The Mothers’ Union Diocese of York Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023 ## **THE MOTHERS' UNION - DIOCESE OF YORK** ## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** The trustees present their report and the independently examined financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** **Registered charity name** The Mothers' Union - Diocese of York Charity **Registration number** 249998 **Principal office** 1 Bankside, Yarm, North Yorkshire, TS15 9RH **THE TRUSTEES** Mrs H Castle Mrs A Dewing Mrs B Ford Mrs J Local Mrs B Richardson Mrs C Wilson Mrs G Woodhall **Independent examiner** Mr B Hopper Foxville Garth Ends Lane Hemingbrough Selby North Yorkshire YO8 6QW ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** - ❖ The Mothers' Union is an Anglican organisation which promotes the well-being of families worldwide. The charity is governed by a constitution updated in 2022. - ❖ The Trustees control and manage the affairs of the charity in the Diocese. Trustees are elected for a three year period initially and may stand for re-election for a further three years. In cases of unfilled positions, the existing board may appoint a suitable person to fill the role. - ❖ The Trustee Board is supported by a team of 3 Chaplains, one from each Archdeaconry. - ❖ Safeguarding – the Diocese operates in accordance with the Mothers’ Union national guidelines. - ❖ Data Protection – data is stored and processed in line with national GDPR rules. The Trustees' Annual Report was approved on 18 May 2024 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: Mrs H Castle, Diocesan President Trustee Page 1 The Mothers’ Union Diocese of York Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023 ## **Achievements and Performance** The theme for the 2021-2024 Triennium continued, ‘Reimagining - Transformation Now’. - ❖ Underpinning all our work is our objective to maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service. - In spring and autumn 2023 we enjoyed two successful Diocesan retreats. - Copies of the Metamorphosis Bitesize course were distributed to all branches and the material has proved popular for use at meetings. - Members continued to participate in annual acts of witness which draw attention to and raise the profile of Mothers’ Union objectives. In terms of worship, these include the Wave of Prayer acknowledging our work in link Dioceses across the world and the World Day of Prayer. - ❖ A great deal of our work focusses on our objective to help those whose family life has met with adversity. - This was the second year usage of our new AFIA caravan. We offered holidays to 20 families in need, of which 2 bookings came via liaison with outside agencies. - Members responded with very positive fund-raising for Make a Mothers’ Day, Summer of Hope and the Christmas special appeals. Donations were also made to all the ongoing national funds. Locally members continue to support community projects such as - women’s refuges, hospital initiatives, refugees. - Public acts to mark the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence were successfully conducted in 2023 and drew good response from the public. A weekday silence in York Minster received support from members and visitors. - The new initiative was Rise-Up. This focusses on Domestic Abuse throughout the year. Branches have used the national resources available to raise awareness and publicise support mechanisms in the church networks. - ❖ Via normal Church life, we have continued to engage with work in support of our objective to encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children. - Member involvement continued in Messy Church, Open the Book and toddler group activities. - Branch support for baptism families continued, for example with a gift of a knitted bear, and mark the anniversaries of the baptisms over a period of four years with cards. - Branch support for local clergy for couples getting married. - ❖ The Trustee board has worked on the 3 aims set last year by - continuing with retreat and AFIA projects, and promoting the Rise Up project, - simplifying administration tasks, including establishing a start to online banking, - designing a new website. ## **Plans for Future Periods.** - ❖ 2024 sees the final year of this Triennium. An emphasis is needed on recruiting officers at all levels for 2025-2027. - ❖ Production of an updated Handbook of Guidelines for Branches. - ❖ Production of an updated Prayer Diary which will be of particular use to members who cannot attend branch meetings. - ❖ Continuing and expanding liaison with outside agencies to provide families in need for our AFIA caravan holidays. Page 2 The Mothers, Union Diocese of York Trustees, Annual Report for 2023 Accounts for 2023 Thè Mtsthèr#' unk>ll. D￿￿￿OrY￿r* Charily N￿nbel 249998 IHAIITY COMIAISSION FOR ENGiAND ANO WAL CC16a To Section A Receipt5 and payment5 Rèceipts tDihe ￿are51 thewaie51 York tkne5aTr Funds AF Paienknng RelreatS Mue Sales Sale olotheroood5 DgnalioDs from branches Mue DI￿den4 GfflAid S,657 205 9,435 9.047 315 315 12,520 6.1TT 2,955 714 1,061 453 259 120 12,520 6.1TI 2,955 714 940 1,043 453 259 120 Rgyal Bank ofscouand Inlerest Investmentlfft￿reSi 145 CBF deposilfvnd retained interest CBF shortduration bondfund CBF Inveslmenlfvnd 985 88 686 985 88 686 1,192 Diocesan Subscripbons Mary 5utnnerHouBe IMSHlfvTrds Subscnpbonsfor central r&9as Literature & D¥vÈiopmeni cNerse3s general 32,200 17,409 17,409 1,541 1,078 1,098 150 25Q 713 678 562 140 58 2,065 1,078 1,092 150 Z50 BTitain & Ireland Special Appeals 250 1,313 so 1,313 150 SummerofHope Chrtglmas 2023 Torglrecelp 37,619 3J,660 71 J78 65,693 Payments 3.350 3,350 YorkDK￿san Funds waoès sècrétsty saiary&trèagurèrTèètO JUly2022 AFIA expenses FIA wagès- caravan deaner Indoormernberprayer group 7.267 5.759 489 563 600 563 600 12,211 2,488 12211 2,488 7.709 Pur¢has9 of non-mve 900O$forresw• Expense5 TruS￿e3 1,565 555 795 963 1.TlS 1,565 555 795 963 1,716 770 Membersupport AdminlOffi¢e ExaminerFee 2.603 1.740 ary SumnerHOUSÈ IMSHltunds 17.427 17.427 13,883 18.220 10.273 713 678 $62 Mue purthase ordeis Qversees Literature & Development er5eas-.geneial 13.883 1,541 1,078 1,092 150 250 1,078 150 250 MSH oeneial SpeckAIAppeal$ 58 2.065 Make a Mothers Day Summer ol HOPO Chnslmas 2023 250 250 10.000 150 47.586 25.3 72.9 59.046 Y.96B 8.3 1.B38 6￿41 Transfers betweenfunds C&ghfund• ￿tytarend 19 59.246 49.25 19 3.513 11.858 68.765 67.1Z7 Gash ttjisyearen Page 3 The Mothers, Union Diocese of York Trustees, Annual Report for 2023 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted fund TOTAL lunds Cash funds Royal B8nk olScoll8nd Yorkshire Buildlno 8oclety surplus I￿ndS hÈid in Dranthos CBF deposilfund 6,970 4.846 8.755 8.755 16.539 30.217 16,539 25,750 4.467 49.259 17.660 67.127 Unre•trKtsd lund• Re•tricted lund8 40 weaw¢51 £ other rnoTretsry a5set$ lone4we51 £ C￿￿￿* valuè loptionall InvestmeTrlas5etS Fu•d to ¥&ichasset bpla•95 Cost l(ytia•alJ C8F short duration bond fund 4,083 25.098 CBF Irbvestrnenlbjnd valu Assets reMiTred lor the chartty's llse klue sales stock Fund to ¥hioh 4ss•t b•longs unreslrided- general restnded-AFiA Cosl Iop¢ion4lJ (optlDnalJ 2.120 20.012 car8V3n 25.016 FurA to ￿•bIllI¥•I4￿•S AMouN¢ th• I￿￿10n￿lI Vh•w d loptiDn411 OctoDer countil meetino hall hiro Bourne Leisure unrestrided- membersupport restrided-AF 120 541 Swned by lon behomof all the irnstee8 P￿t Dale Df opprovol CaideSWiknn IOY2CE4 Ncasl 0512024 Page 4 The Mothers’ Union Diocese of York Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023 ## **Notes to the Accounts** ## **1 General Information** The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is 1 Bankside, Yarm, North Yorkshire, TS15 9RH. ## **2 Basis of Accounting** The accounting is on a Receipts and Payments (R&P) basis. Previous reports have been produced by a commercial firm on an Accrual/Prepayments basis. The Trustees and membership decided in 2022 that the increasing cost of this was not an effective use of the Charity’s money & appointed a new examiner. Given the level of income, we have taken advantage of the regulation that allows us to produce R&P accounts. We believe the R&P accounts are easier for members in general to follow and they significantly reduce our professional fees. This has involved restating last year’s figures to the best of our understanding. ## **3 Restricted Funds activity** |**Fund**
**01/01/2023**
**in**
**out**
AFIA
3,260.00 10,112.05 1,479.00
Parenting
1,193.00
315.00
Indoor
5,066.74
600.00|**31/12/2023**
11,893.05
1,508.00
4,466.74
17,867.79|**held in**|YBS|RBS|investment| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||8,755.00|3,138.05
1,508.00|4,466.74| ||17,867.79||8,755.00|4,646.05|4,466.74| ## **4 Unrestricted Funds activity** These include monies held in branches which are examined locally and reported to the Diocese annually. Expenses incurred by Trustees on behalf of The Mothers’ Union are reimbursed but no Trustee receives remuneration for services. ## **5 Investments** Three CBF funds are held. The values of these are shown at market value on 31 December 2023. The Deposit Fund dividends are retained and reinvested in that fund. The dividends for the Short Term duration bond fund and Investment fund are paid into the Royal Bank of Scotland account and reported as Payments. ## **6 Mothers’ Union Enterprises Ltd** Stocks are accounted for at the point of purchase and sale. The value of stock remaining in hand with each of our two sales representatives is reported as an asset. ## **7 Caravan** This asset is subject to depreciation using the straight line principle at 10% per year. The current caravan is now 2 years old. ## **8 Reserves Policy** A policy has been established whereby surplus funds not otherwise committed should be the equivalent of one year’s expenditure. It is considered that 12 months resources will give us sufficient funds to continue current activities in the event of a significant reduction in funding. This policy is reviewed annually by the Trustee Board to ensure forward commitments. In 2023 the council of members approved a spend of £20,000 from excess reserves. £10,000 was given to the national MU Christmas 2023 appeal under the Big Give Double-Up scheme so had a worth of £20,000. The Page 5 The Mothers’ Union Diocese of York Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023 other £10,000 will be donated during 2024 to the national MU Make a Mothers’ Day and Summer of Hope appeals. ## **Independent Examiners Report to Trustees of The Mothers’ Union – Diocese of York Year Ended 31 December 2023** I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The Mothers’ Union – Diocese of York for the year ended 31st December 2023 ## **Respective responsibilities of Members of the Council and Examiner** As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 (5)(b) of the Act. ## **Independent Examiner’s statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: - accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or - the financial statements do not accord with those records; or - the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than the any requirement that the accounts give a “true and fair view” which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. B Hopper 10th May 2024 Page 6