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2024-12-31-accounts

BIRMINGHAM DIOCESAN TRUST

ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2024 Charity Registration No. 234216

BIRMINGHAM DIOCESAN TRUST INDEX TO REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Legal and administrative information 3
Trustees’ report 4
Statement of Financial Activities 29
Statement of Financial Position 31
Statement of Cash Flows 32
Accounting policies 33
Notes to the fnancial statements 40

2 I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

NAME

The name of the charity is Birmingham Diocesan Trust . The charity, in its day to day dealings, is also known as the Archdiocese of Birmingham or “the Diocese”. The charity registration number is 234216.

PRINCIPAL OFFICE

Cathedral House St Chad’s Queensway Birmingham B4 6EU

Website: www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk

TRUSTEES

Birmingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered

COMPRISING:

Most Rev. B Longley MA STL (Archbishop of Birmingham) *(7) #

PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS: AUDITOR

RSM UK Audit LLP

Chartered Accountants 10th Floor 103 Colmore Row Birmingham B3 3AG

BANK

National Westminster Bank plc

4th Floor, 2 St. Philips Place Birmingham B3 2RB

INSURANCE BROKER

Rt. Rev. D Evans (Auxiliary Bishop) *(1) (2) (6) #

Rt. Rev. R Walker (Auxiliary Bishop) *(1) (2) (3) (6) #

Rt. Rev. T Menezes (Auxiliary Bishop) * (1) (2) (4) Appointed 1 September 2024 #

Rev. J Veasey STL (Vicar General) *(1) (2_ (3) (4) #

Rev. P Fitzpatrick Appointed 20 October 2023. *(1) (2) # Resigned 31 August 2024 #

Ms. J Francis *(3) (9)

Mrs K Gordon *(4) (6) (7) Appointed 26 January 2024

Prof. D Kelly CBE DL *(6) (7) Resigned 31 March 2024

Mr. C Loughran DL FBCS CITP * (1) (2) (4) (5) (8)

PIB Insurance Brokers

Poppleton Grange Low Poppleton Lane York YO2 6AZ

INVESTMENT MANAGERS

Evelyn Partners

103 Colmore Row Birmingham B3 3AG

Sarasin & Partners

Juxon House 100 St Paul’s Churchyard London EC4M 8BU

Ms. S Pain BA ACMA * (1) (5)

Mr. T Piotrowski * (8)

Mr. P Vella * (3) (5) (9)

Mr. P Vince MRICS *(2) (4) (8)

PROPERTY CONSULTANTS

Reeves & Partners Limited

2 Euston Place Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 4LE

SOLICITORS

Charles Russell Speechlys

The Committee membership shown above reflects the position as at the date of the signing of the Report and Accounts.

Compass House Lypiatt Rd Cheltenham GL50 2QJ

DWF Solicitors

1 Snow Hill Snow Hill B4 6GA

I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

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TRUSTEES' REPORT AND GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

The Trustees present their annual report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. These have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

OUR VISION

We have a mandate given to us by Our Lord to spread the good news and serve and grow the faith for the coming decade and beyond.

Our Vision is to be a Catholic diocese which is faithful to the mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ, full of missionary disciples who work together co-responsibly in vibrant communities of faith, joyful in their service of God and neighbour.

The Vision of the Archdiocese revolves around four main priorities:

Evangelisation

Encouraging others to know God’s love for them by inviting them to church, to pray and to encounter Christ – inviting them to parish groups where they can learn about Our Lord – helping to form missionary disciples and missionary parishes.

Formation

Nurturing future Catholic leaders in our churches and schools by providing both

spiritual and pastoral formation and support – helping us to play an active role in the parish community – helping us to understand more about our faith so as to deepen our personal relationship with God.

Liturgy and Worship

Invigorating and deepening our worship and sacramental celebrations so that we sharein and reflect the divine life of the Trinity, encouraging others to join us in praying to our Heavenly Father.

Charity and Social Outreach (caritas)

Building up the common good through our charitable outreach – offering our time, our resources and our love to those who need them most – inviting others to join us in our charitable work.

Our focus:

Working Together (co-responsibility)

Co-responsibility calls for new modes of participation in diocesan decision-forming

and decision-making which support those with responsibility for decision-taking. Priests, deacons, Religious and the lay faithful will be supported to work together, so that we can share responsibility for the mission of the Church and deepen our relationship with God.

Young People and Families

Young people and families are at the centre of our diocesan planning. Working with and through our wonderful Catholic schools, we will listen to them and actively encourage and support them to use their talents in the life of the Church and thus build even stronger relationships between our schools and parishes.

Care of Creation

Adhering to the goals of Laudato Si’ we are reviewing and reducing carbon emissions across the Archdiocese, supporting people to respond to the climate crisis and to celebrate and protect our common home.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The Birmingham Diocesan Trust is a registered charity constituted by a Declaration of Trust dated 3 July 1931, whose trustees were registered with the Charity Commission as an incorporated body called Birmingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees, registered on 20 October 1931.

All property assets are vested in the corporate body. The Trust Deed was amended by Resolutions dated 22 September 2017, a Deed of Variation dated 26 January 2018 and subsequent resolutions dates 22 January 2021 and 30 April 2021. Copies are available on the diocesan website.

Commonly known as the Archdiocese

of Birmingham, the Trust comprises 217 parishes, excluding Mass centres and order parishes, which are liturgically directed by the Archbishop but report financially to other entities.

The Archdiocese spans the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire (see map on page 5).

Trustees also serve on the boards of aligned charities, including:

registered charities and seven separate funds. These are invested in the Diocesan Unit Scheme and classified as endowment funds, with capital preserved and income used per donor instructions.

Governance is reviewed in line with the Charity Governance Code (July 2017). While the Trust seeks to implement the Code, certain provisions, such as the election of the Chair, are not compatible with Church Canon Law.

The Archbishop of Birmingham serves ex-officio as Chair and Chief Executive, appointed by the Holy See. Other trustees, including Auxiliary Bishops and the Vicar General, also serve ex-officio.

4 I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

THE ARCHDIOCESE IN NUMBERS - 2024

The Archdiocese of Birmingham serves the Catholic population through a network of 217 parishes and some 239 maintained schools in addition to a number of chaplaincies in hospitals, prisons, universities and other chaplaincies catering for specific communities and groups.

Geographically it is the largest Archdiocese in England and Wales, covering seven cities within five counties, from Staffordshire in the north down to Oxfordshire in the south.

----- Start of picture text -----
Archbishop Bernard Longley, Archbishop
of Birmingham, oversees the Archdiocese of
Birmingham.
058
129 Our three Auxiliary Bishops oversee the Areas of
our Archdiocese, which are split into deaneries.
124 175 173
077127 214181171172 169179 167 Bishop Timothy Menezes
158 135 166176174 168 076 North Staffordshire Deanery
177 074
079 180 178 047 Stafford Deanery
098
048 192 Lichfield and Walsall Deanery
182 Dudley and Wolverhampton Deanery
198
232 164 108 070 Bishop David Evans
Birmingham Cathedral and South Deanery
163 165 224 Birmingham East and North Deanery
154
115 Kidderminster and Worcester Deanery
065 071
075 130 114 Bishop Richard Walker
194 080 221215 219220 207212 063 200201 156069 046 191 193 Coventry and Nuneaton DeaneryBanbury and Warwick Deanery
217 216 099 199 186 188 050
218 222 060 206 209 107 025 024 189 190 Oxford North Deanery
223 126 133066155 103097196 061 138203208 055159019005015018029003001009006 [002] 008030027017034037016031039012040013 011 125014 081 137 056 136 210 Oxford South Deanery
184 121 183 111 033230032028043042020022023035 021010041 038044 234007139 036 160 101 094090 088095 086092083084085087231 091093096 134 151
157 089 152
113 120
068 052 202 153
131
184
102 150 187 225 112 128
204
211 162
227 228 045
185
226
051
109 059
062
148 104
197 118 054 053
132
117
078
149
057
123
233
213 145 143 141
105
140
072 142 144
147 195
146
100
205
106
116
161
073
I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I 5
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NEWS STORIES FROM 2024

2024 marked the Year of Prayer and preparations began in earnest for the 2025 Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ . Our schools, parishes and communities were introduced to these significant years and several resources produced within the Archdiocese to support the Year of Prayer.

Coventry school scoops CAFOD’s LiveSimply award as national figure tops 100

Children in Coventry received a global award and drew praise from their local MP for making a difference to the planet and those in need.

Pupils at St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, part of the Romero Catholic Academy, were joined by Colleen Fletcher MP and charity as they received the CAFOD LiveSimply Award for their community and environmental projects.

The LiveSimply Award recognises schools and parishes that pledge to live simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the world’s poorest communities.

In March 2024, 100 schools nationwide achieved LiveSimply, a third of which were Diocesan schools (33).*

This is a testament to the commitment and dedication of over 30,000 pupils in primary and secondary schools across England and Wales.

At St John Fisher initiatives included a recycling project with Team Recycle, with the school community donating milk cartons and bottle tops which led to the creation of 18,000 plastic medals for the 2023 Oslo Marathon.

The school also worked alongside the likes of Coventry Food Bank and Langar Aid, which supports people facing homelessness and poverty, gathering 15 crates of food donations, creating meal boxes and visiting their headquarters to learn about how to support people in the community.

The pupils also wrote more than 100 emails and letters to their MP, Colleen Fletcher, prior to COP28, which led her to raise their concerns around climate change affecting the poorest countries with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho MP.

*This figure has increased during 2024/25.

Golden Jubilee celebrations for two schools in the Holy Spirit MAC

In June The Holy Spirit MAC (Multi Academy Company) celebrated the 50th anniversary of two schools: Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Academy and St Thomas More Catholic Academy and Sixth Form College.

The Golden Jubilee was a remarkable event that brought together past and present members of the community to honour five decades of faith formation and learning.

The day began with Mass at Our Lady of the Angel Church, celebrated by Archbishop Bernard Longley. The church was filled to capacity with friends, former and current staff from both schools, students and local parishioners.

Following Mass, guests were given a guided tour of St Thomas More Catholic Academy.

The 50th celebrations were a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in the life of Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Academy and St Thomas More Catholic Academy and Sixth Form College.

Above: Archbishop Bernard and clergy on the altar

6 I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

And looking to 2025…

A significant development in education within the Archdiocese was launched on 1 September 2025 following an extensive and lengthy process.

The St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Multi-Academy Trust (CMAT) will be the second largest education trust in England with 21,464 pupils on roll.

The Trust covers the northern part of the Archdiocese: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell and north Birmingham.

The CEO is Toni Ellis and the Board of Directors consists of nine skilled individuals.

The Trust will comprise 64 schools with the merger of six existing MACs (Multi-Academy Companies) and a further seven VA (Voluntary Aided) schools.

It will be built on the foundations of mission, solidarity and subsidiarity, as outlined in the ‘Strong and Flourishing’ Catholic MAT Framework.

A Week of Ordinations at St Chad’s Cathedral

Above: New deacons Andrew Foster, Antony Hartley and Andrej Rusnak with Archbishop Bernard

Above: Bishop Timothy Menezes, Archbishop Bernard Longley, Bishop Richard Walker

Above: Lying prostrate at St Chad’s Cathedral

Above: Fr David Bench

In July the Archdiocese experienced a truly momentous week with the Ordinations of three Deacons, two Bishops and one Priest.

Andrew Foster, Antony Hartley and Andrej Rusnak were ordained to the Permanent Diaconate in front of family, friends and parishioners at St Chad’s Cathedral.

The trio had formed a strong friendship having gone through formation together and are now the latest Deacons to serve the Kidderminster and Worcester Deanery.

Also sharing a great friendship, and being ordained as Bishops together, were Timothy Menezes and Richard Walker.

In addition to our own diocesan clergy and Bishops, their Mass of Ordination was also attended by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, who

was the previous Archbishop of Birmingham.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía presented the mandates, issued by Pope Francis.

Bishop Timothy (also Titular Bishop of Dougga) now has responsibility for the Diocesan Pastoral Area of North Staffordshire, Stafford, Lichfield and Walsall and Dudley and Wolverhampton. Bishop Richard (also Titular Bishop of Mortlach) now has responsibility for the Pastoral Area of Coventry, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire.

Fr David Bench was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood having trained at the Venerable English College, Rome. He returned to Rome to complete a post-graduate licence in Dogma and Fundamental Theology.

I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

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Adoremus celebrated at St Mary’s College, Oscott

Above: Invocation@Adoremus invited young people to explore their vocation

St Mary’s College, Oscott, was the venue for the first Eucharistic Procession to be held after the Reformation.

Above: Adoremus Eucharistic Procession

In September the National Eucharistic Congress was held in this holy place. It was an opportunity for us to pray and walk in procession once more as we showed our devotion to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Archbishop Bernard Longley gave a welcome address and Cardinal Vincent Nichols celebrated Mass.

Oscott also hosted Invocation@Adoremus, a day intrinsic to the Eucharistic Congress with talks and workshops to help explore God’s call with like-minded young people discerning and embracing vocation.

Droitwich Church awarded £190,000 National Lottery Grant

Parishioners at an internationally famous church in Droitwich Spa celebrated after securing a grant from National Lottery players of nearly £190,000, thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The funding was put towards a £260,000 project of cleaning and conserving mosaics. (This restoration work was carried out in 2025. Throughout the project the church hosted regular tours and children’s mosaic workshops. This continues).

The walls of the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart and St Catherine of Alexandria are covered with some of the finest venetian glass mosaic artwork in Europe. The Church welcomes thousands of visitors from across the UK and other parts of the world each year to see the astonishingly beautiful scenes.

The Church was built in the style of the basilica churches of Ravenna, near Venice, between 1919 and 1921. The mosaics were largely completed by 1932 and won national acclaim at the time.

