as well as the annual retreats with St Augustine’s School, Trowbridge and St Peter’s School, Bournemouth. St Joseph’s Beulah Hill joined us for a day retreat. The Lasallian Camp was held in July, with over 100 students coming from De La Salle schools and associate schools from across England.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (continued)

St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre (continued)

In August 2023 the new Volunteer Team moved in. This year’s team comprised of 8 International Volunteers, from Argentina, Bolivia and Mexico, recruited once again through the International Lasallian Network with one young person from the UK this year, who comes from Swansea, Wales.

The new academic year in September 2023 started with the regular training and formation of the Volunteer and Retreat teams, including Safeguarding, First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, Food Hygiene Level 1 and Fire Marshall training, along with formation as a Lasallian Community, faith formation and retreat planning and training. The training and formation are ongoing throughout the year.

Volunteer Team 2023-24 with Br Bernard

Residential retreats started in late September and ran until early December, with groups from: Albert The Great Primary School ; St Amand’s Primary School ; St Augustine’s School, Trowbridge; St Joseph’s, Reading; St Paul’s, Milton Keynes; St joseph’s, Port Talbot ; Primary schools St Bonaventure’s ; St Teresa’s, Bristol, Holy Family Primary School, Bristol and DLS Primary School, Malta attended for Advent retreats. The term finished with Day retreats run for St Joseph’s, Swindon. Throughout 2023 St Cassian’s welcomed and worked with 2,602 young people from school and parish Confirmation groups.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (continued)

St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre (continued)

The retreats continue to benefit from having outdoor activities (low ropes challenge course, archery and all-weather pitch for tennis, football and basketball and a traversing climbing wall) integrated into the Lasallian retreat programme.

The above photograph shows the Commissioning Mass of the Volunteer Team and the Retreat Team 2023-2024. Also in attendance are members of the Management Committee, Brother Bernard Conroy and supporters of the Centre.

Hospitality groups and Events

The conference centre known as The Old Stables plays host to parish and hospitality groups. The hospitality groups that have used the Old Stables Conference Centre and other facilities include Koinonia, Don Bosco Youth Camp, Catholic People’s Week, Stories of Hope and Home (Refugee group), St Catherine’s Trust, Fanning the Flame, Lasallian Heads and Principles, Rabbi Danny’s Hamakom Group, Newbury Baptist Group and the Wimbledon Scouts as well as hosting a wedding reception in May 2023, for a past team member.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (continued)

Lasallian Projects

Some recruiting was done to enlist young volunteers for a project group for summer 2023. In the event, the number dwindled to around half a dozen and these then decided they would rather postpone participation until the following year. However, an offer of project places in Kenya was circulated to teachers and two of these accepted the offer and travelled in July to Abosi parish in the Great Rift Valley Province. Lasallian Projects sponsored the building of a housing block for teachers and their families with £12,200 of donated funds. The teachers decided the most useful way to use their time was helping in the primary school and they joined the local teachers in running classes, even finding this a refreshing change to teaching in the UK.

Fr. Ambrose provided a full report on the building project and the two teachers wrote an account of their enriching experience in Kenya. The official report summarised the impact of the building:

During the Spring, the Director visited a number of schools/colleges to advertise the 2024 projects to students. It was again obvious that the historical links with schools, teachers and families are still suffering from the enforced Covid break and that momentum will be an effort to regain. The economic difficulties within the UK and the evident instability on the world stage also seem to be factors that are inhibiting young people from taking challenging decisions. There were comparatively few people applying for places and there was a higher than usual drop out rate. However, there were enough to form a student group for a project in 2024. One innovation has been the preparation of an on-line training programme. This will mean considerable savings on travel expenses for the students as well time-economy.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (continued)

Lasallian Projects (continued)

Photo of the school in Abosi.

Other activities during the year involved routine administration and continuing use of on-line media to maintain contact with former project members. A small amount of fundraising was undertaken. A few people showed interest in taking part in a project but we had to put them off for the time being while holding out stronger hopes for the following year.

Future plans

Plans are in place for a student group to travel in July/August 2024. The project in Abosi was successful and a project to run and sponsor a similar building has been accepted. There is also hope that a that a social-cum-fund-raising event can be organised in 2024; ideally it would bring together many of those who took part in projects in past years.

Information about the projects is being circulated and hope that it will be possible to run more than one project in 2025.

Investment performance

Income from listed investments for the year totalled £703,164 (2022 – £706,113). Realised and unrealised gains were £127,651 (2022 – losses £2,036,209).

The current macroeconomic and geopolitical environment has led to greater instability and volatility on world stock markets. This may have a negative impact on income yield from the investment portfolio but this possibility has been factored into the investment portfolio management strategy in order to provide the charity with its required operating income. Ultimately, the charity is a long-term investor and the trustees intend to continue to liaise regularly with their investment managers.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Achievements and performance (continued)

Vicarious liability and similar claims

In the past, vicarious liability claims have been brought against the charity and more recently these have been followed by other similar claims against the charity. An overview of the claims is given below with further details given in note 19 to the attached accounts.

There are over 70 outstanding claims relating to historic incidents of alleged physical or sexual abuse of children being brought against the charity in Scotland in respect to alleged incidents that took place at educational establishments in that country. All of these claims relate to events that allegedly took place many years ago. Given the abolition of Limitation by the Scottish Parliament (as of 4 October 2017), the historic claims are now being pursued. To date 28 claims have been settled or withdrawn at a total cost of over £3.2 million.

It is estimated that the aggregate of the reserve on damages and legal costs on the outstanding claims will be around £7 million. Since the charity was not the employer, a successful attempt has now been made by the charity in Scotland to seek a division of damages and costs with the employer organisations which owned and managed the educational establishments but, at present, those organisations have yet to agree any overall liability. Hence, the estimated full aggregate reserve of £7 million, without any allowance for recovery from the owners and managers, has been provided for in the attached accounts (see note 19 to the accounts). One claim for recovery of costs from the managers was settled in the year for a total of £70,000 with a number of other cases due during 2024.

The trustees have continued to engage legal experts to act on behalf of the charity to advise on the conduct of the claims being brought against the charity in England and Wales and in Scotland. As noted earlier in this report, the trustees of the charity are aware of their duties in respect to safeguarding and have up to date procedures in place. The charity is a member of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA). The trustees are committed to acting in a way which is in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries, past, present and future.

