Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester
Registered Charity Number: 250038
Trustees’ Annual Report & Consolidated Accounts
For the year ended 31 December 2022
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
Legal and administrative information
Registered Charity Name: The Mothers’ Union (Diocese of Leicester Branch)
Charity Number: 250038 Address: St Martins House 7 Peacock Lane Leicester LE1 5PZ Trustees: Margaret Rouse Life Vice-President Yvonne Smith Life Vice-President Mary Clarkson Ruth Fryer Janice Lunn Eileen Payne Cynthia Thomson Faith Adviser Susan Wilson
The Trustees are constituted as follows:
Diocesan President elected by Diocesan Council Up to two Life Vice-Presidents chosen by them Seven Trustees elected by Diocesan Council Diocesan Chaplain appointed by Diocesan President and Diocesan Bishop One Deanery Leader elected by Deanery Leaders Administrator: Kate Cooper (from 25/4/22) Honorary Treasurer Susan Wilson Bankers: CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ
2
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
Independent Examiner: Robert P. Appleby, MA, FCA Rutland House, 23–25 Friar Lane, Leicester, LE1 5QQ
3
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
Trustees’ Annual Report 1 January to 31 December 2022
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester is a charity federated to similar charities bearing the same name, and with the same Aim and Objects and sharing the same ethos and direction as the central charity. It is governed by its own constitution (last revised February 2011). The elected Board of Trustees makes major decisions and carries out or enables practical projects. The elected Chair of Trustees (Diocesan President) attends Provincial Conference and reports back to the Diocese. One part-time administrator is employed for 9 hours per week. All trading is channelled through Mothers’ Union Enterprises Ltd.
The aim of Mothers’ Union is to advance the Christian religion in the sphere of marriage and family life and this is focused on five objectives: to promote and support marriage; to encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children; to maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service; to promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children; to help those whose family life has met with adversity.
There are 700 Mothers’ Union members in Leicester Diocese. Most are members of branches in Anglican churches throughout the Diocese; others (Diocesan Members) pay their subscription and receive mailings direct from our Leicester office and have the option of meeting in groups but without the administration involved in a branch. Two opportunities for Diocesan Members to gather together were arranged during 2022.
Members are involved in local projects and ministry as well as supporting the work of the central Mothers' Union charity. Involvement includes prayer, volunteer time, donating goods or money. All our events and projects welcome involvement from members and non-members alike. We try to encourage new membership wherever possible and keep our local work under review to try to be as effective as possible.
In 2022, we were, once again, able to organise and fund a holiday on the east coast for 10 Leicestershire families who had either never had a holiday or not had one for several years. Our Away From It All Holiday Project provides a fullyfunded holiday in self-catering caravans at Haven Golden Sands Holiday Park in Mablethorpe. This holiday park has free activities and amusements for families, as well as being close to the beach. We also provide the return transport and a generous grocery pack for each family. Members of the organising committee accompany the families to provide friendly support throughout the holiday.
4
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
During the week, the committee hired a local hall and organised games and bingo, followed by tea and cakes, as a treat. The holiday provides families with a welcome break away from their daily pressures. All the families had a great time and thank-yous were endless, which is what makes it all worthwhile for the organising group. Families are referred to us by Mothers’ Union members, clergy, health visitors, teachers, social workers or other agencies. Mothers’ Union members, with occasional support from local charities, raise the money needed to provide the holiday and their funds are certainly put to good use.
Members continued to support local initiatives to help homeless, vulnerable and elderly people in their immediate area throughout the year. We kept them regularly informed of current needs as they collected items such as women’s underwear, hats, gloves, scarves and toiletries. In 2022 we started to support Baby Basics by collecting toiletries and other items for families who are in need of help. One of our members now volunteers for the charity.
Our Supporting Homeless in Leicestershire project fund enabled us to respond to many people who needed support during 2022, which was a difficult year. The requests were mainly for basic items, such as towels, bedding and saucepans. The need for items for babies also increased, and this included nappies, toiletries, clothing, bedding and baby food and milk. Basic food items were also requested, including by people in low paid jobs and struggling to pay bills. Mothers’ Union was able to make a difference.
A trustee represents Mothers’ Union on the Diocesan Panel for Social Responsibility, and another member is involved in the Diocesan response to modern-day slavery.
We continue to maintain a prayer chain to support anyone in need. We keep contact with members who are housebound by sending greetings cards and letters. As well as information by email, we continue to produce our Diocesan newspaper three times per year; this is a very important method of communication as a good number of members do not have internet access, and many of those who do still appreciate a hard copy document.
We continue to work hard to establish contact with our five Mothers’ Union prayer partners in Kenya, Nigeria (2), Solomon Islands and Zambia. We continue to pray for them all, encouraging all members to particularly remember them at the end of June and beginning of July each year when our group appears in the Mothers’ Union Wave of Prayer schedule. We also hosted a visit from the
5
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
Diocesan President of Kiteto, Tanzania, where she and her husband explained their latest Mothers’ Union project to combat Female Genital Mutilation in their diocese to 50 local members.
We continued to support the work of the central organisation by selling Mothers’ Union cards and gifts among our members and friends. Our Diocesan MU Enterprises Representative orders in bulk, but individuals can also put in orders. We received 10% commission on all our purchases.
We promoted events organised by central Mothers’ Union throughout the year. Online Midday Prayers Monday to Saturday each week, led by central staff or members, continued to be a great success, with members participating from all over the world. Some members took the opportunity to visit Frogmore Gardens in Windsor, where ticket proceeds were donated to the central Mothers’ Union charity. Three members attended the Annual Gathering in Belfast in September. We encouraged members to pray and raise awareness during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence in November/December 2022. We also encouraged members to support central fundraising appeals if they were able. Central Mothers’ Union have continued to provide resources for members on their website.
We appointed a new part-time Administrator in April 2022. She has a desk in St Martins House, Leicester, where she generally works one five-hour day each week. Her remaining hours are flexible and worked at home.
Our assets at 31 December 2022 were £3,224 more than at the start of the year, most of the increase being seen in the General Fund. Income in 2022 was similar to 2021, but expenditure was lower. We are grateful to all our members for their financial support. The Trustees have examined the current level of unrestricted reserves, £26,242, and assess this to be satisfactory to secure the charity’s immediate future. Falling membership remains a concern, even though some expenditure falls with it.
Assessment and mitigation of risk is undertaken by the Finance and Administration Working Group and reported to the Trustees. The Trustees are paying due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit as we seek to meet our charitable objectives. We follow the Leicester Diocese Safeguarding Policy with the additional request that members make themselves aware of who the Safeguarding Coordinator is in the parish where they are working.
6
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
Prepared by Susan Wilson, Diocesan Treasurer.
The report was approved by the Trustees on .
On behalf of the Trustees
7
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
Consolidated Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022
| General Fund |
Central Funds |
Local Funds |
Total 2022 |
Total 2021 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Income | 11,108 | 17,455 | 6,668 | 35,231 | 34,986 | |
| Expenditure | 8,192 | 17,455 | 6,340 | 31,987 | 44,029 | |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | 2,916 | - | 328 | 3,244 | (9,043) | |
| Balances brought forward 1 January | 23,326 | - | 21,182 | 44,508 | 53,551 | |
| Balances carried forward 31 December | 26,242 | - | 21,510 | 47,752 | 44,508 |
| Income | Note | General Fund |
Central Funds |
Local Funds |
Total 2022 |
Total 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Subscriptions | 3,445 | 13,835 | 17,280 | 19,612 | ||
| Subscriptions to be allocated when balance received | 239 | 239 | ||||
| Insurance | 133 | 133 | 168 | |||
| Diocesan General Fund | 3,340 | 3,340 | 2,009 | |||
| Gift Aid Income Tax recovered | 2,390 | 2,390 | 2,271 | |||
| Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme | 25 | 25 | - | |||
| Legacy | 100 | 100 | - | |||
| MU Enterprises sales commission | 1 | 418 | 418 | 556 | ||
| Recycling | 757 | 757 | 926 | |||
| Investment income | 161 | 36 | 197 | 25 | ||
| Travelgrant from central MU | 50 | 50 | ||||
| Diocesan events | - | 119 | ||||
| Collection for retiringDiocesan President | - | 421 | ||||
| FGM Tanzania | 50 | 50 | ||||
| Other income | 50 | 50 | - | |||
| Overseas Development Fund | 60 | 60 | 939 | |||
| Relief Fund | 85 | 85 | 807 | |||
| Britain & Ireland Development Fund | 656 | 656 | 1,208 | |||
| MSH Summer of Hope | - | 588 | ||||
| MSH MU on the Move | - | 30 | ||||
| MSH General Fund | 2,819 | 2,819 | 1,501 | |||
| AwayFrom It All HolidayProject | 2 | 4,966 | 4,966 | 3,001 | ||
| SupportingHomeless in Leicestershire | 1,017 | 1,017 | 740 | |||
| MemoryGiving | - | 65 | ||||
| Difference in funds held bybranches | 3 | 599 | 599 | - | ||
| Total income | 11,108 | 17,455 | 6,668 | 35,231 | 34,986 |
8
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
| Expenditure | Note | General Fund |
Central Funds |
Local Funds |
Total 2022 |
Total 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| MSH subscriptions | 13,835 | 13,835 | 15,682 | |||
| Staff salary | 3,208 | 3,208 | 4,446 | |||
| Stationery& equipment | 85 | 85 | 18 | |||
| Postage | 341 | 341 | 211 | |||
| Photocopying | 72 | 72 | - | |||
| Bank charges | 81 | 81 | 96 | |||
| Meetingroom hire & Zoom | 355 | 355 | 221 | |||
