ANNUAL REPORT AND CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the year ended 31 December 2025
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) Company number - 00227087 Registered charity number – 249100
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
| TABLE OF CONTENTS | Page |
|---|---|
| Chair’s report | 3 - 5 |
| Legal objects | 6 |
| Strategic report: | |
| Strategic aims | 6 - 7 |
| Overall objectves for the year | 7 |
| Actvites and achievements in the year | 7 - 9 |
| Future plans | 9 - 10 |
| Financial review | 10 - 12 |
| Principal risks and uncertaintes | 12 - 13 |
| Structure and governance | 13 - 17 |
| Trustees’ responsibilites statement | 17 |
| Administratve details | 18 - 19 |
| Independent auditor’s report | 20 - 22 |
| Consolidated Statement of Financial Actvites | 23 - 24 |
| Consolidated Income & Expenditure Account | 25 |
| Consolidated Balance Sheet | 26 |
| Charity Statement of Financial Actvites | 27 - 28 |
| Charity Balance Sheet | 29 |
| Consolidated Statement of Cashfows | 30 |
| Notes to the fnancial statements | 31 - 59 |
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
CHAIR’S REPORT
The new governance arrangements, introduced in August 2024, bedded in well over the year. Appointments to the Trustee Board and the revised committee structure operated well. There are some vacancies on some committees. The Trustees are aware of the need for diversity when making appointments. A review of the new governance structure will be carried out during 2026 to determine if any changes are needed.
At national level several issues have come to a head, some without any real conclusion, such as ‘Living in Love and Faith’ and the way forward on safeguarding structures (which might be resolved at the February meeting of General Synod). However, progress has been made on providing financial support for Dioceses. This was most welcome.
As outlined below, there has been positive progress in several areas, which we hope will continue in 2026.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding continues to be a high priority for the Trustee Board. Every Board meeting discusses safeguarding and explores the most recent developments. It does this by examining a summary of the current work of the Diocesan Safeguarding Oversight Group (DSOG}, which is an independent Group chaired by an experienced external chair, Adrienne Plunkett. It has oversight of, and routinely scrutinises, safeguarding strategy and arrangements in the Diocese. The Trustees review includes the DSOG Safeguarding and Intelligence Pack, and its Dashboard, to assist in the identification of strengths, risks and areas for development.
During the year, the Trustees approved an additional safeguarding post, the Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, to help with the growing workload, especially after the publication of the Makin Report in 2024. The Trustees also approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Diocese and DSOG to ensure, among a range of other aspects, clear lines of accountability. The Trustees also considered the likely impact of the external audit into the Diocesan safeguarding provision. INEQE has been appointed by the Church of England to undertake audits of all Dioceses and Cathedrals. The site visit of the audit team is planned for October 2026. As this is a crucial audit, the Trustees approved additional resources to support preparations for the audit.
The Trustees are grateful for all the diligent hard work carried out by the Safeguarding Team and DSOG.
Minster Communities
During the year, most Parishes in the Diocese have been engaged with the Minster Communities programme. The Soar Valley Minster Community was approved by the Trustee Board on 2 September 2025. There are now two Minster Communities in operation, with Oversight Ministers commissioned. A further two proposals were agreed at the January 2026 Board meeting - Beacon in the Forest and the Cornerstone Minster Communities. The large majority of Minster Community Groups are progressing well and are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Diocesan Investment Proposal (DIP)
For over 2 years the Diocese worked hard, in conjunction with staff in the National Church, on developing a proposal for submission for a DIP grant to support the Diocese’s planned Intergenerational Hubs project, which is part of the Diocesan mission strategy. During that time, Diocesan staff had extensive engagement and exchanges with relevant national staff. However, towards the end of last year, it became clear that the Diocesan proposal had little chance of National support. The Trustees decided, therefore, not to submit a grant application, at this time. The Diocese
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
is now exploring the use of Diocesan funds to launch this project. The Diocese submitted a request to the National Church to ‘reset’ the Resourcing Churches Project. The request ensures the best possible use of the remaining grant budget for the ongoing work of church planting and developing new disciples. This was approved by the National Board. The project will run as planned until June 2027, with no additional cost to the Diocese.
Financial Position
During 2025, the National Church carried out a review of Dioceses’ finances in view of their deteriorating financial sustainability. The objective was to identify ways to ease the financial stress on Dioceses to help develop the Church’s longer term missional and financial health. The outcomes of the review were fed into the Triennium Spending Plans for 2026 -28, which were approved by General Synod. The changes include the provision for time limited additional financial support to Dioceses, an increase in Lowest Income Communities Funding (LINC) and several other changes, some of which will simplify complex processes. The impact for Leicester Diocese is helpful but will not permanently resolve the overall financial position in the longer term.
The underlying financial structural operating deficit is now down to £1.73m. Action has been taken over recent years with the aim of reaching a balanced budget by 2028. Tight controls have been placed on the number of Diocesan funded staff. As the cost of clergy represent much of the Diocesan budget, it is impossible to achieve a balanced budget without reducing clergy numbers. The Diocese recognises the significant impact this has on the life and mission of the church at all levels. High inflation over recent years, including increases in stipends and salaries, has also added to the financial pressure.
Parish Contributions continue to be the largest income source at circa £4m. But, as previously reported, this is not increasing to keep pace with inflation. It is hoped that the appointment of a Parish Giving Officer, Laura Taylor, will lead to an increase in parish contributions over the coming year.
The overall result is that income is not keeping up with increases in expenditure. As a result, the operating deficit for 2025 was £1.73m, when one takes out gains on parsonage and DBF property sales (see note 6 on page 38). This was slightly above the £1.5m budget. The use of the Unapplied Total Return facility covered the costs of stipend roles not covered by other restricted income. The Diocese has also benefitted during the year from the policy change to sell agricultural land, unless it has development potential or long-term tenancy rights, and excess properties. By selling good quality agricultural land, on which present yields are poor, to buyers who will pay an attractive price, the funds raised can then be invested and deliver higher yields in a balanced portfolio managed by specialist fund managers in bonds, property and equities.
A working group has been set up to review the distribution of the significantly increased LINC funding the Diocese now receives. The membership of the group is wide ranging, including representatives from churches in highly deprived areas.
St Martins House
The running costs of St Martins House continue to be carefully scrutinised. Steps have been taken to increase income and reduce costs. The overall cost needs to be reduced further, and steps are being taken to achieve this.
Staffing
During 2025, Archdeacon Richard Worsfold left the Diocese to take up a post in Manchester Diocese to be nearer his family. The Diocese will miss Richard’s considerable input into the life and work of the Diocese. Richard was replaced by a long serving member of the Diocese, Richard Tretheway, who
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
has taken up the Archdeacon role with great vigour. The Trustees have approved a couple of extra posts within Parish Giving and Safeguarding and a HR post given the increasing complexity of the work in this area. Sophie Holder started as Director of Racial Equity just before the end of 2024 and has spent 2025 increasing the profile in this area.
Conclusion
During 2025, steady progress was made towards achieving the goals of the Diocese, such as increasing the number of disciples, establishing Minster Communities and reaching a balanced budget. There is still some way to go, but with the continuing support of the whole Diocese we will succeed.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved with the life and work of the Diocese. All the staff and many volunteers who willingly support God’s work.
Canon David Palmer Chair of Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance 18 May 2026
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
The Trustees, who are also Directors for the purposes of company law, present their annual report, together with the audited financial statements, for the year ended 31 December 2025.
The Directors / Trustees are one and the same and in signing as Trustees they are also signing the Strategic Report sections in their capacity as Directors.
These accounts are consolidated as they contain the results of St Martins Hospitality Ltd. St Martins Hospitality Ltd. started trading on 1 January 2024 having been incorporated in November 2023.
This combined report satisfies the legal requirements for:
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a Directors’ Report of a charitable company,
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a Strategic Report under the Companies Act 2006 and
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a Trustees’ Annual Report under the Charities Act 2011
LEGAL OBJECTS
The Objects of the Diocese of Leicester covers the entire county of Leicestershire.
Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance (The)’s (“LDBF”) principal object is to promote, assist and advance the work of the Church of England in the Diocese of Leicester by acting as the financial executive of the Leicester Diocesan Synod.
The LDBF has the following statutory responsibilities:
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i. the management of Glebe property and investments to generate income to support the cost of stipends arising from the Endowment and Glebe Measure 1976;
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ii. the repair of benefice houses as the Diocesan Parsonage Board under the Repair of Benefice Buildings Measure 1972;
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iii. the custodian of permanent endowment and real property assets relating to trusts held by Incumbents and Archdeacons and by Parochial Church Councils (“PCC’s”) as Diocesan Authority under the Incumbents and Churchwardens (Trusts) Measure 1964 and the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956.
The strategic priorities of the company are established by the Diocesan Synod in communication with Deanery Synods, PCCs, and the Bishop of Leicester (in respect of his responsibility for the provision of the cure of souls). To this end, significant time and effort is committed to communication between and with these bodies, as well as with the Church nationally; including an annual series of consultations on specific matters relating to the priorities for the forthcoming year, taking forward the commitments arising from the Diocesan Synod including the Diocesan budget.
STRATEGIC REPORT
Strategic aims
The main role of the LDBF is to identify and manage the financial aspects of the provision of ministry
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
within the Diocese, in order to provide appropriate personnel and financial resources to assist the Diocesan Synod, Bishop’s Council, deaneries and parishes to further the mission and strategic priorities in the Diocese.
The Diocese of Leicester is on a journey we are calling ‘Shaped By God Together’.
The world around us has changed significantly over recent years. So, as we live out our faith and seek to grow in numbers of disciples, depth of discipleship and loving service of the world, we need to learn new ways to engage with an ever-changing world.
Looking to the future, we want to prioritise our work with children, young people and families, especially through partnership with our schools. We also want the mission and ministry across the diocese to be sustainable, both financially and in terms of the pastoral burden on clergy, lay ministers and church officers. We understand that we cannot continue as we are, which will only stretch our resources thinner.
Out of the ‘Shaped by God Together’ process of discernment, reflection and conversation, the plan is to form twenty Minster Communities by 2027. Minster Communities are groups of churches and fresh expressions working collaboratively and sharing resources to enable effective mission.
Overall objectives for the year
In response to the above strategic priorities determined by the Diocesan Synod, several groups, including the Bishop’s Council, the Bishop’s Leadership team and Deanery Synods, have discussed and consulted widely to agree specific objectives for this and subsequent years. These objectives are:
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To promote, facilitate and assist with the work and purposes of the Church of England for the advancement of the Christian faith in the Diocese of Leicester.
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To maintain a sound financial structure required to support the clergy in the payment of stipends, managing parsonages and other ministerial housing and providing other facilities in support of the clergy and lay people in parishes across the Diocese.
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To support the National Church institutions through an annual grant, including a contribution to the cost of training Ordinands and for providing retirement housing for clergy.
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To support The Leicester Diocesan Board of Education (“LDBE”) by way of a grant towards staff costs.
Through carrying out these objectives and in promoting the whole mission of the church (pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical), the Trustees are confident (having had regard to Charity Commission guidance) that LDBF delivers public benefit through community engagement, resourcing education and supporting those in need both spiritually and physically. If we can do this whilst at the same time, continuing to reduce our structural deficit, then the Trustees consider that this is success.
Activities and achievements in the year
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
We have continued to develop the Minster Community project in the period and have reduced our structural deficit compared to 2024, though we recognise we have more to do. The Christan Presence
Clergy form a central part in the life of churches in the Leicester Diocese and carry out important roles in communities. As well as engaging in a wide variety of community and church projects, clergy carried out 298 weddings (including marriage blessings), 1,542 funerals (both in and outside of church) and 615 baptisms during 2024 – the figures are only available one year in arrears. Whilst the LDBF is responsible for funding of clergy stipend costs, the national clergy payroll is administered by the Archbishops’ Council, a charity which the LDBF reimburses regularly for the costs of stipendiary clergy deployed in the Diocese. Caring for the 73 trained stipendiary clergy and 18 training curates, assistant curates and assistant priests we had at the end of 2025 in the diocese is a priority of the LDBF and represents by far its largest financial commitment. Although the LDBF does not employ the parish clergy, it is responsible for training them, paying and housing them, and paying into their pension fund. New terms of service were introduced in 2011 in the form of Common Tenure under which all new clergy are appointed (some present clergy chose to retain their freehold). The new package gives greater clarity on the rights and obligations of clergy and requires that they participate in a process of continual professional development and ministerial development review. It also gives clergy access to tribunals and other useful services.
For many, the clergy house represents the domestic heart of the parish, serving not only as a home but also as a base for ministry. LDBF recognises the importance of a safe, secure and maintained house, and strives to continue with this work as well as carrying out programmed refurbishments and improvements, as available money allows.
During all interregnums, the Area Deans worked closely with the churchwardens of the relevant parishes and ensured that, in every case, scheduled services continued and, with very few exceptions, other activities within the community continued uninterrupted. This was largely made possible by the increasing pool of both retired and self-supporting ministers in the diocese together with the administrative support for the area deans being funded by LDBF.
Other related partes include :
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The Archbishops’ Council to which it pays a donaton based on an apportonment system for funding natonal training of Ordinands and the actvites of the various natonal boards and councils, as well as General Synod.
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The Church Commissioners from which the LDBF receives grants and which acts on behalf of clergy with HM Revenue and Customs. The LDBF pays for clergy stpends through the Church Commissioners.
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The Church of England Pensions Board, to which the LDBF pays retrement beneft contributons for stpendiary clergy and employees. It also ofers schemes to provide housing for clergy in retrement.
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Parochial Church Councils (“PCC’s”), to which LDBF is required to be Custodian Trustee in relaton to PCC property. LDBF has no control over PCC’s, which are independent charites. The accounts of PCC’s and deaneries do not form part of these fnancial statements.
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Leicester Diocesan Board of Educaton (charity number 1151692), to which LDBF provides grant support.
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Leicester Cathedral Chapter.
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
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Launde Abbey Trustees, to which LDBF provides long term loans used to refurbish the abbey (the Diocesan Retreat house) and to cover compensaton and legal fees. At 31 December 2025, the loans plus interest, totalled £865,138. All loans have been fully provided for and are secured on the value of Launde Abbey (for details see note 18 on pages 49 and 50).
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Coventry Diocesan Board of Finance (The) (company no. 00319482; charity no. 247828), with which LDBF had a joint working arrangement for one member of staf during 2025.
Transactons with the main categories of related partes are identfed in appropriate places throughout the fnancial statements. Where materiality of the transactons merits more detailed disclosure this is given in note 28 to the fnancial statements.
Volunteers
LDBF is dependent on the huge number of people involved in church activities both locally and at diocesan level. We believe that the number of active volunteers (or volunteer hours) given to the mission and ministry of the church is a key indicator of the health of a church. The service provided to a community through church volunteering also has a significant impact on people’s relationship to the church particularly at times of crisis. Within this context, the LDBF greatly values the considerable time given by all the committee members across the Diocese in pursuit of the mission of the LDBF.
Future plans
A central priority within Jesus’ ministry was his calling of twelve disciples - “appointed… to be with him and to be sent out” Mark 3:15. He devoted much time to teaching and mentoring them. He sent them out to continue his work of announcing and giving signs of the kingdom.
The Diocese of Leicester has similarly chosen to focus on this theme of discipleship. Shaped by God in our lives and communities we seek the growth of His Kingdom in:
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the depth of discipleship,
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the number of disciples of Jesus,
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loving service of the world.
The diocesan family of churches has discerned five strategic priorities which express how we will support churches to respond to these three key areas:
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New - REACH those with no contact with church.
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Intercultural - LEARN with global majority heritage people.
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Intergenerational - BRING TOGETHER all generations.
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Reconciling - MODEL peace, justice and reconciliation.
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Eco - CHAMPION care for God’s creation.