Financial review

Financial results for the year

A summary of the year’s results can be found on page 30 of the attached accounts.

Total income amounted to £4,204,849 (2022 – £2,425,815), of which £1,828,372 (2022 - £532,41) related to gains on the the sale of properties. £609,736 (2022 – £546,152) was received by way of covenanted salaries and pensions from members of the Institute and £1,004,081 (2022 – £796,598) was interest and investment income receivable. A further £283,108 (2022 – £213,440) related to education fees and related charges. The income relating to the District amounts to £397,171 (2022 - £275,356).

Total expenditure amounted to £2,939,894 (2022 - £3,657,109).

Expenditure on raising funds amounted to £103,636 (2022 – £96,749).

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Financial review (continued)

Financial results for the year (continued)

Expenditure on charitable activities in the year included costs related to the provision of education, the support of the members of the Institute and their ministry and donations and contributions to projects. These amounted to £661,782 (2022 – £551,080), £1,596,301 (2022 – £1,829,153) and £26,254 (2022 - £20,898) respectively. Costs in relation to the District, also shown as part of expenditure on charitable activities, amounted to £570,489 (2022 - £418,852).

Expenditure in connection with the vicarious liability and similar claims against the charity is a credit of £63,366 (2022 – £553,654) and is explained under “vicarious liability and similar claims” above and also in note 19 to the attached accounts.

Expenditure relating to the maintenance of the land and buildings at St John’s College, Southsea following the closure of the school was £44,798 (2022 - £186,723).

Listed investments gave rise to realised and unrealised gains on investments of £127,651 (2022– losses of £2,036,209).

The net income for the year adjusted for the realised and unrealised gains (2022 – losses) on listed investments was a net increase in total funds for the year of £1,392,606 (2022 – £4,732,497 after the unrealised gain also on the revaluation of the assets awaiting disposal to fair value).

Reserves policy and financial position

At 31 December 2023, the charity had net assets amounting to £23,228,981 (2022 – £21,836,375), primarily represented by tangible fixed assets of £2,354,602 (2022 – £3,208,740), investments of £27,684,030 (2022 – £19,435,029), assets held for sale of £nil (2022 - £12,138,000), debtors of £30,353 (2022 - £23,348) and cash at bank of £809,679 (2022 – £758,523) offset by creditors and provisions totalling £7,649,679 (2022 – £13,727,265). The creditors and provisions include amounts in respect to the vicarious liability and similar claims referred to earlier.

The balance sheet shows total funds of £23,228,981 (2022 – £21,836,375).

The charity has restricted funds of £109,970 (2022 – £120,867).

The unrestricted funds of the charity include three designated funds comprising:

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Financial review (continued)

Reserves policy and financial position (continued)

At 31 December 2023, the charity’s general funds were showing a balance of £1,919,011 (2022 – £1,515,508).

The trustees are satisfied that there are sufficient liquid assets allocated to each of the funds to be able to maintain expenditure of the charitable activities for at least twelve months at the current level of expenditure.

However, the trustees note that if the provision for potential future liability for vicarious and similar claims becomes an actual liability at the level of the provision, it would in the longer term put in jeopardy the charity’s ability to continue its valuable and necessary work and objectives.

If the valuable and necessary work of the charity is to continue into the future, particularly the support of St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre, it will be essential for the charity’s general funds to be sustainable over the longer term. The charity’s designated funds provide some finance with which it will be able to safeguard the future of its mission but these are unlikely to prove sufficient in the longer term. The trustees’ longer term policy is that the charity should have sustainable general or “free” reserves equal to at least six to twelve months’ expenditure.

The balance on the general funds at 31 December 2023 is after accounting for the creditors and provisions of £7.6 million (2022 – £8.7 million) towards the payment of compensation in respect to the vicarious liability and similar claims described earlier in this report. However, it is clear that if the charity is to finance the full cost of the vicarious liability and similar claims it will need to raise the liquid funds with which to do so. If it were to do so by disposing of investments, this will lead to a fall in essential investment income and may jeopardise the aim of retaining general fund balances at the level needed to meet at least six to twelve months’ expenditure.

Governance, structure and management

Trustees

The trustees are an incorporated body under the Charities Act 2011. Under the terms of the trust, the trustees are appointed by the Provincial Superior who, in making these appointments, has regard to the suitable blend of skills and expertise required. Trustees with specific responsibilities take part in relevant training courses and conferences.

The trustees are ultimately responsible for the policies, activities and assets of the charity. The trustees who were in office during the year ended 31 December 2023 and to the date of this report are set out below:

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Governance, structure and management (continued)

Trustees (continued)

The Trustees are planning to transfer the assets and liabilities of the current trust to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 1 January 2025. The CIO has been registered with the Charity commission as “De La Salle Great Britain CIO” and has been assigned the registered charity number 1208212.

Brother James Kilty

On 1 April 2008, Brother James Kilty became Provincial on which date he became a trustee. He joined the Institute in 1964 and studied at De La Salle College of Higher Education and Lancaster University. He taught for 14 years in Kintbury and in St Helens and then, over a ten year period, he was responsible for the formation of new candidates to the Province. He was based in Rome for a ten-year period where he served as co-ordinator of Institute formation programmes in English-speaking sectors of the Institute, principally in Africa and Asia. More recently, he served as Director of Formation for the Institute’s Asia-Pacific Region based in Singapore. During the General Chapter of 2014, he was made a Regional Superior and was based in Rome. He has now retired from this role and returned to Oxford.

Brother John Deeney

Brother John joined the Institute in 1962. He gained his degree in Modern Languages at Oxford and taught in Portsmouth and Basildon. Since 1985 he has been responsible for organising overseas projects that involve UK students assisting with the development of education in poorer parts of the world.

Brother Nicholas Sellors

Brother Nicholas Sellors joined the Institute in 1963. He was educated at Oxford University and then worked in the Province’s schools in London, Bournemouth and in Jersey where he was the head of De La Salle College. Thereafter he joined the retreat team at St Cassian’s Centre, Kintbury and became the Director of the Centre. He served two terms of office as the Provincial and is currently Director of the St Helens Community.