Above: Mosaics, Sacred Heart and St Catherine of Alexandria

Tamworth community project scoops national award

The hard work and commitment of volunteers in Tamworth was recognised at the highest level.

In November the Heart of Tamworth community project (HoT) was awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is often referred to as the MBE for voluntary organisations and is the highest honour they can receive.

The project is a local charity supporting people across the Tamworth area. It delivers a wide range of services and support from community facilities at the Sacred Heart Centre in Glascote and St John’s Church in the town centre.

Over 150 volunteers give their time and expertise to help others in the area.

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service

8 I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

People and Parishes

In 2024 we had:

217[ registered parishes in ] 11[ deaneries]

diocesan Over 1,000 properties

£378k[ funding received for ] 12[ parish projects ]

with guidance provided to 25 additio ~~n~~ al parishes

Weekly average Mass attendance was: 45,0 ~~2~~ (2023: 3 ~~45,00~~ 0)

During the year there were:

~~3,89~~ 0

baptism ~~s and re~~ ceptions (2023: 4,372)

Clergy

490

marriages (2023: 1,579)

2,966 funerals (2023: 3,216)

Schools

233[ maintained Catholic] 88,096 schools in the Archdiocese students

Parish offertories and other collections (excluding tax returns) increased to: £7.7m[ (from £7.4m in 2023)]

1,950[ volunteer governors or directors]

~~£~~ 5.7[ million allocated for capital works in our] schools, from the grant assisted capital programme. 44[ different projects]

The average offertory giving amount per head (including children) increased by £0.07p[ to ] £3.30[per week] (2023: £3.23)

14 TRUSTEES

233[ schools operate under the charity’s trust deed. ] (Plus 8 schools working under separate trusts) Of which: are children aged 4 – 11. 49,532

are aged 11 – 16/19. 38,564 157[ Academy schools, operating under] 16 Multi Academy Companies (MACs) 97%[schools have registered for] CAFOD’s LiveSimply award

9,450 VOLUNTEERS (2023: 9,200) contributed approximately[hours (2023: 640,000).] 634,700

If valued at £11 per hour, this contribution amounts to some £6.98m (2023: £7.03m)*

*This figure is not included in the financial statements

I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

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OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The objectives of the Trust are set out in the Diocesan Trust Deed, under which the Trust furthers its charitable purposes for the public benefit. They can be summarised as:

Evangelisation and Catechesis

The provision of religious services

Outreach work

Provision of support to the elderly

Assisting with mental health and other health issues

Working with those struggling financially to supply basic needs for their families

The provision of our property

Maintenance and support of clergy The provision of education and youth services for children

The provision of education and training for clergy and those wishing to be ordained

Family and Marriage guidance, and family support

The relief of the poor and those in need

Generally, for any such charitable purpose or purposes as in the opinion of the Archbishop may be conducive to the advancement or maintenance of the Roman Catholic Religion in the Archdiocese.

These objectives are achieved primarily through the parishes and Catholic schools together with a considerable number of Catholic societies and organisations based within the Archdiocese. There are numerous other pastoral activities, the more significant of which are referred to under “Achievements and Performance” on page 11.

In all of the activities undertaken by the Archdiocese, the trustees continue to be very grateful for the work done by so many people, both paid staff and volunteer helpers.

The trustees also take the opportunity to thank the members of the many Religious Orders who assist in numerous parishes and other parts of the Archdiocese. Without the help of so many people, the Archdiocese could not carry out its important work of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

HOW OUR TRUST IS GOVERNED

The Birmingham Diocesan Trust is responsible for overseeing the life and mission of the Archdiocese. It is governed by a Board of Trustees, made up of senior clergy and experienced lay people, who bring both faith and professional skills to the role.

When someone becomes a trustee, they are introduced to their responsibilities by the Chief Operating Officer (also known as the Diocesan Treasurer). training is offered, and trustees meet four times a year to oversee operations, review sub-committee minutes, and implement policy.

To support this work, there are specialist sub-committees to focus on:

The Board of Trustees also fulfils the Church’s canonical role as the Diocesan Finance Committee (Canon 492).

Day-to-Day Oversight

The day-to-day operations of the Archdiocese are managed by the Curial Management Team, led by the Chief Operating Officer. This team oversees safeguarding, finance, property, HR, education, communications, fundraising, legal matters, and planning.

The Vicar General, based at the registered office, is responsible for clergy personnel matters. Clergy appointments are made by the Archbishop in consultation with the Vicar General and Archbishop’s Council.

Other important offices include:

The Council of Priests, with representatives from across deaneries and diocesan office, meets twice a year with the Archbishop to advise on diocesan matters. The Chapter of Canons, made up of senior priests, supports Cathedral governance and also serves as the College of Consulters (Canons 503ff and 495ff).

10 I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

Parish Life and Finances

The parish priest is responsible for running the parish under canon and civil law.

Every parish is required to have a Parish Finance Committee, which must meet at least twice a year. This group advises the parish priest on financial and property matters.

The Archbishop keeps clergy updated on important matters: liturgical, pastoral, financial, and administrative, through regular “ad clerum” letters. Additional support is provided by deans and diocesan offices.

Catholic Education

The Diocesan Education Service (DES), based in Coleshill, oversees Catholic schools across the Archdiocese. The DES mission is Forming Christ-centred pilgrims of hope, with kind hearts, questioning minds, a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for justice .

DES responsibilities include:

GOING CONCERN

The Trust’s activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, principal risks and uncertainties facing the Trust and its availability of unencumbered cash reserves are set out within the following pages of the Trustees’ Report.

Its financial position in terms of the year’s results, its assets and liabilities and movement in cash is set out in the primary financial statements on pages 29 to 32. While there has been some depletion of cash reserves in 2024, it is important to note that there are fixed asset investments which are readily available to defray these if required. The Trust has considerable financial resources, mainly in the form of investments and property.

Income for the whole charity from offertory, collections and donations (mainly received by the parishes) has increased since 2023 by £938k or 6.9%, yet the trustees are mindful of the continuing potential impact on its income that may arise from the cost of living challenges faced by many of our parishioners, and the declining

trend in mass attendance, along with the associated cost of maintaining the considerable number of ageing buildings.

Following the restructuring of the deaneries, the diocesan vision has continued to be implemented with increasing numbers of parish clusters being formed, the intention being to empower parishes to work collaboratively and share resources.

The Trustees have undertaken work including strategic planning and property reviews to respond to demographic changes, and to investigate additional income streams, including external grant funding and planned giving within parishes.

The Trustees believe that there are no material uncertainties about the Trust’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Trustees therefore have a reasonable expectation that the Trust has adequate resources to continue its operations for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The Trustees have a formal risk management process to assess risks and implement risk management strategies.

This involves the identification of the types of risk faced by the charity, assessing the likelihood and potential impact of occurrence and identifying means of mitigation. Risks have been categorised under five broad headings: Governance, Operational, Financial, External and Compliance. These are assessed as to the likelihood of their occurring and the severity of the effects of the risk leading to a potential overall impact calculation in order to give a scale of relative importance/urgency to each one.

The current highest overall adverse impact risks identified are; to income through reducing Mass attendances generally and an

increasingly ageing and therefore reducing number of clergy who are expected to undertake ever more administrative responsibilities; adverse publicity and financial impact of historic abuse cases; data protection and security and the continued challenge of maintaining property. The Trust has taken steps to mitigate these risks, by recruiting priests from overseas, restructuring deaneries and creating clusters of parishes where appropriate, and in encouraging collaboration where it is in the best interest of the community the parish serves.

With regards to safeguarding, the team now comprises a mix of professional social workers and ex police officers, with policies and procedures in keeping with recent changes in legislation and national standards as prescribed by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA).

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Through the synodal process launched in 2023 and the restructuring of deaneries, we are encouraging new and collaborative ways of living out the Diocesan Vision. This includes:

The Role of Parishes

Our parishes are the heart of the Archdiocese. They are the places where we worship, celebrate the sacraments, and receive pastoral care. But they are also centres of quiet, often unseen, charitable activity that enriches local communities.

In the face of the cost-of-living crisis, parishes continue to support people of all backgrounds through foodbanks, outreach, and practical help for families in need.

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Participation in the Sacraments

In 2024, parish life remained active and fruitful:

Weekly Mass attendance: around 45,000 people (adults and children), the same as 2023.

By clustering parishes, streamlining deaneries, and planning carefully for the future, the Trustees are committed to getting the best value out of every pound given—making sure the Church’s mission is both sustainable and effective

Parish Finances

Parish offertories and collections are the lifeblood of the Archdiocese, supporting not only local parish ministry but also the wider Archdiocesan mission.

We are grateful for the generosity of parishioners during a time of financial difficulty for many householders.

Value for Money

The Archdiocese works hard to make sure parish funds are used carefully and wisely. Money given through offertory and collections supports:

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MASS ATTENDANCE BY YEAR
60,000
55,000
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024
55,664 53,310 33,187 39,481 44,958 45,023
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eric kirwan - chief operating officer

In the preceding pages are examples of how our parishes and schools are bringing to life the vision for the Archdiocese each and every day. We are grateful to our clergy, staff, volunteers, and parish and school

communities for all they do in support of our shared mission.

The Archbishop has asked that we continue to act as one Archdiocese, working together in unity.

The Archdiocese (or Diocese) refers to the geographical area under the care of the Archbishop. It includes all parishes, schools, and diocesan offices within that area. Together, these make up the Archdiocese. The term ‘Diocese’ therefore does not refer to a single department or ‘head office’, but to the whole Catholic community across this region.

The Curia is the administrative office of the Archdiocese, with responsibility for temporal matters such as property, finance, safeguarding, and legal affairs. It also includes the Diocesan Education Service. The Curia exists to serve parishes and schools, and to support the Archbishop in fulfilling his responsibilities in both civil and canon law. Other diocesan services, such as support for retired and sick clergy, and the Office for Formation and Vocations, also form part of the Archdiocese.

This report aims to provide greater transparency and clarity about the finances of our parishes, non-parish departments, and the total charity, namely, the Archdiocese itself.

(Other associated charities such as the Kenelm Youth Trust, Father Hudson’s Caritas, and the Johnson Fund are separate legal entities and publish their own accounts and reports.)

From a financial perspective, we saw income rise in line with inflation

(2%) and expenses increase by 3%. The overall operating position for the Archdiocese was a loss of £1.69m.

Our primary source of income is the parish offertory, which increased by 4% in 2024, for which we are very grateful. Offertory income over the past 10 years has remained largely static, in part due to lower attendance, during a period in which inflation has been close to 45%. In real terms, we therefore have around half the income we had in 2013. To address this, all parishes are being asked to run a planned giving campaign in 2025 to encourage parishioners to review and, where possible, increase their weekly giving.

At the same time, we are accelerating the reorganisation of parishes into clusters or missions, with the aim of creating larger and stronger parishes for the future. By sharing resources, properties, and coordinating Mass times and other aspects of parish life, we can work together to fulfil the Archdiocesan vision for parishes that are vibrant, sustainable, and joyful communities of faith.

Our Catholic schools also continue to flourish, with the new 64-school St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Multi-Academy Trust (CMAT) opening in 2025. This will be the first of the new, larger CMATs being established across the Archdiocese. These larger trusts will enable schools to share resources, offer greater opportunities for pupils and staff, and ensure the continued provision of excellent Catholic education.

We have much to do, but also much to celebrate. Thank you for all that you do in your parishes, schools, and communities. Together we continue to build a strong and united Archdiocese.

Evangelisation Formation Liturgy & Worship Social Outreach

FINANCIAL REVIEW BIRMINGHAM DIOCESAN TRUST

This review summarises the key activities and governance of the Birmingham Diocesan Trust during 2024, aligned with the Diocesan Vision themes: Evangelisation, Formation, Liturgy and Worship, and Charity and Social Outreach.

Supporting the four themes, the Curia – led by the Chief Operating Officer, oversees safeguarding, finance, property, HR, education, communications, fundraising, legal, and planning. A restructure of the finance function in 2024 improved cost-efficiency and parish support. Strategic financial oversight is provided by the Finance Sub-Committee, with operational management delegated to diocesan officers and to parishes under Canon Law.

I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

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INTRODUCTION

Archbishop Bernard Longley – Chair of Trustees

As I reflect on 2024, I give thanks for the many blessings and achievements across our Archdiocese. Our parishes, schools, clergy, and lay faithful continue to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with dedication and joy.

The Diocesan Vision remains central to all we do, shaping parish, school, and community life through our priorities of Evangelisation, Formation, Liturgy and Worship, and Social Outreach, alongside our continuing focus on coresponsibility, young people and families, and care for creation.

We continue to give careful attention to strengthening our financial position. As this report shows, we have already made progress in reducing costs through restructuring, yet we still face the challenge of operating at a loss. In calling us to act in unity as one Archdiocese, I also invite our parishes to deepen their communion with one another. The Curia, together with the Education Service, exists to serve our parish and school communities; and with them, forms the living body of our Archdiocese, working together in faith and mission.

I remain deeply grateful to all who contribute to the life of the Archdiocese: clergy, Religious, staff, volunteers, governors, and parishioners, for their prayer, generosity, and service. May we continue to work together in faith and hope as one family of God.

With every blessing for the year ahead.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Public benefit

The Trustees are fully aware of their duty under Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. They are confident that the Birmingham Diocesan Trust’s activities provide clear and demonstrable benefit to the public.

The Trust exists to advance the Roman Catholic faith and serve the wider community. Its work is guided by the four themes of the Diocesan Vision:

With a focus on Co-responsibility, Young People and Families, and Care of Creation .

The Trustees affirm that the Trust’s work benefits everyone, regardless of religious belief or background.

I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

14

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is central to the Church’s mission of care and protection. The Archdiocese enforces a zero-tolerance approach, in line with national standards from the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA).