| MUspaper | 3,434 | 3,434 | 3,211 | |||
| Officials' expenses | 225 | 225 | 256 | |||
| Training | 150 | 150 | 258 | |||
| Diocesan events | - | - | 289 | |||
| MSHpublications | 91 | 91 | 34 | |||
| Collection for retiringDiocesan President | - | - | 421 | |||
| CanterburyProvince | 100 | 100 | ||||
| Other expenditure | 50 | 50 | - | |||
| Overseas Development Fund | 60 | 60 | 939 | |||
| Relief Fund | 85 | 85 | 807 | |||
| Britain & Ireland Development Fund | 656 | 656 | 1,208 | |||
| MSH Summer of Hope Appeal | - | 588 | ||||
| MU on the Move | - | 30 | ||||
| MSH General Fund | 2,819 | 2,819 | 1,501 | |||
| Difference in MU Literature assets | 1 | 91 | 91 | 188 | ||
| AwayFrom It All HolidayProject | 2 | 4,637 | 4,637 | 9,630 | ||
| SupportingHomeless in Leicestershire | 1,017 | 1,017 | 740 | |||
| Lutterworth & Bitteswell(MemoryGiving) | - | 321 | ||||
| Difference in SupportingHomeless in Leics funds | 595 | 595 | 999 | |||
| Difference in funds held bybranches | 3 | - | 1,935 | |||
| Total expenditure | 8,192 | 17,455 | 6,340 | 31,987 | 44,029 | |
| Away From It All Holiday Project: | ||||||
| 2021 | ||||||
| £ | £ | |||||
| Income: | ||||||
| Balance at 1st January | 9,326 | 15,950 | ||||
| Donations | 4,966 | 3,001 | ||||
| Interest on CBF account | 36 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 14,328 | 18,956 | ||||
| Expenditure | 4,637 | 9,630 | ||||
| Balance at 31 December | 9,691 | 9,326 | ||||
| Expenditure breakdown: | ||||||
| Accommodation | 2,837 | 7,780 | ||||
| Coaches | 1,300 | 1,850 | ||||
| Food | 500 | - | ||||
| Total | 4,637 | 9,630 |
9
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
| Supporting Homeless in Leicestershire account: | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ||||||
| £ | £ | |||||
| Income: | ||||||
| Balance 1 January | 6,443 | 7,442 | ||||
| Donations | 1,017 | 740 | ||||
| Total | 7,460 | 8,182 | ||||
| Expenditure | 1,612 | 1,739 | ||||
| Balance 31 December | 5,848 | 6,443 | ||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||
| Note | General Fund |
Central Funds |
Local Funds |
Total 2022 |
Total 2021 |
|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| CAF Bank Cash Account | 3,049 | 3,940 | 5,352 | 12,341 | 9,407 | |
| CAF Bank Gold Account | 3,457 | 3,457 | 3,444 | |||
| CBF Deposit Account | 19,736 | 19,736 | 19,736 | |||
| Nat West MU Literature account | 553 | 553 | 476 | |||
| MU Literature cash in hand | 36 | 36 | 64 | |||
| MU Literature debtors | 9 | 9 | 18 | |||
| MU Literature stock | 1 | 766 | 766 | 897 | ||
| CBF AwayFrom It All HolidayProject account | 5,405 | 5,405 | 5,405 | |||
| SupportingHomeless in Leicestershire account | 5,848 | 5,848 | 6,442 | |||
| Funds held bybranches | 3 | 4,558 | 4,558 | 3,959 | ||
| Creditors | 4 | (3,940) | (1,017) | (4,957) | (5,343) | |
| Total Current Assets | 26,242 | - | 21,510 | 47,752 | 44,505 |
10
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
Notes to the accounts
1. MU Literature
Stock is bought at retail price from Mothers' Union Enterprises Ltd. £134 of dated or damaged stock was written off during 2022.
2. Away From It All Holiday Project Fund balance at 31 December 2022 is £9,691.
3. Funds held by branches
At 31 December 2022 Mothers' Union Diocese of Leicester had 10 deaneries and 30 branches. The total assets held at 31 December 2022 by the 1 deanery and 21 branches which submitted returns was £4,432.
| 4.Creditors at 31/12/22 | General | Central | Local | Total | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Late subscriptions 2021/2022 | 320 | 320 | ||||||
| Overseas Development Fund | 60 | 60 | ||||||
| Relief Fund | 85 | 85 | ||||||
| Britain & Ireland Development Fund | 656 | 656 | ||||||
| MSH General Fund | 2,819 | 2,819 | ||||||
| SupportingHomeless in Leicestershire | 1,017 | 1,017 | ||||||
| - | 3,940 | 1,017 | 4,957 | |||||
| This is the financialposition of Mothers' Union Diocese of Leicester as at | 31 | December | 2022. | |||||
The accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis under section 133 of the Charities Act 2011. Prepared by Susan Wilson, Diocesan Treasurer The accounts were approved by the Trustees on . On behalf of the Trustees
11
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
Independent Examiner’s Report on the accounts
Independent Examiner’s Report to the trustees and members of Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester on accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022, set out on pages 8 to 11 of this document
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145 of the Charities Act), and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention
-
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
have not been met; or
12
Mothers’ Union Diocese of Leicester, Charity Number 250038
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Robert P. Appleby, MA, FCA Rutland House 23-25 Friar Lane Leicester LE1 5QQ
31[st] October 2023
13