Brother Michael Curran

Brother Michael became a member of the Institute in 1981. He was appointed Auxiliary Provincial on 1 September 2019 and was appointed Trustee on 1 October 2019. He holds a master's degree in educational development and management from London University. He spent most of his teaching career teaching science. After retiring from teaching, he worked in the St. Helens care community until he was appointed Auxiliary Provincial.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 20

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Governance, structure and management (continued)

Trustees (continued)

Brother Patrick Hanlon - Provincial

Brother Patrick Hanlon was born in Kilkenny, Ireland in 1952. He made his final profession as a De La Salle Brother in 1978. Having completed Bachelor of Music and Diploma of Music degrees at University College Dublin, he taught at De La Salle College Waterford from 1979 – 1991. He was appointed Auxiliary Visitor for Ireland from 1991 – 1996. He was a member of staff of the International Novitiate located in Skaneateles, NY from 1996 – 1997. He returned to Waterford and taught there until he retired in 2017. In the meantime, he completed post graduate studies in composition, achieving his Ph.D. from Waterford Institute of Technology in 2015. He returned to leadership, becoming one of two Auxiliary Visitors for Ireland Great Britain and Malta, in 2019. In June 2021 he was appointed as Visitor (Provincial) pro-tempore until his formal appointment as Visitor in January 2023.

Trustees’ meetings

The trustees meet at least six times a year, usually more frequently. They regularly review the activities of the charity, as well as monitoring the progress of its mission and the needs of its members. They are responsible for deciding policy and for taking the important decisions that affect the charity. Where appropriate, they seek the advice and support of the charity’s professional advisers, including charity consultants, investment managers, solicitors, accountants, employment advisers and surveyors.

The day to day management of the charity’s activities and the implementation of policies are delegated to members of the Province, or to senior staff who possess the requisite skills and expertise.

Key management personnel

The trustees consider that the key management of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day to day basis comprise the trustees, the Manager of St John’s House for the care of older and frail members of the Institute, the Director of St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre, the Director of Mission, The Director of Formation and Vocations (until September 2023) and the Chief Financial Officer.

All trustees are members of the Institute and whilst their living and personal expenses are borne by the charity they receive no remuneration or reimbursement of expenses in connection with their duties as trustees or key management.

The remuneration of the Manager of St John’s House, the Director of St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre, the Director of Mission and the Chief Financial Officer, is approved by the trustees. Such remuneration is set having regard to market salaries for similar roles and after taking into account specific circumstances relating to the charity’s needs and circumstances.

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

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

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 21

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Governance, structure and management (continued)

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities (continued)

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, applicable Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the charity’s trust deed. 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.

Risk management

The trustees undertake an annual review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces categorising the risks between those affecting the governance and management of the charity, operational risks, financial risks, reputational risks and those which occur because of circumstances outside of the charity's control such as changes in government policy, laws and regulations. They regularly review the measures already in place, or needing to be put in place, to establish policies, systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the annual review and ensure that action is taken to implement changes to those policies, systems and procedures should they be needed to minimise or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.

The trustees have identified five main areas where risks may occur: governance and management; operational; financial; reputational; and regulatory.

Governance and management looks at the risk of the Institute, and hence the charity, suffering from a lack of direction, at the skills and training of its members and staff, and the good use of its resources.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 22

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Governance, structure and management (continued)

Risk management (continued)

Operational looks at the risks inherent in the charity’s activities including in the operation of its care homes, the members of the congregation engaging in inappropriate activities, the unsuitability of buildings, poor maintenance, shortcomings in the services provided, difficulties with staff, poor health and safety, lack of a disaster recovery plan, etc.

Financial risks include those arising as a result of poor budgetary control, inappropriate spending, poor accounting, inappropriate investment policies, etc.

Reputational looks at possible damage to the Institute’s, and hence the charity’s, reputation.

Regulatory looks at the effects of government policies, the consequences of noncompliance with laws and regulations and poor risk assessment.

Having assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, the trustees believe that by monitoring reserve levels, by ensuring controls exist over key financial systems, and by examining the operational and business risks faced by the charity, they have established effective systems to mitigate those risks.

The key risks for the charity, as identified by the trustees, are described below together with the principal ways in which they are mitigated:

The age profile and health of the members and future operation of the charity. The trustees are aware that there is both a moral and legal obligation to care for the older members. None of the members have resources of their own as all earnings, pensions and other income have been donated to the charity under a Gift Aid compliant Deed of Covenant. As the age profile increases, so too does the need to provide care for the members. Key elements of the management of this risk are: (a) ensuring that the charity has the available financial resources to finance this care both now and in the years ahead by setting aside assets in a designated fund; and (b) ensuring that processes are in place to review regularly the ministries and needs of individual members encouraging those who need it to take on less demanding ministries and for identifying those who need extra care and help.

The value of investments and properties. The value of listed investments is dependent on movements in UK and world stock markets. The investments are managed by reputable investment managers who adhere to a policy agreed by the trustees. The investment strategy is assessed regularly to ensure it remains appropriate to the charity's needs, both now and in the future.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 23

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Governance, structure and management (continued)

Risk management (continued)

The trustees recognise the absolute necessity of ensuring the protection and safeguarding of all those whom the charity serves, especially children and vulnerable adults. One appointee of the Province is the named Safeguarding Officer for the Province and is trained accordingly. All the members in the Province and all members of staff and volunteers, who are in contact with people through their ministry, have an Advanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The trustees are committed to implementing all the policies and procedures of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency, England and Wales (CSSA) and the Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (SCSSA). They take responsibility for identifying, preventing, investigating and responding to all allegations or incidents of abuse.

The trustees continue to monitor the major risks to which the charity may be exposed and systems are investigated and established to mitigate these risks.