Our Safeguarding Team responds to concerns, provides training, and supports survivors. Each parish has a Parish Safeguarding Representative (PSR), trained by the diocesan team. An independent CSSA audit in 2024 confirmed firm progress, and Barnardo’s provides additional quarterly reviews to keep standards high. The Safeguarding sub committee exists to support, assist and advise the Diocesan Trustees (“Trustees”) in discharging their duties in safeguarding.

This work ensures that the Church is a safe place for everyone and that resources are being used to protect the most vulnerable.

Clergy Support and Vocations

The Clergy Training Fund supports the training of seminarians and deacons, with seven men currently preparing for the priesthood and 20 for the permanent diaconate. It also funds further studies and ongoing formation for clergy.

The Vocations Office, working with the Office for Mission, promotes vocations in parishes, schools, and chaplaincies, runs events, produces prayer resources, and supports altar servers through the Guild of St Stephen. Clergy formation programmes ensure priests and deacons are equipped to serve their communities well.

This investment in clergy reflects the Vision’s call to Formation, ensuring future generations of Catholics have well-prepared and supported clergy.

The Care for Creation Sub-Committee leads our climate response, showing our commitment to Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’. Parish properties are being reviewed to ensure resources are used well: some will be shared, repurposed, rented, or sold to support mission more effectively.

This promotes good stewardship of resources, freeing money for parish and diocesan priorities.

Fundraising

The Archdiocese follows the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Practice and does not employ external fundraisers. In 2024, grants of £378,000 supported 12 parish projects, from church repairs to eco-friendly upgrades.

Securing outside funding helps to relieve pressure on parish finances.

Lourdes Pilgrimage

In 2024, 515 pilgrims travelled to Lourdes, including 200 young people and 23 assisted pilgrims. The pilgrimage was prayerful and joyful, with strong contributions from youth and medical volunteers.

The pilgrimage supports the Vision through Liturgy and Worship and Formation as well as Social Outreach, offering spiritual renewal and community care.

Harvington Hall

Harvington Hall welcomed 18,000 visitors in 2024. As a historic site of Catholic heritage and worship, it provides a place of pilgrimage, prayer, and education. Events and tours also generate income, supporting sustainability while promoting Evangelisation and Formation.

Education

The Diocesan Education Service (DES) supports 241 Catholic schools (233 under the Trust Deed). A new Director of Education was appointed in 2024, strengthening collaboration and excellence.

School standards remain high: 97% are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, and all Catholic School Inspections in 2024 confirmed strong outcomes. DES provides teacher training, supports new curriculum changes, and led £5.7m in building projects across 44 schools.

Academisation continues, with the new St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Multi-Academy Trust bringing 64 schools together in 2025. Schools are also living out the Vision through prayer, social action and fundraising, raising £70,000 in 2024 for Father Hudson’s Caritas.

The Education Service is focused on its mission of forming Christcentred pilgrims of hope, with kind hearts, questioning minds, a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for justice.

Education embodies all four Vision themes, especially Formation and Social Outreach, while combining high standards with strong Catholic identity.

Youth Ministry

Youth ministry is delivered through the Kenelm Youth Trust (KYT), serving ages 7–25. KYT offers retreats, parish and school chaplaincy support, and large-scale events. In 2024, hundreds of young people joined diocesan pilgrimages and activities.

This reflects the Vision’s call to Evangelisation and Liturgy and Worship, helping young people grow in faith and belong to the wider Church.

Property and Sustainability

The Diocese manages over 1,000 properties. By merging parish and school property teams, we have reduced costs and improved support.

Communications

The Communications Team shares the work of the Archdiocese across different media platforms. By celebrating parish and school initiatives, they strengthen belonging and highlight the many good things happening in our local Church.

Investments & Investment Policy

Through the Diocesan Unit Investment Scheme, parishes benefit from professional investment management, generating income to support parish and the mission of the Archdiocese.

The investment portfolio, valued at £32.4m in 2024 (2023: £30.5m), is managed prudently within a low-to-medium risk ethical framework. In 2024, it produced £0.9m in income. All investments follow an ethical investment policy, in line with Catholic teaching. Notably, the Archdiocese divested from fossil fuels in 2021 as part of our response to climate change and Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’.

The Care for Creation sub committee ensures that we have appropriate policies in place to guide our action in a way which will reduce our impact on creation and encourage us to nurture the gifts we have been given with an open heart.

Investments support long-term financial sustainability, ensuring resources for Evangelisation, Liturgy and Worship, Formation, and Social Outreach for years to come.

Ethical Investment Policy

Our ethical policy balances financial return with Catholic values. We avoid industries that conflict with Church teaching and focus on responsible stewardship. This approach may reduce short-term gains but is part of our commitment to faith-led decision making.

I 2024 Finance Report Overview I Archdiocese of Birmingham I 15

The Archdiocese

The results of the Archdiocese for 2024 reflect the gradual increase in Mass attendance, which has remained steady since 2023, and an increase in offertory giving of 4%; £7.72m in 2024, compared to £7.42m in 2023.

Of those parishioners, over 9,000 played an active role in volunteering in our parishes and chaplaincies and around 2,000 people volunteer in our schools and multi academy trusts, serving as directors or governors. All greatly contributing towards our Diocesan Vision and taking an active part in one or more of the four themes: Evangelisation, Formation, Liturgy and Worship, Charity and Social Outreach .

The financial statements reflect the activities of the Archdiocese, including the transactions, assets and liabilities of those charities and trust funds detailed in the notes to the financial statements. The figures do not include the operation of parish clubs, nor do they include separately registered Roman Catholic charities within the Archdiocese, other than those listed in Notes 17 & 18 to the financial statements.

Income and Expenditure

The Statement of Financial Activities of the Archdiocese for the year ended 31 December 2024 shows income of £24.18m (2023: £23.71m) analysed as follows:

Income 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Income % £m % £m
Donations and legacies (offertories, donations, legacies, Gift Aid etc.) 60% 14.49 57% 13.55
Income from charitable activities (votive candles, repository and fees etc.) 13% 3.13 12% 2.90
Income from other activities (bazaars, raffles etc.) 5% 1.25 5% 1.10
Investment income, including interest 14% 3.30 14% 3.26
Profit on sale of tangible fixed assets 7% 1.66 11% 2.68
Other income 1% 0.35 1% 0.22
Total 24.18 23.71
----- End of picture text -----

• DONATIONS & LEGACIES

(Offertories, donations, legacies, Gift Aid etc.)

1.49%

----- Start of picture text -----
• INVESTMENT INCOME
Including interest.
• PROFIT ON SALE OF TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
6.87%
• OTHER INCOME
13.65%
1%
5.17%
11%
14% 12.94% 59.93%
57%
5%
12%
2023
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
2024
----- End of picture text -----

16 I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

Expenditure 2024

Expenditure amounted to £25.87m (2023: £25.05m) analysed as follows:

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Expenditure % £m % £m
Fundraising operations 1% 0.16 1% 0.16
Investment management costs 3% 0.79 2% 0.52
Liturgical, Chaplaincies, grants made etc. 11% 2.97 12% 2.94
Curial, Parish and Chaplaincies etc. general and administrative costs 43% 11.03 39% 9.77
Clergy costs 13% 3.34 13% 3.27
Property inc. depreciation costs and net losses on disposals of tangible fixed assets 26% 6.78 22% 5.61
Votive candles, newspapers and repositories costs 1% 0.25 1% 0.24
Schools’ costs 0% 0.08 9% 2.23
Legal and professional fees (including auditor’s remuneration) 2% 0.47 1% 0.31
Total 25.87 25.05
----- End of picture text -----*

• FUNDRAISING OPERATIONS

• INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COSTS

*Chaplaincy etc. general costs include Diocesan activities relating to university and other chaplaincies catering for specific communities and groups within the Archdiocese.

• CLERGY COSTS

----- Start of picture text -----
• PROPERTY (Inc. depreciation costs and 1.82%
net losses on disposals of tangible assets). 0.31% 0.62%
• VOTIVE CANDLES, NEWSPAPERSAND REPOSITORIES COSTS 0.97% 3.05%
• SCHOOLS COSTS
• LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL FEES
(Including auditors’ remuneration
11.48%
26.21%
1%
1%
2%
1%
9%
12%
22%
12.91% 42.64%
39%
13%
2023 2024
----- End of picture text -----

The net effect of the above is that, over the year, the funds of the charity increased by £4.4m (2023: £0.7m increase) to £122.70m (2023: £118.26m).

I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

17

This resulted in:

An operating deficit (i.e. before considering the impact of gains and losses on investments and other assets of:

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Operating Surplus / ( Loss) £m £m
Restricted funds
0.94 0.36
including endowments
Unrestricted Funds (2.63) (1.7)
Operating (loss) all funds (1.69) (1.34)
----- End of picture text -----

An overall surplus (i.e. after considering the impact of gains and losses on investments and other assets of:

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Overall surplus / (loss)
AFTER gains / (losses) on investments, £m £m
but BEFORE internal transfers)
Restricted funds including endowments 0.71 0.13
Unrestricted funds 3.73 0.58
Total surplus all funds 4.44 0.71
----- End of picture text -----

The Operating result is a more accurate reflection of our true financial position. Gains from investments include realised and unrealised gains or losses. Realised gains or losses occur when assets are sold, unrealised gains or losses occur when assets are revalued but not sold. Unrealised gains or losses do not impact cash.

Investments & Investment Policy

The Diocesan Unit Investment Scheme enables individual parishes to benefit from stock market investments, generating income to support their charitable work locally and across the wider community.

The Trustees maintain an investment policy aligned with the Charities Act 2011 and the principles of Christian stewardship, aimed at ensuring long-term financial sustainability. Investments are professionally managed and overseen by the Diocesan Investment Sub-Committee, with a total return approach adopted to balance income generation and capital growth.

The portfolio, valued at £32.4m as at 31 December 2024 (2023: £30.5m), includes equities, fixed interest securities, property, and cash, and is managed within a low to medium risk framework. Ethical considerations are embedded in decision-making (see Ethical Investment Policy, below). Investment income for the year totalled £0.9m, consistent with 2023.

The Trustees aim to preserve and grow the real value of assets to support the mission of the Church, in line with the four themes of the Diocesan Vision: Evangelisation, Formation, Liturgy and Worship, and Social Outreach.

Gains on listed investments in the year were as follows:

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Listed Investments £m £m
Realised and unrealised gains: £m £m
Unrestricted funds 2.29 1.58
Restricted funds (including endowments) 0.3 0.21
Total 2.59 1.79
----- End of picture text -----

Gains on property investments (i.e. rental property owned by the Archdiocese) were as follows:

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Investment property £m £m
Realised and unrealised gains 3.54 0.26
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The investment income arising from quoted securities and investment property held by the Archdiocese contributed towards the funding of operational expenditure during 2024. Investment property is all held as unrestricted funds.

Ethical Investment Policy

The Trustees of the Birmingham Diocesan Trust have adopted an ethical investment policy guided by Church teaching and the Charity Commission’s guidance on responsible investment. This policy reflects the Trust’s commitment to Christian stewardship

and acknowledges that ethical constraints may limit income and total return. This can be found in full, on our website: https://www. birminghamdiocese.org.uk/policies

Cash reserves

The charity’s total cash reserves increased by £0.7m to £4.25m (2023: £1.1m decrease to £3.5m). Unrestricted cash reserves in parishes decreased by £1.1m to £3.50m (2023: £0.7m decrease to £4.6m) whilst Diocesan unrestricted cash reserves increased marginally, by £0.05m to a deficit position of £18.6m (2023: £0.1m decrease to £18.6m deficit).

Reserves policy

Unencumbered reserves, for this purpose defined as unrestricted stock market investments and cash of £21.1m (2023: £19.69m), are approximately 87% of annual unrestricted expenditure (2023: 85%).

The trustees would not wish to see unencumbered reserves of less than 100% of annual unrestricted expenditure but they recognise that this figure may be exceeded on occasions, because of the nature of the charity’s activities and short to medium term spending demand that can arise from parish properties (the timing of which is often based on individual parish reserve levels rather than diocesan led policy) and schools that can vary considerably from year to year.

Property and Fixed Assets

To fulfil its charitable objectives, the Archdiocese requires a substantial portfolio of properties, including churches, parish halls, presbyteries, and administrative buildings. These assets are essential to the delivery of pastoral, educational, and community services. However, as patterns of Mass attendance continue to shift, the number of properties required to support active ministry is also changing. This evolving landscape forms part of a wider strategic review, which may result in a reduction of the property portfolio over time.

Properties deemed surplus to operational requirements will be sold, with proceeds reinvested to support the mission of the Church. However, the remaining properties, while technically unrestricted, are integral to the Archdiocese’s charitable work and cannot be realised without significantly undermining its ability to function. These buildings and their fixtures and fittings are not merely operational assets; they form part of the patrimony of the Catholic Church, entrusted to the Archdiocese for the spiritual and communal benefit of current and future generations.

Fixtures, fittings, contents, and vehicles are similarly employed in the delivery of charitable activities and are considered essential to the day-to-day functioning of the Archdiocese.

A small proportion of fixed assets are already represented by Restricted Funds (see Note 18). Trustees also consider it appropriate that the value of other functional buildings and their contents be held for ongoing charitable use. As these assets are unavailable for alternative purposes, they are reflected in a Designated Fund representing their value (see Note 19).

18 I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

Day to day income & expenditure – Parish & Non-Parish (£’000)

All funds, restricted and unrestricted.

