Mothers’ Union: Exeter Diocese Registered Charity No 250823
Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2023
Trustees’ Annual Report for the Period 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023
Reference and Administration Details
Charity Name: Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Exeter
Registered Charity Number: 250823
Charity’s Principal Address: Exeter Mothers’ Union Office St Sidwell’s Sidwell Street Exeter EX4 6NN
Names of the Charity Trustees who manage the Charity:
Mrs Heather Sayle Diocesan President Mrs Janet Jones Vice President and AFIA Coordinator
Structure, Governance and Management Description of the Charity’s Trusts
Type of Governing document
The Mothers’ Union: Exeter Diocese Constitution says this organisation is an Unincorporated Association Registered as Charity Number 250823 . It is affiliated to Mothers' Union, a Charity incorporated by Royal Charter (Charity No: 240531) through its shared aim and objects, and by virtue of its acceptance as an Affiliate by the Central Charity and its adherence to the rules and regulations of the movement.
Trustee selection methods Elected from membership
Trustees
Diocesan President Heather Sayle 2022 Diocesan Vice-President Janet Jones 2019 Diocesan Treasurer Michael Collop from July 2023 Sue Addy 2019 Ruth Collop 2019 Moira Devonport 2019 Nicky Over 2022 Diane Passey 2022
MU Matters Editor Vacant Anna Venables Autumn 2021, resigned 8 August 2023
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Officers
| MU Diocesan Chaplains | Revd Caroline Luff | 2017 - 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Revd Tracey Voysey | 2022 | |
| Office Administrator | Lorna Young | 2022 |
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Objectives and Activities
Summary of the objects of the charity set out by its governing document:
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To uphold Christ’s teaching on the nature of marriage and to promote its wider understanding
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To encourage parents to bring up their children in the faith and life of the Church
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To maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service
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To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children
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To help those whose family life has met with adversity
Summary of the main activities in relation to these Objectives:
In planning the activities, the trustee board have had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, including the specific guidance for charities involved in the advancement of religion.
During the year the Trustee Board met twelve times plus the AGM. The Spring Council Meeting and AGM and the Autumn Members Meeting were held at St Boniface Centre, Crediton. The Cluster Leaders from the eight Clusters met twice as a group at the MU Office in Exeter and these meetings were considered successful and productive. The Cluster groups met together in their own geographical areas for special events some in person and some on Zoom. There is a Triennium year coming up so there will be a number of vacancies on the Trustee Board to start in January 2025. We currently have one MU Chaplain and are awaiting news from the Acting Bishop of Exeter Rt Revd Jackie Searle for another MU Chaplain, hopefully by AGM 2024.
Achievements and performance
The structure of our Diocese through Clusters, Branches, Diocesan Members’ Groups and individual Diocesan Members continues to adapt and change and it has been good to welcome new members to our organisation. Some Branches have sadly closed and some of their members have now become Diocesan Members. Other former branches have chosen to become new Diocesan Members Groups and organise themselves less formally without the need for Officers. Special events have been organised which have brought people together sometimes from across the Diocese which have been well received and enjoyable occasions. Six MU members represented Exeter Diocese at the Annual Gathering in York in September. Many of our members are vulnerable due to age and underlying health matters so the Trustees are most grateful to all those who have continued to support these members by visiting, calling them on the phone and writing to them to keep in touch.
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Summary of the main achievements of the Charity during the year:
Governance
There is a responsibility for ensuring that the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Exeter complies with Charity Commissioners requirements and that correct accounting procedures are followed. The Trustees continue to encourage undertaking a Risk Assessment on MU Projects within the diocese and set the Annual Diocesan Subscriptions.
During 2023 we:
- Have continued to work on the new Governance documents which have been issued by our Central Charity
Ongoing work for the next triennial includes:
- To continue to review the new policies and distribute them to the members across Devon.
Database
A ‘Database Community of Interest’ has been set up by the Central Charity at Mary Sumner House and meetings are held at least twice a year on Zoom. This has helped dioceses understand the strategies being used to tender for the new system and to give real feedback around issues to do with mailings and other database matters.
During the year the following was achieved:
- the Exeter MU Database was updated and ably maintained locally and information shared with the Central Charity from the Exeter MU Database Officer, the Administrator and Database Super Admins.
Ongoing work for the next triennial includes:
- keeping up to date with the progress of the new Central Charity Database which is due to be installed in 2024/25.
Safeguarding
A new Safeguarding Officer has been appointed by our Central Charity and a new policy has been produced and approved and adopted by the Exeter Trustees.
During the year the following was achieved:
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our Safeguarding Officer held regular meetings of the new Safeguarding Team and reported to each Trustee meeting
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The Safeguarding Team maintained good communication with the new Central Charity’s Safeguarding Officer
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The Trustees approved a new Risk Assessment Policy
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the new Safeguarding Policy and Appendices from the Central Charity were circulated to all Branches and Diocesan Members
Ongoing work for the next triennial includes:
- To work through the new Safeguarding Guidelines for AFIA
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AFIA
This AFIA Community of Interest group has been re-established and is working closely with the new Safeguarding Officer at our Central Charity. We are pleased to have several people who are keen to support this work on our own AFIA group led by our Vice- President and AFIA Rep.
During the year the following was achieved:
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The AFIA group met to review and explore the work of AFIA across the diocese
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steps have begun to be made to develop a new Application Pack for funding days out for families across Devon
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The AFIA group are working on new ways of making the money raised go further to support and resource families affected by the cost of living crisis to access days out and Holiday Clubs run in local churches
Hopes for 2024-25
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To develop a new AFIA Application Pack for funding days out for families in accordance with the new Safeguarding Guidelines
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Use the monies that have been donated to AFIA to help more families enjoy some special time together
Faith
The ‘Faith Community of Interest’ has continued to meet and develop its work across the provinces. During the year the Faith Rep from our Central Charity retired and a new person was appointed. The new person has been busy getting up to speed with all the many regular publications and looking to develop new ways of engaging with our membership and beyond. Part of this has been to review Midday Prayers which are held online on Facebook and she has offered the possibility for new people to lead these on a rotational basis. Our Faith Co-ordinator has worked hard to ensure we are all well-resourced and has worked with both of our MU Chaplains. This year we said thank you to our previous two MU Chaplains and great appreciation was expressed for all their support of Mothers’ Union over the six year tenure and when they had held other offices as well.
During the year the following were achieved:
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Hosted our first Diocesan MU Lent Course called Journeys written by the Clewer Initiative and led by our MU Chaplain and Diocesan President on Zoom for 5 weeks
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monthly Cathedral Prayer services were held in the Sacristy and Lady Chapel at the Cathedral led by the Trustees and Clusters
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we continued to provide an Emergency Prayer Chain
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Our Faith Co-ordinator and MU Chaplain organised an Advent Quiet Day at the MU Office and the Chapel in November
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MU Members held Quiet Days around the Diocese
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We were generously and very ably supported by our two Diocesan Chaplains
Hopes for 2024-25
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To hold a three-night Diocesan MU Retreat at St Rita’s in Honiton for all members who wish to attend either residentially or as day visitors
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To improve our monthly Cathedral Prayer attendance
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- To promote the work and prayer life of the Mothers’ Union in St George’s Chapel in the Cathedral
Outreach Initiatives
Many branches and groups have held innovative fundraising events and used opportunities to represent Mothers’ Union at a variety of church and community occasions. This offers MU members a chance to get out and about and meet with non-members including those who are on holiday or visiting family in Devon.
During the year the following was achieved:
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Trustees and MU Speakers visited Branches and Clusters to keep them informed of the work of MU and support social events for the Summer of Hope campaign, Make a Mothers Day and our fellow MU Members around the world
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We have improved links with the Diocese through wider MU representation on Diocesan Synod, Deanery Synods and PCC membership
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We continue to promote some of our projects through Roots and Shoots – the weekly diocesan online newsletter and via local parish magazines and through the Cathedral
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Hopes for 2024-25
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Continue to provide our real stories of MU for MU Live and report them to our Central Charity
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We look forward to celebrating family life at Lew Trenchard as part of the Revd Sabine BaringGould Centenary celebrations
Social Policy
There are currently two major strands of work in this area that we as a diocese have been working on: Raising Awareness of Modern-Day Slavery and campaigning to eliminate Gender Based Violence in all its forms.
During the year the following were achieved:
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The Office sent out Rise Up resources for the 16 Days against Gender based Violence to all Branches, Trustees, Clusters and Diocesan members
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We held Silent Vigils around the Diocese inc Red Chairs, Purple and White Hearts, and decorated Christmas Trees at Tree Festivals in parishes from 25[th ] November – 10[th] December 2023
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We held a successful Resources Day at the MU Office for Rise Up to raise awareness and to resource Clusters, Branches and Diocesan Members
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Our Prison Bookshare rep. delivered £500 worth of books to Channings Wood Prison for the Prison Bookshare project
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A Souls of Our Shoes Exhibition was displayed in Exeter Cathedral during the 16 Days. The shoes represented people who had lost their lives to Domestic Abuse and there were real quotes from survivors. It was a new MU venture in the Cathedral and was very well received
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Hopes for 2024-25
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Build on the response to the Resources Day held at the MU Office and offer one looking at the work of The Clewer Initiative and Modern Day Slavery
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To request permission from the Dean and Chapter and plan for another exhibition for 16 Days in the Cathedral
Overseas
During the year the following was achieved:
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We celebrated our MU link with Melanesia at our Mary Sumner Day Service in Ottery St Mary
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We successfully arranged for delivery of 35+ sewing machines and other sewing equipment to the Solomon Islands
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Members resourced volunteer groups supporting refugees from Ukraine with hand-knitted clothing for children
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Hopes for 2024-25
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to continue to promote the MU overseas, through talks and feedback from the projects
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to encourage members to support our Diocesan fundraising campaigns
Training
As some new Community of Interest groups have begun through the Central Charity, online training events have made the opportunity for members to join with members worldwide.
During the year the following was achieved:
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we have been offered Clewer Initiative training through the Central Charity
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we have been offered Domestic Violence awareness training through the Central Charity
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offered Gender Based Violence awareness through a Resources Day at the MU Office
Hopes for 2024-25
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continue to encourage new MU Speakers
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offer a day at the MU office for new Branch leaders, Branch Secretaries and Branch Treasurers at least every Triennium
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offer a Resources Day at the MU Office to raise awareness of Modern Slavery
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offer Domestic Violence Awareness, Gender Based Violence Awareness and Modern Slavery awareness training through our Central Charity
Metamorphosis
This MU Project was evaluated this year by our Central Charity and we were encouraged to use the core materials and the new Bitesize books which are available through MU Enterprise (MUe).
During the year the following was achieved:
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some groups used the Bitesize materials in their meetings with church and community groups.
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Hopes for 2023-24
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encourage the use of Bitesize to explore new MU opportunities in the local community
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Communication
A ‘Communications Community of Interest’ group was started by the new Communications Officer at our Central Charity and meetings have been most informative and helpful. MU Speakers continue to be very active across the diocese and groups have widened their invitation to members around Devon and nonmembers too.
During the year the following was achieved:
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maintained links with MU @ Home members by sending cards by post twice a year
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produced two issues of ‘MU Matters’ magazine
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we continued to work on improving our promotional resources for Diocesan MU events
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the improved broadband connection has helped with hosting more hybrid meetings
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Administrator has new headphone mic and webcam for phone calls and Zoom meetings
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new topics from the MU Speakers were added to the Speakers List
Hopes for 2024-25
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Continue to update the web address and build a new MU Diocesan website
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To improve our social media and online presence to be more up to date
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get a Zoom licence to allow more hybrid meetings to be held across the diocese.
Finance and Office
During the year the following was achieved:
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The Trustees agreed to increase the individual MU subscription to £35 a year for 2024
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Our MUe Rep ensured whenever possible that Mothers’ Union literature was on sale at events
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We promoted the new improved system to buy goods/cards online from the Central Charity
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Members were encouraged to pay subscriptions by BACS
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The Trustees changed our phone and broadband provider and install a Smart Meter for our electricity to reduce our office costs
Hopes for 2024-25
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To source a compatible VoIP phone to enable phone calls from the office more easily than using headphone microphone or mobile phone
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To review MUe and offer drop in events at the office to show how to order MU goods online
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Begin to properly catalogue the Local Archive material from MU branches across Devon
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Mothers' Union, Diocese of Exeter Financial Statements 2023 Receipts and Payments Account
----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total 2022
funds funds funds total funds
£ £ £ £
Receipts
Donations and legacies 5,010 17,055 22,065 12,965
Income from charitable activities 19,161 - 19,161 20,613
-
Other trading activities 3,176 3,176 3,663
Investments 958 - 958 211
Other income 855 - 855 197
Total Receipts 29,160 17,055 46,215 37,650
Payments
- - -
Raising funds 6,027
Expenditure on charitable activities 27,342 11,062 38,403 41,035
Other expenditure 442 - 442 -
Total Payments 27,783 11,062 38,845 47,062
Net movement of funds
1,376 5,993 7,370 -9,412
(excess of receipts over payments)
All assets at 1 January 2023 24,615 2,526 27,141 36,553
All assets at 31 December 2023 25,992 8,519 34,511 27,141
Represented by
Unrestricted
General fund 25,992 - 25,992 24,615
Restricted
AFIA DIOCESE - 5,864 5,864 631
BIG BOOK SHARE DIOCESE - 1,707 1,707 1,555
LADY DAY MSH - 104 104 -
Overseas and MULFEP MSH Funds - 526 526 340
SUMMER OF HOPE MSH - 240 240 -
UK NEEDS DIOCESE - 78 78 -
Statement of assets and liabilities
General Restricted Total 2023 Last year (2022)
£ £ £ £
Current assets - Cash At Bank And In Hand
HSBC Current Account (account closed 2023) - - - 2,767
CCLA 22,813 - 22,813 21,856
Petty Cash -69 102 32 40
Cooperative Current Account 3,247 8,418 11,665 2,478
total current assets 25,992 8,519 34,511 27,141
----- End of picture text -----
Receipts and Payments 02/05/2024
Mothers' Union, Diocese of Exeter Financial Statements 2023
Fund movements 2023
| Fund | Fund balances | Incoming | Outgoing | Fund balances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| brought forward | Resources | Resources | Carried forward | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Restricted | ||||
| AFIA | 631 | 5,233 | - | 5,864 |
| Big Book Share | 1,555 | 651 | 499 | 1,707 |
| Lady Day | - | 144 | 40 | 104 |
| MULFEP | 75 | 1,487 | 1,121 | 441 |
| Overseas | 265 | 9,222 | 9,402 | 85 |
| Summer of Hope | - | 240 | - | 240 |
| UK Needs | - | 78 | - | 78 |
| Unrestricted | ||||
| General | 24,615 | 29,160 | 27,783 | 25,992 |