Schools and educational establishments

The charity provides an extensive portfolio of land and buildings for a number of secondary schools founded by the Institute, which are now voluntary aided or independent charities and whose finances, therefore, fall outside the charity. These properties are not included in the charity’s list of assets because they are not available for disposal. The Brothers are trustees for most of these schools.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 24

Trustees’ report Year to 31 December 2023

Governance, structure and management (continued)

Schools and educational establishments (continued)

The schools where the charity owns land and, in some cases, the buildings or some of the buildings, are:

De La Salle School Ghyllgrove, Basildon, Essex SS14 2LA

De La Salle School 11-16 mixed comprehensive Ghyllgrove, Basildon, Essex SS14 2LA St Matthew Academy City academy Lee Terrace, Blackheath, London The trusteeship resides with the R.C. SE3 9TY Archdiocese of Southwark

Dixons Croxteth Academy 11-18 mixed academy Carr Lane East, Liverpool L11 4SG Trusteeship resides with the Dixons Academies Trust De La Salle School 11-16 mixed comprehensive Mill Brow, St Helens WA10 4QH St Joseph’s College 11-18 boys’ academy Beulah Hill, London SE19 3HL (16 – 18 mixed) St Peter’s School 3-18 mixed academy St Catherine’s Road, Bournemouth The trusteeship is shared with the R.C. BH6 4AH Diocese of Portsmouth.

Foundations

The following foundation is owned and administered by the charity.

Pastoral Centre St Cassian’s Centre Organises short retreats for young people and Kintbury, Hungerford, courses for teachers. The Centre is managed Berkshire by a Management Committee which is RG17 9SR appointed by, and reports to, the trustees.

Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

James Kilty

Trustee

Approved by the trustees on: 21 October 2024

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 25

Independent auditor’s report Year to 31 December 2023

Independent auditor’s report to the trustees of The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust

Opinion

We have audited the accounts of The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows, the principal accounting policies and the notes to the accounts. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the accounts:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the accounts in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the accounts, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the accounts is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the accounts are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report and accounts other than the accounts and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the accounts does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 26

Independent auditor’s report Year to 31 December 2023

Other information (continued)

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the accounts or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the accounts themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of accounts that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the accounts, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the accounts as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these accounts.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 27

Independent auditor’s report Year to 31 December 2023

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts (continued)

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 28

Independent auditor’s report Year to 31 December 2023

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts (continued)

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the accounts is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Buzzacott LLP Statutory Auditor 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL

21 October 2024

Buzzacott LLP is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 29

Statement of financial activities Year to 31 December 2023

Un-
restricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 2023
Total
funds
£		 Un-
restricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 2022
Total
funds
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
1
Primary purpose trading activities
2
Investments and interest receivable
3
Charitable activities
. Provision of education
4
. Contributions from Ireland and Malta
towards District costs
Surplus on disposal of tangible fixed
assets
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5
Charitable activities
. Provision of education
6
. Support of members of the
Institute and their ministry
7
. Donations and contributions to projects
8
. District costs
9
Other items
. Vicarious liability and similar claims
10
. St John’s College, Southsea costs
15
Total expenditure
Net income (expenditure) before net
gains (losses) on investments,
transfers between funds and
revaluations of assets awaiting
disposal
Net gains (losses) on investments
14
Revaluation to fair value of assets awaiting
disposal
15
Transfers between funds
20
Net income (expenditure) and net
movement in funds
Balances brought forward
at 1 January 2023
Balances carried forward
at 31 December 2023		 607,260
82,741
1,003,776
283,108
—
1,828,372		 2,116
—
305
—
397,171
—		 609,376
82,741
1,004,081
283,108
397,171
1,828,372		 556,152
49,627
796,545
213,440
—
532,411		 2,231
—
53
—
275,356
—		 558,383
49,627
796,598
213,440
275,356
532,411
3,805,257 399,592 4,204,849 2,148,175 277,640 2,425,815
103,636
661,782
1,596,301
26,254
—
(63,366)
44,798		 —
—
—
—
570,489
—
—		 103,636
661,782
1,596,301
26,254
570,489
(63,366)
44,798		 96,749
551,080
1,825,433
20,898
—
553,654
186,723		 —
—
3,720
—
418,852
—
—		 96,749
551,080
1,829,153
20,898
418,852
553,654
186,723
2,369,405 570,489 2,939,894 3,234,537 422,572 3,657,109
1,435,852
127,651
—
(160,000)		 (170,897)
—
—
160,000		 1,264,955
127,651
—
—		 (1,086,362)
(2,036,209)
8,000,000
(157,000)		 (144,932)
—
—
157,000		 (1,231,294)
(2,036,209)
8,000,000

—
1,403,503 (10,897) 1,392,606 4,720,429 12,068 4,732,497
21,715,508 120,867 21,836,375 16,995,079 108,799 17,103,878
23,119,011 109,970 23,228,981 21,715,508 120,867 21,836,375

All income and expenditure in the current and prior periods related to continuing operations.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 30

Balance sheet 31 December 2023

Notes 2023
£		 2023
£		 2022
£		 2022
£
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets
13
Investments
14
Current assets
Assets held for sale
15
Debtors: amounts due within one year
16
Cash at bank and in hand
Current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
17
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after
more than one year
18
Provision for liabilities and charges
19
Total net assets
The funds of the charity:
Restricted funds
20
Unrestricted funds
. Designated funds
21
. General funds
Total funds and reserves		 —
30,353
809,675		 2,354,602
27,684,030		 12,138,000
23,348
758,523		 3,208,740
19,435,029
30,038,632
190,349		 22,643,769
12,043,892
840,028
(649,679)		 12,919,871
(875,979)
21,200,000
1,919,011		 20,200,000
1,515,508
30,228,981
—		 34,687,661
(4,851,286)
30,228,981
(7,000,000)		 29,836,375
(8,000,000)
23,228,981 21,836,375
109,970
23,119,011		 120,867
21,715,508
23,228,981 21,836,375

Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

James Kilty

Trustee

Approved by the trustees on: 21 October 2024

Charity registration number: 232632

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 31

Statement of cash flows Year to 31 December 2023

Notes
2023
£		 2022
£
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash used in operating activities
A
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investment income and interest received
Proceeds of disposal of assets held for sale
Proceeds from the disposal of tangible fixed assets
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Proceeds from the disposal of investments
Purchase of investments
Net cash provided by investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
(Decrease) increase in borrowing
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 2023
B
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2023
B		 (2,687,587) (2,674,571)
1,004,081
12,138,259
2,625,077
(56,042)
2,911,575
(2,333,289)		 713,503
—
732,411
—
3,707,000
(2,514,217)
16,289,661 2,638,697
(4,851,286) 234,909
8,750,788

944,249		 199,035
745,214

9,695,037		 944,249

Notes to the statement of cash flows for the year to 31 December 2023

A Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash used in operating activities