----- Start of picture text -----
Parish Non-Parish Archdiocese (Total Charity)
2024 2023 2022 2021 2024 2023 2022 2021 2024 2023 2022 2021
Income 21,105 18,989 17,279 15,852 3,077 4,720 2,856 2,443 24,182 23,709 20,135 18,295
Expenditure (18,518) (17,194) (14,513) (13,615) (7,353) (7,857) (7,635) (9,252) (25,871) (25,051) (22,148) (22,867)
Operating Surplus/(Loss) 2,587 1,795 2,766 2,237 (4,276) (3,137) (4,779) (6,809) (1,689) (1,342) (2,013) (4,572)
----- End of picture text -----

The operating surplus represents the net result of income and expenditure arising from the charity’s routine activities.

It incorporates both cash items - actual transactions such as receipts and payments - and non-cash items, which are accounting adjustments made to reflect timing and valuation differences. These include:

These adjustments ensure that the financial statements present a true and fair view of the charity’s financial performance, even though some items do not involve actual cash movement.

----- Start of picture text -----
Parish Non-Parish Archdiocese (Total Charity)
2024 2023 2022 2021 2024 2023 2022 2021 2024 2023 2022 2021
Operating surplus/(loss) 2,587 1,795 2,766 2,237 (4,276) (3,137) (4,779) (6,809) (1,689) (1,342) (2,013) (4,572)
Investment gain/loss 5,093 1,206 (1,231) 5,872 1,039 841 (1,900) 1,562 6,132 2,047 (3,131) 7,434
- - - -
Internal grants (2,808) (2,491) (2,483) (2,416) 2,808 2,491 2,483 2,416
Overall surplus 4,872 510 (948) 5,693 (429) 195 (4,196) (2,831) 4,443 705 (5,144) 2,862
----- End of picture text -----

The overall surplus reflects the final financial position after incorporating gains and losses on investment properties and listed investments, as well as internal grants..

These internal grants primarily consist of the parish levy paid to the Curia. Such transfers are disclosed in the Statement of Financial Activities on page 30 under the heading “Transfers”.

This surplus includes both realised and unrealised elements (realised gains/losses arise where an asset is sold, unrealised gains/losses arise where an asset is revalued), and while it may indicate a positive financial outcome on the financial statements, it is important to note that not all components represent available cash resources.

I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I 19

The impact of inflation on voluntary income

Voluntary giving Vs Inflation (RPI)

----- Start of picture text -----
£12m
£11m
IMPACT OF INFLATION
£10m
44%
£9m
 £3.41m
£8m
£7m
• RPI ADJUSTED OFFERTORY
£6m
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2022 2023 2024 ACTUAL OFFERTORY
•
----- End of picture text -----

Summary of Assets by Parish and Non-Parish (£’000)

The Archdiocese benefits from the generosity of parishioners through local donations and legacies, to fund the parish and, via the parish levy, central services and supporting non-parish clergy and sick and retired priests, across all communities.

The levy only partially meets these costs, resulting in a deficit and overdraft to fund non parish activities. This shared financial landscape highlights the importance of working together to ensure that resources are used effectively and sustainably in support of our common mission.

By fostering closer collaboration between parishes and, with the curia and other non-parish departments, we can strengthen our collective ability to serve the needs of the Church and her people, both locally and centrally

Assets by Parish and Non-Parish-owned assets (excluding debtors / creditors)

----- Start of picture text -----
£50,000
• PARISH £’000
£40,000 • NON-PARISH £’000
£30,000
£20,000
£10,000
0
-£10,000
FUNCTIONAL PROPERTY INVESTMENT PROPERTY INVESTMENT CASH/BANK
AND OTHER FIXED ASSETS ON STOCK MARKET
----- End of picture text -----

20 I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

Notes on Asset Distribution and Financial Position

The Archdiocese holds total assets of £125.1 million, comprising functional properties, investments, and cash reserves. These resources are shared across the diocesan and parish communities.

Functional properties: including churches, parish halls, and presbyteries, account for £50.61 million, or 40% of the total asset value. Investments are held in two forms:

Cash balances are essential for day-to-day operations. Parishes collectively hold £14.1 million in cash, while other non-parish accounts are currently managing a negative cash position of £9.9 million. To maintain essential services, property and other assets have had to be sold; an approach that is not sustainable in the longer term. While financial resources vary across the Archdiocese, they all serve the same purpose: to support the Church in her mission.

This shared financial picture invites us to continue working together to steward our resources wisely and ensure the Church remains vibrant and well-supported across all communities.

----- Start of picture text -----
Assets (excluding debtors/creditors) Parish £'000 Non-Parish £'000
Functional property and other fixed assets 38,671 11,936
Investment Property 33,897 3,988
Investment on Stock Market 22,034 10,345
Cash/Bank 14,147 (9,897)
Total 108,749 16,372
% 87% 13%
125,121
----- End of picture text -----

At the same time, a number of parishes are facing significant financial challenges. These communities often have limited reserves and cash deficits, and in some cases are responsible for maintaining buildings that have deteriorated over time due to years of underinvestment and are located in areas of economic hardship.

Many of these communities are thriving spiritually despite financial constraints, while others, particularly those experiencing declining Mass attendance, may need to be part of wider conversations about how best to steward resources. This may include exploring opportunities for parish clustering, where neighbouring parishes work in communion to share ministry, facilities and support.

In the spirit of communion and mutual care, it is hoped that betterresourced parishes and diocesan structures can continue to offer assistance where needed, ensuring that all communities remain active participants in the Church’s mission.

I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

21

THE PARISH LEVY

Each parish is required to pay the levy to the diocese.

Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA). Professional Fees include the annual audit carried out on behalf of all parishes and legal expenses. Software licenses for all parishes are also paid from the levy as are DBS checks of which there were 850 in 2024. Essential Services account for 46% of the levy and 26% of total spending.

A levy is calculated as a percentage, currently 26%, of the weekly offertory as well as other regular income such as rental income, income from investments, other donations etc.

Frequently asked questions from parishes include ‘Why do we have to pay the levy? What is the levy used for? On page 24 you can see a complete breakdown of what the levy is used for.

Clergy and Essential costs together account for £2.5m or 82% of the levy, leaving £0.5m to contribute towards the remaining categories.

3. Curia staffing

As His Grace reminds us, the Archdiocese is made up of parishes, schools, curia and other non-parish related departments. Whilst fulfilling separate purposes they all act in support of the same vision and mission and should be seen as one Archdiocese acting together. The curia is the central administrative office for the Archdiocese an ~~d i~~ ncludes the Diocesan Education Service, the Clergy Training F ~~u~~ nd and various other non parish Diocesan activities

This is the area which raises most questions as to why do we need it? The reality is that we operate as a large and complex charity, with statutory obligations and operational demands that require appropriate staffing. While not always visible, these roles are essential to ensure compliance and effective governance.

We have seen a significant increase in investment in our safeguarding team, an area universally recognised as essential. At the same time, we have taken decisive steps to reduce costs and improve efficiency across other departments. The property teams of the parish and schools have been merged to reduce costs and improve service, as have the finance functions. Whilst there are still ways to further streamline the operation, the major reductions have already been made, and Trustees are confident that the charity is served by an appropriate staffing structure to ensure compliance and governance.

and chaplaincies. The purpose of the curia is to serve and s ~~u~~ pport ~~p~~ arishes and schools and the wider catholic community to fulfil the Church’s mission. Each parish and school pay a levy towards the cost of the curia. It is the responsibility of the curia and the trustees to ensure that this money is used wisely and in support of the mission and our charitable objectives. It is important that the faithful know how the money they give each week is

spent.

Why are parishes asked to contribute to the diocese?

The curia provides services to support parish and school communities, to meet statutory and national obligations on behalf of parishes and schools and to provide support for retired clergy, clergy not active in parish ministry, and therefore not supported by parishes; and central services which a parish could not realistically provide in isolation. Whilst some of the services are discretionary many are essential to the safe running of the charitable trust which includes the parishes and schools, and many of these activities and services are mandatory under the UK charitable legislation.

As the implementation of the diocesan Vision progresses, parishes will collaborate in clusters before formally merging. The outcome will be larger and stronger parishes working in communion with each other. By working together parishes will be better equipped to fulfil the vision of being ‘joyful and vibrant, full of missionary disciples.’

Mass times, sacramental preparation, formation, social outreach etc can be aligned and shared. The larger parishes can decide which properties to retain, repurpose or dispose of to best support the mission. There is an expectation that the number of properties will be significantly reduced, with savings in propert ~~y~~ maintenance and from property sales instead invested in the mission.

The primary source of income for the parish and the Archdiocese is the weekly offertory. The cost of providing these services was £5.5m in 2024. The parish levy contributed £3.0m towards these costs, leaving a shortfall of £2.5m. We expected to meet this shortfall by selling properties in 2024, however due to challenging property market conditions none was sold. As a result this has the effect of increasing the overdraft.

The move towards larger parishes mirrors the academisation of our schools and will help protect vulnerable or isolated parish communities in the same way our multi academies secure the future of small or vulnerable schools..

Since 2021 the diocese has reduced its expenditure by £1.9m or 21%. This is despite energy, property and employments costs increasing significantly and inflation of 24% over the same period. We continue to seek further reductions, but these are becoming more difficult to find.

4. External grants

The Archdiocese has supported a large number of other aligned charities in the past, in the form of grants. However, given the unsustainable financial situation, it has reluctantly had to make some very difficult decisions to reduce the cost of providing this support. Whilst this is no reflection on the valuable work these other organisations undertake, we must prioritise and scale the activities we are able to support, and which most align with our charitable objectives.

What is the Levy used for?

The table (on page 24) breaks the spending down into five main categories.

1. Clergy and clerical costs

£1.1m or 36% of the parish levy accounted for 20% of the total costs. Active clergy includes those who are not supported either fully or in part by parishes. Retired clergy benefit from the state pension, Johnson Fund and diocesan support in the form of care costs, support with accommodation and grants towards living costs. Care home fees are increasingly placing an additional burden on the diocese, which is likely to increase in the coming years as more clergy retire.

The e ~~x~~ ceptions are the related charities of Father Hudson’s Caritas (FHC) and Kenelm Youth Trust (KYT). Whilst managed under separate charitable trusts both provide services exclusively for the Archdiocese and have long-established relationships with our parish and school communities. Nevertheless, we have had to significantly reduce the grants made available to both.

2. Essential costs

Alternative models of raising funds have been explored, with FHC receiving £73k from schools via their partnership with the Diocesan Education Service in 2024 and £125k to date in 2025. Staff and students in our schools have enthusiastically undertaken creative and interesting fundraising events to benefit this partner charity.

These are costs which we have no or very limited discretion over and include National Levies to CaTEW (Bishops’ Conference) and the

22 I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

To address these challenges more effectively, we are working to embed property-related decisions within a broader framework of strategic planning. This includes prioritising long-term sustainability, improving asset management, and aligning maintenance efforts with the mission and operational goals of the diocese. By taking a

Hospital, University, Prison and other chaplaincies also receive grants, again cuts have been made in some locations as we move towards a model based on the local parish providing the service.

Internal grants:

The grant paid to DES has been significantly reduced in recent years, down from a high of £1.35m in 2019, to £475k in 2023 (due to a temporary pause), and now rests at a more sustainable £750k. Maryvale Institute entered into talks to transfer its operations to St Mary’s College, Oscott and this transition will conclude in autumn 2025, leaving a small number of students on teach out arrangements, which will conclude by the end of December 2025.

more proactive and integrated approach, we aim to ensure that our properties remain safe, functional – and fit for purpose – both now and for future generations.

Finance

Property and Building Costs

We hope the information in this report has provided you with an improved understanding of the workings and finances of the Archdiocese.

Each year we establish a budget to support essential repairs and maintenance across diocesan properties. While this allocation reflects our commitment to responsible stewardship, it is often insufficient to meet the full scope of needs. Unforeseen costs, particularly those driven by health and safety requirements or exceptional circumstances, frequently arise outside the planned budget.

In 2025 and 2026 we invite every parish to join a renewed effort to strengthen our shared resources, assisting those parishes in most need. By working together in communion, we can build a vibrant and sustainable future for our Archdiocese.

‘Together we celebrate many blessings across our archdiocese, in parish and school communities. With trust in God and by working together as one Archdiocese we now focus on renewal and growth’.

I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

23

CURIAL OFFICE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE 2024 (£’000)

Day to day running costs for the curia

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Expenditure £’000 % of expenditure £’000 % of expenditure
Clergy & Clerical Costs 1,083 20% 1,169 20%
Active clergy (incl senior clergy) 461 8% 397 7%
Retired clergy 374 7% 352 6%
Other clergy costs 48 1% 137 2%
Clergy Training Fund 200 4% 283 5%
Essential/statutory costs 1,405 26% 1,707 29%
IT, equipment, maintenance, software licenses 208 4% 274 5%
Professional fees (HR, audit. safeguarding, property etc) 301 6% 145 2%
Office and administration, printing, publications 85 2% 49 1%
DBS checks 15 0% 12 0%
Interest 31 1% 47 1%
Other costs 21 0% 459 8%
Other centrally funded service costs 278 5% 276 5%
Other liturgical and pastoral costs 258 5% 241 4%
National Diocesan Levies 208 4% 204 3%
Curia staffing, welfare and training costs 1,510 28% 1,452 25%
Safeguarding 263 5% 211 4%
Property and grant applications 356 7% 353 6%
Finance and IT 227 4% 226 4%
Planning and communications 141 3% 144 2%
Marriage tribunal 98 2% 97 2%
Ongoing formation and evangelisation 90 2% 87 1%
General admin, legal and compliance 335 6% 334 6%
Internal and external grants 1,066 20% 1,115 19%
Catholic education (DES/Maryvale) 620 11% 595 10%
All other internal grants incl chaplaincies 204 4% 174 3%
Kenelm Youth Trust 200 4% 304 5%
Other grants to external charities 42 1% 42 1%
Property and buildings costs 387 7% 429 7%
Functional property costs (incl depreciation) 338 6% 408 7%
Investment property costs 49 1% 21 0%
Total 5,451 100% 5,872 100%
2024 2023
Income £’000 % of income £’000 % of income
Income from parish levy 3,040 65.9% 2,535 62.5%
Other income 385 8.4% 712 17.5%
Income from investments 324 7.0% 350 8.6%
Total Ordinary Income 3,749 81.3% 3,597 88.6%
Unrealised gains (revaluations of assets) 861 18.7% 461 11.4%
Total 4,610 100.0% 4,058 88.0%
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Due to difficult market conditions, no property was sold in 2024. 2024 2023
£’000 £’000
Ordinary Income 3,749 3,597
Total Expenditure (5,451) (5,872)
Total loss (1,702) (2,275)
Shortfall covered by sale of assets - 2,088
(Loss) / Surplus (1,702) (187)
Unrealised gains (revaluations of assets) 861 461
Overall (Loss) / Surplus (841) 274
----- End of picture text -----

24 I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF BIRMINGHAM DIOSCESAN TRUST

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Birmingham Diocesan Trust (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise Statement of Financial Activities, the Statement of Financial Position, the Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We have been appointed as auditors under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under section 154 of that Act.

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 financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements 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 financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements 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 financial statements 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 other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the course of 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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements 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

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities set out on page 25, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements 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 financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, 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 financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements 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 financial statements.

The extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. The objectives of our audit are to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding compliance with laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, to perform audit procedures to help identify instances of non-compliance with other laws and regulations that may have a material effect on the financial statements, and to respond appropriately to identified or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations identified during the audit.

In relation to fraud, the objectives of our audit are to identify and assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud, to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud through designing and implementing appropriate responses and to respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit.

However, it is the primary responsibility of management, with the oversight of those charged with governance, to ensure that the entity’s operations are conducted in accordance with the provisions

26 I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

of laws and regulations and for the prevention and detection of fraud.

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud, the audit engagement team:

As a result of these procedures we consider the most significant laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the financial statements are FRS 102, Charities SORP (FRS 102), Charities Act 2011, the charity’s governing document, tax legislation and Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016. We performed audit procedures to detect non-compliances which may have a material impact on the financial statements which included reviewing the financial statements including the Trustees’ Report, remaining alert to new or unusual transactions which may not be in accordance with the governing documents, inspecting any correspondence with local tax authorities and evaluating advice received from internal/ external advisors.

The most significant laws and regulations that have an indirect impact on the financial statements are those in relation to Safeguarding, the Data Protection Act 2018, and Canon Law. We performed audit procedures to inquire of management and those charged with governance whether the entity is in compliance with these laws and regulations and inspected correspondence with regulatory authorities.

The audit engagement team identified the risk of management override of controls as the area where the financial statements were most susceptible to material misstatement due to fraud. Audit procedures performed included but were not limited to testing manual journal entries and other adjustments, evaluating the business rationale in relation to significant, unusual transactions and transactions entered into outside the normal course of business, and challenging judgments and estimates.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at http://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 the Charities Act 2011. 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.

RSM UK Audit LLP

Statutory Auditor

Chartered Accountants, 10th Floor, 103 Colmore Row Birmingham B3 3AG

Date 28 October 2025

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

I Annual Report and Financial Statements I Archdiocese of Birmingham I

27

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2024

Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2024

**Parochial ** **Parochial ** **Parochial ** **Diocesan ** **Diocesan ** **Diocesan ** Total Charity 2024 Total Charity 2024 Total Charity 2024 Total Charity 2024 2023
Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Endowment
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Endowment
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Endowment
Funds		 Total Total
(note 8)
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
INCOME AND
ENDOWMENTS FROM:		 Note
Donations, legacies
and grants		 1 11,983 1,706 - 420 383 - 12,403 2,089 - 14,492 13,554
Charitable activities 2 1,251 135 1,673 66 2,924 201 - 3,125 2,900
Other trading
activities		 3 1,243 4 - 2 - - 1,245 4 - 1,249 1,103
Investment income 4 2,809 23 33 380 40 16 3,189 63 49 3,301 3,263
Other income
Profit on sale of
tangiblefixed assets		 1,668 - - - - - 1,668 - - 1,668 2,676
Other income 5 250 - - 97 - - 347 - - 347 213
**Total ** 19,204 1,868 33 2,572 489 16 21,776 2,357 49 24,182 23,709
**EXPENDITUREON **
Raisingfunds
Fund raising
operations		 149 3 - 2 6 - 151 9 - 160 160
Investment
managementcosts		 6 738 - - 48 - - 786 - - 786 520
- - - - - - - - - -
Charitable activities 7 16,765 830 33 6,706 575 16 23,471 1,405 49 24,925 24,371
**Total ** 17,652 833 33 6,756 581 16 24,408 1,414 49 25,871 25,051
Net
(expenditure)/income
before gains on
investment assets		 1,552 1,035 - (4,184) (92) - (2,632) 943 - (1,689) (1,342)

Page 29

Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2024

**Parochial ** **Parochial ** **Parochial ** **Diocesan ** **Diocesan ** **Diocesan ** Total Charity 2024 Total Charity 2024 Total Charity 2024 Total Charity 2024 2023
Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Endowment
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Endowment
Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Endowment
Funds		 Total Total
(note 8)
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Gains on investment
assets
Gains, losses and
revaluations on
investmentproperties		 12 3,323 - - 221 (3) - 3,544 (3) - 3,541 259
Gains, losses and
revaluations on other
investments		 12 1,630 35 105 663 114 44 2,293 149 149 2,591 1,788
**Total ** 4,953 35 105 884 111 44 5,837 146 149 6,132 2,047
Net
income/(expenditure)		 6,505 1,070 105 (3,300) 19 44 3,205 1,089 149 4,443 705
Transfers between
funds*		 18 (2,298) (510) - 2,821 (13) - 523 (523) - - -
Net movement in
funds		 4,207 560 105 (479) 6 44 3,728 566 149 4,443 705
Reconciliation of
funds
Total funds brought
forward		 97,657 5,014 1,575 7,578 5,756 678 105,235 10,770 2,253 118,258 117,553
Total funds carried
forward		 101,864 5,574 1,680 7,099 5,762 722 108,963 11,336 2,402 122,701 118,258

Page 30

2024 2024 2023 2023
Note £000 £000 £000 £000
FIXEDASSETS:
Tangibleassets 11 50,607 50,633
Investments 12 70,264 66,196
Totalfixedassets 120,871 116,829
CURRENTASSETS:
Debtorsdueinunderoneyear 13 3,788 3,534
TotalDebtors 13 3,788 3,534
Cashatbankandinhand 4,250 3,546
Totalcurrentassets 8,038 7,080
CURRENTLIABILITIES:
Creditors:Amountsfallingdue
withinoneyear 14 (6,173) (5,616)
NETCURRENTASSETS 1,865 1,464
TOTALASSETSLESSCURRENT
LIABILITIES 122,736 118,293
Creditors:Amountsfallingdue
aftermorethanoneyear 15 (35) (35)
NETASSETS 20 122,701 118,258
THEFUNDSOFTHECHARITY:
Endowmentfunds 17 2,402 2,253
Restrictedfunds 18 11,336 10,770
Unrestrictedfunds:
Designatedincomefunds 19 49,883 49,960
Generalincomefunds 19 59,080 55,275
108,963 105,235
TOTALCHARITYFUNDS 122,701 118,258

Statement of cash flows For the year ended 31 December 2024

Note
21
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash used in operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received
Interest /dividends from investment in the
stock market
Rental income from investment property
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Proceeds of disposal of fixed assets
Purchase of investments
Proceeds of sale of investments
Proceeds of sale of investment properties
Net cash provided by investing activities
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning
of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the
year
Analysis of changes in net debt
Cash
Loans
Total		 2024
£000
147
857
2,297
(705)
1,712
(30,865)
31,654
677		 2024
£000
147
857
2,297
(705)
1,712
(30,865)
31,654
677		 2024
£000
(5,070)

5,774		 2023
£000
218
905
2,140
(830)
2,947
(4,891)
4,847
163		 2023
£000
(6,510)
5,499
A
704
3,546		 (1,011)
4,557
4,250 3,546
t start of
year
£000
3,546
(35)
3,511

Page 32

Accounting policies for the year ended 31 December 2024

BASIS OF PREPARATION AND ASSESSMENT OF GOING CONCERN

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out below and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (Charities SORP (FRS102)). The Trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS102.

The financial statements have been drawn up under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of investments and are presented in sterling, (£’000 except where otherwise noted) which is also the functional currency of the Trust.

The accounts have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair’ view. This departure has involved following Charities SORP (FRS102), rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005, which has since been withdrawn.

The Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of preparation of the financial statements. Management have revisited the financial budget for 2024 and into 2025, taking into account the impact of the cost of living and external domestic economic factors on projected income and expenditure, such as inflation and bank interest rates. They continue to monitor the cash position on a regular basis (£4.2m at year end). The Diocese also has a significant investment portfolio (£32.4m at year end) that has continued to grow, in spite of market uncertainty over global conditions. There is an unrestricted element of which provides an extra buffer to be utilised if necessary. The Trustees continue to monitor the performance of the investments, and challenge the charity’s investment advisors. Based on the forecasts prepared the Trustees are satisfied that the Diocese has sufficient cash resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future and can confirm that there are no material uncertainties in relation to the going concern basis of preparation of the financial statements.

The financial statements incorporate the activities of the parishes within the Archdiocese, the central support activities, the Diocesan Schools Commission, youth services and other centres of religious activities. The financial statements also include the transactions, assets and liabilities of those charities and other trust funds detailed in Note 17 to the financial statements. The figures do not include the operation of parish clubs, nor do they include the activities of separately registered Roman Catholic charities within the Archdiocese other than those listed in Notes 17 and 18.

Special and other charitable collections on behalf of other charities have not been included in the Statement of Financial Activities as they are not regarded by the trustees as being funds of the Archdiocese. Where any balance has not been paid to the respective organisation concerned, it has been included in creditors.

Page 33

Accounting policies (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

In the application of the Trust’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The Trust carries its investment properties at fair value, with changes in fair value being recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities. The Trust obtains valuations to determine fair value on a cyclical basis; normally being every five years for investment properties. The trustees consider that this is sufficiently regular to ensure that their carrying amount does not differ materially from their fair value at the reporting date. Some of the key assumptions used to determine the fair value of the assets are based on the valuer’s knowledge and experience of the market, values of similar properties that could be deemed subjective.

Revaluation gains on investment properties and the relevant assets are included in Note 12.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

The trustees do not consider that there are any estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities.

FUND ACCOUNTING

The charity maintains various types of funds as follows:

Restricted funds

These represent funds received which are allocated by the donor for specific purposes. They cannot be used for purposes other than those specified by the donor. The aim and use of the restricted funds is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Endowment funds

These represent various trust funds which have been donated to the charity. The capital cannot be spent, and any income generated must be spent in line with the donor’s instructions.

Unrestricted General and Designated funds

These represent unrestricted income which is expendable at the discretion of the trustees in the furtherance of the objects of the charity. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment. However, whilst these funds are unrestricted, they include amounts which have been invested in fixed assets and cannot therefore be realised without undermining the ongoing work of the charity. Such funds have been classified as designated funds by the trustees (see Note 19).

INCOME

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the conditions for receipt have been met and there is reasonable assurance of receipt and there being reasonable certainty as to amount. Where a claim for repayment of income tax has been or will be made, such income is grossed up for the tax recoverable. The following accounting policies are applied to income:

Donations, legacies and grants

Offertories and donations are included in income when receivable. Legacies are included in income upon the receipt becoming probable. Probability of receipt occurs where there is a grant of probate, the executors have established there are sufficient assets to pay the legacy and any conditions attached to the legacy are either within the control of the charity or have been met. Gifts in kind, if material, are included at an estimate of fair value. Included here also are grants receivable. Grants are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the grant conditions have been complied with.

Page 34

Accounting policies (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

Income (continued)

Charitable activities

Includes income from votive candles and newspapers etc., mainly in parishes, together with chaplaincy income, and whilst this is recognised on a cash received basis, this is not materially different from an accruals basis.

Other trading activities

Includes income from activities such as parish totes, bazaars and other events, which is described as social income and whilst this is recognised on a cash received basis, this is not materially different from an accruals basis.

Investment income

Income from investments is included on an accruals basis. Property rental income is recognised on a receivable basis.

Proceeds from the disposal of school properties

These proceeds are treated as restricted income as the charity is required to give an undertaking to make the disposal proceeds available for the provision of replacement schools elsewhere in accordance with Sch. 22 para. 3 of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998. Where such proceeds are material they are shown separately on the face of the Statement of Financial Activities.

Income from Government and other grants

Income from Government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ or ‘revenue’ grants, is credited to the Statement of Financial Activities when the Trust has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably. Income is deferred only if these criteria are not met or when the provider specifies that the grant must be used in future periods.

School Building Grants

The Diocesan Education Service (DES) assists voluntary aided schools with the administration of funding for school building projects and IT equipment. The Trustees have reviewed these arrangements and concluded that the DES acts as agent on behalf of the school governing body in certain circumstances in receiving funding from the Department for Education, Local Authority and other funding sources and settling and matching it with contractors’ costs and associated professional fees.

As a result of this review, the income and expenditure from these activities are not reflected in the Statement of Financial Activities because the risk and reward of those transactions are those of the school governing bodies and not the DES. Expenditure on school building projects and IT where the DES acted as agent in the year amounted to £5.94m (2023: £6.41m), income from grants was £5.97m (2023: £6.67m) and the net position of £0.03m (2023: £0.26m) is included in the creditor for 2024, which is £2.5m as at the year end (2023: £2.30m). Further information on this is included in Note 7.

In addition, there were some activities in the year whereby the DES acted as principal, and those transactions are reflected in the accounts, further explanation is provided in Note 18.

EXPENDITURE

Expenditure is included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of any value added tax which cannot be recovered.

Certain expenditure is directly attributable to specific activities and has been included in those cost categories.

Page 35

Accounting policies (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

EXPENDITURE (CONTINUED)

GRANTS PAYABLE

Grants payable are payments made to third parties in the furtherance of the charitable objectives of the Trust. Grants are accounted for when either the charity has given the recipient a reasonable expectation that they will receive a grant and the trustees have agreed to pay the grant without condition, or the recipient has a reasonable expectation that they will receive a grant and any condition attaching to the grant is outside of the control of the Trust.

OPERATING LEASES

Rentals are charged on a straight-line basis, having taken account of lease incentives.

PENSION COSTS

The charity operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. The scheme is funded by contributions from the charity and its employees. The payments made by the charity are included in expenditure. The charity operates a salary sacrifice arrangement for pension contributions.

GAINS AND LOSSES ON INVESTMENTS

Realised and unrealised gains and losses on investments and investment properties are credited or charged to the Statement of Financial Activities. Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the movement in fair value during the year. Realised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between disposal proceeds and fair value brought forward – fair value is considered by reference to bid value.

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Churches and other functional property

Prior to December 1996, capital expenditure on Churches and other functional property (i.e. buildings used for the primary purposes of the Archdiocese) and their contents were written off when incurred. The financial statements prepared for previous years, therefore, did not include amounts for these categories of fixed assets.

In December 1996, these assets were included in the financial statements at an estimate of their historic cost. This was derived by using the retail price index to index the present insurance value back to the date the building was constructed and applying rates of depreciation calculated to write off the estimated historic cost evenly over the whole of their useful life. Depreciation rates were calculated by using the age of the building and its expected useful life. A similar basis was used to estimate the contents of Churches and Presbyteries on the assumption that the contents of Churches and Presbyteries are renewed every 45 years.

Page 36

Accounting policies (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

Tangible fixed assets (continued)

The cost of new functional church property, improvements and contents is capitalised and is being depreciated over the expected useful lives at the following rates:

% per
annum Years
Churches, Presbyteries, Halls and other
functional property:
- Land element Nil -
- Building element 1.0 100
Improvements
to		 and contents of
Churches and Presbyteries 2.2 - 6.6 15- 45

Individual items of less than £25,000 are not capitalised.

An assessment is made at each reporting date of whether there are indications that a fixed asset may be impaired or that an impairment loss previously recognised has fully or partially reversed. If such indications exist the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated. Shortfalls between the carrying value of fixed assets and their recoverable amounts, being the higher of net realisable value and value-in-use, are recognised as impairments. Impairments are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities.

School property

The Archdiocese has 240 voluntary aided schools and academies which are constituted as separate charities. The school properties (land and buildings) are vested in the name of the trustees. The trustees cannot take a unilateral decision to dispose of these properties. Disposal can only occur if the school governors and the Secretary of State for Education decide that all or part of a school site is no longer required for education. In most circumstances, where a disposal occurs, the trustees will be required under S22 of the School’s Standards and Framework Act 1998 to pay to the Local Authority so much of the proceeds as may be determined by the Secretary of State. Although no rights of ownership vest in the school governing body, most other rights and obligations, such as for the maintenance and repair of the school and its facilities, are passed to the governors. The trustees therefore consider that, for the purposes of these financial statements, whilst being used as a school, the nature of their ownership is that of a custodianship and therefore these properties have not been recognised.

At 31 December 2024 the building insurance valuation via the Diocesan insurers for the voluntary aided schools and academies in the charity’s ownership was £231m (2023: £222m). In continuing the trend from previous years, there were further schools including academies that insured with other insurers/RPA in 2024 compared to 2023.

Fixed assets other than property

The cost of motor vehicles, Diocesan office equipment and fixtures and fittings is capitalised and depreciated over their expected useful lives, at the following rates:

% per annum Years
Motor vehicles 25 4
Office equipment, fixtures etc. 25 4

Individual items of less than £2,500 are not capitalised.

Page 37

Accounting policies (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

INVESTMENTS

Investment properties

Investment properties such as houses and non-functional properties have been included at the trustees’ estimate of their fair value at 31 December 2024. All investment properties are professionally valued on a rolling 5-year programme. During 2023, approximately one-fifth in number of investment properties were professionally valued at open market value by the Diocesan in-house qualified chartered surveyors. In accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102, no depreciation is provided. The value of each property has been prepared having regard to RICS Valuation – Global Standards (Red Book) effective from 31 January 2021 where market value is defined as:

‘’the estimated amount for which an asset or liability should exchange on the valuation date between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction, after proper marketing and where the parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion’’.

Other investments

Other investments consist mainly of stocks and shares quoted on the London Stock Exchange. They have been included at fair value at the year end.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Trust has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102, in full, to all of its financial instruments.

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Trust becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument and are offset only when the Trust currently has a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Financial Assets

Debtors

Debtors which are receivable within one year and which do not constitute a financing transaction are initially measured at the transaction price. Debtors are subsequently measured at amortised cost, being the transaction price less any amounts settled and any impairment losses.

A provision for impairment of debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the amounts due will not be collected according to the original terms of the contract. Impairment losses are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities for the excess of the carrying value of the debtor over the present value of the future cash flows discounted using the original effective interest rate. Subsequent reversals of an impairment loss that objectively relate to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised, are recognised immediately in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and short term highly liquid assets with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar accounts held as part of the charity’s treasury management activities.

Concessionary loans (assets)

Loans which are made (or committed and not taken up at the year-end) to priests, employees and other beneficiaries of the Trust are considered concessionary loans. Unsecured loans are generally for a term of up to 5 years, no interest is payable, and do not normally exceed £5,000 (although these limits may be exceeded at the discretion of the Diocesan Treasurer). In addition, secured, concessionary, interest free loans are made usually for the purposes of purchasing property being secured on the property, the loan term usually being for a period of up to 10 years.

Page 38

Accounting policies (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

Concessionary loans (assets) (continued)

All concessionary loans are initially measured at their transaction value, and subsequently are recognised at their carrying value, less impairment. They are repayable within the agreed payment term, or the cessation of employment in the case of an employee or cessation of office in the case of a priest, whichever is the soonest. A provision for impairment is established when there is objective evidence that the amounts due will not be collected according to the original terms of the loan agreement. Impairment losses are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities for the excess of the carrying value of the loan over the present value of the future cash flows. Subsequent reversals of an impairment loss that objectively relate to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised, are recognised immediately in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Concessionary loans are aggregated within the financial statements as this does not obscure significant information. Where applicable, concessionary loans committed but not yet taken up at the year-end are included in the financial statements, but are not aggregated in the total.

Financial liabilities and equity

Financial instruments are classified as liabilities and equity instruments according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Trust after deducting all of its liabilities. The Trust considers it has no equity instruments.

Creditors

Creditors payable within one year that do not constitute a financing transaction are initially measured at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost, being the transaction price less any amounts settled.

Concessionary loans (liabilities)

Loans made (or committed and not taken up at the year-end) by parishioners to a parish of the Archdiocese are considered concessionary loans. These may be for a period of 1 year upwards, sometimes with no end date. No interest is payable. These are initially measured at their transaction value, and subsequently are recognised at their carrying value, less impairment. They are always unsecured.

Concessionary loans are aggregated within the financial statements as this does not obscure significant information. Where applicable, concessionary loans committed but not yet taken up at the year-end are included in the financial statements, but are not aggregated in the total.

De-recognition of financial assets and liabilities

A financial asset is derecognised only when the contractual rights to cash flows expire or are settled, or substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are transferred to another party, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party. A financial liability (or part thereof) is derecognised when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.

RECOGNITION OF LIABILITIES

Liabilities are recognised when either a constructive or legal obligation exists.

JOINTLY CONTROLLED ENTITIES

Entities in which the charity has a long term interest and shares control under a contractual arrangement are classified as jointly controlled entities. Jointly controlled entities are accounted for using the cost model.

Page 39

Notes to the financial statements

for the year ended 31 December 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
1 DONATIONS, LEGACIES AND GRANTS
Parochial Diocesan Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
2024 2023
funds funds funds funds funds funds
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Offertories, collections 9,111 728 - 137 327 - 10,303 9,825
and donations
Tax reclaimed on
1,560 18 - 125 10 - 1,713 1,687
offertories and donations
Donations of property 450
Legacies 1,165 22 - 142 44 - 1,373 1,182
Grants receivable * 147 938 - 16 2 - 1,103 410
11,983 1,706 - 420 383 - 14,492 13,554
----- End of picture text -----

DONATIONS, LEGACIES AND GRANTS - 2023 COMPARATIVES

Offertories,
collections
and
donations
Tax
reclaimed
on
offertories
and
donations
Donations
of
property
Legacies
Grants
receivable		 Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Total
2023
£000
8,778
716
140
191
-
9,825
1,569
37
-
61
20
-
1,687
450
-
-
-
-
-
450
580
498
89
15
-
1,182
186
155
-
39
30
-
410
-
-
11,563
1,406
329
256
-
13,554
-

Page 40

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

2
Votive candles,
newspapers and
repositories
Chaplaincy income
Fees and other
charges
Other income		 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£'000
£'000
£'000
601
-
-
61
-
-
27
-
-
562
135
-
Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£'000
£'000
£'000		 Total
2024
£'000		 Total
2023
£'000

4
-
-

119
-
-

1,524
66
-
26
-
-
605
571

180
167
1,617
1,431

723
731
1,251
135
-		 1,673
66
-		 3,125
2,900

CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - 2023 COMPARATIVES

Votive
candles,
newspapers
and
repositories
Chaplaincy
income
Fees and
other
charges
Other
income		 Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Total
2023
£000		 Total
2023
£000
565
1
-
73
-
-
31
-
-
550
148
-		 5
-
-
94
-
-
1,397
3
-
33
-
-
1,219
149
-		 1,529
3
-
3
Social income		 OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£'000
£'000
£'000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£'000
£'000
£'000		 Total
2024
£'000		 Total
2023
£'000
1,243
4
-		 2
-
-		 1,249
1,103
1,243
4
-		 2
-
-		 1,249
1,103

Social income includes parish tote/200 etc. clubs, income from parish social events, parish occasional fundraising such as bazaars, fetes and bingo and occasional fundraising by youth centres and chaplaincies.

Page 41

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

Social
income		 OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES - 2023 COMPARATIVES OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES - 2023 COMPARATIVES OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES - 2023 COMPARATIVES
Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Total
2023
£000
1,091
2
-
10
-
-
1,103
-
10
-
-
1,091 2
1,103
4
Income from UK
investments
Rental income
Interest receivable		 INVESTMENT INCOME
Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£'000
£'000
£'000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£'000
£'000
£'000		 Total
2024
£'000		 Total
2023
£'000
508
23
33
2,187
-
-
114
-
-		 240
37
16

110
-
-

30
3
-		 857
905

2,297
2,140
147
218
2,809
23
33		 380
40
16		 3,301
3,263

INVESTMENT INCOME - 2023 COMPARATIVES

Income
from UK
investment
s
Rental
income
Interest
receivable		 Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Total
2023
£000
528
29
36
255
40
17
905
2,002
-
-
136
2
-
2,140
165
1
-
18
34
-
218
2,695
30
36
409
76
17
3,263

Page 42

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
5 OTHER INCOME
Parochial Diocesan Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
2024 2023
funds funds funds funds funds funds
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Insurance claims 129 – – 25 – – 154 67
Donations of assets – – – – – – – 12
Sundry income 121 – – 72 – – 193 134
250 – – 97 – – 347 213
----- End of picture text -----

OTHER INCOME - 2023 COMPARATIVES OTHER INCOME - 2023 COMPARATIVES OTHER INCOME - 2023 COMPARATIVES
Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Total
2023
£000
67
-
-
-
-
-
67
12
-
-
-
-
-
12
133
-
-
1
-
-
134
212
-
-
1
-
-
213
6
Costs of management of
investment properties
and other investments		 INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COSTS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COSTS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COSTS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COSTS
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£'000
£'000
£'000
Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£'000
£'000
£'000
Diocesan		 Total

2024
£'000		 Total
2023
£'000
738
–
–
48
–
–
786
520
738
–
–
48
–
–
786
520

Page 43

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COSTS - 2023 COMPARATIVES

Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Total
2023
£000
498
-
-
22
-
-
520
498
-
-
22
-
-
520
7
Liturgical and pastoral
costs
Curial, Parish and
Chaplaincy etc. general
support costs
Clergy costs
Property refurbishment,
maintenance and major
repairs
Depreciation
Bank Charges
Votive candles,
newspapers and
repository costs etc.
Chaplaincy expenditure
Schools’ costs
Grant funding
Professional fees, incl
safeguarding & audit
Total charitable activities*		 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£'000
£'000
£'000
Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£'000
£'000
£'000
Diocesan		 Total

2024
£'000		 Total
2023
£'000
1,508 99
9
482 34
16 2,148
1,853
6,783 72
-
3,859 150
-
10,864
9,405
2,087
2
-
957 291
-
3,337
3,274
4,616 646
24
184
8
-
5,478
4,320
1,094
- -
202
7
-
1,303
1,289
192
- -
44
1
-
237
364
248
- -
- -
-
248
237
- -
-
291 60
-
351
538
8
- -
52 17
-
77
2,231
197 11
-
253
7
-
468
547
32
- -
434
- -
466
313
16,765 830
33 6,758 575
16 24,977
24,371

*General costs include buildings utilities and upkeep costs, housekeeping costs, parish and chaplaincy wages and office expenses.

** A significant number of parish property required repairs and building work in 2024 compared to 2023.

*** Included in Schools costs is £12 k which represents the net costs (2023: £120k net costs) on activities where the Trust is acting as principal, and payments made under a PFI agreement (see page 61). The net position relates to income of £5,966k and £5,954k expenditure (2023: £6,564k income and expenditure of £6,684k). These costs relate mainly to PFI payments, along with grants received and paid in relation to RAAC funding.

The costs above relate directly to the activity concerned and no form of estimation or apportionment has therefore been necessary.

Page 44

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

7
Liturgical and
pastoral costs
Curial, Parish
and
Chaplaincy
etc. general
support costs
Clergy costs
Property
refurbishment,
maintenance
and major
repairs
Depreciation
Bank Charges
Votive
candles,
newspapers
and repository
costs etc.
Chaplaincy
expenditure
Schools’ costs
(including
impairment
losses)
Grant funding
Professional
fees, incl
safeguarding
Total
charitable
activities*		 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES- 2023 COMPARATIVES CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES- 2023 COMPARATIVES CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES- 2023 COMPARATIVES
Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Total
2023
£000
1,183
64
5
567
17
17
1,853
7,344
182
-
1,795
84
-
9,405
1,989
2
-
901
382
-
3,274
3,234
708
31
340
7
-
4,320
1,078
-
-
204
7
-
1,289
284
-
-
79
1
-
364
231
-
-
-
6
-
237
-
-
-
312
226
-
538
9
-
-
2,060
162
-
2,231
160
34
-
345
8
-
547
3
2
-
308
-
-
313
15,515
992
36
6,911
900
17
24,371

Page 45

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

8
Note
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
FROM:
Donations, legacies &
grants
1
Charitable activities
2
Other trading activities
3
Investment income
4
Other income
Profit on sale of tangible
fixed assets
Other income
5
Total
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising funds
Fund raising operations
Investment management
costs
6
Charitable activities
7
Total
Net (expenditure)/income
before gains on investment
assets		 COMPARATIVES (BY FUND) FOR 2023 STATEMENTOF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES COMPARATIVES (BY FUND) FOR 2023 STATEMENTOF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES COMPARATIVES (BY FUND) FOR 2023 STATEMENTOF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES COMPARATIVES (BY FUND) FOR 2023 STATEMENTOF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Total
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Total
2023
£000
11563
1,406
-
329
256
-
11,892
1,662
-
13,554
1,219
149
-
1,529
3
-
2,748
152
-
2,900
1,091
2
-
10
-
-
1,101
2
-
1,103
2,695
30
36
409
76
17
3,104
106
53
3,263
236
350
-
2,090
-
-
2,326
350
-
2,676
212
-
-
1
-
-
213
-
-
213
17,016
1,937
36
4,368
335
17
21,384
2,272
53
23,709
147
6
-
1
6
-
148
12
-
160
498
-
-
22
-
-
520
-
-
520
15,515
992
36
6,911
900
17
22,426
1,892
53
_24,371 _
16,160
998
36
6,934
906
17
23,094
1,904
53
_25,051 _
856
939
-
(2,566)
(571)
-
(1,710)
368
-
(1,342)

Page 46

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

8
Note
Net (expenditure)/income
before gains on investment
assets
Gains on investment assets
12
Gains, losses and
revaluations on investment
properties
Gains, losses and
revaluations on investments
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
18
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward		 COMPARATIVES (BY FUND) FOR 2023 STATEMENTOF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES COMPARATIVES (BY FUND) FOR 2023 STATEMENTOF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES COMPARATIVES (BY FUND) FOR 2023 STATEMENTOF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES COMPARATIVES (BY FUND) FOR 2023 STATEMENTOF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Parochial
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Diocesan
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Total
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
£000
£000
£000		 Total
2023
£000
856
939
-
(2,566)
(571)
-
(1,710)
368
-
(1,342)
(11)
-
-
270
-
-
259
-
-
259
1,120
11
86
463
35
73
1,583
46
159
1,788
1,109
11
86
733
35
73
1,842
46
159
2,047
1,965
950
86
(1,833)
(536)
73
132
414
159
705
(2,423)
(68)
-
2,251
240
-
(172)
172
-
-
(458)
882
86
418
(296)
73
(40)
586
159
705
98,115
4,132
1,489
7,160
6,052
605
105,275
10,184
2,094
117,553
97,657
5,014
1,575
7,578
5,756
678
105,235
10,770
2,253
118,258

Page 47

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

9 NET INCOME 2024 2023
£000 £000
Net income for the year is stated after charging:
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 1,303 1,289
PFI facilities management fees 149 158
Auditor’s remuneration
- for audit services 70 74
- for non-audit services 1 1
10 INFORMATION REGARDING EMPLOYEES, TRUSTEES AND 2024 2023
VOLUNTEERS £000 £000
Staff costs comprise the following:
Salaries and wages 4,338 4,246
Social security costs 320 355
Pension costs 473 436
Death in service premium 25 20
___ ___
5,156 5,057

Staff costs relate to curial staff, staff at parishes and staff employed in Diocesan related activities.

The number of employees whose emoluments (excluding employer’s pension contributions and national insurance) amounted to over £60,000 in the year was as follows:

2024 2023
Number Number
£60,000 - £70,000 2 2
£70,001 - £80,000 1 4
£80,001 - £90,000 - 1
£90,001 – £100,000 1 -

The charity contributed £37,685 (2023: £61,135) in pension contributions in respect of these employees. The Chief Operating Officer is included within the above disclosure. Due to the operation of a salary exchange scheme, pension contributions stated above include the employee pension contributions paid on behalf of these staff as employer’s contributions. These therefore do include amounts exchanged by staff under those arrangements. Not all staff participate in the salary exchange scheme.

The number of employees and full-time equivalent employees, analysed by function, during the year was as follows:

Parishes
Other Diocesan
services
Central/Curial Services		 Full Time Full Time Part Time Part Time **Full Time ** Equivalent
2024
6
20
26		 2023
7
25
27		 2024
200
16
29		 2023
212
16
19		 2024
68
28
41		 2023
70
32
37
52 59 245 247 137 139

Page 48

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

10 INFORMATION REGARDING EMPLOYEES, TRUSTEES AND VOLUNTEERS (continued)

It should be noted that (as in previous years) just over 200 diocesan priests actively working within the charity are self-employed office holders and not employees of the charity.

Six of the twelve trustees listed on page 3 also serve as clergy of the charity (2023: Six), and in addition to their responsibilities as trustees are actively involved in carrying out the objects of the charity. Six of those trustees benefited from accommodation costs and other associated expenditure included within charitable activities (2023: Six)(see Note 7). These trustees received in total £59,500 (2023: £67,125) of allowances as serving clergy but not in their office as trustee. The remaining trustees do not derive any income from the charity. Similarly, no trustee is paid expenses in relation to their activities as a Trustee, only in their canonical roles as serving clergy. Non-clerical trustees are not paid expenses.

The Trust considers its key management personnel comprise the Archbishop, Auxiliary Bishops, Vicar General and Chief Operating Officer. None of these individuals with the exception of the Chief Operating Officer are employees, they are office holders of the Trust. The remuneration, including Employers Pension contributions and National Insurance of the Chief Operating Officer for 2024 was £112,649 (2023: £107,551).

During the year charity funds were used to pay a premium of £8,067 (2023: £6,100) in respect of Trustees’ Indemnity Insurance. This insurance protects the charity from loss arising from the neglect or defaults of its trustees, employees or agents or to indemnify the trustees or other officers against the consequences of any neglect or default on their part.

It is estimated that during the year, approximately 660k hours (2023: 640k) were provided by some 10,000 (2023: 9,200) volunteers in parishes. If this is valued at £11.00 per hour, the volunteer contribution amounts to some £7.26m (2023: £7.03m). Volunteer roles fulfil liturgical, pastoral and administrative activities of the charity. In addition, there were approximately 1,750 volunteers working as volunteer governors or directors in our schools and multi academy trusts. (2023: 1,750) This contribution by volunteers is not included in the financial statements.

Page 49

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

11 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS FOR USE BY THE CHARITY

Functional Property
note
Cost
At 1 January 2024
Additions
Transfers from investment property
12
Transfers to investment property*
12
Disposals
At 31 December 2024
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 January 2024
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposal
Eliminated on transfer to investment
property
At 31 December 2024
Net book value
At 31 December 2024
At 31 December 2023		 Church/
presbytery
£000		 Improvements
& Contents
Other
£000
£000		 Total
£000
45,869
37,639
826
84,334
560
145
705
1,545
-
-
1,545
(956)
-
-
(956)
(86)
(157)
(76)
(319)
-
46,372
38,042
895
85,309
13,322
19,768
611
33,701
523
684
96
1,303
(56)
(96)
(81)
(233)
(69)
-
-
(69)
13,720
20,356
626
34,702
32,652
17,686
269
50,607
32,547
17,871
215
50,633

The net book value of functional property includes £3,061k long leasehold properties (2023: £2,486k). The total insured value of the functional buildings and contents is £894m (2023: £862m).

School properties are not included above as they are treated as not recognised in accordance with the accounting policy on page 37.

* Transfers from functional property to investment property is at cost per the functional property asset register. Transfers in 2024 related to property held at nil cost in the asset register (as inseparable under historic cost convention from the other assets on the site), transferring it to investment property required a revaluation, which resulted in the crystallisation of a £956k gain and increase in asset value of investment property of £956k. These properties were revalued by external property surveyors.

Page 50

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

12 INVESTMENTS HELD AS FIXED ASSETS

INVESTMENTS HELD AS FIXED ASSETS
2024 2023
£000 £000
Investments comprise the following:
Investment properties 37,885 35,618
Other investments 32,379 30,578
70,264 66,196
2024 2023
£000 £000
Investment properties at valuation
Fair value at 1 January 2024 35,618 36,628
Transfers from functional property (Note 11) 949 -
Transfers to functional property (Note 11) (1,545) (1,105)
Disposals (677) (164)
Gains and losses on revaluations and disposals
(incl transfers from functional property per Note
11) 3,540 259
Fair value at 31 December 2024 37,885 35,618
The investment properties are included based on a 5 year rolling
programme of internal valuations completed by professionally
qualified (MRICS) staff – see page 38.
Other investments comprise the following:
Equities
Fixed interest securities & Bonds
Alternatives & multi assets
Investments listed on a stock exchange		 2024
2023
£000
£000
25,517
20,951
2,650
4,393
4,212
5,234
32,379
30,578

Page 51

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

INVESTMENTS HELD AS FIXED ASSETS (continued)

Stock exchange investments at fair value

Fair value at 1 January 2024
Additions
Disposal proceeds
Realised and unrealised
investment gains/(losses)
Fair value at 31 December 2024		 2024
2023
Diocesan
Parishes
Total
Total
£000
£000
£000
£000
9,985
20,592
30,577
28,745
9,658
21,207
30,865
4,891
(9,904)
(21,750)
(31,654)
(4,847)
821
1,770
2,591
1,788
10,560
21,819
32,379
30,577

The historic cost of investments held at 31 December 2024 was £31m (2023: £24m). There were no investment holdings which represented more than 5% by value of the portfolio excluding cash.

Additions and disposals are significantly higher in 2024 due to the appointment of new investment managers. These figures represent a re-ordering of the portfolio, and are representative of the trading activity on the account. This volume of trade is unlikely to continue at this level in 2025. This is the reason for the historic cost being similar to the fair value, as almost all the assets were traded in the year.

Stock exchange investments by location

UK listed investments
Overseas listed investments		 Fair
value
Cost
Fair
value
Cost
2024
2024
2023
2023
£m
£m
£m
£m
7.2
7.4
16.2
13.8
25.2
24.1
14.3
10.2
32.4
31.5
30.5
24.0

Jointly controlled entity

The charity owns 50% of the £2 ordinary share capital of Parish Accounting Services Limited, a company which was formed during 2015 in order to purchase the intellectual property rights, and ownership of computer software known as OPAS. This is a bespoke accounting and gift aid system used widely within the Archdiocese, and was purchased in order to ensure its continued availability for the Trust. The remaining 50% is owned by the Archdiocese of Westminster and is jointly managed by the two Trusts, with two directors serving from each Archdiocese.

Ownership of trading limited company

The charity owns 100% of the share capital of The Shop at Harvington Hall Limited, a private limited company. Total called up share capital and net asset value is £4. Turnover was £53k (2023: £50k). The company made no profit during the year. As this is not material to the financial statements of the charity, the trustees have not prepared consolidated accounts for 2024. All transactions between the charity and the company are noted in note 24, related party transactions. Two members of staff of the charity acted as directors during the year. No remuneration was paid to the directors. Hall staff manage the operation of the shop on a day to day basis. The Shop paid a management fee to the Hall for these services.

Ownership of dormant private limited company

The charity owns 100% of the share capital of The Sower Limited, a dormant private limited company. Total called up share capital is £3. There are no other assets or liabilities.

Page 52

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

13 DEBTORS

DEBTORS
Debtors: amounts due in under one year
Amounts due in respect of school building projects
Accrued investment income
Accrued Gift Aid Tax reclaimable
Other debtors including trade debtors, major bequests and
property sales
Total		 2024
2023
£000
£000
1,115
544
332
101
1,472
1,287
869
1,602
3,788
3,534

14 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Amounts due in respect of school building projects
Due to other religious charities
*Other creditors
Accruals & deferred income		 2024
2023
£000
£000
346
295
970
895
2,787
2,477
2,070
1,949
6,173
5,616

**Included here is an amount held in respect of grant income not spent on school building projects which were managed by the DES in its role acting as agent. For 2024 this was £2,526k (2023: £2,300k). This relates to grants received in advance of projects starting.

The distinction between certain school building project transactions is explained on page 35.