We have therefore asked our parish churches, our fresh expressions of church, our chaplaincies, and our schools to work to these priorities. Each Christian community must discern for themselves how to act on these priorities in their own context. It is not for the Board of Finance or the Bishop to dictate how individuals and communities should interpret these priorities. Rather the work of our central support staff is focused on enabling this discernment in each context and helping each community to channel their resources to these priorities. It is for the Bishop to hold each individual minister, and each community, to account for how they are doing this (“low control, high
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
accountability”).
The major budget element continues to be directed towards the maintenance of a ministerial presence in every parish and the training and development of lay members of the church to support the work of the clergy.
We have embarked upon a restructure of the Diocese following a review entitled ‘Shaped by God Together’ which reported to The Diocesan Synod during Autumn 2021. We have restructured the central diocesan structure, and we are setting up Minster Communities. Our first Minster Community (a collection of parishes, fresh expressions of church and schools) was inaugurated at the end of April 2023. At the end of 2025 there were three Minster Communities.
The ongoing objective is to be able to adequately resource diocesan needs, as determined by Synod and informed by local and national Church institutions.
Financial review
Financial Performance
Parish Contribution, the money given by parishes to the Diocese to fund its mission and ministry, is the main incoming resource for the Diocese. This decreased by £77k to £3.86m (2024: £3.94m).
The Trustees are grateful to all the parishes for their contributions during the year, and especially to those parishes that make regular contributions by instalments, which is essential in keeping the Diocese’s need to maintain a cash flow reserve to a minimum.
LDBF had a net £3.49m increase in total funds in 2025 (2024: £295k decrease). The 2025 result was affected by a £4.65m increase in the value of the Glebe portfolio offset by a net £1.40m deficit on operations.
Overall, the value of fixed asset investments decreased slightly; Glebe properties are £35.32m (2024: £37.66m); other investments are £8.97m (2024: £6.78m), resulting in a net decrease in investment assets of £149k.
The Trustees had prepared a 2025 budget that had a significant net operational deficit. The budget for 2026 also shows a significant deficit. These deficits can be offset by asset sales in the short term, via the Unapplied Total Return release mechanism. We have sufficient relatively liquid assets (such as our stock market investments) for the short term. It is anticipated returning to a sustainable budget by 2028. This is to be achieved by carrying out continuous reviews of the major cost areas and implementing cuts over the next three years.
The Trustees are of the opinion that LDBF continues to be a going concern.
Significant Property Transactions
Land and building additions during the year (included in tangible fixed assets and investment properties) totalled £234k (2024: £469k). The majority of funds were spent improving and refurbishing the current stock of LDBF properties.
Our policy continues to be:
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to replace unsuitable properties;
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to accommodate the changing geographical deployment of clergy within the Diocese;
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
- to realise development potential in some properties, thereby using our resources more effectively for the ministry of the Church.
Balance sheet position
The Trustees consider that the Balance Sheet together with details in note 21 show broadly that the restricted and endowment funds are held in an appropriate mix of investment and current assets given the purposes for which the funds are held. Whilst the net assets at the balance sheet date totalled £82.49m (2024: £79.0m), it must be remembered that included in this total are land & buildings, whose value amounted to £74.80m (2024: £74.07m). Additionally, some of the remainder of the assets shown in the balance sheet are held in restricted funds and cannot necessarily be used for the general purposes of the LDBF.
Fundraising
LDBF raise funds through Parish Contribution (based on offers given by the Parishes) and via an annual Bishop’s Lent appeal. No professional fundraisers are employed in these activities. The Lent appeal is an invitation to the General Public to contribute to a stated objective. No direct fundraising to individuals is undertaken. LDBF has not received any complaints related to our fundraising activities.
Reserves policy
Free reserves
Having considered financial risk, liquidity requirement and the timing of cashflows throughout the year, the Trustees’ policy is to hold a minimum balance of readily realisable assets in the general fund equivalent to at least three months budgeted expenditure for 2026. At 31 December 2025 the amount required under this policy totalled £2.58m (2024: £2.98m). General unrestricted free reserves at 31 December 2025 totalled £8.26m (2024: £7.70m).
Currently, the Trustees consider that the holding of unrestricted free reserves in excess of the minimum reserve policy is justified on the basis that the Diocese is experiencing structural deficits that will take several years to address and, therefore, significant unrestricted free reserves are needed.
Designated funds
The Trustees may, with the approval of the board, designate additional unrestricted reserves to be retained for an agreed purpose where this is considered to be prudent. Designated funds are reviewed annually and, in the event that the purpose of a designated fund is no longer considered to be adequate justification for their retention, that fund is returned to general funds. A description of each reserve together with the intended use of the reserve is set out in note 23. At 31 December 2025, total designated reserves were £0.27m (2024: £0.27m).
Restricted and endowment funds
As set out in note 23, LDBF holds and administers several restricted and endowment funds. At 31 December 2025 restricted funds totalled £0.99m (2024: £1.43m) and endowment funds totalled £72.97m (2024: £69.61m). Neither fund category is available for the general purposes of the LDBF except for the portion of the endowment fund set aside in the Total Return policy adopted on 1[st]
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
January 2020. Capital released, as allowed by this policy, has to be spent on clergy stipends. The balance of Unapplied Total Return at 31 December 2025 was £13.19m (2024: £11.17m).
Grant making policy
The Memorandum of Association of the LDBF explicitly permits the LDBF to make grants in pursuance of its objects. Grants are disclosed in note 12.
Grants are made in line with the aims of the Charity to provide and widen Christian ministry within the Diocese of Leicester.
Investment policy
The LDBF is empowered by its Memorandum of Association to invest monies not immediately required for its purposes. In addition, the LDBF acts as trustee for a number of trust funds, and these must be invested in accordance with the related trusts. The LDBF’s policy is to review regularly the assets of each fund for which it is responsible, in relation to the purposes of each fund, and to identify appropriate investment vehicles. Note 21 provides detail of the assets of each fund, together with the related purposes, and note 16 summarises the movements in fixed asset investments during the year.
The Trustees’ investment policy is to hold investments in a balanced mix of a charity property fund with Savills Investment Management Limited (Savills) and equities with two portfolio managers (RBC Brewin Dolphin and Charles Stanley). Both RBC Brewin Dolphin and Charles Stanley have been instructed to apply an ethical screen to the portfolio which precludes direct investment in companies which have more than 10% of their turnover in armaments, pornography or tobacco. The investments held, and their return during the year, are set out in the following table:
| Funds at 31 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | Proporton | Income yield | Total Return | |
| 2025 | of Portolio | in year | in year | |
| £'000s | ||||
| RBC Brewin Dolphin listed | 8. | |||
| investments | 1,171 | 19.9% | 2.60% | 49% |
| 15. | ||||
| Charles Stanley listed investments | 1,117 | 19.0% | 3.22% | 51% |
| Savills Investment Management | ||||
| 5.3 | ||||
| Property Fund | 3,512 | 59.6% | 4.82% | 2% |
| (0.1 | ||||
| CCLA funds | 41 | 0.7% | 3.97% | 3%) |
| 0.0 | ||||
| Other investments | 50 | 0.8% | 0.00% | 0% |
| -------------------- |
-------------------- | |||
| 5,891 | 100.0% | |||
| --------------------- | -------------------- |
The Investment Committee regularly reviews the performance of the funds comparing their performance to benchmarks set out in the investors’ reports and hence make recommendations to the Trustees on future investment opportunities.
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
Overall, the income yield was 3.92% and the total return was 8.31%. The Trustees consider the returns to be satisfactory and at least in line with expectations.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The Trustees are responsible for the identification, mitigation and or management of risk. To achieve this, a register of all the risks identified is maintained and, alongside it, a management and mitigation strategy formed. This is subject to review by the Trustees on an annual basis with the responsibility for delivery of the mitigation strategies identified by it, being delegated to the Diocesan Chief Executive and the Director of Finance.
The risk register identifies three broad areas where the risk of either failure to act or the impact of the events is considered ‘high’. These areas and the associated mitigation strategies are:
External risk:
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Reputational risk from scandals and theological disagreements ; Incidents would be managed through Archdeacon reviews and/or the Communications department.
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Economic risk from a fall in parish contributions ; Continued close analysis and review of budgets and treasury / investment management.
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Demographic changes ; There is a “Shaped by God Together” strategic plan (see “future plans” on page 9 above) to diversify the Church via Minster Communities.
Operational risk:
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Personnel risk ; There are processes for performance development and for replacing key personnel who leave. There is also a contract with an external HR consultant.
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Property ; The risk is to not have the correct amount and/or quality of property to house clergy. To mitigate this LDBF has a fully resourced Property department. An independent review of property management and transactions is reviewed by the appropriate committee (Glebe, etc.).
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IT ; Systems are off the shelf and easily replaceable. Data is backed up daily and can be restored within 24 hours. There are rules for internet usage monitored by the IT Manager. The IT Manager ensures compliance with The Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulations.
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Safeguarding and health & safety ; A health & safety policy has been issued to all staff. DBF has a department of 3.65 FTE staff (2024: 3.65) dedicated to safeguarding who report to the Director of Operations and Governance.
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Insurance ; Policies are reviewed annually with a suitably qualified broker.
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Finance ; Financial processes have been implemented and are periodically reviewed. Changes in the amount of income or cost streams are analysed and appropriate corrective action implemented.
Governance risk:
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Trustees ; Procedures exist to appoint and retain suitable Trustees
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Staff structure ; Staff structures are periodically reviewed and set to ensure best practice is adhered to.
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National network ; There is engagement with national initiatives whilst liaising with other Dioceses to ensure best practice is maintained.
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE
Summary Information about the structure of the Church of England
The Church of England is the established church, and HM The King is the Supreme Governor. It is organised into two provinces (Canterbury and York) and 42 Dioceses. Each Diocese is a See under the care of a Bishop who is charged with the cure of souls of all the people within that geographical area. This charge is shared with priests within benefices and parishes which are sub-divisions of the Diocese.
The National Church has a General Synod comprised of ex-officio and elected representatives from each Diocese and it agrees and lays before Parliament, Measures for the governance of the church’s affairs which, if enacted by Parliament, have the force of statute law. In addition to the General Synod, the Archbishops’ Council has a coordinating role for work authorised by the Synod; the Church Commissioners manage the historic assets of the Church of England; and the Church of England Pension Board administers the pension schemes for clergy and lay workers. Within each Diocese, overall leadership lies with the Diocesan Bishop, who exercises that input as Bishop within the Diocesan Synod. The Diocese is itself divided into 10 deaneries, each with its own Synod. Within each parish there is a Parochial Church Council (PCC) which is a charity in its own right and, as such, legally distinct from LDBF. Each PCC shares with the parish priest responsibility for the mission of the church in that place in a similar way to that in which The Bishop shares responsibilities with the Diocesan Synod.
Whilst each Diocese is a separate legal entity, with a clear responsibility for a specific geographical area, being part of the Church of England requires and enables each Diocese to seek support from and apply for partnership with neighbouring Dioceses.
Organisational structure
The Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance (The) (“LDBF”) is a company limited by guarantee (No. 00227087) and a registered charity (No. 249100) governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The company’s principal activity is to promote, assist and advance the work of the Church of England within the Diocese of Leicester. It was established in its present form in 1927 and is successor in title to the Leicester Diocesan Trustees.
Following a review of governance structures over the last few years, revised Articles of Association were adopted in 2024, and a new governance structure came into effect on 1 August 2024. This new structure brings together the Trustee responsibilities of the old Finance Committee with responsibility for the formulation and coordination of policies on mission, ministry and finance held by Bishop’s Council. The new trustee body is called the Trustee Board and has 13 members. The trustees are the Bishop of Leicester (who is the ex officio President of LDBF), the Chair of LDBF, the Bishop of Loughborough, the Archdeacons of Leicester and Loughborough, the Dean of Leicester, the Chairs of the Houses of Clergy and Laity of Diocesan Synod, the Chair of the Resources and Compliance Committee, the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, a member of the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE), a senior school leader appointed by the DBE, and a person co-opted by the Trustee Board. Both the Chair of LDBF and the Chair of the Resources and Compliance Committee are appointed by the Diocesan Synod. The details of trustees who served during the year are set out on page 19.
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
The Diocesan Synod, the statutory governing body of the Diocese, is an elected body drawn from across the diocese with responsibility for setting the vision and strategy of the diocese, guided by the Bishop’s Leadership Team. The Synod membership is elected every three years in accordance with the Church Representation Rules, the most recent elections having taken place in 2024. Whilst LDBF is a separate legal entity, with clear responsibilities under both company and charity law, as well as a governing Memorandum and Articles of Association, LDBF is subject, by virtue of the National Institutions Measure 2000, to the direction of the Synod in all its activities, unless such direction is not in accordance with the governing documents or statutory regulations. It is The Synod which approves the annual LDBF budget.
Decision making structure
As noted above, the creation of the new Trustee Board means that there is clarity over responsibility for both strategy and finance, with the Trustee Board taking clear responsibility for both, while taking account of the directions of the Synod. The Bishop’s Leadership Team is the executive of LDBF and reports to the Trustee Board. The revised Articles of Association dispense with the requirement for an annual general meeting, which means that the Annual Report and Accounts are now approved by the Trustee Board. They are also presented to Diocesan Synod for discussion. Each year Synod receives, and agrees, the annual budget, which has been prepared and approved by LDBF. The Trustee Board meets at least 6 times a year. There is also one meeting held jointly with the Bishop’s Advisory Forum.
The Bishop’s Advisory Forum (BAF) is a new body which reports to the Trustee Board, and which takes on the function of advising The Bishop on significant issues. It is a much larger body than the Trustee Board, with the aim of ensuring a diverse range of people and perspectives to offer input to the formation of policy and strategy. The BAF meets three times a year with one of these meetings taking place over two days and being held jointly with the Trustee Board.
Other committees which report to the Trustee Board are as follows:
Joint Archdeaconry Mission Committee (JAMC) , which is responsible for overseeing and recommending to the Trustee Board plans for the creation of individual Minster Communities within the diocese’s overall framework. The Committee also has a role in matters covered by the Mission and Pastoral Measure, such as parish reorganisations and suspension of the patron’s right of presentation.
Audit and Risk Committee , which is responsible for assisting the trustees in the discharge of their responsibilities for accounting policies, risk management, internal control and financial reporting, including liaison with the auditors.
Resources and Compliance Committee , which is responsible for ensuring that diocesan resources are used appropriately in line with the vision, budgets, plans, and strategies agreed and adopted by Diocesan Synod and the Trustee Board. The Committee also ensures compliance with relevant legislation on behalf of the Trustee Board and maintains an overview of governance arrangements.
Nominations and Remuneration Committee , which is responsible for monitoring and maintaining a flow of people to fill places on boards, committees and other bodies so that vacant places are filled, an appropriate turnover of members is maintained, a good mix of the necessary skills is available,
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
and membership reflects the diversity of the diocese. This includes recommending people for appointment to certain specific roles. The Committee is also responsible for reviewing remuneration of senior diocesan officers where this is not set by national policies or processes.
Assets and Liabilities Subcommittee , reports to the Resources and Compliance Committee and is responsible for overseeing the use and stewardship of the physical and financial assets of the Diocese, in line with legal requirements, such as to best serve the ministry and mission of the church at both local and diocesan levels. This Subcommittee has delegated authority to undertake the statutory responsibilities of the diocese in relation to Houses, Glebe and Closed Church Buildings.
There are also several statutory committees which influence the operation of LDBF, although they are not subcommittees of the Trustee Board:
Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee (DMPC) , which is responsible for approving pastoral reorganisations, and other relevant matters under the Mission and Pastoral Measure, taking account of available clergy numbers, and current patterns of ministry. The Trustee Board serves as the DMPC, with detailed consideration of matters being undertaken by JAMC.
Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches , which advises on matters affecting places of worship such as the granting of faculties, architecture, archaeology, art and the history of places of worship, the use and care of places of worship and their contents, and the care of churchyards.
Diocesan Board of Patronage , which is constituted under the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986, and is sole or joint patron for around 20 benefices.
Vacancy in See Committee , which is responsible for representing the Diocese in the appointment process for the diocesan bishop.