| Totals | 27,141 | 46,215 | 38,845 | 34,511 |
Final accounts 2023.xlsx
Analysis of Receipts and Payments
Receipts
----- Start of picture text -----
Total
General Restricted This year 2023 Last year 2022
£ £ £ £
Donations and legacies
Overseas Fund - 1,172 1,172 1,176
MULFEP - 1,487 1,487 644
Community Development Co-ordinators - - - 194
Emergency Relief - - - 639
Lady Day - 144 144 -
Summer of Hope - 240 240 -
UK Needs MSH - 78 78 -
Diocesan Fund 3,045 - 3,045 2,239
AFIA - 5,233 5,233 6,574
Big Book Share - 651 651 1,216
- -
Legacies 8,050 8,050
Miscellaneous Income 496 - 496 283
Presentation donations 435 - 435 -
- -
donations in memory 1,034 1,034
Total 5,010 17,055 22,065 12,965
Income from charitable activities
-
Diocesan Members MSH Subscriptions 2,745 2,745 2,816
-
Branch Members MSH Subscriptions 9,513 9,513 9,400
-
Branch Diocesan Subscriptions 4,825 4,825 4,690
-
Diocesan Members Subscriptions 1,575 1,575 1,498
Annual Retreat - - - 2,030
Make a Mothers Day MSH 32 - 32 20
Speakers Charge 471 - 471 159
Total 19,161 - 19,161 20,613
Other trading activities
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MUe Shop Income 3,126 3,126 3,640
Income from recycling (ink + stamps) 26 - 26 24
MUe Postage 23 - 23 -
Total 3,176 - 3,176 3,663
Other receipts
Investments - CCLA Annual Interest 958 - 958 211
Other - Closed Branch Funds 855 - 855 197
Total Receipts 29,160 17,055 46,215 37,650
----- End of picture text -----
| AnalysisofReceiptsand Payments Payments |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| t | Total | |||||
| I | General | Restricted | Thisyear 2023 | Lastyear 2022 | ||
| f | e | f | € | |||
| Raisingfunds | ||||||
| MUe Stock | s,904 | |||||
| MUePostage | L15 | |||||
| Total | 6,O27 | |||||
| Expenditure on charitableactivities | ||||||
| DM SubscriptionstoMSH | 3,150 | 3,150 | 3,000 | |||
| BranchSubscriptions toMSH | 9,387 | 9,387 | 9,840 | |||
| Overseas Fund | 9,402 | 9,402 | t,282 | |||
| MULFEP | 1,L21. | 1,727 | 885 | |||
| Community Development Co-ordinators | 304 | |||||
| Emergency Relief | 149 | |||||
| Lady Day | 40 | 40 | ||||
| DiocesanPresidentExpenses | L87 | |||||
| TrusteeExpenses | 130 | a5u | 495 | |||
| StaffCosts | 7 | ,838 | 7,838 | 6,014 | ||
| Telephone/lnternet | 464 | 460 | 1,030 | |||
| ud5 | 836 | d5b | 258 | |||
| Electricity | I | 606 | 606 | 677 | ||
| Rent | 968 | 968 | 2,1.42 | |||
| Event Room Hire | 346 | 346 | 208 | |||
| BusinessRates | 25 | 1E | -4L2 | |||
| Insurance | 484 | 484 | 464 | |||
| Maintenance | 84 | 6+ | ||||
| Office Equipment | 900 | 900 | 1,153 | |||
| Stationery | 68 | 68 | 18 | |||
| Postage (Office) | 6 | 6 | 33 | |||
| PrintingCosts | 123 | 723 | 7A6 | |||
| ConferenceExpenses | 84 | 84 | 635 | |||
| MU@Home AdminCosts | 105 | 1"0s | 62 | |||
| DiocesanMembers AdminCosts | \,4-1 | 567 | 68 | |||
| Retreat | 2,t20 | |||||
| AFIA | 6,681 | |||||
| Big Book Share &ToyBoxScheme | 499 | 499 | 291. | |||
| Sundries | ,; | 21 | 16 | |||
| Bank Charges | 45 | 45 | 170 | |||
| Miscellaneous | ) | 2 | LO4 | |||
| Speakers expenses | 773 | 1-12. | 152 | |||
| MSHAppeal | 769 | |||||
| MakeaMothersDay(MAMD) | 20 | |||||
| Chaplain's expenses | 335 | 33s | L72 | |||
| Total | 27,342 | 1'L,062 | 38,403 | 41,035 | ||
| other expenditure-presentation gifts | 442 | |||||
| Total Fayments | 27,781 | L1,062 | 38,845 | 47,062 | ||
| surplue/deficit-excessofreceipts overpaymenb | 1,376 | 5,993 | 7374 | -9,412 |