2023
£		 2022
£
Net movement in funds (as per the statement of financial activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charge
Gains on disposal of tangible fixed assets and assets held for resale
(Gains) losses on investments
Dividends and interest from investments
(Increase) decrease in debtors within one year
Decrease in creditors
Revaluation of assets awaiting disposal
Decrease in provisions
Net cashprovided by (used in) operating activities		 1,392,606
113,216
(1,828,372)
(127,651)
(1,004,081)
(7,005)
(226,300)
—
(1,000,000)		 4,732,497
133,602
(532,411)
2,036,209
(796,598)
20,913
(18,783)
(8,000,000)
(250,000)
(2,687,587) (2,674,571)

B Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
2023
£		 2022
£
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash held by investment managers
Total cash and cash equivalents		 809,675
8,885,362		 758,523
185,726
9,695,037 944,249

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 32

Statement of cash flows Year to 31 December 2023

C Analysis of changes in net debt

Analysis of changes in net debt
At 1
January
2023
£		 Cash flows
£		 At 31
December
2023
£
Cash and cash equivalents
Loan
Total		 944,249
(4,851,286)		 8,750,788
4,851,286		 9,695,037
—
(3,907,037) 13,602,074 9,695,037

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 33

Principal accounting policies Year to 31 December 2023

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the accounts are laid out below.

Basis of preparation

These accounts have been prepared for the year to 31 December 2023 with comparative information given in respect to the year to 31 December 2022.

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policies below or the notes to these 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 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (Charities SORP FRS 102) the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

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

The accounts are presented in sterling and are rounded to the nearest pound.

Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

Preparation of the accounts requires the trustees to make significant judgements and estimates.

The items in the accounts where these judgements and estimates have been made include:

Assessment of going concern

The trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these accounts, including consideration of the current macroeconomic and geopolitical climate on the charity’s operations and finances. The trustees have made this assessment in respect to a period of at least one year from the date of approval of these accounts.

The current macroeconomic and geopolitical environment has led to greater instability and volatility on world stock markets. This may have a negative impact on income yield from the investment portfolio but this possibility has been factored into the investment portfolio management strategy in order to provide the charity with its required operating income. Ultimately, the charity is a long-term investor and the trustees intend to continue to liaise regularly with their investment managers.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 34

Principal accounting policies Year to 31 December 2023

Assessment of going concern (continued)

Despite the challenges presented by the current macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, the trustees consider that the charity’s viability will not be threatened given the strategies which have been, and are being, implemented to deal with the situation in the short to medium term.

As such, the trustees of the charity have concluded that there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees are of the opinion that the charity will have sufficient resources to meet its liabilities as they fall due.

The most significant areas of judgement that affect items in the accounts are detailed above. With regard to the next accounting period, the year ending 31 December 2024, the most significant areas that affect the carrying value of the assets held by the charity are the level of investment return and the performance of the investment markets (see above and also the investment policy and the risk management sections of the trustees’ report for more information).

Income recognition

Income is recognised in the period in which the charity has entitlement to the income, the amount of income can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

Income comprises donations and legacies, income from primary purpose trading, investment income and interest receivable, fees and related charges for the provision of education and other income including the surplus on the disposal of tangible fixed assets.

Donations, including salaries and pensions of individual religious received under Gift Aid or deed of covenant, are recognised when the charity has confirmation of both the amount and settlement date. In the event of donations pledged but not received, the amount is accrued for where the receipt is considered probable. 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 charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

In accordance with the Charities SORP FRS 102 volunteer time is not recognised.

Legacies are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the legacy, the executors have established that there are sufficient surplus assets in the estate to pay the legacy, and any conditions attached to the legacy are within the control of the charity.

Income from primary purpose trading includes income from rental and hospitality. It is accounted for at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable.

Investment income is recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 35

Principal accounting policies Year to 31 December 2023

Income recognition (continued)

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Income derived from the levying of fees and related charges comprises income relating to St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre. Such income is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding discounts, rebates and scholarships.

Contributions from Ireland and Malta towards District costs are recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income and when the amount receivable can be quantified.

The surplus on the disposal of tangible fixed assets and/or programme related investments is calculated as the difference between the sale proceeds net of sale costs and the net book value of the asset immediately prior to disposal. It is accounted for once legal completion of the disposal has taken place.

Other income is measured at fair value and accounted for on an accruals basis.

Expenditure recognition

Expenditure is recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenditure comprises direct costs and support costs, including governance costs. The classification between activities is as follows:

Expenditure on raising funds includes the fees paid to investment managers in connection with the management of the charity’s listed investments.

Expenditure on charitable activities comprises expenditure on the charity’s primary charitable purposes as described in the trustees’ report and relates to:

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 36

Principal accounting policies Year to 31 December 2023

Expenditure recognition (continued)

Expenditure in connection with the vicarious liability and similar claims includes compensation payable together with associated legal and other professional fees.

In 2022, St John’s College Southsea, which occupied via leases certain properties of which the charity was the freeholder, closed. On 1 September 2022, these properties along with some playing fields were returned unencumbered to the charity. Until the properties were sold, the charity was responsible for all related expenditure such as security, insurance, utilities and maintenance. These costs are shown within the statement of financial activities as St John’s College, Southsea costs.

All expenditure is stated inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

Allocation of support and governance costs

Support costs represent indirect charitable expenditure. In order to carry out the primary purposes of the charity it is necessary to provide support in the form of personnel development, financial procedures, provision of office services and equipment and a suitable working environment.

Governance costs comprise the costs involving the public accountability of the charity (including audit costs) and costs in respect to its compliance with regulation and good practice. Governance costs are included as a specific category within support costs.

Such expenditure is allocated directly to the relevant categories and apportionment is not required.

Tangible fixed assets

Non-specialised buildings

Non-specialised buildings are those designed as, and used wholly or mainly for, private residential accommodation. Those that have been owned since 1996 are stated at cost, or, where cost is not available, at a trustees’ valuation made, with professional assistance, in 1996 based on market value for existing use. Under the transitional arrangements of FRS 102 this valuation is now deemed to equate to cost. All other nonspecialised buildings are stated at cost. Such buildings are not depreciated. Their value and condition are reviewed annually by the trustees, who are satisfied that their residual value is not materially less than their book value.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 37

Principal accounting policies Year to 31 December 2023

Tangible fixed assets (continued)

Specialised buildings

Specialised buildings comprise retirement homes, the pastoral centre and the administration centre. Those that have been owned since 1996 are stated at cost, or, where cost is not available, at a trustees’ valuation made, with professional assistance, in 1996 based on market value for existing use. Under the transitional arrangements of FRS 102 this valuation is now deemed to equate to cost. All other specialised buildings are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided at 2% per annum on a straight-line basis to write the buildings off over their estimated useful economic life to the charity.

Other land and buildings

The trustees are the legal owners of land and buildings used exclusively by schools and colleges founded by the Institute, but which are now separate charities. Their occupation of the land and buildings is indefinite and rent free. As such assets have no meaningful value in use to the trustees, no value is attributed to them in the accounts. The schools are situated in Basildon, Bournemouth, London Borough of Lewisham, Liverpool and St Helens.

Outdoor educational facilities

Outdoor educational facilities such as tennis courts, are capitalised and depreciated at a rate of 10% per annum on a straight line basis in order to write off the cost of the facilities over their expected useful economic life to the charity.

No depreciation is provided on freehold land.

Expenditure in excess of £1,000 on the purchase and replacement of furniture, equipment and motor vehicles is capitalised and depreciated using the following method and rates per annum:

Office equipment 40% on a reducing balance or 33% straight line Motor vehicles 30% on a reducing balance Furniture and equipment 15% or 20% on a reducing balance

Fixed asset investments

Listed investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price.

Realised gains (or losses) on investment assets are calculated as the difference between disposal proceeds and their opening carrying value or their purchase value if acquired subsequent to the first day of the financial year. Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the fair value at the year end and their carrying value at that date. Realised and unrealised investment gains (or losses) are combined in the statement of financial activities and are credited (or debited) in the year in which they arise.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 38

Principal accounting policies Year to 31 December 2023

Assets held for sale

Assets awaiting disposal comprised freehold properties previously classified as programme related investments which were marketed for sale in the prior year but sold in 2023. The assets were revalued at 31 December 2022 to their fair value based on estimated open market value and the resultant unrealised gain calculated as the difference between the fair value of the properties as at 31 December 2022 and their previous carrying value was included within the statement of financial activities.

Debtors

Debtors are recognised at their settlement amount, less any provision for non-recoverability. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid. They have been discounted to the present value of the future cash receipt where such discounting is material.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand represents such accounts and instruments that are available on demand or have a maturity of less than three months from the date of acquisition.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are recognised at the amount the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt. They have been discounted to the present value of the future cash payment where such discounting is material.

Fund structure

Restricted funds comprise monies raised for, or their use restricted to, a specific purpose, or contributions subject to donor imposed conditions.

Designated funds comprise monies set aside out of unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes or projects. They include the net book value of the charity’s tangible fixed assets used for the support of the members of the Institute and their ministry in recognition of the fact that the assets are used in the day to day work of the charity and the fund value would not be realisable easily if needed to meet future contingencies.

General funds represent those monies which are freely available for application towards achieving any charitable purpose that falls within the charity’s charitable objects.

Services provided by members of the Institute

For the purposes of these accounts, no monetary value has been placed on administrative and other services provided by the members of the Institute.

Pension costs

The charity contributes to defined contribution schemes for certain employees. The contributions are charged to the statement of financial activities when payable.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 39

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 December 2023

1 Income from: Donations and legacies

Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 2023
£		 2022
£
Salaries and pensions of individual
members of the Institute received under
deed of covenant
Other donations and legacies
Total funds		 569,641
37,619		 —
2,116		 569,641
39,735		 546,152
12,231
607,260 2,116 609,376 558,383

All income from donations and legacies is unrestricted except for other donations and legacies of £2,116 (2022 – £2,231) which have been given specifically towards the support of the St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre. Kintbury, Berkshire (note 20).

2 Income from: Primary purpose trading activities

Income from primary purpose trading activities relates to activities for generating funds, the principal component of which is rental and hospitality income.

principal component of which is rental and hospitality income.
2023
£		 2022
£
Total funds:Activities forgeneratingfunds 82,741 49,627

All income from activities for generating funds is unrestricted.

3 Income from: Investments and interest receivable

Unrestricte
d funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 2023
£		 2022
£
Listed investment income
Income from programme related
investments
Bank interest
Total funds		 703,164
4,197
296,415		 —
—
305		 703,164
4,197
296,720		 706,113
83,095
7,390
1,003,776 305 1,004,081 796,598

All income from investments and interest receivable is unrestricted except for bank interest of £305 (2022 – £53) which is restricted.

4 Income from: Charitable activities – Provision of education

2023
£
283,108		 2022
£
Total funds:St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre fees and similar income 213,440

All income from charitable activities is unrestricted.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 40

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 December 2023

5 Expenditure on: Raising funds

Total funds:Investment managers’ fees 2023
£
103,636		 2022
£
96,749

All expenditure on raising funds is unrestricted.

6 Expenditure on: Charitable activities – Provision of education

2023
£		 2022
£
Staff and related costs
Other costs
Total funds		 393,572
268,210		 326,364
224,716
661,782 551,080

All expenditure on the provision of education is unrestricted.

7 Expenditure on: Charitable activities – Support of members of the Institute and their ministry

ministry
2023
£		 2022
£
Staff costs (including agency staff)
Premises
Brothers’ living and ministry expenses
Education, training and spiritual renewal
Depreciation
Legal and professional fees
Interest payable
Governance costs
Other costs
Total funds		 670,344
369,970
200,356
26,044
121,280
124,654
42,367
30,600
10,686		 590,846
340,800
198,019
17,624
133,602
352,102
139,910
27,600
28,650
1,596,301 1,829,153

Governance costs include auditor’s remuneration for statutory audit services of £30,600(2022 – £27,600 for statutory audit services and advisory services).

All expenditure on support of members of the Institute and their ministry is unrestricted except for other costs of £nil (2022 – £3,720) which are restricted.

8 Expenditure on: Charitable activities – Donations and contributions to projects

2023
£		 2022
£
Overseas missions and projects
Other
Total funds		 25,031
1,223		 20,000
898
26,254 20,898

All donations and contributions to projects relate to unrestricted funds.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 41

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 December 2023

9 Expenditure on: Charitable activities – District costs

Staff and consultancy costs
Mission expenses
District Council expenses
Contributions to Rome and Relem
Other
Total funds		 2023
£
327,617
89,871
73,381
25,978
53,642
570,489		 2022
£
276,986
51,124
42,284
—
48,458
418,852

All expenditure in relation to District costs is restricted.

10 Expenditure on: Other items – Vicarious liability and similar claims

2023
£		 2022
£
Provision for liabilities in respect to claims of alleged abuse inclusive of
costs (note 19):
. England and Wales
. Scotland		 24,869
(88,235)		 60,827
492,827
(63,366) 553,654

All expenditure relating to vicarious liability and similar claims is in respect of unrestricted funds.

11 Staff costs and remuneration of trustees and key management personnel

Staff costs during the year were as follows:

2023
£		 2022
£
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 951,956
85,225
26,734		 819,277
66,926
25,832
1,063,915 912,035

The number of employees who earned £60,000 per annum or more (including taxable benefits but excluding employer pension contributions) during the year was as follows:

2023
£		 2022
£
£60,001 to £70,000
£80,001 to £90,000
£90,001 to £100,000
£110,001 to £120,000		 —
1
—
1		 1
—
1
—

The average number of employees during the period, analysed by function was:

Staff numbers 2023
£		 2022
£
Provision of education
Support of members of the Institute
Total average head count		 14
24		 14
16
38 30

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 42

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 December 2023

All trustees are members of the Institute and whilst their living and personal expenses are borne by the charity they receive no remuneration or reimbursement of expenses in connection with their duties as trustees or key management (2022 – none). During the year, the total amount donated by the trustees to the charity was £70,015 (2022 – £64,078).

The total remuneration for the year of the other key management personnel (including taxable benefits and employer’s national insurance and pension contributions) was £345,637 (2022 – £268,490).

The charity purchases insurance to protect the charity from loss arising from any wrongful or dishonest act of trustees and to indemnify trustees in respect of losses arising from actions they have taken in good faith. The total cover provided by such insurance is £5 million (2022 – £5 million) and the total premium paid in respect of such insurance was £2,674 (2022 – £6,883).

12 Taxation

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 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.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 43

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 December 2023

13 Tangible fixed assets

Freehold land and buildings

Specialised
£		 Non-
specialised
£		 Outdoor
educational
facilities
£		 Furniture,
equipment
and motor
vehicles
£		 Total
£
Cost or deemed cost
At 1 January 2023
Additions
Disposals
At 31 December 2023
At deemed cost
At cost
Depreciation
At 1 January 2023
Charge for the year
On disposals
At 31 December 2023
Net book values
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022		 5,153,272
—
(1,500,000)		 350,000
—
—		 109,184
—
—		 504,408
56,042
(50,414)		 6,116,864
56,042
(1,550,414)
3,653,272 350,000 109,184 510,036 4,622,492
3,653,272
—		 350,000
—		 —
109,184		 —
510,036		 4,003,272
619,220
3,653,272 350,000 109,184 510,036 4,622,492
2,404,517
85,565
(712,400)		 —
—
—		 30,912
15,654
—		 472,695
11,997
(41,050)		 2,908,124
113,216
(753,450)
1,777,682 — 46,566 443,642 2,267,890
1,875,590 350,000 62,618 66,394 2,354,602
2,748,755 350,000 78,272 31,713 3,208,740

As permitted under the transitional provisions of FRS 102, the charity has continued to adopt a policy of not revaluing its tangible fixed assets. They are stated at cost, or, where cost is not available, at a trustees’ valuation made as described in the principal accounting policies. The valuation is now deemed to be cost.

It is likely that the open market values of certain of the charity’s land and buildings are materially greater than their book values. The amount of such differences cannot be ascertained without incurring significant costs, which, in the opinion of trustees, is not justified in terms of the benefit to the users of the accounts.

14 Listed investments

Listed investments
2023
£
19,249,303
2,333,289
(2,955,178)
171,254
18,798,668
8,885,362
27,684,030
14,630,960		 2022
£
22,478,295
2,514,217
(3,940,612)
(1,802,597)
19,249,303
185,726
19,435,029
14,670,065
Listed investments
Market value at 1 January 2023
Additions at cost
Disposals at opening market value (proceeds: £2,911,575;
losses: £43,603)
Net unrealised investment gains (losses)
Market value at 31 December 2023
Cash held by investment managers for re-investment
Cost of listed investments at 31 December 2023

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 44

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 December 2023

14 Listed investments (continued)

Listed investments (excluding cash) held at 31 December 2023 comprised the following:

2023
£
7,257,991
7,076,459
2,092,147
391,402
513,846
1,466,823
18,798,668		 2022
£
Equities (UK)
Equities (overseas)
Fixed interest investments (UK)
Fixed interest investments (overseas)
Property funds
Other listed investments (Infrastructure and private equity)		 8,898,241
6,096,339
1,573,076
396,273
605,823
1,679,551
19,249,303

There were no individual holdings that represented a material percentage of the listed investment portfolio as at 31 December 2023 (2022 – none).

During the year the listed investments were used as security against a loan to the charity (note 18).

15 Assets held for sale

Assets held for sale
Assets held for sale 2023
£		 2022
£
—
4,138,000
—
8,000,000
12,138,000
12,138,000
At 1 January 2023
Reclassification from programme related investments
Disposals
Revaluation to fair value
At 31 December 2023
Assets held for sale comprise:
Land and buildingspreviouslyoccupied bySt John’s College,Southsea		 12,138,000
—
(12,138,000)
—
—

—

St John’s College, Southsea closed at the end of the summer term 2022 and the school is now in voluntary liquidation. The unencumbered freehold of the land and buildings reverted back to the charity as at that date. During the year, all of the land and buildings have been sold for proceeds of £12,450,000. The land and buildings were placed on the market before 31 December 2022 and were therefore reclassified from programme related investments in that year.

The costs of maintaining the land and buildings, including insurance and security costs, following the closure of the school have been included as other expenditure in the statement of financial activities.