Diocesan Safeguarding Oversight Group (DSOG) , which is a group made up of diocesan senior and safeguarding staff, parish representatives and external members from relevant bodies, and has responsibility for overseeing and scrutinising safeguarding provision in the diocese. The Group is chaired by an Independent Chair, with no links to the diocese, and operates in line with the responsibilities set out in the House of Bishops’ Practice Guidance. In other dioceses, this group is known as the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel. DSOG previously reported to the Trustee Board, but there is now recognition that it is a statutory committee.
Trustee recruitment, selection and induction
Recruitment of people to governance roles has been strengthened under the new structure, with the Nominations and Remuneration Committee playing a key role. For Trustees who are appointed rather than ex officio, a process is followed involving collection of relevant information (such as a biography or CV), references and an interview. In some cases, roles are advertised. Trustees are given an induction when first appointed and are informed of the role and purpose of the committees. Terms of reference drawn up under the new structure require all bodies to undertake an annual review of their effectiveness.
Delegation of delivery of activities of the company
The Trustees rely upon the Bishop’s Leadership Team, as the executive of LDBF, and on the Chief Executive and Diocesan Secretary, and LDBF staff, for the delivery of the activities of the company. A
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
scheme of delegation is in place. This was reviewed and updated by the Resources and Compliance Committee in October 2025 and subsequently approved by the Trustee Board in January 2026.
Senior management remuneration
Senior management remuneration is considered and authorised by the Trustee Board, following receipt of a recommendation from the Nominations and Remuneration Committee. For 2025, the same percentage increase was applied for all staff and clergy, including senior managers. No bonuses were paid to any staff or clergy in 2025. Bonuses are not paid as a matter of current policy.
Funds held as Custodian Trustee
LDBF is custodian trustee of assets held on permanent trust by virtue of the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 and the Incumbents and Churchwardens (Trusts) Measure 1964 where the managing trustees are parochial church councils and others. These assets are not aggregated in the financial statements as the LDBF does not control them, and they are segregated from the LDBF’s own assets by means of a separate bank account and accounting system. Further details of financial trust assets, whose market value amounted to £3.064m as at 31 December 2025 (2024: £3.107m), are available from the LDBF on request, and are summarised in note 26. Where properties are held as custodian trustee, the deeds are identified as such and held in safe custody by the LDBF’s solicitor, Stone King LLP.
TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations .
Company law requires the Trustees (as Directors of LDBF for the purposes of Company Law) to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law, including FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland). Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the Charitable Company and of the income and expenditure of the Charitable Company for that period. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees are required to:
-
Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
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Observe methods and principles in the Charities SORP FRS 102
-
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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State whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
-
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the company will continue in operation
The Trustees are also responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charitable Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
irregularities. The Trustees confirm that:
-
so far as each Trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Charitable Company’s auditor is unaware; and
-
the Trustees have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Trustees in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information, and to establish that the Charitable Company’s auditor is aware of that information.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Charitable Company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements and other information included in Annual Reports, may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The re-appointment of HaysMac LLP as auditors to LDBF will be proposed to the Trustee Board.
ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Trustees
No Trustee had any beneficial interest in the Charitable Company during 2025. The following Trustees were in post during the year and at the date of this report:
Bishop of Leicester: The Right Reverend M J Snow Bishop of Loughborough: The Right Reverend M L V Muthalaly Dean of Leicester: The Very Reverend K S F Rooms Chair: Canon D J Palmer Member of LDBE: Mrs S E Batstone (appointed 1 January 2025) Archdeacons (ex officio): The Venerable R V Worsfold - Archdeacon of Leicester (resigned 23 September 2025) The Venerable R J Trethewey - Archdeacon of Leicester (appointed 2 October 2025) The Venerable C Wood - Archdeacon of Loughborough Elected by: Synod House of Clergy Reverend S A Bailey Synod House of Laity Canon S Adshead Chair of the Resources and Compliance committee: Dr S M Gorton (appointed 1 August 2025) Mr C J Sheldon (resigned 2 July 2025) Chair of Audit and Risk Committee: Mrs A M Greenwood
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
Co-opted by the Board Reverend Dr J K Patel
Senior staff and advisers
| Senior staf and advisers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Diocesan Chief Executve: | Mr Jonathan Kerry | ||
| Director of Operatons & Governance: | Mr Andrew Brockbank | ||
| Director of Finance & Property: | Mr Simon Wilson | ||
| Director of Parish Transiton | & Ministry Development: | Reverend Stuart Burns | |
| Registered Ofce: |
St Martns House, | ||
| 7 | Peacock Lane, | ||
| Leicester LE1 5PZ | |||
| Bankers: |
Barclays Bank plc, | Auditors: | |
| Dominus Way, | HaysMac LLP, | ||
| Meridian Business Park, | Statutory Auditors, | ||
| Leicester LE19 1RP | 10 Queen Street Place, | ||
| Leicester LE19 1RP | London EC4R 1AG | ||
| Solicitors: |
Stone King LLP, | Rothera Bray LLP, | |
| Boundary House | 2 Kayes Walk, | ||
| 91 Charterhouse Street | Stoney Street, | ||
| London EC1M 6HR | The Lace Market, | ||
| Notngham NG1 1PZ | |||
| Investment Advisers: |
Savills Investment Management Charles Stanley & Co. Limited, | ||
| Limited, | 25 Luke Street, | ||
| 33 Margaret Street, | London EC2A 4AR | ||
| London W1G 0JD | |||
| RBC Brewin Dolphin, | CCLA Investment Management | ||
| 1stFloor, | Limited, | ||
| Waterfront House, | 80 Cheapside, | ||
| Waterfront Plaza, | London EC2V 6DZ | ||
| 35 Staton Street, | |||
| Notngham NG32 3DQ | |||
| Glebe Agents | Andrew Granger & Co., | Christe & Co., | |
| and Valuers: | 44 – 46 Forest Road, | Suite 402 Bridlesmith House, | |
| Loughborough, | 38 Bridlesmith Gate, | ||
| Leicestershire LE11 3NP | Notngham NG1 2GQ |
In approving this Trustees’ Report, the Trustees are also approving the Strategic Report included on pages 6 - 13 within their capacity as company directors.
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (a company limited by guarantee not having share capital)
ANNUAL REPORT
BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES
D J Palmer Chair
18 May 2026
J W Kerry Diocesan Chief Executive
18 May 2026
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE)
Opinion
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance (The) (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 December 2025, which comprise the consolidated and charitable company Statement of Financial Activities, the Income and Expenditure Account, the consolidated and charitable company Balance Sheets, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, and notes to the consolidated financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102; The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements:
-
give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and parent charitable company's affairs as at 31 December 2025 and of the group and parent charitable company’s net movement in funds, including the income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
-
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
-
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the ‘Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section’ of our report. We are independent of the group 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 consolidated 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 group’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the consolidated 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 trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees’ Annual Report and Chair’s Report. Our opinion on the consolidated financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the consolidated financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the consolidated financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (Continued)
Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
-
the information given in the Trustees’ Annual Report (which includes the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report prepared for the purposes of company law), for the financial year for which the consolidated financial statements are prepared is consistent with the consolidated financial statements; and
-
the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report included within the Trustees’ Annual Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matter on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Annual Report (which incorporates the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report).
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent charitable company; or
-
the parent charitable company consolidated financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
-
certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
-
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees for the financial statements
As explained more fully in the Trustees' Responsibilities Statement set out on page 17, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group and the parent charitable company’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 group or parent charitable company 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 consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below:
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) (Continued)
Based on our understanding of the Group company and the environment in which it operates, we identified that
the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries, health and safety and Charity Law. We considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material
effect on the consolidated financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct
impact on the preparation of the consolidated financial statements such as include the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011 and consider other factors such as payroll tax.
We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the consolidated financial statements (including the risk of override of controls). We determined that the principal risks were related to fraud in revenue recognition. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
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Inspecting correspondence with regulators and tax authorities;
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Discussions with management including consideration of known or suspected instances of noncompliance with laws and regulation and fraud;
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Evaluating management’s controls designed to prevent and detect irregularities;
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Identifying and testing journals; and
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Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their critical accounting estimates such as valuation of the investment properties.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the consolidated financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the consolidated financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilites. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members 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 charitable company and the charitable company’s members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Lee Stokes (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of HaysMac LLP, Statutory Auditor
18 May 2026
10 Queen Street Place London EC4R 1AG
Page 23
Page 24
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31 December 2025
| Total | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | funds | funds | ||||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |||
| Note | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Income and endowments | (Page 24) | |||||||
| from | ||||||||
| Donatons | ||||||||
| Parish contributons | 2a | 3,633 | - | 225 | - | 3,858 | 3,935 | |
| Archbishops’ Council | 2b | - | - | 2,449 | - | 2,449 | 2,589 | |
| Other donatons | 2c | 5 | 4 | 5 | - | 14 | 30 | |
| Charitable actvites | 3 | 299 | - | 53 | - | 352 | 403 | |
| Other actvites | 4 | 952 | - | - | 755 | 1,707 | 1,864 | |
| Investments | 5 | 154 | 11 | 75 | 775 | 1,015 | 907 | |
| Other | 6 | 365 | - | - | 240 | 605 | 1,095 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Total income and | ||||||||
| endowments | 5,408 | 15 | 2,807 | 1,770 | 10,000 | 10,823 | ||
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Expenditure on | ||||||||
| Raising funds | 7 | - | - | - | 166 | 166 | 217 | |
| Charitable actvites | 8 | 9,705 | 21 | 65 | - | 9,791 | 10,170 | |
| Other | 9 | 892 | - | - | 555 | 1,447 | 1,883 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Total expenditure | 10,597 | 21 | 65 | 721 | 11,404 | 12,270 | ||
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Net (expenditure) / income | ||||||||
| before losses and gains on | ||||||||
| investments | (5,189) | (6) | 2,742 | 1,049 | (1,404) | (1,447) | ||
| (Loss) / gain on investments | (7) | - | - | 4,836 | 4,829 | 1,848 | ||
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Net (expenditure) / income | (5,196) | (6) | 2,742 | 5,885 | 3,425 | 401 | ||
| Transfers between funds | 14 | 5,698 | 7 | (3,181) | (2,524) | - | - | |
| Other recognised losses | ||||||||
| Gain / (loss) on revaluaton | ||||||||
| of fxed assets | 65 | - | - | - | 65 | (696) | ||
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Net movement in funds | 567 | 1 | (439) | 3,361 | 3,490 | (295) | ||
| --------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------------- | ---------------------- | |||
| Total funds brought forward | 7,696 | 269 | 1,426 | 69,607 | 78,998 | 79,293 | ||
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------------- | ---------------------- | |||
| Total funds carried forward | 21 | 8,263 | 270 | 987 | 72,968 | 82,488 | 78,998 | |
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | =========== | =========== |
All activities derive from continuing activities. The notes on pages 31 to 59 form part of the financial statements.
Page 25
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31 December 2025
COMPARATIVES 2024
| COMPARATIVES 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | ||||||
| Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | funds | |||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2024 | ||
| Note | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Income and endowments | ||||||
| from | ||||||
| Donatons | ||||||
| Parish contributons | 2a | 3,813 | - | 122 | - | 3,935 |
| Archbishops’ Council | 2b | - | - | 2,589 | - | 2,589 |
| Other donatons | 2c | 21 | 5 | 4 | - | 30 |
| Charitable actvites | 3 | 334 | - | 69 | - | 403 |
| Other actvites | 4 | 1,070 | - | - | 794 | 1,864 |
| Investments | 5 | 206 | 11 | 79 | 611 | 907 |
| Other | 6 | 849 | - | 8 | 238 | 1,095 |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ||
| Total income and | ||||||
| endowments | 6,293 | 16 | 2,871 | 1,643 | 10,823 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ||
| Expenditure on | ||||||
| Raising funds | 7 | - | - | - | 217 | 217 |
| Charitable actvites | 8 | 10,065 | 18 | 87 | - | 10,170 |
| Other | 9 | 1,195 | - | - | 688 | 1,883 |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ||
| Total expenditure | 11,260 | 18 | 87 | 905 | 12,270 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ||
| Net (expenditure) / income | ||||||
| before losses and gains on | ||||||
| investments | (4,967) | (2) | 2,784 | 738 | (1,447) | |
| Gain on investments | 175 | 5 | - | 1,668 | 1,848 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ||
| Net (expenditure) / income | (4,792) | 3 | 2,784 | 2,406 | 401 | |
| Transfers between funds | 14 | 5,284 | 8 | (3,127) | (2,165) | - |
| Other recognised losses | ||||||
| Loss on revaluaton | ||||||
| of fxed assets | (696) | - | - | - | (696) | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------- | ||
| Net movement in funds | (204) | 11 | (343) | 241 | (295) | |
| --------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------------- | ||
| Total funds brought forward | 7,900 | 258 | 1,769 | 69,366 | 79,293 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------------- | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 21 | 7,696 | 269 | 1,426 | 69,607 | 78,998 |
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | =========== |
All activities derive from continuing activities. The notes on pages 31 to 59 form part of the financial statements.
Page 26
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) CONSOLIDATED INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT For the year ended 31 December 2025
| Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £’000 | £’000 | |
| Income before losses and gains on investments | 8,230 | 9,180 |
| Expenditure | (10,683) | (11,365) |
| ------------------- | -------------------- | |
| Operatng defcit for the year | (2,453) | (2,185) |
| Net (loss) / gain on investments | (7) | 180 |
| Net transfer from endowment funds | 2,524 | 2,165 |
| ------------------- | -------------------- | |
| Net income for the year | 64 | 160 |
| Other comprehensive losses: | ||
| Revaluaton of fxed assets | 65 | (696) |
| ------------------- | -------------------- | |
| Total comprehensive income / (expenditure) | 129 | (536) |
| ========= | ========= |
The income and expenditure account is derived from the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities with movements in endowment funds excluded to comply with company law. All income and expenditure is derived from continuing activities. The notes on pages 31 to 59 form part of the financial statements.
Page 27
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET At 31 December 2025
| Company Number – 00227087 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| Note | £’000 |
£’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||||
| Tangible assets | 15 | 30,903 | 31,329 | ||
| Investments | 16 | 44,290 | 44,439 | ||
| ----------------------- | ----------------------- | ||||
| 75,193 | 75,768 | ||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||
| Assets held for resale | 17 | 5,582 | 2,086 | ||
| Stock | 9 | 7 | |||
| Debtors | 18 | 996 | 796 | ||
| Cash on deposit, at bank and in hand | 1,531 | 1,405 | |||
| -------------------- | -------------------- | ||||
| 8,118 | 4,294 | ||||
| CREDITORS: amounts falling | |||||
| due within one year | 19 | (823) | (1,064) | ||
| -------------------- | -------------------- | ||||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 7,295 | 3,230 | |||
| ------------------- | ------------------- | ||||
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT | |||||
| LIABILITIES | 82,488 | 78,998 | |||
| --------------------- | --------------------- | ||||
| NET ASSETS | 82,488 | 78,998 | |||
| ========== | ========== | ||||
| FUNDS | |||||
| Endowment funds | |||||
| (Including investment revaluaton reserve of £32,576k | |||||
| (2024: £29,685k)) | 72,968 | 69,607 | |||
| Restricted income funds | |||||
| (Including investment revaluaton reserve of £Nil | |||||
| (2024: £Nil)) | 987 | 1,426 | |||
| Unrestricted income funds: | |||||
| General funds | |||||
| (Including revaluaton reserve debit of £839k | |||||
| (2024: debit £897k)) | 8,263 | 7,696 | |||
| Designated funds | |||||
| (Including investment revaluaton reserve of £31k | |||||
| (2024: £31k)) | 270 | 269 | |||
| --------------------- | -------------------- | ||||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 21 | 82,488 | 78,998 | ||
| ========== | ========== |
The Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and the Notes form part of these financial statements. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 18 May 2026 and signed on behalf of the Board by:
D J Palmer - Chair
Page 28
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) CHARITY ONLY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31 December 2025
| Total | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | funds | funds | ||||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |||
| Note | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Income and endowments | (Page 28) | |||||||
| from | ||||||||
| Donatons | ||||||||
| Parish contributons | 2a | 3,633 | - | 225 | - | 3,858 | 3,935 | |
| Archbishops’ Council | 2b | - | - | 2,449 | - | 2,449 | 2,589 | |
| Other donatons | 2c | 5 | 4 | 5 | - | 14 | 30 | |
| Charitable actvites | 3 | 299 | - | 53 | - | 352 | 403 | |
| Other actvites | 4 | 634 | - | - | - | 634 | 703 | |
| Investments | 5 | 154 | 11 | 75 | 825 | 1,065 | 957 | |
| Other | 6 | 359 | - | - | 240 | 599 | 1,084 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Total income and | ||||||||
| endowments | 5,084 | 15 | 2,807 | 1,065 | 8,971 | 9,701 | ||
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Expenditure on | ||||||||
| Raising funds | 7 | - | - | - | 166 | 166 | 217 | |
| Charitable actvites | 8 | 9,705 | 21 | 65 | - | 9,791 | 10,170 | |
| Other | 9 | 469 | - | - | - | 469 | 718 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Total expenditure | 10,174 | 21 | 65 | 166 | 10,426 | 11,105 | ||
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Net (expenditure) / income | ||||||||
| before losses and gains on | ||||||||
| investments | (5,090) | (6) | 2,742 | 899 | (1,455) | (1,404) | ||
| (Loss) / Gain on | (7) | - | - | 4,836 | 4,829 | 1,848 | ||
| investments | ||||||||
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Net (expenditure) / income | (5,097) | (6) | 2,742 | 5,735 | 3,374 | 444 | ||
| Transfers between funds | 5,492 | 7 | (3,181) | (2,318) | - | - | ||
| Other recognised losses | ||||||||
| Gain / (loss) on revaluaton | ||||||||
| of fxed assets | 65 | - | - | - | 65 | (696) | ||
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Net movement in funds | 460 | 1 | (439) | 3,417 | 3,439 | (252) | ||
| --------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------------- | ---------------------- | |||
| Total funds brought forward | 7,795 | 269 | 1,426 | 69,551 | 79,041 | 79,293 | ||
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------------- | ---------------------- | |||
| Total funds carried forward | 8,255 | 270 | 987 | 72,968 | 82,480 | 79,041 | ||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | =========== | =========== |
All activities derive from continuing activities. The notes on pages 31 to 59 form part of the financial statements.
Page 29
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) CHARITY ONLY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31 December 2025
COMPARATIVES 2024
| COMPARATIVES 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | ||||||
| Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | funds | |||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2024 | ||
| Note | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Income and endowments | ||||||
| from | ||||||
| Donatons | ||||||
| Parish contributons | 2a | 3,813 | - | 122 | - | 3,935 |
| Archbishops’ Council | 2b | - | - | 2,589 | - | 2,589 |
| Other donatons | 2c | 21 | 5 | 4 | - | 30 |
| Charitable actvites | 3 | 334 | - | 69 | - | 403 |
| Other actvites | 4 | 703 | - | - | - | 703 |
| Investments | 5 | 206 | 11 | 79 | 661 | 957 |
| Other | 6 | 838 | - | 8 | 238 | 1,084 |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ||
| Total income and | ||||||
| endowments | 5,915 | 16 | 2,871 | 899 | 9,701 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ||
| Expenditure on | ||||||
| Raising funds | 7 | - | - | - | 217 | 217 |
| Charitable actvites | 8 | 10,065 | 18 | 87 | - | 10,170 |
| Other | 9 | 718 | - | - | - | 718 |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ||
| Total expenditure | 10,783 | 18 | 87 | 217 | 11,105 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ||
| Net (expenditure) / income | ||||||
| before losses and gains on | ||||||
| investments | (4,868) | (2) | 2,784 | 682 | (1,404) | |
| Gain on investments | 175 | 5 | - | 1,668 | 1,848 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | --------------- | ------------------- | ||
| Net (expenditure) / income | (4,693) | 3 | 2,784 | 2,350 | 444 | |
| Transfers between funds | 14 | 5,284 | 8 | (3,127) | (2,165) | - |
| Other recognised losses | ||||||
| Loss on revaluaton | ||||||
| of fxed assets | (696) | - | - | - | (696) | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------- | ||
| Net movement in funds | (105) | 11 | (343) | 185 | (252) | |
| --------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------------- | ||
| Total funds brought forward | 7,900 | 258 | 1,769 | 69,366 | 79,293 | |
| -------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------------- | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 21 | 7,795 | 269 | 1,426 | 69,551 | 79,041 |
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | =========== |
All activities derive from continuing activities. The notes on pages 31 to 59 form part of the financial statements.
Page 30
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) CHARITY ONLY BALANCE SHEET At 31 December 2025
| Company Number – 00227087 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| Note | £’000 |
£’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||||
| Tangible assets | 15 | 30,897 | 31,323 | ||
| Investments | 16 | 44,290 | 44,439 | ||
| ----------------------- | ----------------------- | ||||
| 75,187 | 75,762 | ||||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||
| Assets held for resale | 17 | 5,582 | 2,086 | ||
| Stock | - | - | |||
| Debtors | 18 | 968 | 796 | ||
| Cash on deposit, at bank and in hand | 1,421 | 1,318 | |||
| -------------------- | -------------------- | ||||
| 7,971 | 4,200 | ||||
| CREDITORS: amounts falling | |||||
| due within one year | 19 | (678) | (921) | ||
| -------------------- | -------------------- | ||||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 7,293 | 3,279 | |||
| ------------------- | ------------------- | ||||
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT | |||||
| LIABILITIES | 82,480 | 79,041 | |||
| --------------------- | --------------------- | ||||
| NET ASSETS | 82,480 | 79,041 | |||
| ========== | ========== | ||||
| FUNDS | |||||
| Endowment funds | |||||
| (Including investment revaluaton reserve of £32,576k | |||||
| (2024: £29,685k)) | 72,968 | 69,551 | |||
| Restricted income funds | |||||
| (Including investment revaluaton reserve of £Nil | |||||
| (2024: £Nil)) | 987 | 1,426 | |||
| Unrestricted income funds: | |||||
| General funds | |||||
| (Including revaluaton reserve debit of £839k | |||||
| (2024: debit of £897k)) | 8,255 | 7,795 | |||
| Designated funds | |||||
| (Including investment revaluaton reserve of £31k | |||||
| (2024: £31k)) | 270 | 269 | |||
| --------------------- | -------------------- | ||||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 82,480 | 79,041 | |||
| ========== | ========== |
The Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and the Notes form part of these financial statements. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 18 May 2026 and signed on behalf of the Board by:
Page 31
D J Palmer- Chair Page 32
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the year ended 31 December 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £’000 | £’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 | |
| Net cash outlow from operatng actvites | (899) | (3,534) | ||
| Cash fows from investng actvites | ||||
| Dividends, interest and rent from investments | 1,015 | 907 | ||
| Proceeds from the sale of tangible fxed assets | 626 | 1,828 | ||
| Proceeds from the sale of fxed asset investments - shares | 306 | 251 | ||
| Proceeds from the sale of fxed asset investments - Glebe | 1,740 | 788 | ||
| Purchase of tangible fxed assets | (328) | (344) | ||
| Purchase of fxed asset investments | (2,334) | (482) | ||
| -------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Net cash provided by investng actvites | 1,025 | 2,948 | ||
| Cash fows from fnancing actvites | ||||
| - | - | |||
| -------------------- | -------------------- | |||
| Net cash used in fnancing actvites | - | - | ||
| ------------------- | ------------------- | |||
| Change in cash and cash equivalents in the period | 126 | (586) | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January | 1,405 | 1,991 | ||
| ------------------- | ------------------- | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December | 1,531 | 1,405 | ||
| ========== | ========== | |||
| Reconciliaton of net movements in funds to net cashfow | ||||
| from operatng actvites | ||||
| Net movement in funds for the year ended 31 December | 3,490 | (295) | ||
| Adjustments for: | ||||
| Depreciaton charges | 173 | 146 | ||
| Dividends, interest and rent from investments | (1,015) | (907) | ||
| Parish loan repayments and write ofs | 6 | 6 | ||
| Advancement of parish loans | (1) | - | ||
| Proft on sale of fxed assets | (279) | (940) | ||
| (Gain) / Loss on revaluaton of fxed assets | (91) | 651 | ||
| Transfer of fxed assets | 325 | 1,486 | ||
| Proft on sale of fxed asset investments - shares | (18) | (16) | ||
| Loss on sale of fxed asset investments - Glebe | 47 | 75 | ||
| Gain on revaluaton of fxed asset investments | (4,849) | (1,907) | ||
| Transfer of fxed asset investment propertes | 5,257 | 600 | ||
| Increase in assets held for resale | (3,496) | (2,086) | ||
| (Increase) / decrease in stock | (2) | 37 | ||
| Increase in debtors | (226) | (36) | ||
| Increase / (Decrease) in related party credit balances | 31 | (21) | ||
| Decrease in creditors | (251) | (327) | ||
| ------------------ | ---------------- | |||
| Net cash outlow from operatng actvites | (899) | (3,534) | ||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | |||
| Analysis of cash and cash equivalents | ||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 133 | 110 | ||
| Notce deposits (less than 3 months) | 1,398 | 1,295 | ||
| ------------------ | ---------------- | |||
| Total cash and cash equivalents | 1,531 | 1,405 | ||
| ========= | ======== | |||
| LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) |
Page 33
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 December 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of fixed asset investments which, in the main, are included at their market value at the balance sheet date, and certain tangible fixed assets which are included at fair value. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities (SORP 2019), the Companies Act 2006 and applicable accounting standards (FRS 102). The financial statements have been prepared in UK sterling currency and rounded to the nearest £1,000.
Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate those of Leicester Diocesan Board of Finance (The) (“LDBF”) and its subsidiary undertaking, St Martins Hospitality Ltd (“SMHL”). All financial statements consist of the year to 31 December 2025.
LDBF holds 100% of the shares of SMHL which began trading on 1 January 2024 having been incorporated in November 2023. The Charitable company has taken the exemption to not publish a subsidiary cashflow statement.
Going Concern
The 2026 budget has a significant net operational deficit. However, this is lower than the deficit for 2025. These deficits can be offset by asset sales in the short term, via the Total Return release mechanism which is used to fund clergy stipends. We have sufficient assets to cope in the short term. It is anticipated returning to a sustainable budget by 2028. Therefore, the Trustees consider that there is no material uncertainty regarding going concern.
The principal accounting policies are as follows;
a) Income
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when LDBF is legally entitled to it as income, ultimate receipt is probable and the amount recognised can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
- i) **Parish Contributions** are recognised as income of the year in respect of which it is received, and up to 31 January of the following year.
-
ii) Income from other trading activities;
-
Housing rental receivable is recognised as income in the period to which it relates. Café sales represent goods sold over the counter and are recognised on the date of sale. Internet sales are recognised on the date of notification. Conferencing and events income is recognised on the date of the associated event. Cancellation charges are recognised on the date of notification.
-
iii) Interest and dividends are recognised as income when receivable.
-
iv) Grants received, which are subject to pre-conditions for entitlement specified by the donor which have not been met at the year end, are included in creditors to be carried forward to the following year.
-
-
v) Parochial fees are recognised as income of the year to which they relate.
-
vi) Donations, other than grants, are recognised when receivable .
-
vii) Gains on disposal of fixed assets for the LDBF’s own use (i.e. non-investment assets) are accounted for as other income. Losses on disposal of such assets are accounted for as other expenditure.
- viii) Stipends fund income. The Stipends Fund Capital account is governed by the Diocesan Stipends’ Fund Measure 1953, as amended. The use of the income is restricted for clergy stipends. The income is fully expended within the year of receipt (as the expenditure is greater) and the legal restrictions therefore are satisfied. It is on this basis that the expenditure is shown in the General Fund in the Statement of Financial Activities and is offset by the income which, initially, is shown in the Restricted Fund, but then transferred to the General Fund.
b) Expenditure
- Expenditure is included on the accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the Statement of Financial Activity category.
Page 34
- i) Costs of raising funds are costs relating to the temporary renting out of parsonages, agent’s costs for Glebe investment properties and management fees on investment assets.
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
-
ii) Charitable expenditure is analysed between contributions to the Archbishops’ Council, expenditure on resourcing and supporting mission and ministry in the parishes of the Diocese, and expenditure that supports education within the Church of England schools in the Diocese.
-
iii) Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is conveyed to the recipient except in those cases where the offer is conditional on the recipient satisfying performance or other discretionary requirements to the satisfaction of LDBF, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching have been fulfilled. Grants offered subject to such conditions which have not been met at the year end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure.
-
iv) Support costs are central management, administration and governance costs. The amount spent on raising funds and other activities is considered to be immaterial, and all support costs are allocated to the purpose of charitable activities. Costs are allocated based on the proportion of the net amount spent on resourcing and support of mission and ministry.
-
v) SMH trading and letting costs are staff, cost of goods sold, and building costs charged on an accruals basis.
-
vi) Pension contributions relate to LDBF staff who are members of the Church Workers Pension Fund. Clergy are members of the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme (see note 24). The pension costs, charged as resources expended, represent LDBF's contribution payable in respect of the accounting period in accordance with FRS102. Deficit funding for the pension schemes is accrued at current value in creditors distinguished between contributions falling due within one year and after one year.
c) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Freehold properties
Depreciation is not provided on the majority of LDBF properties as any provision (annual or cumulative) would not be material due to the very long expected remaining useful economic life in each case, and because their expected residual value is not materially less than their carrying value. LDBF has a policy of regular structural inspection, repair and maintenance, which in the case of residential properties is in accordance with the Repair of Benefices Buildings Measure 1972. Properties are therefore unlikely to deteriorate or suffer from obsolescence. In addition, disposals of properties occur well before the end of their economic lives and disposal proceeds are usually not less than their carrying value. The Trustees perform annual impairment reviews in accordance with the requirements of FRS102 to ensure that the carrying value is not more than the recoverable amount.
St Martins House (SMH) and St Martins Lodge (SML)
St Martins House is valued at open market value at 31 December. SMH is divided into a fixed asset and a fixed asset investment property. 2% straight line annual depreciation on cost is provided on the fixed asset. St Martins Lodge is valued at open market value as at 31 December.
Investment properties
Glebe properties (except St Martins Lodge), which are held for investment purposes and rented out, are subject to formal revaluation every three years with the most recent revaluation being as at 31 December 2025. In between formal revaluations, management carry out an annual desk top revaluation based on appropriate and recognised property indices. Properties are, therefore, included at the year-end market value as indicated by the management revaluation exercise or the formal revaluation. The next formal revaluation will be carried out as at 31 December 2028.
Parsonage houses
LDBF has followed the requirements of FRS102 in its accounting treatment for benefice houses (parsonages). FRS102 requires the accounting treatment to follow the substance of arrangements rather than strict legal form. LDBF is formally responsible for the maintenance and repair of such properties and has some jurisdiction over their future use or potential sale if not required as a benefice house but, in the meantime, legal title and the right to beneficial occupation is vested in the incumbent. The Trustees therefore consider the most suitable accounting policy is to capitalise such properties as expendable endowment assets and to carry them at cost.
Page 35
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
d) Other tangible fixed assets
All capital expenditure on other tangible fixed assets over £500 is depreciated. Depreciation is provided in order to write off the cost (less any ultimate disposal proceeds at prices ruling at the time of the asset’s acquisition) of other fixed assets over their currently expected useful economic lives at the following rates:Computer equipment - 50% per annum on a straight-line basis Fixtures and fittings - 50% per annum on a straight-line basis
e) Other accounting policies
-
i) Fixed asset investments are included in the Balance Sheets at market value and the gain or loss taken to the Statement of Financial Activities.
-
ii) Stock is included at the lower of cost and net realisable value and relates to food and drink for public resale.
