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← The Mothers' Union (Diocese Of Bath And Wells Branch)

2022-12-31-accounts

- Mothers’ Union Chapel Wells Cathedral

Annual Report 2022 Registered Charity No. 250180

2022 Annual Report presented 2023

707 We Have Members in the diocese

494 Branch members Found in 28 Branches 213 Diocesan Members either as Lone Members or part of a Group

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Vision

Our vision is of a world where God’s love is shown through loving, respectful and flourishing relationships. This is not a vague hope, but a goal we actively pursue by praying, campaigning and enabling.

Mission

We aim to show our Christian faith by the transformation of communities worldwide. We can do this through supporting strong relationships within the family and promoting reconciliation at all levels.

Our Aims and Objectives are:

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2022 Annual Report presented 2023

Maintaining a Worldwide Fellowship of Christians United in Prayer, Worship & Service How we work towards achieving the following Objective

Cathedral Prayers :

This is a ½ hour Service held in Wells Cathedral on the 3rd Thursday morning of each month. Each month the service is written and led by a different Branch/Deanery, following the guidelines written by the former Faith Trustee, to fit in with the Annual Theme produced by the Worldwide Trustee Board. It includes the Wave of Prayer, when every MU member prays for the members and work in 4 or 5 designated dioceses across the world, following the format found in the central Prayer Diary.

Wave of Prayer Service:

This service, written by our former Faith Trustee, our MU Chaplain and the Diocesan President, is used by branches. Our Link Dioceses Project Officer forwards the Service to our - Link Dioceses Umuahia and Ijebu in Nigeria: Shinyanga, in Tanzania: False Bay in South Africa: and Vellore Church of South India. This year, 2022, we were able to hold 3 services in Wells Cathedral in The Mothers’ Union Chapel. We were delighted to see on Social Media, that members from our Link Diocese, in particular by South Africa & India, were using the form of service sent to them.

Branch/Group Prayers:

In several Parishes where there is no longer a Branch, Diocesan Members often meet for a Coffee, Natter & Prayer. Bath District have continued their weekly email which includ- ed a weekly prayer sheet, specific prayer requests and mid day prayers

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2022 Wave of Prayer

Cathedral Prayers 2022 Commissioning Service

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2022 Annual Report presented 2023

Maintaining a Worldwide Fellowship of Christians United in Prayer, Worship & Service

Prayer Chain:

Former Faith Trustee was responsible for receiving information and forwarding it around the members.

Parish Eucharist:

These are held monthly in several Churches across the diocese.

Retreat:

This was arranged for 3 days in October as usual, and was held at Ammerdown Conference Centre lead by Rev David Arnott on “Finding God in the Wilderness”.

Quiet Days:

These were held by Branches in their own parishes.

Special Services:

Several Special services were held, although not as many as pre-covid years as many members are still nervous of big gatherings outside their own area.

There was the Service before the Annual Meeting, Two Mary Sumner Day Services, Advent Services and our very special - tri annual, Commissioning Service for the President and Trustees. (Unfortunately 2 Trustees were unwell).

Lambeth Conference:

Several MU members had the opportunity to meet up with visitors to the UK as part of the Lambeth Conference. One occasion in Bath and one, with the Diocese, in Wells. It was a privilege to meet with MU members from across the world.

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To help those whose family life has met with adversity

Gifts for victims of GBV

----- Start of picture text -----
Away From
It All
----- End of picture text -----

Craft- Knitting

To encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children

Baptism Church Gifts Play-Bags

Christmas in the Community

----- Start of picture text -----
Mothers' Union is proud to support
the Posada family in their travels
----- End of picture text -----

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2022 Annual Report presented 2023

To help those whose family life has met with adversity:

How we work towards achieving this Objective

AFIA:

It was good to be able to allocate 10 Holidays/Special Occasions

Period Poverty:

This Project is offered to 2 schools in Bath.

