The Mothers’ Union Diocese of York Trustees’ Annual Report for 2025 ## **THE MOTHERS' UNION - DIOCESE OF YORK** ## **TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** The trustees present their report and the independently examined financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. ## **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 24 May 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: Mrs B M Ford, Diocesan Trustee Page 1 The Mothers’ Union Diocese of York Trustees’ Annual Report for 2025 ## **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 2024 we enjoyed two successful Diocesan retreats. - Members continued locally 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. - On a Diocesan level, York Minster included MU in a regular public service as an act of thanksgiving for the Triennium. - ❖ A great deal of our work focusses on our objective to help those whose family life has met with adversity. - This was the third year usage of our new AFIA caravan. We offered holidays to 16 families in need, of which 4 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 2024 and drew good response from the public. A weekday silence in York Minster again received support from members and visitors. - Branches have made good use of the national resources available for the Rise-Up campaign focussing on Domestic Abuse throughout the year. - ❖ 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 aims set last year by: - success in recruiting Trustees for 2025-2027, - continuing with retreat and AFIA projects, and promoting the Rise Up project, - further simplifying administration paperwork for branches, - promoting the website. ## **Plans for Future Periods** - ❖ 2024 sees the final year of the Triennium. The theme for 2025-2027 is Join Us and Join In. Review of membership and promotion ideas. - ❖ Work on improving clergy liaison using clergy packs. - ❖ Completion of the updated Handbook of Guidelines for Branches and updated Diocesan Prayer Diary. - ❖ Continuing to provide families in need for our AFIA caravan holidays. - ❖ Broadening the use of Rise Up resources in public places eg community centres. - ❖ Expanding use of and contribution to our website. - ❖ Planning for the MU 150[th] anniversary in 2026. Page 2 The Mothers’ Union Diocese of York Trustees’ Annual Report for 2025 ## **Accounts for 2024** **----- Start of picture text -----**
The Mothers' Union - Diocese of York Charity Number
249998
CC16a
To
01/01/2024 31/12/2024
Section A Receipts and payments Notes
Unrestricted
Restricted funds Total funds Last year
Receipts funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
York Diocesan Funds
AFIA 8,743 8,743 10,112
Parenting - - - 315
Retreats 10,123 10,123 12,520
MUe Sales 7,218 7,218 6,177
Sale of other goods - - - 2,955
Donations from branches 271 693 964 714 3
MUe Dividend 1,003 1,003 1,061
Gift Aid 1,983 1,983 453
Yorkshire Building Society interest 794 794 259
Royal Bank of Scotland interest 268 268 120
Investment Income
CBF deposit fund retained interest 1,684 1,684 985
CBF short duration bond fund interest 106 106 88
CBF short duration bond sale of shares 4,230 4,230 -
CBF investment fund interest 697 697 686
Diocesan Subscriptions 5,488 5,488 11,601
Mary Sumner House (MSH) funds
Subscriptions for central 18,013 18,013 17,409
Overseas: Literature & Development 415 415 1,541
Overseas:general 1,846 1,846 1,078
Relief 1,251 1,251 1,092
Britain & Ireland 95 95 150
MSH general 160 160 250
Special Appeals
Make a Mother's Day 1,007 1,007 250
Summer of Hope 2,531 2,531 1,313
Christmas 2024 2,316 2,316 150
Total receipts 33,865 37,070 70,935 71,279
Payments
net loss in funds held in branch accounts 270 270 3,350 6
York Diocesan Funds
Misc 1,312 1,312
Diocesan President retirement gift 693 693 - 3
AFIA: expenses 12,620 12,620 916
AFIA: wages - caravan cleaner 117 117 563
Indoor member prayer group 200 200 600
Retreats 12,336 12,336 12,211
Purchase of non-MUe goods for resale - - - 2,488 6