-
iii) Leases refer to operating leases entered into for the use of certain assets, the rental for which is charged in full as expenditure in the year to which it relates.
f) Critical accounting estimates and judgements
In the application of LDBF’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying value 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 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 where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
The key estimates and assumptions made in these accounts are;
-
Investment properties are valued at the Trustees’ estimate which is based on a market valuation completed by a qualified valuer every three years. In between formal valuations the Trustees use appropriate market indices.
-
The present value of the clergy and lay pension schemes’ defined liabilities depends on a number of factors that are determined on an actuarial basis using a variety of assumptions. The assumptions in determining the net cost of income for pensions include the discount rate. Any changes in these assumptions, which are disclosed in note 27, will impact the carrying value of any pension liability.
g) Fund balances
Fund balances are split between unrestricted (general and designated), restricted and endowment funds.
-
Unrestricted funds are LDBF’s corporate funds and are freely available for any purpose within the Charitable Company’s objects, at the discretion of LDBF. There are two types of unrestricted funds:
-
i) General funds which LDBF intends to use for the general purposes of LDBF, and ii) Designated funds set aside from unrestricted funds for a purpose specified by the Trustees.
-
Restricted funds are income funds subject to either legal measure or donor conditions.
-
Endowment funds are those held on trust to be retained for the benefit of LDBF as a capital fund. In the case of the endowment funds administered by LDBF (Stipends Glebe and Endowment Capital Funds), there are discretionary powers to convert capital into income and therefore these funds are classified as expendable endowment. The Parsonage Houses Fund, where there is no provision for expenditure of capital, is classified as permanent endowment.
“Special trusts” (as defined by the Charities Act 2011) and any other trusts where LDBF acts as Trustee and controls the management and use of the funds, are included in LDBF’s own financial statements as charity branches. Trusts where LDBF acts as Custodian Trustee with no control over the management of the funds, are not included in the financial
Page 36
statements but are summarised in note 29.
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
2. DONATIONS
2a. Parish Contributions
GROUP & CHARITY
All donations are collected from the parishes of the Diocese.
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | Total funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Current year | 3,633 | - | 225 | - | 3,858 | 3,935 | |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | --------------------- | ||
| 3,633 | - | 225 | - | 3,858 | 3,935 | ||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========== | ========= |
GROUP & CHARITY - 2024
All donations are collected from the parishes of the Diocese.
| Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2024 |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 |
| 3,813 | - | 122 | - | 3,935 |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ |
| 3,813 | - | 122 | - | 3,935 |
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========== |
2b. Archbishops’ Council
GROUP & CHARITY
| Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Endowment | Total funds | Total funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Stpend support | - | - | 1,112 | - | 1,112 | 1,152 | |
| Strategic change grant | - | - | 382 | - | 382 | 345 | |
| Resource churches grant | - | - | 317 | - | 317 | 517 | |
| IWC grant | - | - | 250 | - | 250 | 333 | |
| Racial equity grant | - | - | 127 | - | 127 | 8 | |
| Youth worker grant | - | - | 76 | - | 76 | 43 | |
| Legal cost contributon | - | - | 55 | - | 55 | 49 | |
| Parish improvement grant | - | - | 50 | - | 50 | 85 | |
| Carbon ofset grant | - | - | 48 | - | 48 | 17 | |
| Ordinand grant | - | - | 26 | - | 26 | 17 | |
| Fresh Expressions grant | - | - | 5 | - | 5 | - | |
| Curate grant | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 23 | |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||
| - | - | 2,449 | - | 2,449 | 2,589 | ||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========== | ========= |
Page 37
2024 funds are all Restricted Funds
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
2c. Other Donations
| GROUP & CHARITY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | Total funds | |
| General Designated |
Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £’000 £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Donatons |
5 4 | 5 | - | 14 | 30 |
| ======= ======== | ======== | ======= | ======== | ========= |
GROUP & CHARITY - 2024
| Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Designated | Funds | Funds | 2024 | |
| £’000 £’000 | £’000 |
£’000 |
£’000 |
|
| Donatons | 21 5 | 4 | - | 30 |
| ======= ======== | ======== | ======== | ========= |
| 3. | CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GROUP & CHARITY | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowmen | Total funds | Total funds | ||
| t | |||||||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Parochial fees | 168 | - | - | - | 168 | 199 | |
| Benefact Trust grant | 86 | - | - | - | 86 | 102 | |
| ANIC grant | - | - | - | - | - | 49 |
|
| Historic England grant | - | - | 50 | - | 50 | 18 | |
| Course fees and recharges | 5 | - | - | - | 5 | 5 | |
| Other | 40 | - | 3 | - | 43 | 30 | |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||
| 299 | - | 53 | - | 352 | 403 | ||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========== | ========== | ||
| GROUP & CHARITY - | |||||||
| 2024 | |||||||
| Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | ||||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2024 | |||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |||
| Parochial fees | 199 | - | - | - | 199 | ||
| Benefact Trust grant | 102 | - | - | - | 102 | ||
| ANIC grant | - | - | 49 | - | 49 | ||
| Historic England grant | - | - | 18 | - | 18 | ||
| Course fees and other | 5 | - | - | - | 5 | ||
| Other | 28 | - | 2 | - | 30 | ||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ |
Page 38
334 - 69 - 403 ========= ======== ========= ========= ==========
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
________________
4. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
| GROUP |
Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds |
Total funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | funds | funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Housing rental income | 572 | - | - | - | 572 | 564 |
| Property grants | 5 | - | - | - | 5 | 6 |
| Building insurance claim | 11 | - | - | - | 11 | 7 |
| Tenant income | 40 | - | - | - | 40 | - |
| Café, Lodge, NSCP and | ||||||
| conference income | 324 | - | - | 755 | 1,079 | 1,287 |
| ----------------- | ----------------- | -------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------ | |
| 952 | - | - | 755 | 1,707 | 1,864 | |
| ======== | ======== | ======= | ====== | ====== | ====== |
| GROUP - 2024 |
Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | funds | funds | 2024 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Housing rental income | 564 | - | - | - | 564 | |
| Property grants | 6 | - | - | - | 6 | |
| Building insurance claim | 7 | - | - | - | 7 | |
| Tenant income | 19 | - | - | - | 19 | |
| Bookshop, Lodge, NSCP, | ||||||
| café and conference | ||||||
| income | 474 | - | - | 794 | 1,268 | |
| ----------------- | ----------------- | -------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ||
| 1,070 | - | - | 794 | 1,864 | ||
| ======== | ======== | ======= | ====== | ====== |
| CHARITY |
Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | Total funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | funds | funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Housing rental income | 572 | - | - | - | 572 | 564 |
| Property grants | 5 | - | - | - | 5 | 6 |
| Building insurance claim | 11 | - | - | - | 11 | 7 |
| Bookshop and tenant | ||||||
| income | 46 | - | - | - | 46 | 126 |
| ----------------- | ----------------- | -------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------ | |
| 634 | - | - | - | 634 | 703 | |
| ======== | ======== | ======= | ====== | ====== | ====== |
2024 funds are all Unrestricted General funds
Page 39
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
| 5. | INVESTMENT INCOME | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GROUP | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowmen | Total funds | Total funds | ||
| t | |||||||
| General | Designate | funds | funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| d | |||||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Glebe rents | - | - | - | 668 | 668 | 552 | |
| Listed securites | - | - | - | 64 | 64 | 59 | |
| Unlisted securites | - | 9 | 75 | 43 | 127 | 89 | |
| SMH rental income | 78 | - | - | - | 78 | 73 | |
| Bank and other interest | 76 | 2 | - | - | 78 | 134 | |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||
| 154 | 11 | 75 | 775 | 1,015 | 907 | ||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========== | ========= | ||
| GROUP - 2024 | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | |||
| General | Designated | funds | funds | 2024 | |||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |||
| Glebe rents | - | - | - | 552 | 552 | ||
| Listed securites | - | - | - | 59 | 59 | ||
| Unlisted securites | 1 | 9 | 79 | - | 89 | ||
| SMH rental income | 73 | - | - | - | 73 | ||
| Bank and other interest | 132 | 2 | - | - | 134 | ||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | |||
| 206 | 11 | 79 | 611 | 907 | |||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========== | |||
| CHARITY | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | Total funds | ||
| General | Designated | funds | funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Glebe rents | - | - | - | 718 | 718 | 602 | |
| Listed securites | - | - | - | 64 | 64 | 59 | |
| Unlisted securites | - | 9 | 75 | 43 | 127 | 89 | |
| SMH rental income | 78 | - | - | - | 78 | 73 | |
| Bank and other interest | 76 | 2 | - | - | 78 | 134 | |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||
| 154 | 11 | 75 | 825 | 1,065 | 957 | ||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========== | ========= | ||
| CHARITY - 2024 | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | |||
| General | Designated | funds | funds | 2024 | |||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |||
| Glebe rents | - | - | - | 602 | 602 | ||
| Listed securites | - | - | - | 59 | 59 | ||
| Page 40 |
Unlisted securities 1 9 79 - 89 SMH rental income 73 - - - 73 Bank and other 132 2 - - 134 interest --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------206 11 79 661 957 ========= ======== ========= ========= ========== LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
______________
6 OTHER INCOME
.
| GROUP | Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowmen | Total funds | Total funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| t | ||||||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Gain on parsonage sales | - | - | - | 240 | 240 | 238 |
| Gain on DBF property sale | 89 | - | - | - | 89 | 656 |
| DBS Pension surplus | 269 | - | - | - | 269 | 170 |
| Other income | 7 | - | - | - | 7 | 31 |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------- | ------------------ | |
| 365 | - | - | 240 | 605 | 1,095 | |
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========= | ========= | |
| GROUP - 2024 |
Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | |||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | |||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |||
| Gain on parsonage sales | - | - | - | 238 | ||
| Gain on DBF property | 656 | - | - | |||
| sale | ||||||
| DBS Pension surplus | 170 | - | - | |||
| Other income |
23 | - | 8 | - | ||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | |||
| 849 | - | 8 | 238 | |||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= |
| CHARITY |
Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | Total funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Gain on parsonage sales | - | - | - | 240 | 240 | 238 |
| Gain on DBF property | 89 | - | - | - | 89 | 656 |
| sale | ||||||
| DBS Pension surplus | 269 | - | - | - | 269 | 170 |
| Other income | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 20 |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------- | ------------------ | |
| 359 | - | - | 240 | 599 | 1,084 | |
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========= | ========= | |
| CHARITY - 2024 |
Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | ||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Page 41 |
| Gain on parsonage sales | - | - | - | 238 |
238 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gain on DBF property | 656 | - | - | - | 656 |
| sale | |||||
| DBS Pension surplus | 170 | - | - | - |
170 |
| Other income |
12 | - | 8 |
- | 20 |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------- | |
| 838 | - | 8 | 238 | 1,084 | |
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========= |
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
7. FUND RAISING COSTS
| GROUP & CHARITY |
Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | Total funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Glebe agent’s fees | - |
- | - | 43 | 43 | 68 |
| Other Glebe costs | - |
- | - | 108 | 108 | 134 |
| Investment management fees | - | - | - | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | - ------------- | ------------------ | |
| - | - | - | 166 | 166 | 217 | |
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ======== | ========= |
2024 funds are all Endowment Funds
8. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
| GROUP & CHARITY | Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowmen | Total funds | Total funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| t | |||||||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| 8a | Contributons to Archbishops’ | ||||||
| Council | |||||||
| Training for Ministry | 201 | - | - | - | 201 | 196 | |
| Natonal Church | |||||||
| Responsibilites | 149 | - | - | - | 149 | 168 | |
| Retred clergy housing | |||||||
| costs | 87 | - | - | - | 87 | 82 | |
| ------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | -------------- | ||
| 437 | - | - | - | 437 | 446 | ||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | -------------- |
2024 funds are all Unrestricted General Funds
| GROUP & CHARITY | Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowmen | Total funds | Total funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| t | |||||||
| General | Designate | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| d | |||||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| 8b | Resourcing Mission and Ministry | ||||||
| Parish Ministry stpends |
Page 42
| and Natonal Insurance (NI) | 3,281 | - | - | - | 3,281 | 3,385 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clergy pension contributons | 548 | - | - | - | 548 | 649 |
| Non parochial salaries, NI and | 334 | - | - | - | 334 | 345 |
| pension | ||||||
| Housing costs | 1,297 | - | - | - | 1,297 | 1,416 |
| Ordinand, removal & resetlement | ||||||
| grants | 122 | - | - | - | 122 | 119 |
| Interregna costs | 65 | - | - | - | 65 | 52 |
| Resource church costs | 184 | - | - | - | 184 | 86 |
| Other expenses | 73 | - | - | - | 73 | 246 |
| Support costs | 847 | - | - | - | 847 | 838 |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | |
| 6,751 | - | - | - | 6,751 | 7,136 | |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ |
2024 funds are all Unrestricted General Funds
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
________________
8. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES (continued)
| GROUP & CHARITY | Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowmen | Total funds | Total funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| t | |||||||
| General | Designate | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| d | |||||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| 8c | Support for Mission and Ministry | ||||||
| Salaries, NI and pension costs | 1,358 | - | - | - | 1,358 | 1,383 | |
| Leicester Cathedral grant | 100 | - | - | - | 100 | - | |
| Growth fund grants | 14 | - | - | - | 14 | 21 | |
| Other grants | 94 | 18 | 26 | - | 138 | 211 | |
| Closed churches costs | - | - | 27 | - | 27 | 36 | |
| Other costs | 493 | 3 | 12 | - | 508 | 490 | |
| Support costs | 308 | - | - | - | 308 | 285 | |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||
| 2,367 | 21 | 65 | - | 2,453 | 2,426 | ||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||
| GROUP & CHARITY - 2024 | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total Funds | |||
| General | Designated | funds | funds | 2024 | |||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |||
| Support for Mission and Ministry | |||||||
| Salaries, NI and pension costs | 1,383 | - | - | - | 1,383 | ||
| Leicester Cathedral grant | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Growth fund grants | 21 | - | - | - | 21 | ||
| Other grants | 150 | 17 | 44 | - | 211 | ||
| Closed churches costs | - | - | 36 | - | 36 | ||
| Other costs | 482 | 1 | 7 | - | 490 | ||
| Support costs | 285 | - | - | - | 285 | ||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | |||
| 2,321 | 18 | 77 | - | 2,426 | |||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ |
Unrestricted funds Restricted Endowmen Total funds Total funds
GROUP & CHARITY
Page 43
| t | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Designate | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| d | |||||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| 8d | Support for educaton | ||||||
| Support for church schools | 150 | - | - | - | 150 | 162 | |
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | -------------- | ||
| 150 | - | - | - | 150 | 162 | ||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | --------------- | ||
| 2024 funds are all Unrestricted General Funds | |||||||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||
| TOTAL GROUP & CHARITY | 9,705 | 21 | 65 | - | 9,791 | 10,170 | |
| CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES 2025 | |||||||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ======== | ========= | ||
| TOTAL GROUP & CHARITY | 10,065 | 18 | 87 | - | 10,170 | ||
| CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES 2024 | |||||||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ======== |
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
_______________
9. OTHER EXPENDITURE
| GROUP | Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment Total fundsTotal funds | Endowment Total fundsTotal funds | Endowment Total fundsTotal funds | Endowment Total fundsTotal funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | **£’000 ** | £’000 | ||
| Café, Lodge, NSCP and | |||||||
| conference costs | 423 | - | - | 555 | 978 | 1,165 | |
| SMH costs | 469 | - | - | - |
469 | 718 | |
| ----------------- | ----------------- | -------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ------------- | ||
| 892 | - | - | 555 | 1,447 | 1,883 | ||
| ======== | ======== | ======= | ====== | ====== | ====== | ||
| GROUP - 2024 | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total funds | |||
| General Designated | Funds | Funds | 2024 | ||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |||
| Café, Lodge, NSCP and | |||||||
| conference costs | 477 | - | - | 688 | 1,165 | ||
| SMH costs | 718 | - | - | - |
718 | ||
| ----------------- | ----------------- | -------------- | ------------- | ------------- | |||
| 1,195 | - | - | 688 | 1,883 | |||
| ======== | ======== | ======= | ====== | ====== |
GROUP - 2024 Unrestricted funds Restricted Endowment Total funds
| CHARITY | Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total fundsTotal funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 2024 | |
| £’000 £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 £’000 | |
| SMH costs | 469 | - | - |
- 469 |
| Page 44 |
718
---------------- ------------------- ------------------------------------ ----------------469 - - - 469 718 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========
========
CHARITY - 2024 Unrestricted funds Restricted Endowment Total funds General Designated Funds Funds 2024 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 SMH costs 718 - - - 718 ---------------- ------------------- ------------------------------------ -- --------------718 - - - 718 ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
___________
10. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE INCLUDING ALLOCATION OF SUPPORT COSTS
| GROUP | Actvites | Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| undertaken | funding of | Support |
Total costs | Total costs | |
| directly | actvites | costs | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Raising funds | 166 | - | - | 166 | 217 |
| Charitable actvites: | |||||
| Contributons to Archbishops’ Council | - | 437 | - | 437 | 446 |
| Resourcing Mission and Ministry | 5,655 | 249 | 847 | 6,751 | 7,136 |
| Supportng Mission and Ministry | 1,892 | 253 | 308 | 2,453 | 2,427 |
| Support for educaton | 150 | - | - | 150 | 162 |
| Other expenditure | 1,447 | - | - | 1,447 | 1,882 |
| ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | |
| 9,310 | 939 | 1,155 | 11,404 | 12,270 | |
| ========= | ========= | ========== | ========= | ========= |
| GROUP - 2024 | Actvites | Grant | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| undertaken | funding of | Support | Total costs | |
| directly | actvites | costs | 2024 | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Raising funds | 217 | - | - | 217 |
| Charitable actvites: | ||||
| Contributons to Archbishops’ Council | - | 446 | - | 446 |
| Resourcing Mission and Ministry | 6,047 | 251 | 838 | 7,136 |
Page 45
| Supportng Mission and Ministry | 1,909 | 233 | 285 | 2,427 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support for educaton | 162 | - | - | 162 |
| Other expenditure | 1,882 | - | - | 1,882 |
| -------------------- | ------------------- | ------------------ | --------------------- | |
| 10,217 | 930 | 1,123 | 12,270 | |
| ========== | ========= | ========== | ========== |
CHARITY
| CHARITY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actvites | Grant | |||||
| undertaken | funding of | Support | Total costs | Total costs | ||
| directly | actvites | costs | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Raising funds | 166 | - | - | 166 | 217 | |
| Charitable actvites: | ||||||
| Contributons to Archbishops’ | - | 437 | - | 437 | 446 | |
| Council | ||||||
| Resourcing Mission and Ministry | 5,655 | 249 | 847 | 6,751 | 7,136 | |
| Supportng Mission and Ministry | 1,892 | 253 | 308 | 2,453 | 2,426 | |
| Support for educaton | 150 | - | - | 150 | 162 | |
| Other expenditure | 469 | - | - | 469 | 718 | |
| ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||
| 8,332 | 939 | 1,155 | 10,426 | 11,105 | ||
| ========= | ========= | ========== | ========= | ========= |
Page 46
LECESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
| CHARITY - 2024 | CHARITY - 2024 | Actvites | Grant | Grant | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undertaken | Funding of | Support | Total costs | ||||||
| Directly | Actvites | Costs | 2024 | ||||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||||||
| Raising funds | 217 | - | - | 217 | |||||
| Charitable actvites: | |||||||||
| Contributons to Archbishops’ Council | - | 446 | - | 446 | |||||
| Resourcing Mission and Ministry | 6,047 | 251 | 838 | 7,136 | |||||
| Supportng Mission and Ministry | 1,909 | 232 | 285 | 2,426 | |||||
| Support for educaton | 162 | - | - | 162 | |||||
| Other expenditure | 718 | - | - | 718 | |||||
| ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||||
| 9,053 | 929 | 1,123 | 11,105 | ||||||
| ========= | ========= | ========== | ========= | ||||||
| 11. | ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS | ||||||||
| GROUP & CHARITY |
Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowment | Total | funds | Total funds | |||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||||
| Central administraton | 956 | - | - | - | 956 | 933 | |||
| Governance: | |||||||||
| Registrar and Chancellor | 149 | - | - | - | 149 | 135 |
|||
| Audit costs: | |||||||||
| - External audit | 37 | - | - | - | 37 | 34 | |||
| - Other services | 2 | - | - | - | 2 | 3 | |||
| Synodical costs | 11 | - | - | - | 11 | 18 | |||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ---------------- | ||||
| 1,155 | - | - | - | 1,155 | 1,123 | ||||
| ========= | ======== | ======== | ========= | ========= | ======== |
2024 funds are all Unrestricted General Funds. External audit costs in 2025 were £36,840 (2024: £34,500). Other auditor service costs in 2025 were £2,488 (2024: £2,808). These amounts are inclusive of VAT.
| 12. | ANALYSIS OF GRANTS MADE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| GROUP & CHARITY | Number | Individuals | Insttutons | Total | Total | |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |||
| From unrestricted funds for natonal | ||||||
| Church responsibilites: | ||||||
| Contributons to Archbishops’ Council | 1 | - | 438 | 438 | 446 | |
| ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||
| From unrestricted funds: | ||||||
| Diocesan Board of Educaton support grants | 1 | - | 150 | 150 | 162 | |
| University Chaplaincies | 3 | - | 125 | 125 | 121 | |
| Leicester Cathedral | 1 | - | 100 | 100 | - | |
| Maintenance grants to Ordinands | 8 | 94 | - | 94 | 102 | |
| St Philip’s Centre | 1 | - | 55 | 55 | 53 | |
| Resetlement and frst appointment grants | 20 | 52 | - | 52 | 42 | |
| Archdeacon and retred clergy fund grants | 193 | 18 | - | 18 | 16 | |
| Ecumenical support (Churches Together) | 1 | - | 5 | 5 | 10 | |
| Reader and Clergy training grants | 22 | 3 | - | 3 | 7 | |
| Internatonal Links | - | - | - | - | 2 | |
| ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||
| Total from unrestricted funds | 250 | 167 | 435 | 602 | 526 | |
| ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ |
Page 47
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
________________
12. ANALYSIS OF GRANTS MADE (continued)
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GROUP & CHARITY | Number | Individuals | Insttutons | Total | Total |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| From restricted or endowment funds for | |||||
| various purposes: | |||||
| Parish improvement grants | 22 | - | 109 | 109 | 85 |
| Strategic Development Fund grants | 4 | - | 38 | 38 | 92 |
| Ordinand training grants | 8 | 24 | - | 24 | 40 |
| Growth fund grants | 3 | - | 14 | 14 | 21 |
| ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | |
| Total from restricted or endowment funds | 37 | 24 | 161 | 185 | 238 |
| ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | |
| Total from all funds | 287 | 191 | 596 | 787 | 1,210 |
| ======== | ======= | ======== | ======= | ======= |
13. STAFF COSTS
| STAFF COSTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £’000 | £’000 | |
| Employee costs during the year were as follows: | ||
| Wages and salaries | 2,089 | 2,162 |
| Natonal Insurance contributons | 230 | 207 |
| Pension costs | 205 | 206 |
| ----------------- | ----------------- | |
| 2,524 | 2,575 | |
| ========= | ======== | |
| The average number of persons employed by LDBF during the year: | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Number | Number | |
| SMH Conference Centre | 22.1 | 26.8 |
| Administraton and fnancial management | 9.0 | 8.3 |
| Property | 2.8 | 3.0 |
| Discipleship, Ministry & Stewardship | 25.6 | 25.6 |
| Safeguarding & inclusion | 5.1 | 5.0 |
| Parochial lay staf | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| ----------------- | ------------------ | |
| 69.6 | 73.7 | |
| ========= | ========= | |
| based on full-tme equivalents: | Number | Number |
| SMH Conference Centre | 16.0 | 20.2 |
| Administraton and fnancial management | 7.5 | 7.1 |
| Property | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| Discipleship & Ministry, Stewardship | 25.5 | 25.2 |
| Safeguarding and inclusion | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Parochial lay staf | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| ------------------ | ----------------- | |
| 55.5 | 58.8 | |
| ========= | ======== |
Page 48
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
________________
13. STAFF COSTS (continued)
The numbers of staff (including diocesan appointed clergy) whose emoluments amounted to more than £60,000 (including benefits in kind but excluding pension contributions and NIC’s) were as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Number | ||
| £60,001 | - £70,000 | 4 | 3 |
| £70,001 | - £80,000 | 2 | 2 |
| £80,001 | - £90,000 | 1 | 1 |
| £90,001 | - £100,000 | 1 | 1 |
| ========= | ======= |
Pension payments of £58,467 (2024: £50,741) were made for these employees.
Remuneration of key management personnel
Key management personnel are deemed to be those having authority and responsibility, delegated to them by the Trustees, for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the diocese. During 2025 they were:
| Diocesan Chief Executve | Jonathan Kerry |
|---|---|
| Director of Operatons and Governance | Andrew Brockbank |
| Director of Finance and Property | Simon Wilson |
| Director of Parish Transiton and Ministry Development | Reverend Doctor Stuart Burns |
Remuneration (including NIC’s) and pensions for these 4 employees or office holders amounted to £410,123 (2024: £391,511).
Trustees’ emoluments
No Trustee received remuneration for services as a Trustee. The Trustees received travel and out of pocket expenses, totalling nil (2024: £4,229) in respect of their duties as Trustees.
In addition, Trustees were paid fees totalling £8,172 (2024: £5,488) for Diocesan work.
The following table gives details of the Trustees who were in receipt of a stipend and/or housing provided by the LDBF during the year:
| Stpend | Housing | |
|---|---|---|
| The Venerable RV Worsfold | Yes | Yes |
| The Venerable RJ Trethewey | Yes | Yes |
| The Venerable C Wood | Yes | Yes |
| The Reverend SA Bailey | Yes | Yes |
| The Reverend Dr JK Patel | Yes | Yes |
| The Right Reverend MLV Muthalaly | No | Yes |
The LDBF is responsible for funding, via the Church Commissioners, the stipends of licensed stipendiary clergy in the diocese, other than bishops and cathedral staff. The LDBF is also responsible for the provision of housing for stipendiary clergy in the Diocese but excluding the Diocesan Bishop and cathedral staff.
Page 49
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
________________
The LDBF paid an average of 102 (2024: 114) clergy as office holders holding parochial or non-parochial appointments in the Diocese, and their costs were as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £’000 | £’000 | |
| Stpends and salaries | 3,204 | 3,432 |
| Natonal Insurance contributons | 337 | 307 |
| Pension costs | 604 | 729 |
| Housing allowances | 83 | 105 |
| ----------------- | ------------------ | |
| 4,228 | 4,573 | |
| ======== | ========= |
The annual rate of stipend, funded by the LDBF, paid to the two Archdeacons in 2025 was in the range £40,000 - £45,000 (2024: range £40,000 – £45,000) and other clergy who were Trustees were paid in the range £30,000 - £35,000 (2024: range £30,000 – £35,000).
14. ANALYSIS OF TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS
| ANALYSIS OF TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | Restricted | Endowmen | |||
| t | |||||
| General | Designated | Funds | Funds | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| 2025 | |||||
| Church Commissioners’ and Historic England grant income | 2,472 | - | (2,472) | - | |
| Ephesian parish funds used to fund stpends | 225 | - | (225) | - | |
| Net Glebe rental income used for general purposes | 809 | - | - | (809) | |
| Stpend Glebe Unapplied Total Return transfer | 1,500 | - | - | (1,500) | |
| Growth fund income transfer | 5 | - | (5) | - | |
| Church Extension fund transfer | 2 | (2) | - | - | |
| Ordinand fund transfer | (31) | - | 31 | - | |
| Restricted income used to fund stpends | 234 | - | (234) | - | |
| Restricted income used to fund retred clergy grants | - | 9 | (9) | - | |
| Property fund transfers | 482 | - | (267) | (215) | |
| -------------- | -------------- | ---------------- | -------------- | ||
| 5,698 | 7 | (3,181) | (2,524) | ||
| ======= | ======= | ======== | ======== | ||
| 2024 | |||||
| Church Commissioners’ and Historic England grant income | 2,639 | - | (2,639) | - | |
| Net Glebe rental income used for general purposes | 501 | - | - | (501) | |
| Stpend Glebe Unapplied Total Return transfer | 1,500 | - | - | (1,500) | |
| General fund transfer to Growth fund | 4 | - | (4) | - | |
| Church Extension fund transfer | 2 | (2) | - | - | |
| Ordinand fund transfer | 31 | - | (31) | - | |
| Restricted income used to fund stpends | 190 | - | (190) | - | |
| Restricted income used to fund retred clergy grants | - | 10 | (10) | - | |
| Property fund transfers | 417 | - | (253) | (164) | |
| -------------- | -------------- | ---------------- | -------------- | ||
| 5,284 | 8 | (3,127) | (2,165) | ||
| ======= | ======= | ======== | ======= |
Page 50
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
________________
Church Commissioners’ grant income - Within restricted funds there is income received from The Archbishops’ Council of £1.11m (2024: £1.15m) to fund the payment of stipends, £317k (2024: £517k) to fund the Resource Church project, £250k (2024: £333k) to fund the IWC project, and £381k (2024: £345k) to fund The Strategic Change transition project from unrestricted funds.
Stipends Glebe rental income - This income is rental income from endowment properties. The income is used to fund the payment of stipends from unrestricted funds.
Stipends Glebe Unapplied Total Return transfer – This transfer has been made from the Unapplied Total Return fund and is for the funding of clergy stipends. The Unapplied Total Return Fund is part of the Stipends Glebe endowment fund.
Property fund transfers – The £482k transfer into the general fund relates to £312k (2024: £416k) of funds spent on parsonage property improvements and repairs, £71k on surveyor fees and a £100k transfer in relation to a grant given to Leicester Cathedral for its Revealed build project.
15. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| GROUP | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parsonage | DBF | Other | ||||
| SMH |
houses | propertes | equipment | Total | ||
| £’000 |
£’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Cost or valuaton | ||||||
| At 1 January 2025 | 1,230 | 18,178 | 12,759 | 1,177 | 33,344 | |
| Additons | - | 92 | 84 | 152 | 328 | |
| Revaluaton | 60 | - | - | - | 60 | |
| Disposals | - | (67) | (280) | - | (347) | |
| Transfers | - | (86) | (239) | - | (325) | |
| ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ||
| At 31 December 2025 | 1,290 | 18,117 | 12,324 | 1,329 | 33,060 | |
| ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ||
| Depreciaton | ||||||
| At 1 January 2025 | - | - | 911 | 1,104 | 2,015 | |
| Disposals | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Charge for the year | 31 | - | - | 142 | 173 | |
| Revaluaton | (31) | - | - | - | (31) | |
| ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ||
| At 31 December 2025 | - | - | 911 | 1,246 | 2,157 | |
| ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ||
| Net Book Value | ||||||
| At 31 December 2025 | 1,290 | 18,117 | 11,413 | 83 | 30,903 | |
| ========== | ========== | ========= | ========= | ========= | ||
| At 1 January 2025 | 1,230 | 18,178 | 11,848 | 73 | 31,329 | |
| ========== | ========== | ========= | ========= | ========= |
All of the properties in the Balance Sheet are freehold and are vested in the LDBF.
All properties at 31 December 2025 and 31 December 2024 are valued at cost, apart from St Martins House which has been revalued by Christie & Co., Chartered Surveyors. All property repairs are charged as expenditure.
As at 31 December 2025, St Martins House (SMH) has been valued by Christie & Co., Chartered Surveyors. The property was valued at £2,965,000 (2024: £2,900,000) on an open market basis.
£1,290,000 (2024: £1,230,000) of the SMH value was deemed to represent a fixed asset, the balance of £1,675,000 (2024:
£1,670,000) was deemed to represent a fixed asset investment (see note 16 below). If SMH had not been revalued, the
Page 51
fixed asset element would have been included at its historical cost of £2,760,000 less accumulated depreciation of £648,525.
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
15. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| CHARITY | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parsonage | DBF | Other | ||||||||
| SMH |
houses | propertes | equipment | Total | ||||||
| £’000 |
£’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||||||
| Cost or valuaton | ||||||||||
| At 1 January 2025 | 1,230 | 18,178 | 12,759 | 1,169 | 33,336 | |||||
| Additons | - | 92 | 84 | 149 | 325 | |||||
| Revaluaton | 60 | - | - | - | 60 | |||||
| Disposals | - | (67) | (280) | - | (347) | |||||
| Transfers | - | (86) | (239) | - | (325) | |||||
| ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ||||||
| At 31 December 2025 | 1,290 | 18,117 | 12,324 | 1,318 | 33,049 | |||||
| ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ||||||
| Depreciaton | ||||||||||
| At 1 January 2025 | - | - | 911 | 1,102 | 2,013 | |||||
| Disposals | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Charge for the year | 31 | - | - | 139 | 170 | |||||
| Revaluaton | (31) | - | - | - | (31) | |||||
| ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ||||||
| At 31 December 2025 | - | - | 911 | 1,241 | 2,152 | |||||
| ------------------ | ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ||||||
| Net Book Value | ||||||||||
| At 31 December 2025 | 1,290 | 18,117 | 11,413 | 77 | 30,897 | |||||
| ========== | ========== | ========= | ========= | ========= | ||||||
| At 1 January 2025 | 1,230 | 18,178 | 11,848 | 67 | 31,323 | |||||
| ========== | ========== | ========= | ========= | ========= | ||||||
| FIXED ASSETS INVESTMENTS | ||||||||||
| GROUP & CHARITY | ||||||||||
| At | Change in | At | ||||||||
| 1 January | Market | 31 | December | |||||||
| 2025 | Additons | Transfers | Disposals | Value | 2025 | |||||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |||||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||||||||
| Investment propertes | 3,070 | - | - | - | 5 | 3,075 | ||||
| Investment in subsidiary | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Unlisted investments | 31 | - | (31) | - | - | - | ||||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | |||||
| Total | 3,101 | - | (31) | - | 5 | 3,075 | ||||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | |||||
| Designated funds | ||||||||||
| Unlisted investments | 166 | - | - | - | - | 166 | ||||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | |||||
| Endowment funds | ||||||||||
| Investment propertes | 37,656 | 58 | (5,257) | (1,787) | 4,654 | 35,324 | ||||
| Listed investments | 2,121 | 276 | - | (288) | 179 | 2,288 | ||||
| Unlisted investments | 1,395 | 2,000 | 31 | - | 11 | 3,437 | ||||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | |||||
| 41,172 | 2,334 | (5,226) | (2,075) | 4,844 | 41,049 | |||||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ |
16. FIXED ASSETS INVESTMENTS
Page 52
44,439 2,334 (5,257) (2,075) 4,849 44,290 ========= ======== ======== ======== ======== =========
Total
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
The valuation of investments at 31 December 2025 was carried out by the Board’s Investment Advisors as shown in the Administrative Details on pages 18 and 19.
Included in Endowment Fund investment properties is St Martins Lodge, which is a property purchased during 2015 costing a total of £4,555,349 (including subsequent refurbishment costs). St Martins Lodge has been developed into a high quality, 28 bed overnight accommodation facility. At 31 December 2025, St Martins Lodge was valued by Christie & Co. at £1,895,000 (2024: £2,160,000) on an open market basis.
The unrestricted fund fixed asset investments contain the fixed asset element of St Martins House and the Community House. The Community House was externally valued at £1,350,000 during 2023. At the end of 2025, management have used property valuation indices to revalue the property at £1,400,000. The next formal valuation will be carried out to coincide with other DBF properties in December 2028. Until then, management will continue to use property valuation indices.
The Charity owns 100% of the share capital of St Martins Hospitality Ltd (Company number: 14711191) which was incorporated in England in November 2023. The purpose of the company is to develop commercial income opportunities and income. During 2025, St Martins Hospitality Ltd had turnover of £1.08m (2024: £1.17m), total costs of £1.04m (2024: £1.20m) and a profit before taxation of £36.1k (2024: Loss of £28.2k). As at 31 December 2025, St Martins Hospitality Ltd had net assets of £7.8k (2024: net liabilities of £28.1k).
17. ASSETS HELD FOR RESALE
Assets held for resale comprises one property and eight parcels of Glebe land that were being actively marketed at 31 December 2025 and which are being sold in 2026. The eight parcels of land were held as investment assets, and the other property was held as a fixed asset. On 31 December 2025, the investment assets were revalued to their market value and transferred to current assets.
| 18. | DEBTORS |
GROUP | GROUP | CHARITY | CHARITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Due within one year | |||||
| Trade debtors | 63 | 54 | - | - | |
| Parish contributon | 141 | 135 | 141 | 135 | |
| Loans to parishes | 34 | 24 | 34 | 24 | |
| Amounts owed by related partes | 13 | 34 | 13 | 34 | |
| Other debtors | 192 | 248 | 247 | 313 | |
| Prepayments and accrued income | 518 | 251 | 498 | 240 | |
| ----------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ||
| 961 | 746 | 933 | 746 | ||
| Due afer more than one year | |||||
| Loans to parishes | 30 | 45 | 30 | 45 | |
| Equity loan | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| ----------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ||
| Total debtors | 996 | 796 | 968 | 796 | |
| ========= | ========= | ========= | ========= |
Page 53
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
18. DEBTORS (continued)
| The loans above are represented by: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Due within | Due afer | ||
| GROUP & CHARITY | one year |
one year | Total |
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | |
| Unsecured loans | |||
| Loans to parishes | 34 | 30 | 64 |
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------- | |
| Total unsecured loans | 34 | 30 | 64 |
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------- | |
| Secured loans | |||
| Trustees of Launde Abbey | - | 865 | 865 |
| Provision on Launde Abbey loan | - | (865) | (865) |
| Equity loan | - | 5 | 5 |
| ------------------ | ---------------- | ------------------- | |
| Total secured loans | - |
5 | 5 |
| ------------------ | --------------- | ------------------- | |
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------- | |
| Total loans outstanding | 34 | 35 | 69 |
| ========= | ========= | ========= |
Unsecured loans
The Parish loans are generally for one off cashflow support with varying periods of repayment. The loans attract a commercial rate of interest, currently varying between 3% and 5% per annum.
Secured loans
There is a loan to the Trustees of Launde Abbey for £865,138, which has been fully provided for (which includes accrued interest). On 31 December 2018, an agreement was reached whereby the loan was secured as a first charge against the total value of Launde Abbey. On any disposal of Launde Abbey in its entirety, LDBF would recover the greater of 21.89% of disposal proceeds - based on the valuation of the property at 9 April 2015, being £3,950,000 - or £865,138. In the event of a part disposal, LDBF would receive £865,138 on the first part disposal and then be entitled to 21.89% of total part disposal proceeds where there are future part disposals, where the total of all part disposal proceeds exceeds £865,138. Any excess of funds paid to LDBF over £865,138 is deemed to be a premium on the loan.
LDBF is the Custodian Trustee of Launde Abbey which is the Diocesan retreat house.
| 19. | CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year | GROUP | GROUP | CHARITY | CHARITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Trade creditors | 300 | 228 | 284 | 193 | |
| Taxaton and social security | 106 | 94 | 90 | 78 | |
| Other creditors | 13 | 225 | 13 | 225 | |
| Accruals | 168 | 199 | 55 | 107 | |
| Deferred income | 221 | 313 | 221 | 313 | |
| Amounts owed to related partes | 15 | 5 | 15 | 5 | |
| ----------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ||
| Total | 823 | 1,064 | 678 | 921 |
Page 54
======== ======== ======== ========
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
20. SUMMARY OF GROUP FUND MOVEMENTS
| Balances at | Balances at | Balances at | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Gains and | 31 | December | ||||||
| 2025 |
Income | Expenditure | Transfers |
(Losses) | 2025 | ||||
| £’000 |
£’000 | £’000 | £’000 |
£’000 | £’000 | ||||
| UNRESTRICTED FUNDS | |||||||||
| General Funds | 7,696 | 5,408 | (10,597) | 5,698 | 58 | 8,263 | |||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| Designated funds | |||||||||
| Retred Clergy Fund | 165 | 7 | (16) | 9 | (1) | 164 | |||
| Church Extension Fund | - | 2 | - | (2) | - | - | |||
| Archdeacons’ Discretonary | |||||||||
| Fund | 104 | 6 | (5) | - | 1 | 106 | |||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| Total Designated Funds | 269 | 15 | (21) | 7 | - | 270 | |||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| Total unrestricted funds | 7,965 | 5,423 | (10,618) | 5,705 | 58 | 8,533 | |||
| RESTRICTED FUNDS | |||||||||
| Pastoral Fund | 1,278 | 2 | (27) | (266) | - | 987 | |||
| Church Commissioners’, |
|||||||||
| Historic England grant income | |||||||||
| and Ephesian fund receipts | - | 2 | - | (2,699) | - | - | |||
| Endowment Income Fund | 169 | 75 | (1) | (243) | - | - | |||
| Growth Fund | - | 5 | - | (5) | - | - | |||
| Ordinand Training Fund | (21) | 26 | (37) | 32 | - | - | |||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| Total Restricted Funds | 1,426 | 2 | (65) | (3,181) | - | 987 | |||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| ENDOWMENT FUNDS | |||||||||
| Permanent | |||||||||
| Parsonage Houses | 18,178 | 240 | - | (215) | - | 18,203 | |||
| Expendable | |||||||||
| Stpends Glebe (see note 22) | 50,248 | 1,530 | (721) | (2,309) | 4,821 | 53,569 | |||
| Other Endowment Capital | 1,181 | - | - | - | 15 | 1,196 | |||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| Total Endowment Funds | 69,607 | 1,770 | (721) | (2,524) | 4,836 | 72,968 | |||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | -- --------------- | ||||
| Total funds | 78,998 | 10,000 | (11,404) | - | 4,894 | 82,488 | |||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========= | ========= |
Page 55
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
20. SUMMARY OF GROUP FUND MOVEMENTS (continued) - 2024
| Balances at | Balances at | Balances at | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Gains and | 31 | December | ||||||
| 2024 |
Income | Expenditure | Transfers |
(Losses) | 2024 | ||||
| £’000 |
£’000 | £’000 | £’000 |
£’000 | £’000 | ||||
| UNRESTRICTED FUNDS | |||||||||
| General Funds | 7,900 | 6,293 | (11,260) | 5,284 | (521) | 7,696 | |||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| Designated funds | |||||||||
| Retred Clergy Fund | 156 | 8 | (13) | 9 | 5 | 165 | |||
| Church Extension Fund | - | 2 | - | (2) | - | - | |||
| Archdeacons’ Discretonary | |||||||||
| Fund | 102 | 6 | (5) | 1 | - | 104 | |||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| Total Designated Funds | 258 | 16 | (18) | 8 | 5 | 269 | |||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| Total unrestricted funds | 8,158 | 6,309 | (11,278) | 5,292 | (516) | 7,965 | |||
| RESTRICTED FUNDS | |||||||||
| Pastoral Fund | 1,558 | 9 | (36) | (253) | - | 1,278 | |||
| Church Commissioners’, |
|||||||||
| Historic England and other | |||||||||
| grant income | - | 2 | - | (2,761) | - | - | |||
| Endowment Income Fund | 169 | 79 | (2) | (77) | - | 169 | |||
| Growth Fund | - | 4 | - | (4) | - | - | |||
| Ordinand Training Fund | 42 | 18 | (49) | (32) | - | (21) | |||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| Total Restricted Funds | 1,769 | 2 | (87) | (3,127) | - | 1,426 | |||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| ENDOWMENT FUNDS | |||||||||
| Permanent | |||||||||
| Parsonage Houses | 18,104 | 238 | - | (164) | - | 18,178 | |||
| Expendable | |||||||||
| Stpends Glebe (see note 22) | 50,087 | 1,405 | (905) | (2,001) | 1,662 | 50,248 | |||
| Other Endowment Capital | 1,175 | - | - | - | 6 | 1,181 | |||
| ------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| Total Endowment Funds | 69,366 | 1,643 | (905) | (2,165) | 1,668 | 69,607 | |||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | ||||
| ------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------ | -- --------------- | ||||
| Total funds | 79,293 | 10,823 | (12,270) - |
1,152 | 78,998 | ||||
| ========= | ======== | ========= | ========= | ========= | ========= |
Page 56
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
| 21. | SUMMARY OF ASSETS BY FUND | Fixed assets | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible |
Investments |
Net Assets | Total Assets | ||
| £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | £’000 | ||
| Unrestricted funds – General | 4,938 | 3,075 | 250 | 8,263 | |
| ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ||
| Unrestricted - Designated | |||||
| Retred Clergy / Clergy widows | - | 120 | 44 | 164 | |
| Church Extension Fund | - | - | - | - | |
| Archdeacons’ Discretonary Fund | - | 46 | 60 | 106 | |
| ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ||
| - | 166 | 104 | 270 | ||
| ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ||
| Restricted | |||||
| Pastoral Fund | - | - | 987 | 987 | |
| Church Commissioners’ Fund | - | - | - | - | |
| Endowment Funds: | |||||
| JD Player Memorial Fund | - | - | - | - | |
| Diocesan Growth Fund | - | - | - | - | |
| Ordinand Training Fund | - | - | - | - | |
| ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ||
| - | - | 987 | 987 | ||
| ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | ||
| Endowment | |||||
| Expendable | |||||
| Stpends Glebe Fund (see note 22) | 7,848 | 39,853 | 5,868 | 53,569 | |
| Endowment Capital Funds: | |||||
| Drew Trust Investment Fund | - | 193 | - | 193 | |
| Horwood Robinson Investment Fund | - | 188 | - | 188 | |
| CE Huston Investment Fund | - | 574 | - | 574 | |
| D Huston Investment Fund | - | 140 | - | 140 | |
| Chippington Investment Fund | - | 101 | - | 101 | |
| Permanent | |||||
| Parsonage Houses Fund | 18,117 | - | 86 | 18,203 | |
| ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | - ---------------- | ||
| 25,965 | 41,049 | 5,954 | 72,968 | ||
| ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------- | - | ||
| ------------------- | |||||
| Total funds | 30,903 | 44,290 | 7,295 | 82,488 | |
| ========= | ========= | ========= | ========= |
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
22. ANALYSIS OF STIPENDS GLEBE ENDOWMENT FUND
With effect from 1[st] January 2019, the company adopted a Total Return strategy to its Stipends Glebe fund. An exercise was carried out to determine the Endowment fund value and the unapplied Total Return value applicable to the Stipends Glebe Fund. In this regard, records and information, including those held at our Land Agents Andrew Granger & Co. were used to determine the initial value of the endowment, Subsequently, the official Retail Price Index (“RPI”) was used to obtain the value of the original endowment as at 1[st] January 2019; The value calculated was £29,048,439. The difference between this value and the balance sheet value, being £46,395,636, at that date was deemed to be the unapplied total return available for transfer to general funds, i.e. £17,347,197.