16 Debtors

Debtors
Amounts due within oneyear 2023
£		 2022
£
Prepayments
Investment income receivable
Other debtors		 6,666
20,187
3,500		 2,478
18,370
2,500
30,353 23,348

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 45

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 December 2023

17 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2023
£		 2022
£
Expense creditors
Other creditors
Accruals
Liability in respect to claims of alleged abuse inclusive of costs
(see note 19)		 340
45,020
47,747
556,572		 1,453
22,421
149,111
702,994
649,679 875,979

18 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
2023
£		 2022
£
Loan — 4,851,286

With effect from March 2021, the charity had a 5 year loan facility with the maximum amount of the facility being £6 million. The loan facility was repayable in full by March 2026 but was repaid early without penalty in February 2023. Interest was payable at 1.75% per annum above the Bank of England bank rate and was charged quarterly. The loan was secured against the charity’s listed investment portfolio (see note 14).

19 Provision for liabilities and charges

Provision for liabilities and charges
2023
£		 2022
£
Provision for liabilities in respect to claims of alleged abuse inclusive of
costs(see below)		 7,000,000 8,000,000
The movements in the provisions are as follows: 2023
£		 2022
£
As at 1 January 2023
Net decrease in provision
As at 31 December 2023		 8,000,000
(1,000,000)		 8,250,000
(250,000)
7,000,000 8,000,000

Vicarious Liability Claims in Scotland

There are over 70 outstanding claims relating to historic incidents of alleged physical or sex abuse of children now being brought against the charity in Scotland in respect to alleged incidents that took place at educational establishments in that country. All of these claims relate to events that allegedly took place many years ago. Given the abolition of Limitation by the Scottish Parliament (as of 4 October 2017), the historic claims are now being pursued. To date 28 claims have been settled or withdrawn at a total cost of over £3.2 million.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 46

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 December 2023

19 Provision for liabilities and charges (continued)

Vicarious Liability Claims in Scotland (continued)

It is estimated that, the aggregate of the reserve on damages and legal costs on the outstanding claims will be around £7 million. Since the charity was not the employer, a successful attempt has now been made by the charity in Scotland to seek a division of damages and costs with the employer organisations which owned and managed the educational establishments but, at present, those organisations have yet to agree any overall liability. Hence, the estimated full aggregate reserve of £7 million, without any allowance for recovery from the owners and managers, has been provided for in the accounts. One claim for recovery of costs from the managers was settled in the year for a total of £70,000 with a number of other cases due during 2024.

The trustees have continued to engage legal experts to act on behalf of the charity to advise on the conduct of the claims being brought against the charity in England and Wales and in Scotland. As noted earlier in this report, the trustees of the charity are aware of their duties in respect to safeguarding and have up to date procedures in place. The charity is a member of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA). The trustees are committed to acting in a way which is in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries, past, present and future.

20 Restricted funds

The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trusts to be applied for specific purposes:

purposes:
At
1 January
2023
£		 Income
£		 Expenditure
£		 Transfers
£		 At 31
December
2023
£
District fund
St Cassian’s Appeal fund
Other funds		 81,113
23,449
16,305		 397,171
2,421
—		 (570,489)
—
—		 160,000
—
—		 67,795
25,870
16,305
120,867 399,592 (570,489) 160,000 109,970
At
1 January
2022
£		 Income
£		 Expenditure
£		 Transfers
£		 At 31
December
2022
£
District fund
St Cassian’s Appeal fund
Other funds		 67,609
21,191
19,999		 275,356
2,258
26		 (418,852)
—
(3,720)		 157,000
—
—		 81,113
23,449
16,305
108,799 277,640 (422,572) 157,000 120,867

The District fund

The District fund is to be used for administering and co-ordinating the Institute’s District of Ireland, Great Britain and Malta. The transfer from unrestricted funds represents the contribution towards the funds from the charity representing the contribution from Great Britain.

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 47

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 December 2023

20 Restricted funds (continued)

The St Cassian’s Appeal fund

The St Cassian’s Appeal fund represents monies raised to support the St Cassian’s Pastoral Centre, Kintbury, Berkshire.

21 Designated funds

The income fund of the charity includes the following funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:

At
1 January
2023
£		 New
designations
£		 At 31
December
2023
£
Care and Development Fund
Education Support Fund
District Support Fund		 10,200,000
6,000,000
4,000,000		 —
1,000,000
—		 10,200,000
7,000,000
4,000,000
20,200,000 1,000,000 21,200,000
At
1 January
2022
£		 New
designations
£		 At 31
December
2022
£
Care and Development Fund
Education Support Fund
District Support Fund		 10,200,000
5,500,000
—		 —
500,000
4,000,000		 10,200,000
6,000,000
4,000,000
15,700,000 4,500,000 20,200,000

The purposes for which the funds have been set aside are as follows:

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 48

Notes to the accounts Year to 31 December 2023

22 Analysis of net assets between funds

General
funds
£		 Designated
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
2023
£
Fund balances at 31 December 2023
are represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Net current (liabilities) assets
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Total net assets		 761,382
8,077,250
80,379
(7,000,000)		 1,593,220
19,606,780
—
—		 —
—
109,970
—		 2,354,602
27,684,030
190,349
(7,000,000)
1,919,011 21,200,000 109,970 23,228,981
General
funds
£		 Designated
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
2022
£
Fund balances at 31 December 2022 are
represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Net current assets
Creditors due after one year
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Total net assets		 1,143,568
8,586,915
(214,975)
—
(8,000,000)		 2,065,172
10,848,114
12,138,000
(4,851,286)
—		 —
—
120,867
—
—		 3,208,740
19,435,029
12,043,892
(4,851,286)
(8,000,000)
1,515,508 20,200,000 120,867 21,836,375

23 Contingent liabilities

In the event of closure or sale of voluntary aided schools provided by the charity, it may become liable to repay grants paid by the Department for Education to finance capital expenditure by those schools. Since figures for total capital grants paid are not readily available, it is not possible to quantify the amount of any contingent liability.

In addition to the vicarious liability and similar claims explained in note 19, it is possible that there may be further potential claims against the charity concerning the welfare of children. The likelihood of these arising, the amounts that may be claimed and the associated costs cannot be quantified at the current time.

24 Related party transactions

Except as disclosed in note 11 to the accounts, there are no other related party transactions requiring disclosure (2022 – none).

The Province of Great Britain of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Charitable Trust 49