CRAFT: Knitting:

Members continue to knit, supplying regular - places (Nursing Homes Knee and Twiddle - blankets, and The Seafarers Centre Hats, mufflers and mitts) but now there’s a greater diversity of items & outlets. Angel pockets, matinee jackets, Baby hats, small cot blankets and prem cardigans for newly born to RUH & MPH Baby Units: Knitted bed blankets for dementia sufferers aiding them to find their bed more easily, MPH Eliot Ward: Local charities (eg: Women’s Refuges, tauntonopendoor.org.uk, - forallhlc.org, RAFT, Refuge Aid From Taunton, baby basics.org.uk) regularly request specific items:

Student Support/Cookbook:

The MU Student Cookbook was again brought to the attention of students at Freshers Fayres of both Universities in Bath. 6000 leaflets advertis- ing the on line Cookbook. Bath University also received hard copies. It was decided to extend

this aid to Help Those Whose Lives Had Met with Adversity to assist families hit families financially affected by the unprecedented rising cost of living (e.g. 'eating or heating').

In October a 1,000 hard copies were produced renamed the MU Family Cookbook with some content changes making it more relevant and appealing to Families as well as Students.

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To help those whose family life has met with adversity:

The Accreditation reports have recorded positive remarks about our 3 centres, Clevedon, Frome and Nailsea.

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2022 Annual Report presented 2023

To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children How we work towards achieving this Objective

Anti Slavery Day & 16 Days of Activism: Both activities were actively support by prayer

Modern Day Slavery:

Members were kept informed, via the monthly Newsletter, of MDS and how to spot potential victims and who to alert. Our MU member with a special interest in MDS was able to give a talk to several branches.

Support for those in the Refuges: Gifts and vouchers continue to be steadily donated.

To promote and support married life

How we work towards achieving this Objective

Marriage Preparation:

1 Branch has supported Marriage Preparation sessions. In 2022 there were insufficient couples planning church weddings. The members involved commentated that the meetings had been helpful to those thinking of getting married. Another benefice holds an annual Marriage Preparation Day with the MU providing refreshments.

A Mothers’ Union card and a wedding prayer are given by several branches to welcome and support newly married couples

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To encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children How we work towards achieving this Objective

By showing God’s Love to their children, parents will learn about God’s Love via our actions.

Birth:

Some branches begin their support at the birth of a baby, welcoming them into the Church family. At Christchurch in Nailsea, when a church member or a Tots mother gives birth they receive a baby bag containing a card, a gift for the child, a cardigan or shawl, Christian book for siblings, toiletries for mothers, a copy of the MU leaflet - A Bit About Us .

Baptisms:

Many Branches give something to the child or parents on the occasion of their Baptism: Card, Bible, Prayer Book or a Baptism Teddy. Again, DMs are continuing with this outreach, when branches close.

Children in Church: Many Branches have children’s Play Bags with biblical story books, colouring and soft figures for use during services. Where branches have closed, these are maintained by Diocesan members.

Local Schools:

Local Community:

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2022 Annual Report presented 2023

- Spreading The Word and Fund raising to

Support our WorldWide Mothers Union Friends

Lambeth Conference Visitors & our Links & Communication Lead

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How We Work Towards Alerting Parishioners and Visitors to the Work of The Mothers Union

came part of the Cathedral Crib Scene.

as during Lockdowns; as do our Instagram and Twitter accounts but again not as much, especially as the Controllers regularly change the systems.

www.youtube.com/channel/UCB-a2ek2KJ_j39BR-ackJbw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MUBathWells Instagram: Bath&Wells MU Twitter: @BathWellsMU