Expenses
Trustees 1,155 1,155 1,565
Diocesan Chaplain & reps 489 489 555
Member Support 1,542 1,542 795
Admin/Office 502 502 963
Examiner Fee 450 450 1,776
Mary Sumner House (MSH) funds
Subscriptions to central 17,890 17,890 17,427
MUe purchase orders 4,026 4,026 13,883
Overseas: Literature & Development 415 415 1,541
Overseas:general 1,846 1,846 1,078
Relief 1,251 1,251 1,092
Britain & Ireland 95 95 150
MSH general 160 160 250
Special Appeals
Make a Mother's Day 6,007 6,007 250 8
Summer of Hope 7,531 7,531 1,313 8
Christmas 2024 6,316 6,316 10,150 8
Total payments 22,082 55,141 77,223 72,916
Net of receipts/(payments) 11,783 - 18,071 - 6,288 - 1,638
Transfers between funds - 13,877 13,877
Cash funds last year end 49,259 17,868 67,127 2
Cash funds this year end 47,165 13,674 60,839
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page 3 The Mothers, Union Diocese of York Trustees, Annual Report for 2025 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted frjnds Re5trictedfunds TOT Cash fund5 Royal Bank d ScollarKJ Yorkshire Bukjiw s￿ety 5uffjlusfunds In brarKh CBF deposrtfur ton?ar￿1 6,725 1,887 8,612 2.548 16.270 33.409 60,839 16270 24.170 47,166 9.239 13,674 Unr•5tricted fijnds R•5trictedlunds oth2rmonetary a552ls tonparest toTheareytE FU*d itsvthKhass¢tbe￿s Cinertva Inveslmentassets CBF 1rNeS￿r￿nt lund 25.672 £iirèMYahiè A880ts re￿TrOd lortho chwlty's OV￿ u¥8 r4lUe sa￿$ #ock unre5tncled- Fneral restncted.AF 2.163 17.510 Ca￿an 25.016 ntduÈ ua￿11￿@S Date of Slomd by lon behaf of alltho trustses I PMI Nane Barbara Ford 2410￿025 Carole Wilson 2410￿025 Page 4 The Mothers’ Union Diocese of York Trustees’ Annual Report for 2025 ## **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. ## **3 Restricted Funds activity** A specific collection was made for a retirement gift for the outgoing Diocesan President. |**Fund**
AFIA
Parenting
Indoor|**01/01/2024**
**in**
**out**
11,893.05
8,743.12
12,736.82
1,508.00
4,466.74
200.00
17,867.79|**31/12/2024**
7,899.35
1,508.00
4,266.74
13,674.09|**held in**|YBS|RBS|investment| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||||2,000.00
548.00|3,000.00
200.00|2,899.35
1,508.00
3,518.74| ||17,867.79|13,674.09||2,548.00|3,200.00|7,926.09| ## **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 were held. The values of these are shown at market value on 31 December 2024. The Deposit Fund dividends are retained and reinvested in that fund. The dividends for the Short Term Duration bond fund and Investment fund were paid into the Royal Bank of Scotland account and reported as Payments. The Short Term Duration bond fund was cashed in during 2024 to assist cash flow in 2025. ## **6 Mothers’ Union Enterprises Ltd** Stocks are accounted for at the point of purchase and sale. The value of stock remaining in hand is recorded as an asset. Some orders since June have not yet been paid for. Mary Sumner House has been made aware of the need for this invoice information. No non-MUe goods for resale purchased this year. Sales receipts includes petty cash held £170; amount accounted in cash held in branches. ## **7 Caravan** This asset is subject to depreciation using the straight line principle at 10% per year. The current caravan is now 3 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. The £10,000 excess reserves agreed in 2023 was donated during 2024 to the national MU Make a Mothers’ Day and Summer of Hope appeals. In 2024 the council of members approved a spend of £4,000 from excess reserves. This was given to the national MU Christmas 2024 appeal under the Big Give Double-Up scheme so had a worth of £8,000. This was augmented by branch and individual donations. Page 5 The Mothers’ Union Diocese of York Trustees’ Annual Report for 2025 ## **Independent Examiners Report to Trustees of The Mothers’ Union – Diocese of York Year Ended 31 December 2024** 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 2024 ## **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 April 2025 Page 6