Page 53

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

15 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER ONE YEAR

Concessionary loans 2024
2023
£000
£000
35
35
35
35

16 FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Financial assets held at fair value are included in Note 12. Note 13 includes financial instruments of £1,544k (2023: £792k) held at amortised cost and concessionary loans of £nil (2023: £nil) held at cost plus accrued interest, less impairment where applicable. Notes 14 and 15 include financial instruments held at amortised cost of £4,139k (2023: £3,702k).

17 ENDOWMENT FUNDS

Diocesan funds
Various Diocesan
funds
Maryvale
Various small trust
funds:
registered charities
other		 Balance
at 1st
January
2024
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
Gains/
(losses) on
investments
Balance
at 31st
December
2024
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
634
13
(13)
-
43
677
57
3
(3)
-
1
58
199
4
(4)
-
33
232
1,363
29
(29)
-
72
1,435
2,253
49
(49)
-
149
2,402

These funds are linked to specific parishes and funds held by the Diocese, and are endowment in nature, i.e., the capital donated cannot be spent and any income generated must be spent in line with the donor’s instructions. In the main the purposes of these funds are to provide education, relieve poverty, support priests and to provide for church repairs within the parishes concerned. The assets of all the funds listed are represented by investment in the Diocesan Investment Scheme (see page 15). There are two separate registered charities (Leamington Trust, registered charity no. 248948; and Birmingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Educational Trust no. 528881) and thirteen other separate funds. A uniting direction given by the Charity Commissioners is in force in respect of these funds.

Page 54

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

17 ENDOWMENT FUNDS (continued)

The 2023 analysis of endowment funds follows:

ENDOWMENT FUNDS - 2023 COMPARATIVES

ENDOWMENT FUNDS - 2023 COMPARATIVES
Diocesan funds
Various Diocesan
funds
Maryvale
Various small trust
funds:
registered charities
other		 Balance
at 1st
January
2023
Income Expenditure Transfers
Gains/
(losses) on
investments
Balance
at 31st
December
2023
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
546
15
(15)
-
88
634
59
2
(2)
-
(2)
57
189
5
(5)
-
10
199
1,300
31
(31)
-
63
1,363
2,094
53
(53)
-
159
2,253

Page 55

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

18 RESTRICTED FUNDS

Restricted funds comprise the following unexpended balances of donations etc. given for specific purposes:

Restricted funds
Poor Mission Fund
Memorial Mass Fund
Religious Workers Accommodation
Fund
Specific bequests
University Chaplaincy
Other funds
Canons Chapter Fund
Clergy Training Fund
Maryvale
Diocesan Education Service – schools
projects*
Harvington Hall
Other Chaplaincies
Parish building and other projects		 Balance
at 1st
January
2024 Income Expenditure Transfers
Gains/
(losses) on
investments
(stock
market)
Balance
at 31st
December
2024
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
372
56
-
(203)
-
225
440
6
(11)
-
21
456
46
-
(8)
-
-
38

742
16
(32)
-
49
775
648
118
(88)
(10)
21
689
319
17
(4)
-
20
352
341
171
(362)
200
3
353
252
2
(59)
-
(3)
192
2,539
99
(16)
-
-
2,622
37
2
(1)
-
-
38
7
2
-
-
-
9
5,027
1,868
(833)
(510)
35
5,587
10,770
2,357
(1,414)
(523)
146
11,336

Page 56

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

18 RESTRICTED FUNDS (continued)

The Poor Mission Fund exists to support parishes which struggle to meet their financial obligations. The Memorial Mass Fund provides for people’s desire for annual Masses to be said for their intentions.

The Religious Workers Accommodation Fund was created during 2016 and after some specific grants to assist the work of agencies caring for the homeless and for disadvantaged youth made during that year, the balance is to be used for the provision of accommodation for religious workers in the Diocese.

The Canons Chapter Fund represents sums which were previously recognised as part of the affiliated bodies, and were therefore not in the past included within the funds of the Archdiocese. The Trustees now deem it more appropriate that these funds are included within the Archdiocese accounts as its aim is specifically to support repairs and maintenance of the Cathedral.

The Clergy Training Fund’s primary purpose is to support students in training and formation for the priesthood and permanent diaconate as well as ordained priests and deacons undertaking further studies.

The "Diocesan Education Service – schools’ projects” fund relates to historic schools’ sales proceeds which can only be used to finance the building of new schools, or expansion of existing schools due to capacity needs, and includes grant funds received but not yet expended.

The transfers shown above of £(523)k (2023: £172k), principally represent amounts paid in accordance with the terms of the restriction, to certain parishes and other entities within the Archdiocese. In the case of “Parish building and other projects” the amount transferred relates to capitalised spending completed in accordance with the terms of the restriction. These parish assets are included within the unrestricted property assets of the charity; the associated restricted funding being regarded as having been effectively discharged. There is also a transfer into the Clergy Training Fund, which is a wholly restricted fund. This arises from an internal grant from Diocesan unrestricted funds to CTF restricted funds, necessitating a transfer between restricted and unrestricted funds.

Page 57

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

The 2023 analysis of restricted funds follows:

RESTRICTED FUNDS - 2023 COMPARATIVES

Restricted funds comprise the following unexpended balances of donations etc. given for specific purposes:

Restricted funds
Poor Mission Fund
Memorial Mass Fund
Religious Workers Accommodation
Fund
Specific bequests
University Chaplaincy
Other funds
Canons Chapter Fund
Clergy Training Fund
Maryvale
Diocesan Education Service – schools
projects*
Harvington Hall
Other Chaplaincies
Parish building and other projects		 Balance
at 1st
January
2023 Income Expenditure Transfers
Gains/
(losses) on
investments
(stock
market)
Balance
at 31st
December
2023
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
342
40
-
(10)
-
372
419
7
-
-
14
440
52
-
(6)
-
-
46

796
57
(114)
-
3
742
675
-
(30)
-
3
648
286
23
7
-
3
319
357
135
(401)
250
-
341
212
41
-
-
(1)
252
2,869
32
(362)
-
-
2,539
37
-
-
-
-
37
7
-
-
-
-
7
4,132
1,937
(998)
(68)
24
5,027
10,184
2,272
(1,904)
172
46
10,770

Page 58

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

19 UNRESTRICTED FUNDS

UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
At January 2024
Net income
Transfers: endowment funds
Transfers: restricted funds (Note 18)
Transfers: designated funds
At 31 December 2024		 General
Designated
Total
£000
£000
£000
55,275
49,960 105,235
3,205
-
3,205
523
-
523
77
(77)
-
59,080
49,883108,963

The trustees have created a designated fund to the value of the unrestricted net book value of functional property assets and contents. The trustees are of the opinion that these assets cannot be readily realised without undermining the ongoing work of the charity. Transfers to designated funds relate to net fixed asset movements and depreciation.

The 2023 analysis of unrestricted funds follows:

UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 2023 COMPARATIVES

UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 2023 COMPARATIVES
At January 2023
Net income
Transfers to endowment
Transfers from restricted funds (Note 18)
Transfer to designated funds
At 31 December 2023		 General
Designated
Total
£000
£000
£000
56,134
49,141
105,275
132
-
132
-
-
-
(172)
-
(172)
(819)
819
-
55,275
49,960
105,235

Page 59

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

20 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Other net assets / liabilities
At 31 December 2024		 Unrestricted
(general)
Unrestricted
(designated)
Restricted
Endowment
2024 Total
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
271
49,883
453
-
50,607
65,730
-
2,132
2,402
70,264
(6,921)
-
8,751
-
1,830
59,080
49,883
11,336
2,402
122,701

“Tangible fixed assets” represents the book value of the charity’s tangible fixed assets, principally land and buildings, currently held for charity use and the funds are therefore unavailable for other uses.

Included in the figure for investments is a significant unrealised surplus and this figure will vary year on year as property and stock market values fluctuate.

ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS - 2023 COMPARATIVES

Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Other net assets / liabilities
At 31 December 2023		 Unrestricted
(general)
Unrestricted
(designated)
Restricted
Endowment
2023 Total
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
212
49,960
461
-
50,633
61,466
-
2,477
2,253
66,196
(6,403)
-
7,832
-
1,429
55,275
49,960
10,770
2,253
118,258

Page 60

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

21 RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW USED IN OPERATING RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES
2024 2023
£000 £000
Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting
period 4,443 705
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 1,303 1,289
Donation of property - (450)
Fair value (gains) on investment properties (3,541) (259)
Fair value (gains)/ losses on investments on the
stock exchange (2,591) (1,788)
(Gain) on disposal of tangible assets (1,688) (2,676)
Dividends, interest and rents from investments (3,301) (3,263)
__ __
(5,375) (6,442)
Movements in working capital:
(Increase)/Decrease in debtors (254) (328)
Increase/(Decrease) in creditors 559 260
__ __
Net cash used in operating activities (5,070) (6,510)

22 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

At 31 December 2024, the charity was committed to future capital expenditure of approximately £510k (2023: £50k.)

23 OTHER COMMITMENTS

PFI Scheme

The Trust, through the Diocesan Education Service (DES) is party to a facilities management contract under a PFI scheme in respect of a school. Total commitments under the contract are £153k (2023: £158k) within one year, £316k (2023: £522k) between one and five years. These costs may change, dependent on changes to indexation. The costs are calculated using RPI. These costs are met from within the restricted funds held for the purposes of spending on new schools.

24 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The organisations mentioned below were served by one or more common trustees during the year:

St Mary’s College, Oscott – Registered Charity 1172979

During the year £48,694 (2023: £46,350) of rent and other costs and £133,886 (2023: £148,295) of students’ fees was paid to St Mary’s College, Oscott. There was a £nil balance (2023: £nil) owing to St Mary’s College, Oscott at the year-end in respect of miscellaneous costs or student fees. There was also £75,624 paid by Oscott in relation to recharges relating to priests’ stipends and expenses (2023: £78,400). A further £20,544 was paid for the secondment of Oscott’s archivist (2023: £18,500), £12,708 for secretarial services (2023: £12,250) and a further £16,667 for events and miscellaneous costs (2023: £12,680). Most Rev. B Longley is a Trustee in common.

Page 61

Notes to the financial statements (continued) for the year ended 31 December 2024

24 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

Father Hudson’s Society - Registered Charity 512992

During the year, £44,315 (2023: £39,815) was collected on behalf of and paid over to Father Hudson’s in the main via a retiring collection following Masses said in parishes in September 2023, but also for a special collection for aid for the people from Ukraine who were being supported by the charity. The Diocese also paid for residential care for sick and retired priests in Father Hudson’s Residential Care Home, amounting to £151,690 (2023: £132,465). In addition to these, grants were also made to Father Hudson’s totalling £27,750 (2023: £37,000) for them to administer on behalf of the Archdiocese to aid social outreach work through other Catholic agencies, and also with a special focus on Fatima House, a women’s shelter for refugees.

There was a balance as at the year-end in respect of collections not paid over to Father Hudson’s amounting to £nil (2023: £nil), and care costs of £nil (2023: £nil). Whilst not a Trustee of Father Hudson’s, Most Rev. B Longley is President of the charity .

The Kenelm Youth Trust Ltd– Charitable company registration number 1144209

Grants totalling £200,000 were made to Kenelm Youth Trust in 2024 (2023: £304,260). KYT is a separate charity that was set up to provide all of the Trust’s youth services from 1 January 2016. No balances were outstanding at 31 December 2024 (2023: £nil). Right Rev S. Wright is a trustee in common.

Parish Accounting Services Limited – Company registration number 09503675

During the year, £52,330 was paid to Parish Accounting Services Limited (2023: £43,400) in respect of software licencing fees of parish accounting software and SAFESYS (Diocesan safeguarding software) which PAS Limited purchased in the year. In addition, the Diocese received £16,150 from the company (2023: £11,950) in respect of costs of providing management time. There were no balances outstanding at the year-end.

Cornerstone Regeneration – Registered charity 1143282

Rent was received from Cornerstone by one of the parishes of the Archdiocese in respect of property, of £22,770 (2023: £28,300). Mr C. Loughran is a trustee in common.

Birmingham Churches Together – Registered charity 243931

A grant was made to the charity in 2024 of £14,800 (2023: £7,100l). (Grant funding was agreed to be increased over 2 years, 2023 represents approximately 75% of the pre-COVID grant funding agreement) There were no balances outstanding at the year-end. The Most Rev. B Longley is a trustee.

The Venerable English College Trust – Registered Charity 1142558

A reimbursement of expenses was received from the Venerable English College Trust by the Archdiocese in respect of fundraising costs of £800 (2023: £2,400). There were no balances outstanding at the year-end.

The Most Rev. B Longley is a trustee in common.

Holy Souls Social Club Ltd – Registered Company 07170727

There were no transactions or balances outstanding for 2024. (2023: nil)

Transactions with wholly owned trading subsidiaries

The Shop at Harvington Hall registered company 03047240

The shop serves as a trading subsidiary to collect income from visitors to Harvington Hall. During the year, £5,371 (2023: £9,596) was paid to the charity as a contribution towards the running costs/overheads of the shop, and an additional management fee for Diocesan staff time of £15,000 (2023: £9,895). Re-imbursed costs amounting to £35,717 were paid by the Hall on behalf of the shop (2023: £37,355). There was a balance outstanding at the year end of £18,196 (2023: £20,658).

Page 62

These financial results for the year ended 31 December 2024 are the complete set of annual financial statements on which the auditors have expressed an unqualified audit opinion.

A copy is available on the Diocesan website, www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk, and on the Charity Commission website under our charity reference number 234216.

BIRMINGHAM DIOCESAN TRUST

Treasurer’s Department Archdiocese of Birmingham Cathedral House St Chad’s Queensway Birmingham B4 6EU www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk

0121 230 6219

Registered Charity No. 234216