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THE MOTHERS UNION DIOCESE OF BATH AND WELLS

Receipts and Payments Account for the year ending 31st December 2022

Receipts
Subscriptions
Gift Aid
Mue Grant
CCC grant
Donations
Donations - MSH projects
Donations - Diocesan projects
Donations - Shirley Penn Fund
Donations - WWF
Donations - BID
Retreat
Interest
Unknown donation
Total receipts
Payments
Subscriptions to MSH
Finance & Administration Unit (1)
Meetings and training
Expenses of DP, chaplain & trustees
CCC expenses
Mue rep & communication unit expenses
Retreat
Bursary Payments - AFIA (2)
Bursary Payments - Rowena Merson
Bursary Payments - MSH projects
Bursary Payments - Diocesan projects
Bursary Payments - Shirley Penn Fund
Bursary Payments - WWF
Bursary Payments - BID
Total payments
Surplus/Deficit
Opening current account & petty cash
Closing current account & petty cash		 Unrestricted Funds
AFIA
Rowena Merson
Travel Bursaries
Child Contract
Centres
Shirley Penn Bursary
Fund
Other
restricted
funds incl
Diocesan
Projects
Total 2022
16,894
16,894
2,365
2,365
863
863
700
700
5,137
2,906
60
8,102
1,025
1,025
1,097
1,097
400
400
31
31
0
2,250
2,250
56
352
457
864
0		 Total 2021
19,230
1,823
863
700
3,390
418
944
725
103
14
1,600
711
384
28,264
2,906
352
517
400
2,153
34,591		 30,905
13,980
13,980
7,908
7,908
1,514
1,514
875
875
2,498
2,498
264
264
2,772
2,772
3,328
3,328
70
70
1,025
1,025
2,194
2,194
500
500
31
31
0		 16,237
9,426
336
394
2,166
207
1,125
1,394
129
418
50
200
103
14
27,312
3,328
70
2,498
500
3,250
36,958		 32,199
952
-422
282
-1,982
-100
-1,097
-2,367		 -1,294
14,269
422
2,318
9,268
525
2,257
29,059		 30,353
15,221
0
2,600
7,286
425
1,160
26,692		 29,059

Unrestricted funds

THE MOTHERS UNION DIOCESE OF BATH AND WELLS

Receipts and Payments Account for the year ending 31st December 2022

THE MOTHERS UNION DIOCESE OF BATH AND WELLS
Receipts and Payments Account for the year ending 31st December 2022
Hampshire Trust - Two Year Bond (to Feb 23)
Rowena Merson AFIA Travel Bursaries Fund
Hampshire Trust - Easy Access
Hampshire Trust - Two Year Bond (to Nov 23)
Hampshire Trust - One Year Bond (to Jan 23)
Child Contact Centres' Fund
Hampshire Trust - Two Year Bond (to Jan 24)
Hampshire Trust - Two Year Bond (to Feb 23)
Hampshire Trust - Two Year Bond (to Jan 23)		 Unrestricted Funds
AFIA
Rowena Merson
Travel Bursaries
Child Contract
Centres
Shirley Penn Bursary
Fund
Other
restricted
funds incl
Diocesan
Projects
Total 2022
7,049
7,049		 Total 2021
7,000
5,136
18,000
18,000
5,061
5,061
10,000
10,000
5,035
5,035
15,000
15,000		 18,000
10,000
5,000
15,272
7,049
0
18,000
35,096
0
0
60,145		 60,408

THE MOTHERS UNION DIOCESE OF BATH AND WELLS Receipts and Payments Account for the year ending 31st December 2022

Notes

Fund Descriptions Away from it All (AFIA)

This is a Mother's Union holiday scheme, primarily funded by our members, to give opportunity of a break to those who may be experiencing stress or difficulties in their family life. Funds raised can be to:

Help fund part of the cost of a holiday Cover a family's travel expenses Pay for a whole holiday or a day trip

Organise family weeks for groups of families to have a break with activites and outings

Rowena Merson Travel Fund

This is an invested legacy left to Bath & Wells following the untimely death of a serving Trustee. It was decided by her fellow Trustees at the time to use it for reimbursing travelling expenses for the families benefitting from the AFIA breaks. The original donation is invested in 2 yearly bonds which can be cashed in and reinvested as the Trustees deem necessary. Until now the interest received has exceeded expenditure.

Shirley Penn Bursary Fund

This was created in 2021 following a generous funeral collection from the MU in Bath & Wells of a former Trustee. It was designated for the use of members who wished to deepen their lives spiritually by attending either one day courses or the Annual Retreat. It contributes to their overall expenses according to their means. The funds are topped up from time to time by the widower and members are free to raise additional funds if they so wish.