During 2025, there were net income and investment gains in the period of £5,630,649 (2024: £2,162,707). £1,297,342 (2024: £979,105) was transferred back to the endowment capital fund as recognition of the increase in value of the endowment as measured by CPI over 2025 being 3.32%. In addition, there were transfers out of Unapplied Return to the General Fund totalling £2,309,301 (2024: £2,000,722) which was used to fund stipends. The balance as at 31 December 2025 of Unapplied Return was £13,195,807 (2024: £11,171,801).
| Endowment: | Unapplied Total |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stpends Glebe | Return | ||
| £'000 | £'000 |
£'000 | |
| As at 1 January 2025 | 39,077 | 11,171 |
50,248 |
| - ------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------- | |
| Movements in the reportng period | |||
| Investment income: Glebe rents and | |||
| dividends | - | 1,530 |
1,530 |
| Investment returns: Realised and | |||
| unrealised gains / (losses) on shares and | |||
| the Glebe portolio | - | 4,821 |
4,821 |
| Less: Investment management costs | - | (721) | (721) |
| - ------------------- |
------------------- |
------------------ | |
| Total movements in the reportng year | - | 5,630 | 5,630 |
| Unapplied Total Return allocated in | - |
(2,309) | (2,309) |
| Income in the year | |||
| Allocaton to capital | 1,297 | (1,297) | - |
| - ------------------- |
------------------ |
------------------- | |
| Net movements in the reportng year | 1,297 | 2,024 | 3,321 |
| - ------------------- |
------------------- | ------------------- | |
| As at 31 December 2025 | 40,374 | 13,195 | 53,569 |
| ========== | ========== |
========= |
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LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
23. DESCRIPTION OF FUNDS
GENERAL FUNDS
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Directors in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
DESIGNATED FUNDS
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Directors for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes below.
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes below.
ENDOWMENT FUNDS Endowment funds are funds held on trust to be retained for the Charity as capital funds. Where the whole of the fund must be permanently maintained it is known as permanent endowment. Where there is a power of discretion to convert endowed funds into income, the fund is classed as expendable endowment.
Designated funds
The Retired Clergy Fund represents funds set aside for the benefit of retired clergy and their spouses, including those widowed, divorced or separated.
The Church Extension Fund represents funds put aside over a number of years by the Board to give loans to Parochial and District Church Councils to help with extensions, improvements and repairs to church buildings. The Archdeacons Discretionary Fund is used by the Archdeacons to pay grants to needy clergy and their families within the Diocese.
Restricted funds
The Pastoral Fund is a capital and income fund where both may be expended. It may be used for a variety of purposes except for employment costs. It is the Board’s policy to use these funds primarily for the purchase of, and improvement (including repairs) to, parsonage houses.
Prior to 2007 the balance included funds of £281,989 held by the Church Commissioners from the sale of parsonage houses which could not be released for other uses until such time as new pastoral schemes for the parishes involved had become operative and the appropriate PCC consents to the funds being released. In 2007 these funds were released to the Diocese but had to be ring-fenced for the same reason. £286,530 including accumulated interest was received by the Diocese, a small amount of which was immediately expendable, but the remainder placed in a separate fund in relation to one parish. At 31 December 2025 this fund stood at £313,487 (2024: £313,428) and is included in the Pastoral Fund balance.
Restricted Income from the Church Commissioners is received from them to support Stipends and Clergy Pension Costs. Income is transferred to the General Fund to be applied against payment of such costs.
Endowment Income Funds represent accumulated income and income arising from endowment funds that has not yet been expended.
The Diocesan Growth Fund was formerly known as the Church Commissioners’ Mission Fund and represents additional funds given to the Board by the Church Commissioners that have arisen as a result of better returns on their investment assets.
The Ordinand Training Fund provides discretionary training grants to Ordinands.
Endowment funds
The Stipends Glebe Fund represents the value of property and investments held under the Endowments and Glebe Measure 1976, invested to produce income to be applied for the augmentation of stipends. Endowment Capital Funds are funds, the majority of which are, for the augmentation of stipends. The Parsonage Houses Fund represents the deemed value of the parsonage houses calculated as set out in note 1c
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to these financial statements.
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
24. PENSIONS
The LDBF participates in two defined pension schemes administered by the Church of England Pensions Board, which holds the assets of the schemes separately from those of the LDBF and the other participating employers. One of these is the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme (“CEFPS”) for stipendiary clergy. The other is the Church Workers Pension Fund (“CWPF”) for lay staff. The Church Workers Pension Fund has a section known as the Defined Benefits Scheme, a deferred annuity section known as Pension Builder Classic and a cash balance section known as Pension Builder 2014. There are no active members in the LDBF Defined Benefit Scheme section.
Church of England Funded Pension Scheme
LDBF participates in the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme for stipendiary clergy, a defined benefit pension scheme. This scheme is administered by the Church of England Pensions Board, which holds the assets of the scheme separately from those of the Responsible Bodies.
Each participating Responsible Body in the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme pays contributions at a common contribution applied to pensionable stipends.
At the end of the year, LDBF was paying contributions for 99 members (2024: 109) of the scheme out of a total membership of approximately 8,500 active members.
The scheme is considered to be a multi-employer scheme as described in Section 28 of FRS 102. It is not possible to attribute the Scheme’s assets and liabilities to each specific Responsible Body, and this means that contributions are accounted for as if the Scheme were a defined contribution scheme. The pension costs charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year are contributions payable towards benefits and expenses accrued in that year, which were £604,849 (2024: £729,284), plus any contributions in respect of any Scheme deficit. The 2024 valuation showed the Scheme to be fully funded. The deficit contributions paid in 2025 were nil (2024: nil).
A valuation of the Scheme is carried out once every three years. The most recent scheme valuation completed was carried out at 31 December 2024. The 2024 valuation revealed a surplus of £560m based on assets of £2,570m and a funding target of £2,010m, assessed using the following assumptions:
-
An average discount rate of 6.0%;
-
RPI inflation of 3.4% p.a. (and pension increases consistent with this);
-
CPIH inflation in line with RPI less 0.7% pre 2030 moving to RPI with no adjustment from 2030 onwards;
-
Increase in pensionable stipends in line with CPIH;
-
Mortality in accordance with 90% of the S4NA_L tables, with allowance for improvements in mortality rates from 2017 in line with the CMI 2023 extended model, with a long term annual rate of improvement of 1.5%, a smoothing parameter of 7, an initial addition to mortality improvements of 0.5% pa, and an allowance for 2020 and 2021 data of 20% (i.e. w = 20%).
The 2024 valuation reflects the benefit improvements that the General Synod agreed in principle in July 2025 (and confirmed in February 2026).
Section 28.11A of FRS 102 requires agreed deficit recovery payments to be recognised as a liability. However, as there were no deficit recovery payments from 1 January 2023 onwards, the balance sheet liability as at 31 December 2024 and 31 December 2025 is nil. The movement in the balance sheet liability over 2024 and 2025 is set out in the table below.
| 2025 |
2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £’000 |
£’000 | |
| Balance sheet liability at 1 January | - | - |
| Defcit contributons paid | - | - |
| Interest cost (recognised in the SOFA) | - | - |
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Remaining change to the balance sheet liability (recognised in SOFA)
- - ----------------- ----------------- - - ======== ========
Balance sheet liability at 31 December
The remaining change to the balance sheet liability comprises changes in the agreed deficit recovery plan and
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
24. PENSIONS (continued)
Church of England Funded Pension Scheme (continued)
changes in discount rates and inflation assumptions between year ends.
The legal structure of the Scheme is such that if another employer fails, LDBF may become responsible for paying a share of that employer’s pension liabilities.
Church Workers Pension Fund – Defined Benefits Scheme
The Defined Benefits Scheme (“DBS”) section of the CWPF provides benefits for lay staff based on final pensionable salaries. LDBF has no active members in this section.
For funding purposes, the DBS is divided into sub-pools in respect of each participating employer as well as a further sub-pool, known as the Life Risk Pool. The Life Risk Pool exists to share certain risks between employers, including those relating to mortality and post-retirement investment returns.
The division of the DBS into sub-pools is notional and is for the purpose of calculating ongoing contributions. They do not alter the fact that the assets of the DBS are held as a single trust fund out of which all the benefits are to be provided. From time to time, a notional premium is transferred from employers’ sub-pools to the Life Risk Pool, and all pensions and death benefits are paid from the Life Risk Pool.
The Scheme is a multi-employer scheme as described in Section 28 of FRS 102. It is not possible to attribute the Scheme’s assets and liabilities to specific employers, since each employer, through the Life Risk Pool, is exposed to actuarial risks associated with the current and former employees of other entities participating in the DBS.
This means that contributions are accounted for as if the Scheme were a defined contribution scheme. As from 1 January 2024, LDBF had no active members in this section of the CWPF. There were nil pension costs for 2025 (2024: nil).
If, following an actuarial valuation of the Life Risk Pool there is a surplus or deficit in the pool, further transfers may be made from the Life Risk Pool to the employers’ sub-pools, or vice versa. The amounts to be transferred (and their allocation between the sub-pools) will be settled by the Church of England Pensions Board on the advice of the Actuary.
A valuation of the Scheme is carried out once every three years. The most recent was carried out at 31 December 2022 and showed a surplus of £73.6m. The next actuarial valuation is due on 31 December 2025.
Since 31 December 2023, The Church of England Pensions Board has entered into a full buy-in agreement with Aviva to insure all accrued benefits within the Defined Benefit Scheme of the Church Workers’ Pension Fund.
The Church of England Pensions Board agreed that deficit contributions should cease with effect from 31 December 2022 for employers whose pools were estimated to be materially in surplus. As a result, there is no obligation recognised as a liability within these financial statements at 31 December 2024 or 31 December 2025.
LDBF has ceased contributions to the Defined Benefit section of the CWPF as from 1 January 2024. Active members of the Defined Benefit section as at 31 December 2023 were transferred to the Pension Builder section of the CWPF.
The movement in the provision is set out below;
| he movement in the provision is set out below; | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
2024 | |
| £’000 |
£’000 | |
| Balance sheet liability at 1 January | - | - |
| Defcit contributons paid | - | - |
| Interest cost (recognised in the SOFA) | - | - |
| Remaining change to the balance sheet liability (recognised in the SOFA) | - | - |
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----------------- ----------------- - - ======== ========
Balance sheet liability at 31 December
The remaining change to the balance sheet liability comprises changes in the agreed recovery plan and changes in discount rates between year ends.
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
24. PENSIONS (continued)
Church Workers Pension Fund – Defined Benefits Scheme (continued)
The balance sheet liability represents the present value of the deficit contributions agreed at 31 December 2025 and has been valued using the following assumptions set by reference to the duration of the deficit recovery payments;
| December |
December | December | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Discount rate (p.a.) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
The legal structure of the Scheme is such that if another employer fails, LDBF may become responsible for paying a share of that employer’s pension liabilities.
Church Workers Pension Fund – Pension Builder Scheme
LDBF participates in the Pension Builder Scheme section of the Church Workers Pension Fund for lay staff. The Scheme is administered by the Church of England Pensions Board, which holds the assets of the schemes separately from those of LDBF and the other participating employers.
The Pension Builder Scheme of the Church Workers Pension Fund is made up of two sections - a deferred annuity section known as Pension Builder Classic and a cash balance section known as Pension Builder 2014 .
Both sections of the Pension Builder Scheme are classed as defined benefit schemes.
Pension Builder Classic provides a pension accumulated from contributions paid and converted into a deferred annuity during employment based on terms set and reviewed by the Church of England Pensions Board from time to time. Discretionary increases may also be added, depending on investment returns and other factors. LDBF has no active members in this section.
Pension Builder 2014 is a cash balance scheme that provides a lump sum which members use to provide benefits at retirement. Pension contributions are recorded in an account for each member. Discretionary bonuses may be added before retirement depending on investment returns and other factors. The account, plus any bonuses declared, is payable, unreduced, from age 65.
There is no subdivision of assets between employers in either section of the Pension Builder Scheme.
The Scheme is considered to be a multi-employer scheme, as described in section 28 of FRS 102 as it is not possible to attribute the Pension Builder Scheme’s assets and liabilities to specific employers. This means that contributions are accounted for as if the Scheme were a defined contribution scheme. The pension costs charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year are the contributions payable and were £204,585 (2024: £206,240).
A valuation of the Pension Builder Scheme is carried out once every three years. The most recent scheme valuation completed was carried out at 31 December 2022. The next valuation is due at 31 December 2025.
For the Pension Builder Classic section, the 2022 valuation revealed a deficit of £34.8m on the ongoing assumptions used. At the most recent annual review, effective 1 January 2026, the Pensions Board chose to grant a discretionary bonus of 10.0% to both pensions not yet in payment and pensions in payment in respect of service prior to April 1997 so that the pension increase was also 10.0% (when usually it would be calculated based on inflation up to an annual cap of 5.0% for pensions in payment in respect of service provided prior to April 2006 and 2.5% for pensions in payment in respect of service post April 2006). This followed improvements in the funding position over 2025. There is no requirement for deficit payments at the current time.
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For the Pension Builder 2014 section, the 2022 valuation revealed a surplus of £8.5m on the ongoing assumptions used. There is no requirement for deficit payments at the current time. The next valuation is being carried out as at 31 December 2025.
The legal structure of the Scheme is such that if another employer fails, LDBF may become responsible for paying a share of that employer’s pension liabilities.
LEICESTER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE (THE) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2025
25. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
As noted in the Trustees’ Report, the Board is related to the Leicester Diocesan Board of Education (LDBE), the University Chaplaincies at the three universities in the Diocese of Leicester, Leicester Cathedral Chapter (LCC), Launde Abbey Trustees (LAT), St Philips Centre (SPC), Bishop’s Lodge (BL), Coventry Diocesan Board of Finance (The) (CDBF), Together Leicester (ToL), and Leicester City of Sanctuary (LCOS). Details of grants made to these bodies are given in note 12 of the financial statements.
During 2025, LDBF recharged LCC £57,403 (2024: £45,241), of which nil (2024: nil) were salaries or a stipend. During 2025, LDBF recharged LDBE £14,402 (2024: £12,087), for rent and service charges. Conversely, LDBE recharged LDBF £2,341 (2024: £111,549). In addition, LDBF paid a grant of £150,000 (2024: £50,000) to LDBE.
During 2025, LAT recharged LDBF £20,454 (2024: £22,010). During 2025, LDBF recharged CDBF £64,916 (2024: £61,397), of which £52,045 (2024: £49,440) were salaries. Conversely, CDBF recharged £24,356 (2024: £20,840) for internet costs. During 2025, LDBF recharged BL £11,475 (2024: £843).
During 2025, SPC recharged LDBF £49,851 (2024: £47,192), of which £49,851 (2024: £47,192) were salary or pension costs.
During 2025, LDBF recharged ToL £22,596 (2024: £32,464), of which £22,596 (2024: £32,464) were salary costs. During 2025, LDBF recharged LCOS £72,453 (2024: £49,684), of which £72,453 (2024: £49,684) were salary costs.
There were no other related party transactions in the current or previous accounting period other than small payments made to Trustees as described in note 13.
At the end of the year, the following amounts, all of which are included in debtors or creditors as appropriate, were receivable / (payable) by the Board in respect of related parties:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £'000 | £'000 | |
| Amounts receivable / (payable) by the Board | ||
| Coventry Diocesan Board of Finance (The) | (2) | 5 |
| Leicester Cathedral Chapter | 1 | 1 |
| Launde Abbey Trustees | (3) | 23 |
| St Philips Centre | (4) | (5) |
| Bishop’s Lodge | - | 1 |
| Leicester City of Sanctuary | 7 | 4 |
26. FUNDS HELD AS CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE
The LDBF acts as Diocesan Authority or Custodian Trustee for many trust funds by virtue of the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 and the Incumbents and Churchwardens (Trusts) Measure 1964, where the managing trustees are parochial church councils and others. Assets held in this way are not aggregated in these financial statements as the LDBF does not control them. The financial assets held in this way may be summarised as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £'000 | £’000 | |
| CBF Church of England Deposit Fund | 1,223 | 1,193 |
| CBF Church of England Investment Fund - income shares | 1,063 | 1,110 |
| Other common investment fund holdings | 474 | 522 |
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Direct holdings in UK equities CBF Church of England Fixed Interest Securities Fund (income shares) Cash at bank Total assets held as Custodian Trustee
| 230 | 195 |
|---|---|
| 54 | 53 |
| 20 | 34 |
| ------------------ | |
| ------------------ | |
| 3,064 | 3,107 |
| ========= | ========= |
Page 64