Child Contact Centres

Contact Centres in Frome, Nailsea and Clevedon. All are affiliated to the National Association of Child Contact, strictly monitored, and examined by their staff. To date, no-one is paid for their help, but each Centre has a highly trained coordinator who reports back to the diocesan MU CCC Committee twice yearly, of which one Trustee is a committee member. At present the funds not needed are invested in several 2-year bonds. Members across the diocese also raise funds to support this valuable cause.

Diocesan Projects

This covers more locally inspired projects that members can be involved in such as knitting hats for use by the Seamen Mission, clothing for premature babies, trauma or Christening teddies, sewing "angel pockets" for still births, children's activity bags for churches, "fiddle blankets" for those with dementia etc, Bath Deanery support an online Student Cookbook which is advertised to all new students at Freshers Week in the two Bath universities. There projects come and go according to the need of local communities, and unless members indicate the specific need, money raised goes into this fund for project expenses.

Specific points to note

(1) Expenses include secretary's remuneration, rent, insurance, accountant's fees, copyright and data protection licenses. Normally postage and printing costs would be included, but late invoices were received, including some costs for 2021, which are being queried.

(2) AFIA holidays - the balance brought forward (£422) and AFIA donations (£2,906) did not meet the total expenditure of holidays (£5,491) so £2,163 from the Diocesan Projects fund was used to make up the shortfall.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we approve the Receipts and Payments Account for the year ending 31st December 2022 as presented to a meeting of the Board on …..............

Madeline Hellier - Diocesan President

Sarah Bult - Treasurer & General Trustee

Margaret Willmott - General Trustee

THE MOTHERS UNION DIOCESE OF BATH AND WELLS Mothers Union Enterprises (MUe) Trading Account for the year ending 31st December 2022

Sales
Purchases
Surplus (Deficit) on Sales
Opening Bank Account
Surplus (Deficit) on Sales
Closing Bank Account		 2022
£
9426
10500		 2021
£
9700
8538
-1074 1162
1246
-1074		 84
1162
172 1246

Notes:

This is the trading account of the Mothers’ Union our diocesan representative deals directly with MSH for stock, which is then sent out to branches, or displayed at meetings and events such as our AGM or Diocesan Synod, on a sale or return basis. It has its own bank account which the Diocesan Representative administers.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we approve the Mothers Union Enterprises (MUe) Trading Account for the year ending 31st December 2022

Madeline Hellier - Diocesan President

Sarah Bult - Treasurer & General Trustee

THE MOTHERS UNION DIOCESE OF BATH AND WELLS Worldwide Fund Account for the year ending 31st December 2022

Receipts
Donations for General Fund and various projects
Donations for Emergency Relief Fund
Donations for Literacy & Development - S Sudan
Donations not declared in previous year
Bank Interest
Payments
Transferred to Mother's Union, Mary Sumner House,
for the various funds as donated
Surplus
Opening Balance
Closing Balance		 £
8102
7
20		 £
8109
9700
22		 £
£
5690
1001
2
6693
6693
2373
9066
2021		 £
£
5690
1001
2
6693
6693
2373
9066
2021
-1591
9066		 6693
2373
7475 9066

Notes:

This is a fund administered by the Central Council in Mary Sumner House and all funds raised in Bath & Wells go towards MU work all over the world. It has its own bank account which the MU Diocesan WWF Treasurer administrates.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we approve the Worldwide Fund Account for the year ending 31st December 2022

Madeline Hellier - Diocesan President

Sarah Bult - Treasurer & General Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Mothers Union Diocese of Bath and Wells

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Mothers Union of Bath and Wells (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under s. 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under s. 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:

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.

Adam Turrell FCA ICAEW Maxwells Chartered Accountants 4 King Square Bridgwater Somerset TA6 3YF

Date:

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Mothers Union Diocese of Bath and Wells

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Mothers Union of Bath and Wells (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2022.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under s. 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under s. 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:

  1. (1) Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. (2) The accounts do not accord with those records

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.

Adam Turrell FCA ICAEW Maxwells Chartered Accountants 4 King Square Bridgwater Somerset TA6 3YF

Date: