## Trustees’ Report & Financial Statements 

**For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

**TRUST PROPERTY HELD IN CONNECTION WITH THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS** 

**(THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES)** 

**Registered Charity No. 254312** 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

|**INDEX**|**Page Number**|
|---|---|
|Legal and Administrative Details|1|
|Trustees’ Report|2-31|
|Auditor’s Report|32-35|
|Statement of Financial Activities|36|
|Balance Sheet|37|
|Statement of Cash Flows|38|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|39-54|





_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **Legal and Administration details:** 

|Full Name|Trust Property Held in Connection with the English Province of the|
|---|---|
||Congregation of Christian Brothers|
|Governing Document|Amended Trust deed dated 01 July 2011|
|Charity Registration|Number 254312|
|Trustees|E. Garvey (resigned 30 June 2022)|
||P.G. Gordon|
||E. O’Brien|
||D Sassi|
||D Gibson (Chair of Trustees)|
||J Donovan (appointed 30 June 2022)|
|Principal Address|“Woodeaves”|
||Wicker Lane|
||Hale Barns|
||Altrincham|
||Cheshire WA15 0HF|
|Financial Administrator|L&P Trustee Services Ltd|
|Auditors|Mazars LLP|
||One St. Peter’s Square|
||Manchester|
||M2 3DE|
|Solicitors|Hill Dickinson|
||1 St Paul’s Square|
||Liverpool L3 9SJ|
|Principal Banker|HSBC|
||11 Stamford New Road|
||Altrincham|
||Cheshire WA14 1BW|
|Investment Advisors|Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland|
||23 St. Stephens Green|
||Dublin 2|



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_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2021** 

The Trustees present their report, together with the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2021. 

## **INTRODUCTION** 

The Congregation of Christian Brothers is an international Roman Catholic Religious Congregation.  It was founded in Waterford, Ireland in 1802 by Blessed Edmund Rice. It is divided into 5 distinct Provinces across the world. 

The financial stratements accompanying this report are the financial statements of the charitable trust in which the assets of the Christian Brothers in England are held.  The Christian Brothers in England, in canon law terms, forms part of the European Province. 

## **Background** 

Edmund Rice was born at Westcourt, Callan, Co. Kilkenny on 1 June 1762. It was a time of political and religious oppression, when poverty and want affected the lives of the vast majority of the citizens of the land. 

As there was no formal schooling available to Catholics at that time, Edmund was educated both at home and at the local ‘pay school’ in Moate Lane, where Catholics who could afford to pay sent their children to school. After his early schooling Edmund moved to Waterford in 1779.  In Waterford, he worked for his uncle, Michael Rice, in the family business, provisioning ships calling at Waterford’s busy dockside. Edmund was a good businessman, and in due course inherited the family business from his uncle. Under his careful management, it prospered greatly. He became a wealthy man. 

In 1785, at the age of 23, Edmund married Mary Elliott. There is very little that history reveals about the marriage other than that it came to an abrupt end with the tragic death of his young wife in 1789. Edmund found himself the sole parent of a small child who was delicate in health, and possibly suffering from a disability. Being a strong family man, Edmund initially entrusted the care of young Mary Rice to his stepsister, Joan, in 3 Arundel Place in Waterford where he had set up house. 

The next twelve years of Edmund’s life were hidden years during which he coped with his sorrows, ran his business, and ensured the wellbeing of his little daughter, Mary. 

In 1802, at the age of 40, Edmund took a very decisive step. He embarked on a spiritual journey that changed his life utterly. The inspiration for his decision probably came from the example of Nano Nagle, the founder of the Presentation Sisters. Like Nano, he decided to devote the remainder of his life, and all of his resources, to the education and care of the poor. He sold his victualler’s business in Waterford and arranged for his step-sister, Joan Murphy, and his handicapped daughter to move to Callan. He himself moved to a large stable in New Street, which he opened as a free school for poor Catholic boys. To help him with his project, Edmund recruited some hired help. 

Edmund’s decision to educate the poor was seen by his friends as both foolhardy and unwise. Some advised against it, arguing that the poor were better off ignorant. Technically, Edmund’s action was also illegal because, although the political scene had changed greatly and the Act of Union had been passed in 1800, many of the Penal Laws were still on the Statute Books, and educating poor Catholics could be interpreted as a seditious act.  The beginning of Edmund’s educational project was tentative and inauspicious. The hired help evaporated early on, demoralised by the enormity and difficulty of the task. On his own again, Edmund trusted in God, believing that if it was God’s work it would surely prevail. His faith was rewarded when two young men from his own town of Callan, Patrick Finn and Thomas Grosvenor, volunteered to join ranks with him in his new venture. The nucleus of a new religious congregation was forming, and Edmund was inspired to take the next step. 

In June 1802, Edmund began to build a monastery to accommodate his small community. This was another seditious act that left him vulnerable before the Law. The monastery was soon completed, 

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_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

which he called Mount Sion. By this time, a fourth member, John Mulcahon, had joined the little group. 

Word soon got around and, gradually, other volunteers came to Mount Sion offering their services freely for the realisation of Edmund’s dream. This little group formed itself into a small, religious community following a well ordered way of life inspired by the Rule of the Presentation Sisters, a way of life with which Edmund was familiar through his contact with the Presentation Sisters in Waterford. 

As the number of volunteers grew, so too did the capacity for service of the poor, and in due course a school was opened in Carrick-on-Suir in 1806, and another in Dungarvan towards the end of 1807. By 1808, the new movement had eight members, and Edmund believed that the time was right for formally establishing themselves as a religious congregation. He approached the Bishop of Waterford, Reverend Dr. John Power, to allow them to formalise their religious commitment by professing religious vows according to the Rule of the Presentation Sisters. Bishop Power agreed enthusiastically and on 15 August 1808, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Edmund and his seven followers made simple profession of vows in the chapel of the Presentation Sisters in Hennessy’s Road, Waterford. The Bishop, on behalf of the Church, formally received their professions. 

The good news of Edmund’s educational crusade on behalf of the poor soon spread beyond the boundaries of the diocese of Waterford. Other bishops got to hear about it, and because the social conditions of the poor were much the same in every diocese in the country, a number of bishops expressed the wish that Edmund would open a school for the poor in their diocese also. In 1811 the Brothers opened a school in Cork; In 1812, at the invitation of the Archbishop of Dublin, the Brothers opened another school in Hanover Street on the south quays. In quick succession the following schools were opened: Cappaquin (1813), Limerick (1816), Thurles (1816), Mill Street (Dublin, 1816), Francis St. (Dublin 1820), and eventually in Preston (England 1825).  Preston was the first opening outside of Ireland, and constituted a major development in the missionary outreach of the new congregation. 

The poverty and deprivation with which some of these early foundations had to contend shocked even Edmund himself, and grounded him even more solidly in his trust in Divine Providence. “May the will of God be done in it (Hanover Street)”, he prayed. 

The spread of the new fraternity into several dioceses created huge administrative difficulties for the early Brothers. Since each community was under the jurisdiction of the local Ordinary of the diocese in which it was located, the transfer of Brothers from one community to another, issues of finance, formation matters, and community policy generally all became fraught with difficulties. Edmund felt that these difficulties amounted to a serious constraint on the development of his burgeoning congregation, and he looked around for an alternative model of administration to the diocesan model which was proving so cumbersome. Very quickly, he discovered that the solution to these difficulties lay in getting papal approval for his congregation as an Apostolic Institute, a status enjoyed by the congregation of De LaSalle Brothers for many decades. 

To facilitate the move away from a diocesan structure, in 1817 Edmund and his Brothers with the approval of the Archbishop of Dublin, applied to the Holy See for an Apostolic Brief. In due course, and despite some opposition, His Holiness, Pope Pius VII granted Edmund’s request, and issued the formal brief establishing the Congregation as an Apostolic Institute in 1820. The Brothers formally accepted the brief on 20 January 1822. Edmund Rice was elected Superior General of the new Apostolic Institute. 

Nineteen of the thirty Brothers eligible to vote were present in Mount Sion on that historic day. Of those early Brothers who did not sign, some withdrew from the congregation at that point, while others wished to retain their diocesan affiliations and consequently refused the Brief. One of these, Br. Michael Austin Riordan, became the nucleus around which the Presentation Brothers Congregation developed. 

The spread of the Congregation from small beginnings in Waterford in 1802 to the worldwide organisation it is today, working in over thirty countries spread across the five continents, is a matter of history. What the story points to is the resilient nature of Edmund’s founding charism, and its ability to incarnate itself in many countries, proclaiming its message of liberation through education in many languages and many cultures. 

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## **OBJECTIVES** 

## **Charitable Objects** 

The principal object of the Charity, as set out in the amended Trust Deed, is to “advance the religious and other charitable work for the time being carried on in Great Britain or abroad by or under the direction or with the support of the Province as the Trustees with the approval of the Provincial Leader shall from time to time think fit”. 

## **Aims** 

The Charity aims to support the religious and other charitable works carried on in the name of the Congregation and to care for those members throughout their lives within the Congregation.  These Ministries of the Brothers of the Congregation, all of which benefit numerous members of the general public, fall into the following main areas: 

- Education 

- Faith development 

- Social and pastoral work 

- International missionary work 

- Care and welfare of members 

Each of these is considered in turn below: 

## **Education** 

The Charity provides support and services for seven schools in direct or Academy Trusteeship and, without charge, to a further four associated schools in diocesan or independent Trusteeship. 

## **Criteria for Measuring Success in Edmund Rice Schools** 

Measuring success for beneficiaries and the wider society in terms of numerical and scientific criteria is rather difficult for the English Region of the European Province but, being the Trustees of the three independent Preparatory schools in England and being an important part of the overall successful operations of the four Academy Colleges as well as involvement in the ethos of the four Associate schools, is important and is undertaken under two strands: 

## First Strand 

Answering to outside Agencies to whom the schools are accountable and which have their own measurable standards as follows: 

The **Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)** - as it applies to the Academy Schools: 

- Pupil progress - the precise measure of students across three key stages (key stage 3, 4 and 5) is done through internal and external examinations. 

- Pupil attendance - set at 95%> school attendance across each academic year. 

- Pupil Premium - extra targeted funding allocated to schools who have eligible students (FSM) – schools have to account for their use of funding and its measured outcomes in terms of pupil progress compared to non-recipients. 

- Provision for safeguarding of children in education. 

Schools undergo regular inspections during which their statistics are analysed. 

**Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)** - as it applies to Preparatory schools: Use of inspections (every six years) to measure pupil progress; provision of a series of policies / procedures in a variety of areas e.g. Finance, measurement of pupil progress, safeguarding, safe recruitment, behaviour and discipline etc. 

Schools are rated according to their compliance against the standards as perceived by an inspectorate team. 

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_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## Second Strand 

Answering to the standards as laid out in the ‘Eight Essentials of an Edmund Rice Education’ and on which many of our schools build their annual School Improvement Plan (SIP). These plans use the SMART acronym; **Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely** . Each target has a clear set of smart outcomes which allow the school to perform an accurate measure of its degree of success. 

The Trustees meet annually face-to-face with the senior leadership and governors of the Academies and Preparatory schools and undertake an audit of success within the school which includes both external and internal judgements. 

## **Secondary schools** 

_All four of the secondary schools are now Academy Trusts and invite the Trustees to their annual AGMs in accordance with the Articles of Association:_ 

- St Edward’s College, Liverpool 

- St Ansem’s College, Birkenhead 

- St Ambrose College, Hale Barns 

- St Joseph’s College, Stoke-on-Trent 

The Trustees have taken the view that it would not be appropriate to consolidate the accounts of the academy trusts under FRS102 section 9, “Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements”, as the Academies must abide by strict financial and operating provision laid down by the Department for Education and these amount to severe long term restrictions as defined by FRS102 section 9. 

## **Primary schools** 

One of the independent schools, Redcourt St Anselm’s Preparatory School Birkenhead, was closed in December 2019 because of the falling numbers. Another of the independent schools, Runnymede St. Edward’s Preparatory School Liverpool, became a Voluntary Aided School at the start of September 2020. 

There are two independent primary schools which continue in direct trusteeship, with the Congregation Trustees as registered proprietors: 

- St. Ambrose Preparatory School, Hale Barns, Altrincham 

- St. Joseph’s Preparatory School, Stoke-on-Trent 

The results of these schools are included in these financial statements. 

## **Associated schools:** 

There are four associated schools in other trusteeships and, as such, it is not appropriate to include their results in these financial statements. 

- St. Aidan’s Catholic Academy, Sunderland (11-18) -  diocesan trusteeship (Hexham and Newcastle) 

- St. Boniface _RC Academy_ , Plymouth  (11-18) – diocesan trusteeship (Plymouth) 

- St. Mary’s College, Crosby (HMC independent  secondary 11-18) – St. Mary’s College Crosby Trust 

- St. Mary’s College Preparatory School (independent primary) -– St. Mary’s College Crosby Trust 

These schools continue within the family of Edmund Rice schools. All four receive in-service and immersion opportunities and ethos support, co-ordinated and delivered by the Network Support Team employed by the Congregation Trustees. 

The ‘difference’ the Charity seeks to make through its schools operation is the provision and support of outstanding Catholic faith-based education in the Edmund Rice tradition.  The aim is to achieve 

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outstanding educational outcomes for boys and girls from nursery entry to the age of 18+, through the realisation of eight core principles set out by the Trustees. 

The 11 schools belong to the Edmund Rice  family of schools by  providing, and  seeking continuously to  improve, an educational programme grounded on the eight principles set out in a shared vision document, _‘Reaching Out - The Essential Elements of Edmund Rice Education’_ . These eight governing criteria define the identity and mission of the schools in England and provide a template for school development and mission evaluation.  Through the implementation of these values the Charity seeks to promote individual educational, spiritual, physical, moral, social and cultural development within a Christian vision of the person and in the spirit of service established by the Founder, Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice.  Each school strives to be a Christian community where the fullest talents of each pupil are developed in a spirit of wider social awareness and with commitment to social justice and community responsibility. 

## The **‘Essentials’** are: 

**1. Evangelising the modern world** - Participating in the mission of the Catholic Church by bringing the Good News of Christ to all aspects of the life of the school community, and in dialogue with youth and contemporary culture, thus fulfilling the specific calling of the Congregation of Christian Brothers: The Evangelisation of youth through the Apostolate of Christian Education 

**2. Promoting the spiritual** - Nurturing a living faith, fostering Christian spirituality, educating in Gospel-based values, living beyond the material dimension . 

**3. Building a Christian community** - Growing as a school community in which the quality of care and relationships is Christ-inspired, based on mutual respect, self-sacrifice, and fully human dignity. 

**4. Compassion for those in need** - Showing, in the spirit of Blessed Edmund Rice, particular love and concern towards the weakest members of the school community and reaching out beyond the school in compassion and practical action for the poor and marginalised both locally and internationally. 

**5. Concern for the whole person** - Centering the curriculum, opportunities, and challenges of the school on the balanced and integrated development of its students, and staff, across all the positive dimensions of personal growth- religious, moral, intellectual, cultural, physical, and social. 

**6. Striving for excellence** - Encouraging each individual to use his or her talents to the full, whether academic, cultural, or physical, and pursuing the highest standards in all aspects of learning, teaching, and extracurricular endeavour. 

**7. Education as a Christian calling** - Valuing and enabling the role and vocation of Christian teachers and support staff as a calling from God and a sharing in the Church’s mission. 

**8. Education for justice** -  Inspiring the minds and hearts of the young to care for all God’s creation and build a more just society, God’s Kingdom on earth, and developing in them the talents for active citizenship and transformational leadership. 

The Trustees’ expanded ‘Charter’ document, ‘ _Reaching Out’_ continues to be the basis for in-school inservice training to further embed, apply, and develop the eight guiding principles of the charity and thereby continue to improve the learning experience and opportunities of all pupils. The Trustees ensure the implementation of the ‘Eight Essentials’ in the life of the schools through: 

- Their role in selecting and appointing the Foundation Governors of seven of the schools, and in the selection, appointment, and continuing formation of committed Headteachers and members of the school leadership teams. This applies both to the schools in direct trusteeship and to the newly formed Academies. 

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_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

- Continuous liaison and meeting with and support for Governing Bodies, Heads, and school leadership teams 

- The provision of in-service training for teachers and governors 

- The active promotion of the ‘Eight Essentials’ as the template for school development planning, SEF (self-evaluation) and for state and diocesan inspection. 

Each school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its pupils, and fully adheres to statutory requirements and best practice in this respect and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Inspections of the state–funded schools by Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education Children Services and Skills) and of the independent schools by ISIS  (Independent Schools Inspectorate) report that the quality of pastoral care in our schools is outstanding, that safeguarding and anti-bullying practices are effectively in place, and that the quality of provision for social, moral, and spiritual development and for social engagement, is excellent. 

Each school welcomes pupils from all backgrounds. Though the first obligation is to admit Roman Catholic pupils, the schools are open to pupils of all faiths or none and are committed, in relation to all pupils admitted, to complete inclusivity. The admissions and oversubscription criteria of the selective schools comply fully with the current statutory Admissions Code and with equal opportunity legislation. 

As equal opportunity providers the schools are committed to a working environment free from any form of discrimination.  The schools are committed to making reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of staff or pupils who are, or become, disabled. 

In the financial year the Trustees’ objectives in the educational sector included: 

- Continued improvement to the delivery of the eight core values through ongoing formation and in-service training for Heads, teaching and support staff and governors. 

- Continuing to expand the social outreach activities of the schools. The Schools’ Team encourages each school to engage pupils in actions of charity, justice and advocacy towards the needy, especially those made poor and marginalised, in the local community and the wider world, in the spirit of Edmund Rice and engaging with the work of Edmund Rice International and Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders. 

- The growth and further inspiration of the wider Edmund Rice Network in the spirit of the themes agreed at the last General Chapter of the Christian Brothers at Nairobi, Kenya in March 2014, the European Chapter in Emmaus in August 2014 and continuing Network gatherings and cluster meetings in Ireland and England on the theme of commitment to spiritual and social renewal: ‘Drawn by mystery, destined for Life’ within the eight calls of the General Chapter. 

The work of the Trustees in the schools is co-ordinated by a full-time Schools Officer, who provides guidance and support for Heads and Governing Bodies and: 

- Organises in-service training for newly qualified and established staff. 

- Organises inter-school conferences for Heads, Governors and for staff. 

- • Assists with school development planning. 

- Advises on the recruitment and appointment of senior staff. 

- Offers support for the spiritual life of senior staff and governors. 

- • Oversees best practice and compliance with safeguarding procedures 

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_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **Faith development** 

As a Religious Congregation, faith development is of prime importance to the Trustees.  All aspects of the Trust’s work involve the advancement of religion whether it is in the educational, pastoral or international missionary fields.   The Trust continues to assess its work and to search for better ways of carrying out this ministry in today’s world. 

The work in this area is mainly carried out through the schools and the local parishes where members of the Province reside. In addition, members of the Province provide prayer guidance and spiritual direction. 

From the early 1990s the Congregation of Christian Brothers, as a religious institute, has made a priority of sharing its mission with the laity, laicising the leadership and governance of the schools. Beyond that, as with other religious orders, there is an expanding emphasis on the growth of “spiritual families”, groups of associated lay people offered opportunities to draw spiritual and apostolic fruitfulness from the original charism. Thus the Trustees’ objectives include the development of an Edmund Rice Network of lay people who wish to associate themselves with the spirituality and apostolic mission of the Brothers. 

The ‘Edmund Rice Network’ consists of local groups of interested adults gathering for spiritual sharing and reflection and who are encouraged to involve themselves in some form of social outreach. Although the majority of Network participants are drawn from staff and parents in the schools, meetings are open to all interested adults – indeed to anyone who wishes in some way, however informally, to connect with the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice.  Opportunities for spiritual conversation and faith-based social action are provided.  The Network Support Team, in addition to its work with schools, seeks to build new local groups of lay associates on this model. 

The Trustees fund combined school and Network services delivered by a Network Support Team employed by the Trustees and based at the Edmund Rice Centre within the Christian Brother community at “Woodeaves”, Wicker Lane, Hale Barns, Altrincham. The Team of three consists of: 

- A  Schools Officer and Coordinator of the Edmund Rice Network 

- A Network Facilitator who promotes and organises involvement in Network events and opportunities; these include spiritual and adult immersion opportunities across the European and global Edmund Rice Network for teachers and support staff from the 12 schools and for parents and friends and interested adults. The Facilitator also writes the English Network magazine and develops resources for schools and the Network. 

- A Youth Development Facilitator with particular responsibility for the development and expansion of three specific programmes: Developing World Immersion programmes for students; Edmund Rice Camps for disadvantaged children; the Edmund Rice Awards Scheme (extending student voluntary service), links to the work of Edmund Rice International in advocacy and social justice within our schools including the promotion of the six Priorities identified by a new initiative within the schools named _Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders_ which is a Congregation wide project. 

The Manchester-based Edmund Rice Network group acts as a hub for Network development involving both lay associates and Christian Brothers. Extensive use is made of the Network Centre, within the Brothers’ residence in Hale Barns, which provides a base for Network meetings, for in-service sessions with teachers, support staff, governors, and pupils from the schools, and for gatherings with the wider community. 

Since 2010 small spiritual conversation groups have developed in Manchester, Liverpool, the Wirral and Salford.  These groups are focused on the three challenges, _‘_ Love tenderly, walk humbly, and act justly. _’_ 

In addition, a series of sessions has been organised at the Network Centre, offering all comers the opportunity for spiritual conversation and prayerful reflection on life experience. 

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_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **Social and pastoral work** 

The following are examples of the social and pastoral work undertaken by the Edmund Rice Network and  individual Brothers: 

- Working in parishes, visiting, helping in catechetical programs and helping parishioners develop their spiritual lives 

- Community social work with the homeless 

- Advocacy and support for asylum seekers and refugees 

- Various justice and peace initiatives 

- Guiding prayer groups 

- Working as counsellors 

The aims of the Trustees in this area include: 

- Enabling members of the Province to carry out meaningful social and pastoral work within the community after assessing their skills and the needs of the local area; and 

- • Encouraging and motivating members to work with and assist the poor, elderly and marginalised. 

## **International missionary work** 

The charity supports the international religious and other charitable works carried on in the name of the Congregation.  Members of the Congregation of Christian Brothers are working in developing countries around the world.  The Brothers work to help restore the education provision in those countries.  They are involved in school education, special education for handicapped children and adult literacy programmes.  In addition others are working with orphans and children displaced because of war.  The tracing of families of displaced children and the former child combatants is another area of vital importance. 

These young people are also offered literacy, numeracy and other skills-training programmes to help them re-integrate into society and to find ways of living economic and socially independent lives. 

In addition, the Trust contributed to the establishment of Edmund Rice Bicentennial Trust (ERBT), an English registered charity whose purpose is to support the mission of the Congregation worldwide but especially in the majority (developing) world. 

## **Care and welfare of members** 

Those members who earn salaries or receive pensions donate them to the Trust and therefore have no independent means of support.   Many also give their services free in their various ministries and continue to do so well beyond retirement age.  Hence the work of the Trust includes both the upkeep and up-skilling / retraining of the members so that they will be able to continue in their service to the public. 

In addition, the Trust must also care for the elderly members who are now themselves in need of care. These members have no resources of their own and have devoted a significant part of their lives to the mission of the Congregation. 

In this regard, the aims of the Trustees over the current and forthcoming years include: 

- Providing the necessary training to ensure that the members of the Trust can continue to further the mission of the Congregation. 

- 

   - Enabling members to continue with their individual ministries for as long as possible. 

- Reviewing the properties used as Community houses and assessing their suitability for an ageing membership. Those identified as being unsuitable will be adapted or replaced with more appropriate properties. 

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- Ensuring members receive the level of care they require to provide them with the quality of life they should rightly have. 

## **Public benefit** 

In setting objectives and planning activities, the Trustees and the Governing Bodies of the schools have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. 

The four secondary schools supported and serviced by the Trustees and the Schools Office educate over 4,000 students, are state-funded and completely non-fee paying. They are open to all with places accessed according to the admissions and oversubscription policies determined by Governing Bodies in conformity with the statutory Admissions Code and appeals procedures currently in force. All of the senior schools deliver further public benefit through the social outreach activities described elsewhere in this report and through community use of their facilities. 

One of the independent prepatory schools, Redcourt St Anselm’s, was closed in December 2019 because of the falling numbers. Another of the independentent schools, Runnymede St. Edward’s Preparatory School Liverpool, became a Voluntary Aided School at the start of September 2020. 

The two primary schools are independent fee-paying schools. The Trustees and the Governing Bodies of the schools have given consideration to the supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing education and on fee-charging.  Each school has its own annual statement of objectives to fulfil its mission and excellence as an Edmund Rice school. This forms part of each school’s development planning.  The two fee-paying primary schools are committed to maximising access by keeping fees as low as possible. Fees are kept well below the average for the independent sector nationally, below average regionally, and within the reach of families where both parents work. 

Each of the primary schools continues to develop its own bursary scheme to make a number of places available to children whose parents cannot pay fees. The number of advertised bursaries available remains limited because of the unusually low level of fees and the need for due regard for other families already struggling to fund their child’s education. Considerable bursary assistance is given to families who become unemployed or fall on hard times. Bursaries are awarded, subject to meeting the standard entrance requirements of the school, solely on the basis of parental means or to relieve hardship when a pupil’s education or future prospects would be at risk (for example, in the case of redundancy or divorce).  In addition, discounts are provided to families when they have more than one child attending the school. 

Each of the fee-paying primary schools seeks to provide wider public benefit by a range of means, for example: 

- Providing facilities for Edmund Rice Camps (summer holiday weeks) for disadvantaged children from inner city primary schools. 

- Participation in curricular and staff development partnership links with local state schools. 

- Opening facilities to community groups free of charge out of school hours e.g. adult education classes, neighbouring state schools, and sports teams. 

The Edmund Rice Network delivers public benefit through its outreach work with refugees and aslyum seekers in Liverpool and Greater Manchester and with marginalised youth in Salford, as described elsewhere in this report. 

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## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** 

## **Educational Programme / School Governance** 

All four of the state-funded secondary schools are high performing Catholic schools in their authorities, oversubscribed, performing powerfully in national league tables, and highly valued regionally for the strength of their Christian-Catholic ethos. They are notable also for their contribution to local improvement partnerships and to community cohesion through outreach activities, collaboration with other schools in the maintained sector, and the community use of their facilities. 

St. Joseph’s College in Stoke on Trent has continued to play a substantial role in educational regeneration within a previously failing authority both as a Teaching School and running the SCITT (school centred initial teacher training) to provide new teachers for the Local Authority. 

St. Edward’s College, St. Ambrose College and St. Anselm’s College provide collaborative partnerships within their areas. 

The two independent Preparatory Schools are subject to inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) 

Some examples of the in-school support services and opportunities provided and funded across the 11 schools by the Trustees are: 

- Joint inset with all staff from Prep schools 

- Joint inset with senior schools 

- Residential conference for heads and chairs 

- Training with all year 7 students in each of our academies 

- Induction for all new staff and Governors 

- Heads’ retreat 

- Leadership training for senior leadership teams 

- Advocacy work with both Junior and senior school pupils. 

## **Year 7 Edmund Rice Schools Induction Programme** 

The office team ran our school’s induction programme for students new into year 7 as online workshops. We saw every class in all the secondaries over the course of September and October. They all received their induction pack and the teachers have commented how much they like the materials and that the students enjoy the sessions. As the classes have to prepare in advance to know the life of Edmund Rice, we feel these sessions have really focused schools on delivering education about Edmund and the network early on and in some depth. All classes then carry on looking at further areas such as the schools’ network, EREBB, outreach, opportunities and the Eight Essentials in further lessons with staff. 


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## **Edmund Rice Camps   Nov- Dec 2020** 

Camp Coordinators planned Christmas activities for ERC feeder schools. Given the lockdown situation, each Camp distributed Christmas activity packs. 

St Edward’s ERC delivered 40 packs to Holy Family Primary in Liverpool on 27th November so that the school could distribute them to pre-selected families. 

The Coordinators and Mentors held their weekly meetings in November planning communications with schools and families over Christmas and start to look ahead at possibilities for ERC provision in Spring and Summer 2021. 

## **International Youth Ambassadors’ Forum** 

The global ERI Youth Ambassadors met each month in this year by Zoom to explore various social justice issues relevant to them. Two examples of these meetings were: 

- 24th October (Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery and 

- 21st November (Mental Health and Suicide Awareness). 

The meetings were very well attended by Youth Ambassadors and young activists from within the Network. 

At the meeting on 21st November, it was agreed that a Mental Health Focus Group would be formed to explore what student-led structures can be put in place in schools across the global Network. 

## **ERI Youth Ambassadors’ Induction** 

Due to the pandemic, Induction Training to new ERI Youth Ambassadors  was delivered via via Zoom in October, supported by the team from ERI who joined the call. The session covered most of what is normally delivered in the ‘live’ Induction Training, and gave students the chance to join breakout rooms to have their own conversations. 

Part of the session was given over to Tom Murray (Youth Development Facilitator), Cormac McArt and Malcom Gertse from the Justice Desk South Africa so they could introduce the Youth Ambassadors to the concept of the International YA Forum mentioned above. 

## **Heads’ Retreats via Zoom** 

In order to offer care and spiritual support to our Headteachers during this very difficult time, we ran a Zoom Retreats in October, December and March. 

Sessions included meditative breathing, guided reflections, contemplative prayer practice and spiritual conversation, guest facilitators such as Br David Ryan and Sue Hutchinson. 

In advance of the Retreat, the Network Team sent out Wellbeing Boxes to every Head containing tea, chocolates, oils, prayers, and a symbolic Guardian Angel to encourage them to act as a guardian for another Head and pray for them every day. 

Headteachers have really appreciated this special time for sharing and reflection and also the care shown by the team for them. 

## **Religious Orders in Education Charism Leadership Symposia Nov, March and June** 

Ann Nicholls (Network Facilitator) continued her work with the Charism Group of Religious Orders In Education.  That year we planned and delivered a series of 3 Leadership Symposia for Headteachers and SLT members in religious order schools focused around exploring and developing the Charism in their own schools. 

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We ran the first session on 9th November.  Ann organised the Charism Leadership Symposium working party; setting up the meetings, writing minutes and action plans and together we devised the format and content of the course. All invitations, posters and PR material were designed and distributed by Ann. Ann collated resources for the participants including documentation from various religious order schools that explicitly shows the embedding of the order’s mission into school life and policy. Ann also collected videos from Headteachers who spoke about their charisms. She selected key phrases from these and had a professional video created. This was much appreciated and referred to by participants on the day. Participation far exceeded expectation and we had 90+ participants. From the ER network we had newly appointed leaders including Kate Peaston from Runnymede and members of the North American Network. Ann created the PowerPoint and worked with Frank Barnhouse, a media developer, on the facilitation of the event, including briefing 12 breakout group facilitators. 

All participants receive on-going support and resources throughout the year. Ann designed the Newsletters that they received. With Fr David O’Malley SDB, we selected content and ideas that can be used throughout the school community.  Our first Newsletter went out just prior to the symposium. Feedback included: ‘the best thing I’ve received all year, better than Dfe, diocesan and CES publications!’ 

You can read the newsletter and access all the resources from the symposium on our Padlet page: https://padlet.com/annnicholsero/ltd64r5ysnym35y4 



## **Connecting Classrooms British Council project. #ERSchools Against Waste** 

During this year we planned, launched and began our British Council Connecting Classrooms project. 3 UK schools: St Anselm’s College, St Joseph’s Prep and St Aidan’s Catholic Academy joined with CBC St John’s in South Africa and St Vincent’s in Asansol, India to run this joint project that learns about the SDGs, global learning and running joint environmental projects. 

We established Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for staff based around sustainability and many staff in the participating schools did 4 day courses through the online British Council CPD pages on global learning and the SDGs. 

Much of the documentation and planning has been transferrable to EREBB as part of the future action 

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plan included many more ‘connecting classrooms’ style school joint sharing opportunities. 

A hurdle for schools was the inability to get groups of students together due to the ‘bubble’ system. They had to think creatively and used more virtual meetings, even within their own schools, to be able to join forces and plan events with overseas schools. The ‘live launch’ event took place in February 2021, attended by all schools, presentations were given by the students and ERI directors Br Kevin Cawley and Br Brain Bond. It was recorded and shared widely within the Network and beyond. 

## **Climate Change** 

The Edmund Rice Network participated as a panel member at the Climate Change Conference for students on Dec 2nd 2020. She encouraged our schools to participate; a small group of 6 students participated in a UN-style debate using data given to them to represent different countries. They were encouraged to advocate on the environment crisis and to join in with local organisations to take action for change. 

## **Brothers Today** 

As part of the preparation of materials for the Student Leadership Certificate had a video put together that is a compilation of brothers from across the provinces who talk about their role and their vocation. The range is fascinating, and students are really responding well to having such insights into the Christian Brothers today. This is an excellent resource. 

## **Presence Winter 2020** 

This edition had a slightly different feel due to COVID restrictions. It reflected the work of the UK network in its more global feel to it as this is the way we have all been working since lockdown. 


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## **Climate Change and Care for the Earth** 

In an on-going bid to raise the issue of Care for the Earth, reiterate the message of Laudato Si and highlight the Climate Crisis we worked on several projects across the international network. 

Members of the Edmund Rice Office completed an online course called ‘How to Talk to Anyone about Climate Change’, run by a educational charity in the UK that provided many facts, educational materials and stimuli around education and the climate crisis. 

With the ER Advocacy coordinator in New York, Sean D’Alfonso, on Feb 10[th] we ran a Climate Change debate for student leaders in our English schools together with five ER schools in the United States. Brothers came along to this discussion – Francis Hall, Fergus Reilly and teachers from the UK, North of Ireland and the US. Students were given some preparation questions and resources to work from to improve their knowledge before the discussion.  Much good conversation was had around personal and global responsibilities, UN SDGs and COP26, actions being taken in our schools etc. the outcome was that more education is needed and wanted by students and staff about this global crisis we face. 

As a result, a series of interactive workshops were coordinated by the Edmund Rice Office, involving Br Kevin Cawley and Br Brain Bond and Trocaire in the climate emergency and what actions can be taken by us all to help implement a more equal, sustainable future for all. We ran these in series of 3 dates in April. This was open to all staff across the international network and to senior students. 

Here is a Padlet page of Climate Change resources for everyone in the network to use. https://padlet.com/annnicholsero/t5shhklccimo5lxg 

It was called ‘Why Francis Met Greta’ 


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## **COP26** 

The Edmund Rice Office submitted a proposal to the organisers of COP26 that took place in November 2021 in Glasgow requesting a stand in the Green Zone – an educational area where groups can run interactive, educational sessions about their work on climate change. The proposal involves a new collaboration with the Edmund Rice Centre, Sydney, where Phil Glendinning, the director, is working with the Edmund Rice Office on a collaborative, educational advocacy project for the UK schools and wider network on the Pacific Islands issues around climate change. Student activists will be invited to attend COP26 to run the stand where the Pacific Islands peoples and environment will be advocated on by our own student group. 

Our schools were sent COP26 schools guides, encouraging them to engage with their local MPs on the run up to COP26.  We did not get the stand we hoped for but campaigned to continue engaging schools, writing the COY Youth Statement and eventually taking students to the COP26 event. 

## **Connecting Classrooms ‘ Live Launch’** 

The Edmund Rice Schools and British Councils project ‘Connecting Classrooms ER-Schools-AgainstWaste’ saw its official launch on February 26th. All 6 schools involved in the project presented on the day at our online launch event, outlining their environmental work to date and their hopes and plans for the joint sustainability project that will focus on waste reduction in their schools and communities. It was great to hear from our schools, connecting with each other and students showing leadership in this important collaboration. 

We were kindly joined by Brothers Kevin Cawley and Brian Bond who addressed the participants about climate change and the urgency needed from us all to respond.  The schools are planning very creative and interesting pupils’ projects that will get off the ground in the coming weeks now that schools can get back into their buildings. We had some good press coverage and praise from the management of the British Council for managing to get the project up and running despite the COVID restrictions. 

Comment from our British Council mentor: 

_“I just wanted to thank you for such a fantastic event on Friday afternoon. It was so lovely to see the young people sharing their ideas and working together. This collaborative approach across zoom must be the way things will go in the future. The input from the Brothers was also very inspiring.”_ 

_“It’s also a big thank you to you for all your passion and hard work as without you managing this partnership it would not be nearly so inspiring.”_ 

## **Wellness & Child Counselling** 

The Edmund Rice Office began the Capacitar Wellness training – a course in body, mind and spirit practices. The course is designed that practitioners share the techniques immediately, passing on meditative and breathing exercises and knowledge. The course is on various Saturdays through the year. 

The aim is to support schools; students and staff with their wellbeing, encouraging and sharing good practice across the schools in our network and many we work with outside of the ER network and providing sessions for students and staff that can teach strategies for self-care and   on-going wellness. We have developed KS 2,3 and 4/5 materials for student groups with teachers guides to accompany. We have taught wellness sessions in St Josephs College to year 7 groups and are scheduled to work with St Ambrose College students soon. 

A meeting was held for headteachers and staff in schools that are responsible for wellbeing where Ann Nicholls (network Facilitator) delivered a demonstration of the resources we have developed as well as leading a sharing session between all the participants about good practices they wanted to share around pupil and staff wellness. We had over 70 staff from many schools. From this we have a wellness email group where best practice, new developments etc can be shared. 

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We have developed and launched a series of Wellness Practices for school staff. The 12-week series of Zoom meetings demonstrate a wide variety of wellbeing practices that staff in schools can participate in for their own well-being as well as having accompanying resource sheets so that they can use the techniques with others – students included.  Ann and Tom are delivering some sessions and we have known practitioners in yoga and meditation as well as a life coach facilitating other sessions. The invite to participate has been shared with the regional and global network as well as with partner schools, ROE schools, Asylum Link teachers etc. 



**ASIST Suicide intervention Training Skills.   2 Online courses March 3/4/5** 

As we have had to cancel 3 dates to deliver the much requested ‘ASIST’ suicide intervention skills training due to COVID restrictions, we decided to run an online version. 

It has proven so popular that we ran 2 courses back-to-back to accommodate those wanting to complete the course. We also now have a waiting list. 

We condensed the 2-day course into a morning and afternoon session, covering all of the key elements and making the course interactive. We redesigned the course materials, sending a course booklet out to all participants. 

The course went really well online. We had access to more staff than we would normally do, we offered it out to Roe schools and to partner schools. We had Loreto and Salesian staff there as well as our own schools and others from the Midlands.  We certificated the course as an Edmund Rice England project with a view to offer the complete ‘ASIST Livingworks’ certificate to participants when we can get to see them face to face for an extra half-day. 

## Some of the feedback read: 

_“I really enjoyed the sessions and found them interesting and easy to follow. The facilitators were really clear on what the key points were and what the purpose of the training was. I feel much more confident_ 

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_in having these discussions after this training session and I feel ready to have those conversations should the situation arise.”_ 

_“I think both Ann and Tom work really well together.  The group didn’t feel too big, which was good as I think I would have felt intimidated to say anything.”_ 

_“After this course I feel that I would be able to recognise the signs better and be able to take action and not feel afraid to become involved.”_ 

_“Thought that this course was excellent. Really challenging and thought-provoking. Very much want to finish off this course not just to gain the accreditation but to engage more in the practical scenarios. Thanks again.”_ 

## **Edmund Rice Camps Homelessness Outreach** 

Volunteers from the Liverpool Edmund Rice Camps continue to undertake homelessness outreach on Thursday evenings, distributing food, clothing and essential items to the city’s homeless community. 

It is normal to distribute items to between 40 and 60 individuals each night. 

On 17th December 2020 the group put together special Christmas packages including hats, scarves, gloves and Christmas cards. 

## **Edmund Rice Chaplains’ Zooms** 

Tom Murray (Youth Development Facilitator) began facilitating Monthly Zoom meetings for Chaplains from ER schools in England and Ireland. The first of these meetings was held on 10th February and offered Chaplains a reflective space for sharing with each other, as well as sharing resources and forthcoming initiatives. 

The next meeting is on 10th March and will include Chaplains from English and Irish schools. This will be a great opportunity for them to feel supported by one another and the Network. 

Tom is also facilitating regular Student Spiritual Conversations by Zoom. The first session, on 25th February, attracted 16 participants from England, Ireland, South Africa and USA which is a brilliant start. It is hoped that we can expand this group with the support of the Chaplaincy Network. The sessions offer students short stimulus pieces and then the space to open share on their spiritual search. Conversation is guided by the students as there is no ‘title’ as such. It is simply an open invitation to share around faith and spirituality. 

## **Why (Pope) Francis Met Greta** 

Ann invited Edmund Rice International and Trocaire to accompany her in delivering a 3 part Climate Emergency / Laudadto Si course aimed at staff in Edmund Rice schools globally. It was also open to senior students. It took place on 3 consecutive Monday evenings, 8.00-9.30 UK time. 

Many staff in the UK, US, Canada took part as well as representatives from Ireland, Australia, Zambia, South Africa. We also had staff there from other Religious Order schools. 

The first, delivered by Br Kevin and Br Brian, focussed on the current distress the Earth is experiencing. The causes and some consequences of the climate emergency were presented as well as the measures being taken to try to manage the rise in Earth temperatures, work of activists and the global response via climate summits - starting in Paris and which will be followed up this November at COP26. With over 30 participants from the UK, US, Africa and Ireland a great discussion was had about the enormity of the situation, how best to engage in climate action and how to turn climate anxiety into hopeful action. The next session, delivered by Jane Mellet, Laudato Si officer from Trocaire in Ireland, explored in detail Laudato Si, the key messages being put forward by the Church in terms of our role as loving neighbours to those suffering this crisis, integral ecology, lines of approach and action and ecological education as part of our spirituality. We witnessed the human cost of this crisis through the 

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story of Joanna Sustento, from the Philippines, who lost her family in typhoon Tyan and has gone on to fight for the basic human right of a safe, stable climate for the whole planet, especially for those most vulnerable communities. She concluded with Pope Francis’s words ‘Let us sing as we go. May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope’. Laudato Si, 244,180. 

The final session in the series built on this picture, again exploring the impact that the climate crisis is already having on another vulnerable community; those peoples who call the beautiful Pacific Islands their home. With us as facilitator we welcomed Corinne Fagueret from the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education who coordinates the ‘Pacific Calling Partnership’ advocating for and with the peoples of the Pacific Islands of Kiribati and Tuvalu in terms of the negative impact climate change is having on them. Corinne told us about the impact of rising sea levels as well as increased intensity and frequency of storm surges, all of which are having devastating effects on these island communities.  Under serious threat of annihilation due to other countries’ selfish consumption of fossil fuels, the plight of these nations need to be heeded and seen as a warning of what more is to come. Corinne and the Justice Centre are going to continue working with the UK schools on the run up to COP26. This last session was concluded with a summary of key information and some calls to personal and community action. ‘There are no passengers on this journey to a sustainable future, we are all crew’. 

Participants on the course declared the series to have been ‘extremely useful in their role as educators’ that they had gained ‘accurate scientific information and genuine guidance on activism’, they also said it ‘reinforced their will power to make simple changes, to have faith for the future’ and that they ‘will be urging school leaders to take action and require climate conversations in our schools’. 

You can find links to the recordings of each session, plus many resources on climate change, climate action and care for the earth on a Padlet resources page: https://padlet.com/annnicholsero/t5shhklccimo5lxg 

## **Global Classroom Partners** 

https://www.erebb.org/erebb-global-classroom-partners-program/ 

The Global Classroom Partners Program is an initiative of _Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders_ and coordinated through _Edmund Rice Education Australia_ (EREA) and Edmund Rice England _._ This program offers a learning space for young people from around the world, where they will critically explore some of the world’s most important issues and come up with a specific project to be applied in their community. 

During the financial year the Edmund Rice Office has been working with Brian Garrone of EREA on a new linking scheme for Edmund Rice schools globally. We have recently formalised all the arrangements, Ann has written the lesson content and we launched our pilot scheme of 40 schools who came together for a launch on 10 June. 

Schools can sign up to be part of the program that facilitates collaborative learning between 2 Edmund Rice schools from different parts of the globe. Global Classroom Partner classes are linked via video conference and undertake a shared lesson theme, going on the carry out a joint project over the academic year. The lesson topics that partners can choose to look at are: 

- View from my Window 

- Faith as a Force for Good 

- Generation UN – SDG 

- Black Lives Matter Globally 

- Sport Moves the World 

With a launch on June 10th of our initial 40 schools taking part in the pilot scheme we hope that our Global Classroom Partners grows from strength to strength! 

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## **Women in Leadership Social Justice / Gender Advocacy Campaign** 

Ann worked with Defensoria Edmundo Rice and brought in the advocacy team in the US to gather statements and photos from many women and girls in leadership roles across the whole network. We have had over 40 contributions so far. These will be translated so that the campaign, that will run on social media across the network from September can be published in Spanish as well as English. It is to highlight SDG 5 gender equality. 


## **Edmund Rice Camps** 

In March, as restrictions began to ease, the decision was taken to look at how Edmund Rice Camps might be able to operate this summer. Coordinators and Mentors met with Tom Murray (Youth Development Facilitator) on 24th March, and then again on 14th April, to look at what was achievable with limited numbers of volunteers and the separate Camps have continued to meet since then. 

Although the decision was taken by the Salford community not to host a Camp this summer, we are still working towards Camps in Stoke from 10th-12th July, Liverpool (Runnymede) from 2nd-5th August and Wirral on 2nd-6th August (2 Camps running simultaneously, at St Anselm’s and St Joseph’s, Seacombe). Funding will be allocated pro rata to reflect the shorter nature of some of the Camps. Clearly, recruitment and training have been major challenges this year so the make-up of Camps will reflect this, with training sessions conducted by Zoom and the usual 1-2-1 ratio of Leaders to children relaxed. 

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## **Edmund Rice International** 

Tom Murray (Youth Development Facilitator) continues to represent the Edmund Rice Office at ERI’s Monthly Hangouts as Regional Advocacy Coordinator for England and Ireland. Meetings were held on 27th April and 25th May. 

In addition, Tom has been working on a proposal to be introduced in September with the support of the ERI Team. The premise is that we would establish a global network of ‘ERI Partner Schools ’who are committed to supporting the work of ERI and promoting advocacy, human rights and eco-justice in the daily life of their school or ministry. 

As we reflect on the challenges of the last 15 months, with access to schools limited and their interaction with community and outreach projects significantly reduced, we are acutely aware of the impact the pandemic may have on our relationship with students, staff and volunteers. 

Whilst we look forward to being able to engage more closely with schools in the coming months, it is more important than ever to offer people exciting, structured opportunities to work under the ERI banner as we compete with other activities similarly requiring ‘catch-up ’time for those involved with them. By presenting schools and ministries with a blueprint for their involvement with advocacy and human rights as soon as possible, we increase the likelihood of securing their commitment and contribution. 

We have noticed a marked reduction in attendance at organised online events as students and staff are pulled in different directions. Whilst many of the events organised and delivered during lockdown have been of genuine merit, the true test will be whether we capture an audience when things return to ‘normal’. On 7th May Tom presented the following as a ‘checklist’ of activities for any school wishing to be formally associated with ERI: 

- Establishment of ERI Groups 

- Appoint ERI Youth Ambassadors 

- Attendance at ERI Youth Ambassadors ’Annual Induction 

- Participation in Geneva Visit For Students 

- Participation in Online Geneva Conference 

- Attendance at International Youth Ambassadors ’Google Hangout 

- Attendance at Annual Youth Ambassadors ’Conference 

- Appoint ERI Staff Ambassadors 

- Attend Annual Staff Advocacy Workshop 

- Attend ERI Online Training Course 

- Participation in Geneva Visit For Staff 

- Adoption of Social Justice Action Plan 

- Delivery of Advocacy & Human Rights Classroom Modules 

- Adoption of ERI Approved Campaigns 

An ERI Partner School would be expected to use official ERI logos on letterheads, signage, websites and social media. They would receive this from ERI with notification of their status as an ERI Partner School. They would be presented annually with a Mission Statement produced by ERI in consultation with Regional Coordinators which clearly explains the commitment required of an ERI Partner School. 

These proposals were discussed with other Regional Advocacy Coordinators on 25th May following a second meeting with the ERI Team on 21st May. A meeting following the next Monthly Hangout at the end of June will seek to take these proposals forward in time for the start of the academic year. 

Tom also submitted both written and oral statements through ERI for the 47th session of the Human Rights Council. The oral statement, focusing on the proposed new immigration laws in the UK, will be featured ‘live’ at the UN on 23rd June. 

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## **Chaplaincy Gatherings** 

Tom began organising monthly gatherings for the Edmund Rice Chaplains by Zoom. Although we only have Chaplains at St Aidan’s, St Edward’s and St Joseph’s, the gatherings are available to Chaplaincy Team representatives from the other Edmund Rice schools, other Chaplains from associated schools, and Chaplains from within the ERST network. 

The Edmund Rice Office led gatherings on 20th April and 19th May and will continue the gatherings after the summer. They offer opportunity for reflection as well as the sharing of key events, feasts and activities. 

## **Social and Pastoral work** 

Throughout the year, the Edmund Rice Network and the Brothers continued to carry out various forms of social and pastoral work in order to fulfil their individual Ministries.  This work enables the charity to reach out to those in need within society generally and benefit a significant number of people. 

Within the Network ‘religion’ is understood as requiring committed social outreach as well as faithsharing and prayer. The principal current expression of this commitment is outreach in the spirit of Edmund Rice, to the ‘strangers in our midst’. Network members continue to provide weekly throughthe-year support to: 

- AsylumLink Merseyside, working with a Christian Brother at the St. Anne’s Centre in Overbury Street, Liverpool. The focus here is on befriending, accompaniment, and the (free) provision of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes. 

- SERV – Edmund Rice volunteers working with asylum seekers and refugees as well as hosting a youth club and an Edmund Rice Camp. 

- • Homelessness organisations such as the Whitechapel Centre in Liverpool invloving students in awareness raising and fundraising. 

## **International missionary work** 

In past years, the Trust has made donations to an NGO group called Dailit.  This group works in Bangladesh to improve the social economic condition and the social position of socially excluded individuals and groups through education, health and income generating activities.  Due to Covid and other reasons no donation was made in the financial year. The Trustees hope to support this NGO in the future. 

## **Positive Impact Investing** 

We view our investment portfolio as part of our Mission.   Alongside our active Ministries, we also seek to bring about change through our investment portfolios. Some investments can be harmful; for example, investments in fossil fuel companies or armaments companies supports the production of goods that can be highly damaging to the environment or human wellbeing. Avoiding these types of investments is an important step in ensuring that our investment portfolio is not involved in harmful activities. But it is only the first step along the path of what can be achieved. 

While avoiding harmful activities is important, we believe that it is even more important to use our investments to bring about positive change in the world. We therefore seek to invest in activities that have beneficial impacts, for both individual wellbeing and for the environment. 

We assess these positive impacts under a number of headings that we believe are important measures of how our investments are positively affecting the world around us. Below are some of the positive impacts achieved by the investment portfolio: 

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**The Portfolio and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)** 

All of the investments within the Portfolio contribute towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The SDGs were developed and adopted by all member states of the United Nations to help achieve “a more sustainable future for all”.   They represent a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and promote prosperity and people’s wellbeing by 2030. They integrate and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. Achieving the SDGs on a global basis requires collaboration between governments, the private sector, civil society and citizens alike.  The Portfolio plays a role in the realisation of the goals. 


The Sustainable Development Goals are also closely aligned with the charitable objectives of religious organisations.  Since the publication of Laudato Si, Pope Francis has made a strong commitment to sustainable development.  His appeal to “…every person living on this planet for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet”, provides a firm ethical foundation for actions that need to be taken urgently at all levels.  Pope Francis’ speech ahead of the United Nations General Assembly’s formal adoption of the 17 SDGs gave further support to the ambitious and transformational vision of the goals. 

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A comprehensive Ethical and Positive Impact policy ensures the Portfolio remains consistent with the ethos of the charity.  The Portfolio currently excludes companies involved in the production of weapons, tobacco, alcohol, pornography, and activities such as gambling and embryonic stem cell research. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria complements the screening as it improves the overall ESG risk exposure of the Portfolio.   In particular, climate risk is addressed through the exclusion of fossil fuel companies and a focus to reduce the carbon footprint of the Portfolio through investment in such areas as renewable energy and forestry. 

## **Environmental Impact** 

## _**Overall Carbon Footprint**_ 


Measurement of carbon emissions is crucial to help us understand the role our investment portfolio plays in the climate crisis, while taking measures to address it. As the SDG logos to the left show, limiting carbon emissions interacts with several SDGs, helping address Climate Action in particular. Climate justice is another aspect addressed in our portfolio, as climate change predominantly impacts those who’ve done the least to contribute to pollution and have less resources to deal with it. Therefore, control of carbon emissions in our portfolio also has positive implications for reducing poverty (SDG1), reducing inequality (SDG10) and preserving life on land (SDG10) and in the ocean (SDG14) 

The Portfolio includes a number of carbon sink-type investments, which sequester or draw carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.  Forestry in particular is a very effective carbon sink, as trees absorb carbon dioxide as part of their growing process.  Therefore, the presence of two forestry funds means that any carbon emissions from the majority of the portfolio are effectively offset entirely by the forestry investments. 

Put another way, this means that the Portfolio in aggregate will sequester (withdraw) -497 tonnes of CO2e from the atmosphere per annum while an unscreened portfolio of the same size would produce c. 788 tonnes of CO2e.  We believe that these extremely strong carbon emission statistics makes the Portfolio very much part of the solution to climate change, rather than part of the problem. 

## _**Fossil Fuel Reserves**_ 

Following the Trustees decision to entirely divest from fossil fuels in early 2017, the Portfolio now holds no fossil fuel reserves.  This section addresses the level of exposure that the portfolio has to companies owning thermal coal, oil gas reserves and other unconventional sources of reserves such as oil sands, shale oil, and shale gas.  Many of these reserves may not be useable if we are to keep the targeted temperature rise (as a result of global warming) below 2 degrees Celsius.  This risk is referred to as stranded asset risks and it is addressed through avoidance of companies holding fossil fuel reserves. Hence, in addition to the impact, not holding these assets reduces the financial risk within the portfolio. The chart below shows the fossil fuel reserves held by investments within the Portfolio across the major fossil fuels in comparison to an unscreened portfolio.  As the chart shows, the Portfolio holds no fossil fuel reserves at all.  This is a key metric to ensure that the Portfolio is not supporting fossil fuel activities that are diametrically opposed to the impact the Portfolio is trying to achieve elsewhere in the investments, namely promoting transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy. 

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**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Fossil Fuel Reserves (thousands of tonnes<br>per €1m invested)<br>2<br>1.8<br>Charity<br>1.6 Portfolio<br>1.4<br>Unscreened<br>1.2 Portfolio<br>1<br>0.8<br>0.6<br>0.4<br>0.2<br>0<br>Coal Gas Oil<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


_**Chart showing the Charity’s Investment Portfolio holds no fossil fuel reserves (no blue bar)**_ 

## _**Renewable Energy**_ 

Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels for our energy needs is vital for the transition to a low carbon future. The pandemic and resulting national lockdowns led to a drop of 5.5% in our primary energy consumption for the first time since 2009, with consumption of all fuel decreasing except for renewables and hydro. In fact, electricity generation from renewable sources expanded by more than 8% in 2021. Solar and wind are set to contribute two-thirds of renewables growth. 

Given the importance of promoting renewable energy sources to address climate change, any investor interested in impact investing generally seeks a high level of renewable power output from their investment portfolio. 

Within the Portfolio, renewable power is produced by a number of investments based in Ireland, Europe, the US and the developing world. We note some of the key impact metrics of these funds below: 



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The benefit of generating renewable power can be measured by how much fossil fuel power (and resulting CO2 emissions) it replaces.  In 2021, the Portfolio avoided the release of almost  6,641 tonnes of CO2e. This is equivalent to: 

- Removing  1,434 cars from the roads every year 

- 15,275  barrels of oil saved 

- 5,532  acres of pine forest absorbing CO2 for one year 

- 731 round trips around the world by one typical passenger car (travelling at the equator). 

In terms of renewable energy produced, the Portfolio produced 3,788 MWh in 2021, enough energy to power approx. 6,513 homes. 

## _**Environmental Protection and Carbon Sequestration**_ 

Environmental protection is a critical aspect of sustainability addressed by the Portfolio.  The forestry investments within the Portfolio have a mandate to: 

- Produce sustainable timber; 

- Sequester carbon from the atmosphere; 

- Protect natural resources and biodiversity of the area, in order to minimise the effect on the biodiversity and general environmental welfare. 


## **Social Impact** _**Job Creation**_ 


Providing employment is one of the best methods of reducing poverty, and therefore it has a number of positive beneficial effects across the SDGs, from poverty reduction (SDG1) to providing Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG8). As the majority of the jobs created by the impact investments are in the developing world, and tend to favour women as much (if not more) than men, then job creation in these areas improves Gender Equality (SDG5) and Reduces Inequalities (SDG10), both between sexes and between the developed and developing regions of the world. 

The Portfolio has a number of funds which provide job creation through their economic activity.  The equity funds provide capital to companies that employ anywhere between hundreds to hundreds of thousands, and therefore in theory the provision of additional capital by investors will enable these companies to create jobs.  However, as these funds generally invest in well-established businesses in the developed world, the job creation impact from additional investment is low. However, other funds that operate in the developing world, tend to produce far higher job creation and comprise the majority 

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of the additional jobs produced for the portfolio as a whole. 

The new jobs created by an unscreened portfolio of the same size as the Portfolio would only create 8 new jobs, while the Portfolio helped create around 16 direct jobs in 2021. 

## _**Vita Green Impact Investment**_ 

The Vita Green Impact investment is committed to social impact and climate action, delivering sustainable water and energy services in rural African communities.  It contributes to the delivery of the SDGs with a particular focus on SDGs 3, 5, 6 and 7 relating to improved health and gender equality as well as access to water and energy.  Below is a summary of Vita positive impacts: 


Source: Vita Annual Impact Report 

## **Care and Welfare of Members** 

Throughout the year the charity continued to assist members of the Congregation in their charitable and religious work.  A number of members were cared for in the Cowper Care nursing care home in Ireland whilst the charity enabled other members to work and volunteer in their chosen ministry.  In addition, the charity welcomes members from other Provinces to stay in England to allow them to study and acquire skills they can take back to their own Provinces. 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 

## **Results for the year** 

During the year, total incoming resources amounted to £2.2m (2020: £3.5m).  Of the incoming resources, a total of £1.5m (2020: £2.6m) related to the fees receivable and other income of the charity’s independent schools, with other incoming resources accounting for £0.7m (2020: £0.9m).  Investment income and interest receivable totalled £214k (2020: £406k), while donations and gifts totalled £12k (2020: £46k). 

Resources expended totalled £3.1m (2020: £5.6m), with 99% (2020: 99%) being expended on direct charitable activities.  Expenditure in the charity’s independent schools totalled £2.1m (2020: £3.3m). Expenditure incurred on maintaining the members of the Congregation and supporting them in their ministry and pastoral work amounted to £936k (2020: £1.7m). Mission support costs totalled £56k (2020: £429k) in the year. Expenditure on governance during the year was well controlled and amounted to £145k (2020: £73k). 

Net outgoing resources for the year, therefore, were £900k (2020: £2,060k). Investment gains of £428k (2020: losses of £158k) and gains on the disposal of fixed assets of £412k (2020: £nil) were offset by actuarial losses of £321k (2020: £87k actuarial gains) on the befined benefit pension scheme resulted in a net movement in funds for the year of £381k (2020: £2,130k). 

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## **Investment policy** 

The charity’s investments are held in unitised funds, the purpose of which is to provide investment income to promote the charitable objectives of the Trust, and to provide capital growth in the reserves over the medium term.  They are invested with a conservative investment strategy.   The objectives for the investments are as follows: 

- To provide an annual income for the charity 

- To preserve the capital value of the portfolio in real terms 

- To generate a real return, depending on conditions in financial markets, after the initial two objectives have been met 

- To achieve the above targets while utilising the charity’s stated ethical investment policy 

The majority of the investment funds are under the management of Setanta Asset Management, and Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland Ltd.  As noted above, all funds have an ethical investment screen; they exclude companies that fall foul of certain ethical criteria, and in most cases favour stocks that provide positive benefits to society; these funds only hold investments that are compatible with the Charity’s religious ethos. 

## **Reserves policy** 

At the end of the financial year, the total funds of the charity amounted to £10.2m (2020: £10.6m).  Of this, £3.0m (2020: £3.5m) is represented by properties and other tangible fixed assets essential for the running of the charity.  The Trustees have designated another £4.9m (2020: £5.1m) to provide for school and education funding, mission and ministry works and the care and welfare of the members.  Details are given in note 19 of these Financial Statements.  The Trustees review and reassess these designations on an on-going basis. 

Un-designated or general funds amount to £2.3m (2020: £2.0m). This equates to approximately 7 months (2020: 5 months) of unrestricted charitable expenditure. The Trustees consider that, given the nature of the charity’s work and its commitments, the level of free reserves should be approximately equal to between 4 and 8 months’ expenditure. 

## **FUTURE PLANS** 

The charity intends to continue to review its spending plans and needs and to make every effort to manage its existing assets as efficiently as possible in order to generate the income necessary to achieve the charity aims. 

The Trustees intend to meet the following objectives: 

- Through the work of the Network Support Team to continuously improve the implementation of the ‘Essential Elements of Edmund Rice Education’  through the provision of support services, including support for Governing Bodies, Heads, and leadership teams and in-service training for teachers and support staff. 

- As regards future planning, the CCBT intends to become a founding member of the Gaudete Trust which is a collaborative venture involving five Religious Orders who are involved in education. This venture will enable the rich heritage of Religious Orders to affirm their commitment to Catholic education and to continue to enrich it. The CCBT intends to put all their seven schools into the Gaudete Trust, thus relieving the present trustees of the responsibility of trusteeship. The Gaudete Trust will be allied to a Multi Academy Trust, which will include the Congregation's present four stand-alone academies.  The Gaudete Trust – hopefully established by September 2022 – will be a Charitable Incorporated Organisation recognised by the Charities Commission and a Public Juridic Person recognised by the Hierarchy of England and Wales. 

- To continue to extend the Developing World Immersion Programme.  This will include the investigation of immersion opportunities in other Developing World Countries and the 

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drawing in of schools yet to send groups on immersion. 

- To continue to develop links with the work of ‘Edmund Rice International’, the Christian Brother non-governmental organisation based in Geneva and working within the United Nations on issues of global social justice, in particular the rights of the child. 

- To continue to grow the wider Edmund Rice Network in England, using school communities as the core but establishing local groups open to the wider community and providing opportunities for faith-sharing, spiritual reflection, and action for social justice (in particular support for refugees and asylum seekers). 

- To continue to grow the Edmund Rice Network specifically for the age group 18-25, continuing the connection with ex-students of the schools, providing them with further opportunities for immersion, service, social engagement, and reflection both in Britain and Ireland and in the Developing World. 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** 

In terms of Civil Law, the charity is governed by an Amended Trust Deed dated 27 February 2015.  The charity is registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales (charity number 254312). 

In accordance with the Amended Trust Deed “the number of Trustees shall not be less than four including any ex-officio Trustee and shall never be more than eight and on the occurrence of any vacancy reducing the Trustees to less than four a new Trustee or new Trustees shall be appointed as soon as possible in order to restore the number of Trustees to four at the least” 

In terms of Canon Law, the Congregation is governed at an international level by the Congregation Leader and the Leadership Team in Rome.    They are elected every six years at a General Chapter. The European Province is governed by the Province Leader and the Province Leadership Team, who are nominated by members of the European Province.  Members of the Province Leadership Team are chosen for their personal qualities, their understanding and experience of the ministries of the Brothers and to secure a good skills mix among them.  Each Community in the Province is governed by a local leader, who is appointed by the Province Leader. The Province Leadership Team visits each Community at least once a year and throughout the year there is a system of accountability operational throughout the Province to help to ensure that the Province Leadership Team are aware of the progress and development of the ministries carried out in the name of the Province. 

## **Appointment and Training of Trustees** 

The statutory power of appointing new or additional Trustees is vested in the Province Leader.  Trustees are chosen for their personal qualities and their understanding and experience of the ministries throughout the Province.  To date, the Trustees have been members of the European Province of the Congregation and as such they will already be well informed about the Mission, governing documents and strategic planning and history of the charity. 

When a new Trustee is appointed they are given a copy of the Amended Trust Deed and the Charity Commission’s booklets for Trustees.  In addition, they meet with the existing Trustees during which they are given an outline of their responsibilities and continuing obligations. 

## **Organisational Structure** 

The Trustees are ultimately responsible for the policies, activities and assets of the charity.  They meet on a regular basis to review developments with regard to the Charity and its activities.   When necessary, they seek advice from the charity’s professional advisors. 

The day to day running of the Academies is delegated to Governing Bodies appointed according to the statutory framework and instruments of government for state-funded schools. The day to day running of the Independent Preparatory Schools is delegated to Governing Bodies, in accordance with the instruments of government provided by the Trustees.  The Trustees receive regular financial and educational reports from all the Boards of Governors and Headteachers of the schools. 

The Independent School Governors and the Foundation Governors in the state-funded schools are 

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appointed by the Trustees for a given term of years and may be re-appointed when their term ends. 

## **Risk Management** 

The Trustees undertake a full risk assessment on an annual basis and monitor progress on an annual basis. This process is supported by the Finance Office, who works closely with the Trustees in this area. The Trustees identified the following as being the principal risks to which the Charity is exposed: 

Governance and management: considers the efficiency of the Trustee body.  Risks considered include a lack of planning, a Trustee body which lacked sufficient skills or appropriate decision making procedures.  Such risks could include a lack of training / induction or poor stewardship of resources – human, financial and property.   The Trustees have addressed these risks by operating both annual and longer term plans, holding regular Trustee meetings which include the monitoring of actual performance against these plans, having meaningful induction / handover for incoming Trustees, attending Trustee training days, seeking third party advice as required, etc. 

Financial: considers the financial capacity of the Charity and ensuring it has the available financial resources to continue to carry out its activities both now and in the years ahead. This incorporates the management of the operating (day-to-day) position, capital or building requirements and the returns earned on the Charity’s investment portfolios.   These risks are mitigated in a variety of ways, including budgeting, the setting of an investment strategy / investment objectives that consider diversity, prudence and liquidity criteria, regular financial and investment reporting against budget, cash-flow planning, the appointment of Stewardship advisors where necessary. 

Age Profile: considers the ageing population of the members of the Congregation of Christian Brothers – English Province which is supported by the Charity. This incorporates the review of the training, skillsets and energy of the Brothers in a leadership, Ministry or Mission role. The risks are mitigated through training, Trustee visitation to each Community, regular Province meetings, healthcare reviews and rotating Brothers in different roles and the sharing of knowledge. The Trustees invest time, energy and allocate resources to ensure the continuing of the Charity both now and into the future. This can also include the involvement of lay people to support the Brothers and the involvement of professional advisors in relation to stewardship advice to the Trustees. 

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## **Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities** 

The Trustees of the Charity are required to prepare for each financial year accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the source and application of resources of the Charity for that period.  In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; 

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that this basis applies. 

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity, and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the statutory requirements. The Trustees are conscious of their responsibility for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

## **Statement as to disclosure of information to auditors** 

So far as the Trustees are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Charity’s auditors are unaware, and each Trustee has taken all the steps that he or she ought to have taken as a Trustee in order to make himself or herself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Charity’s auditors are aware of that information. 

## **Auditors** 

A resolution to re-appoint Mazars LLP as auditors to the Charity will be proposed to the forthcoming Trustee Meeting. 

Approved by the Trustees on 11-Nov-2022 and signed as authorised on their behalf by: 

## D. Gibson 

D. Gibson (Nov 11, 2022 16:11 GMT) 

D Gibson Trustee 

11-Nov-2022 

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## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS** 

## **Opinion** 

We have audited the financial statements of The English Province of the Congregation of Christian Brothers (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 August 2021 which comprise Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

In our opinion, the financial statements: 

- give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 August 2021 and of its income and expenditure for the year then ended; 

- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and 

- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. 

## **Basis for opinion** 

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

## **Conclusions relating to going concern** 

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 

## **Other information** 

The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees’ Report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report.  Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

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## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS (continued)** 

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard. 

## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** 

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Report. 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

- certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or 

- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

## **Responsibilities of Trustees** 

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 31, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements. 

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below. 

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. 

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## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS (continued)** 

Based on our understanding of the charity and its industry, we considered that non-compliance with the following laws and regulations might have a material effect on the financial statements: employment regulation, health and safety regulation and non-compliance with implementation of government support schemes relating to COVID-19. 

To help us identify instances of non-compliance with these laws and regulations, and in identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect to non-compliance, our procedures included, but were not limited to: 

- Inquiring of management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance, as to whether the charity is in compliance with laws and regulations, and discussing their policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations; 

- Inspecting correspondence, if any, with relevant licensing or regulatory authorities; 

- Communicating identified laws and regulations to the engagement team and remaining alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout our audit; and 

- Considering the risk of acts by the charity which were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. 

We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the preparation of the financial statements, such as tax and pension legislation. 

In addition, we evaluated the trustees’ and management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements, including the risk of management override of controls, and determined that the principal risks related to posting manual journal entries to manipulate financial performance, management bias through judgements and assumptions in significant accounting estimates, in particular in relation to income recognition, depreciation, defined benefit pension scheme disclosures, historical provisions and significant one-off or unusual transactions. 

Our audit procedures in relation to fraud included but were not limited to: 

- Making enquiries of the trustees and management on whether they had knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; 

- Gaining an understanding of the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud; 

- Discussing amongst the engagement team the risks of fraud; and 

- Addressing the risks of fraud through management override of controls by performing journal entry testing. 

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities including fraud rests with management. As with any audit, there remained a risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations or the override of internal controls. 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 

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## **INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS (continued)** 

## **Use of the audit report** 

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and regulations made or having effect thereunder. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s members as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

Mazars LLP (Nov 23, 2022 12:16 GMT) 

For and on behalf of Mazars LLP Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor One St. Peter’s Square Manchester M2 3DE 

Date: 23-Nov-2022 

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## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

|||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**funds**|**funds**|**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**INCOME:**||||||
|Donations and legacies|3|4,008|8,000|12,008|45,566|
|Investment income|4|213,548|<br>-|213,548|406,448|
|**_Income from charitable activities_**||||||
|Operation of the schools|5|1,516,592|3,902|1,520,494|2,618,531|
|Other income|6|465,079|-|465,079|426,058|
|||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total income**||**2,199,227**|**11,902**|**2,211,129**|**3,496,603**|
|||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**EXPENDITURE ON:**|7|||||
|Raising funds||33,916|-|33,916|30,301|
|Charitable activities||3,068,370|8,693|3,077,063|5,525,957|
|||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total expenditure:**||**3,102,286**|**8,693**|**3,110,979**|**5,556,258**|
|||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Net (expenditure)/income**||**(903,059)**|<br>**3,209**|**(899,850)**|**(2,059,655)**|
|Transfers between funds|19|-|-|-|-|
|**Net (expenditure)/income after transfers**||**(903,059)**|<br>**3,209**|**(899,850)**|**(2,059,655)**|
|Net gains/(losses) on investments|11|428,133|-|428,133|(157,597)|
|Net gain on disposal of fixed assets||412,278|-|412,277|-|
|**Other recognised (losses)/gains**||||||
|Actuarial (losses)/gains on defined benefit||||||
|pension scheme|23|(321,200)|<br>-|(321,200)|87,400|
|||───────|────────|────────|───────|
|**Net movement in funds**||**(383,848)**|<br>**3,209**|**(380,639)**|**(2,129,852)**|
|**_Reconciliation of funds_**||||||
|Total funds brought forward||10,606,159|12,329|10,618,488|12,748,340|
|||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total funds carried forward**||**10,222,311**|**15,538**|**10,237,849**|**10,618,488**|
|||═══════|═══════|═══════|═══════|



The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. 

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. 

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|**BALANCE SHEET**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**AS AT 31 AUGUST 2021**||||
||**Note**|**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|
|**FIXED ASSETS**||||
|Tangible fixed assets|10|3,019,123|3,526,052|
|Investments|11|7,789,895|7,912,298|
|||────────|────────|
|**_Total fixed assets_**||**10,809,018**|**11,438,350**|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**||||
|Stock|12|-|4,680|
|Debtors falling due within one year|13|157,598|229,416|
|Debtors falling due in more than one year|13|287,500|287,500|
|Cash at bank and in hand||1,378,699|1,391,411|
|||────────|────────|
|**_Total current assets_**||**1,823,797**|**1,913,007**|
|**CREDITORS**||||
|Amounts falling due within one year|14|(1,073,840)|(1,513,224)|
|||────────|────────|
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS**||**749,957**|**399,783**|
|**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**||**11,558,975**|**11,838,133**|
|**CREDITORS**||||
|Amounts falling due after more than one year|14|(711,626)|(595,145)|
|**PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES**|16|(609,500)|(624,500)|
|||────────|────────|
|**NET ASSETS EXCLUDING PENSION LIABILITY**||**10,237,849**|**10,618,488**|
|Defined benefit pension scheme liability|23|-|-|
|||────────|────────|
|**TOTAL NET ASSETS**||**10,237,849**|**10,618,488**|
|||════════|════════|
|**FUNDS OF THE CHARITY**||||
|Restricted funds|18|15,538|12,329|
|Unrestricted funds|19|10,222,311|10,606,159|
|Pension reserve|23|-|-|
|||────────|────────|
|**TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS**||**10,237,849**|**10,618,488**|
|||════════|════════|
|Approved by the Trustees||||
|and signed as authorised on their behalf by||||



## D. Gibson 

D. Gibson (Nov 11, 2022 16:11 GMT) D Gibson Trustee 

11-Nov-2022 

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_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

||**Note**|**2021**|**2020**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|**£**|
|**Cash used in operating activities**|22|(1,679,647)|(1,980,290)|
|||────────|────────|
|**Cash flows from investing activities**||||
|Investment income||213,548|406,448|
|Purchase of investments||(2,629,732)|(794,912)|
|Sale of investments||3,102,795|2,121,889|
|Cash movement on investments||295,495|(363,078)|
|Purchase of tangible fixed assets||(13,220)|(50,015)|
|Sale of tangible fixed assets||700,000|115,000|
|||────────|────────|
|**Net cash provided by investing**||||
|**activities**||1,668,886|1,435,332|
|||────────|────────|
|Decrease in cash and cash equivalents||||
|in the year||(10,761)|(544,958)|
|Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of||||
|the year||1,389,460|1,934,418|
|||────────|────────|
|**Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of**||||
|**the year**||1,378,699|1,389,460|
|||════════|════════|
|**Cash and cash equivalents**||||
|Cash at bank and in hand at 31 August||1,378,699|1,391,411|
|Overdraft at 31 August||-|(1,951)|
|||────────|────────|
|Total cash and cash equivalents||1,378,699|1,389,460|
|||════════|════════|



38 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **Accounting convention** 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2019) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities”, effective 1 January 2019 and applicable Accounting Standards in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. 

The English Province of the Congregation of Christian Brothers Trustees meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.  Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.  The financial statements have been prepared in Pound Sterling as this is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the company operates. 

The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102) in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) rather than the “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice Charities SORP 2005” which has since been withdrawn. 

## **Going concern** 

These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. 

The Trustees have carefully considered the impact of COVID-19, noting the widespread disruption to normal activities and the uncertainty over the duration of the disruption. They are satisfied that given the cash position of the charity and the recovery of the investment portfolio, that it is appropriate for the financial statements to be prepared on a going concern basis. 

The current economic conditions present increased risks for all charities.  In response to such conditions, the Trustees have carefully considered these risks, included an assessment of uncertainty on future forecasts for a period of at least 12 months from the date of signing the financial statements, and to the extent to which they might affect the preparation of the financial statements on a going concern basis. 

The Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and have not identified any material uncertainties within their review.  They therefore continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statements. 

## **Fixed assets** 

The original sites and buildings for the Charity’s four schools and various other buildings are included on the balance sheet at an aggregate nominal value of £1.  Building work completed more recently has been capitalised at cost.  Consequently, the balance sheet does not reflect the full value of the freehold land and buildings used by the Charity and the charge to the Statement of Financial Activities for depreciation excludes any amount in respect of the assets in question. 

Property used by the academy schools is classified as a programme related social investment as any financial return obtained is not a primary reason for making the investment in that the property is held specifically to enable the schools to undertake particular activities using the property that contribute to the charitable purposes. 

## **Depreciation** 

Depreciation is provided to write off assets over their useful economic lives at the following rates: 

Freehold land and buildings 2% straight line Fixtures, fittings and office equipment 15% reducing balance Motor vehicles 25% reducing balance 

## **Social investments** 

Social investments are stated at cost less depreciation.  Social investments consist of premises relating to the four academy schools. 

## **Operating leases payable** 

Rentals payable under operating leases are charged on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. 

## **Operating leases receivable** 

Assets leased out under operating leases are included within the freehold properties and are depreciated over their useful life.  Rental income from operating leases is recognised on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. 

39 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

**1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** (continued) 

## **Investments** 

Investments are included at market value at the year end.  Gains and losses on disposal and revaluation of investments are charged or credited to the Statement of Financial Activities. 

## **Stocks** 

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. 

## **Foreign currency** 

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction.  Monetary assets and liabilities are retranslated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date.  All differences are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities. 

## **Pension costs** 

A multi-employer defined benefit scheme was closed to future accrual of benefit on 31 October 2010.  Up to and including the year ended 31 August 2013, the Charity could not identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities on a consistent and reasonable basis.  Therefore, in accordance with FRS17, payments to the scheme were accounted for as for a defined contribution scheme.  A creditor was, however, recognised in respect of an agreed deficit recovery plan. 

During the year ended 31 August 2014, the Charity entered into a Deed of Amendment and Apportionment in relation to this scheme which resulted in there being only one employer (the Charity) and therefore the multiemployer exemption is no longer applicable.  Accordingly, the scheme is now accounted for as a defined benefit scheme as detailed in note 23. 

Contributions payable to the Charity’s defined contribution pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities so as to spread the cost of the pensions over the remaining service lives of employees in the scheme.  The pension charge is calculated on the basis of actuarial advice. 

The Charity also contributes to the Teachers' Pension Scheme at rates set by the Scheme Actuary and advised to the Trustees by the Scheme Administrator.  This scheme is treated as a multi-employer defined benefit scheme and contributions are accounted for a defined contribution scheme. 

## **Educational income** 

Fees receivable are accounted for in the period in which the service is provided. 

## **Donations** 

Donations receivable are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate, generally the earlier of notification or receipt. 

## **Legacies** 

Legacies receivable are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate, when the relevant recognition criteria has been met. 

## **Investment income** 

Investment income is accounted for in the period in which the Charity is entitled to receipt. 

## **Province Support Programme** 

This consists substantially of pensions received by the Charity on behalf of the Christian Brothers.  The corresponding living costs of Christian Brothers are included under Province Support. 

## **Expenditure** 

Expenditure is included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis.  Support costs have been allocated to the main charitable activities in accordance with the total direct costs of those activities. Governance costs include those costs incurred in the governance of the Charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.  Expenditure on raising funds comprises investment management fees. Redundancy costs are recognised when incurred. 

## **Fund accounting** 

Restricted funds are to be used for specified purposes laid down by the donor.  Expenditure for those purposes is charged to the fund, together with a fair allocation of overheads and support costs. 

Unrestricted funds are income received or generated for expenditure on the general objectives of the Charity. 

Designated funds are unrestricted funds which have been designated for specific purposes by the Trustees. 

40 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** (continued) **Financial instruments** 

The Charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value, and subsequently measured at their settlement value. 

## **2. JUDGEMENTS IN APPLYING THE CHARITY’S ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY** 

In applying the Charity’s accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates, and assumptions in determining the carrying amount of assets and liabilities.  The Trustees’ judgements, estimates and assumptions are based on the best and most reliable evidence available at the time when the decisions are made, and are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be applicable.  Due to the inherent subjectivity involved in making such judgements, estimates and assumptions, the outcomes may differ. 

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of revision and future periods, if the revision affects both current and future periods. 

## **Critical judgements in applying the charity’s accounting policies** 

The critical judgement that the Trustees’ have made in the process of applying the charity’s accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements is discussed below. 

## i) Assessing indicators of impairment for trade receivables 

In assessing whether there have been any indicators of impairment of assets, the Trustees have considered both internal and external sources of information such as market conditions and experience of recoverability. There have been no indicators of impairments identified during the current financial year. 

## **Key sources of estimation uncertainty** 

The key assumptions concerning the future, and other key sources of estimation uncertainty, that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below. 

## i) Recoverability of receivables 

The charity establishes a provision for receivables that are estimated to not be recoverable.  When assessing recoverability the Trustees’ consider factors such as the ageing of receivables, past experience of recoverability, and the credit profile of individuals. 

ii) Determining residual values and useful economic lives of property, plant and equipment 

The charity depreciates tangible assets over their estimated useful lives.  The estimation of the useful lives of assets is based on historic performance as well as expectations over future use and therefore requires estimates and assumptions to be applied by management.  The actual lives of these assets can vary depending on a variety of factors, including technological innovation and maintenance programmes. 

## iii) Provisions 

The charity provides for potential litigation payments in respect of historical abuse claims.  This is done in conjunction with the charity’s solicitor and is based on the individual claim facts and historical outcome of settled claims and therefore requires some judgement from management. 

41 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **2. JUDGEMENTS IN APPLYING THE CHARITY’S ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY** (continued) 

## (iv) Pensions 

The charity operates a defined benefit pension fund.  This means that the charity has an obligation to pay pension benefits to certain former employees.  The cost of these benefits and the present value of the associated obligation depend on a number of factors, including: 

- life expectancy 

- salary increases, 

- assets valuations, 

- discount rate as determined with reference to return on high quality corporate bonds. 

The charity uses an independent actuary to help determine reasonable estimates for these factors in determining the net pension obligation in the balance sheet.  The assumptions reflect historical experience and current trends.  See note 23 for the disclosures relating to the defined benefit pension scheme. 

## **3. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES** 

|**3.**|**INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**|||
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Donations and legacies|12,008|45,566|
|||────────|────────|
|||12,008|45,566|
|||════════|════════|
|**4.**|**INVESTMENT INCOME**|||
|||**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Investment fund income|213,546|404,528|
||Bank interest|2|1,920|
|||────────|────────|
|||213,548|406,448|
|||════════|════════|
|**5.**|**INCOME FROM OPERATION OF THE SCHOOLS**|||
|||**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Fee income|1,412,514|2,353,482|
||Education related income|107,980|265,049|
|||────────|────────|
|||1,520,494|2,618,531|
|||════════|════════|
|**6.**|**OTHER INCOME**|||
|||**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Province support programme|326,167|281,937|
||Sundry income|72,638|125,253|
||Furlough income|68,080|-|
||Rent receivable in respect of operating leases|(1,806)|18,868|
|||────────|────────|
|||465,079|426,058|
|||════════|════════|



42 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **7. ANALYSIS OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Operation|Province|Mission|Total|Total|
|of schools|support|support|2021|2020|
|£|£|£|£|
|Raising funds|-|33,916|-|33,916|30,301|
|Staff costs (note 8)|1,320,444|194,515|-|1,514,959|2,483,749|
|Living allowances|-|361,608|-|361,608|222,364|
|Nursing homes|-|88,329|-|88,329|113,327|
|Governance costs (note 9)|12,422|132,034|-|144,456|72,553|
|Donations|-|-|55,870|55,870|1,289,868|
|Administration|428,932|86,806|-|515,738|671181|
|Premises|144,717|-|-|144,717|237,097|
|Teaching goods|40,326|-|-|40,326|73,203|
|Services|59,567|-|-|59,567|128,725|
|Loss on disposal of fixed assets|-|-|-|-|2,626|
|Unpaid fees provision|2,118|-|-|2,118|54,525|
|Depreciation & impairment (note 10)|99,159|50,216|-|149,375|176,739|
|────────|──────── ──────── ──────── ────────|
|2,107,685|936,424|55,870|3,110,979|5,556,258|
|════════|════════ ════════ ════════ ════════|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **8. STAFF COSTS** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||
|---|---|---|
|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Gross wages|1,200,975|1,942,061|
|Social security costs|102,869|164,939|
|Pension costs|189,326|366,749|
|Redundancy costs|21,789|10,000|
|──────── ────────|
|1,514,959|2,483,749|
|════════ ════════|
|2021|2020|
|Average number of employees|49|83|
|════════ ════════|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


One employee (2020: one employee) received remuneration in excess of £60,000 in the year in the band £60,000 to £70,000. 

During the year the charity incurred redundancy costs totalling £21,789 (2020: £10,000). Amounts outstanding in respect of redundancy costs as at 31 August 2021 total £nil (2020: £nil). 

The Trustees comprise Christian Brothers who, in common with the non-Trustee Brothers, are provided with living accommodation and daily essentials by the Charity. 

The Trustees consider that they and the Heads, Chairs and Governors of the four Independent Preparatory Schools along with the Schools Officer and Coordinator of the Edmund Rice Network comprise the key management of the Charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day to day basis.  The Trustees are members of the Congregation of Christian Brothers - English Province and whilst their living and personal expenses are borne by the charity they receive no remuneration in connection with their duties as Trustees. Similarly the Boards of Governors receive no remuneration in connection with their duties as Governors. Expenses relating to travel and other costs of £nil (2020: £nil) were reimbursed to no (2020: none) Trustees. 

Remuneration of the Heads is reviewed regularly by the Board of Governors while the remuneration of the Schools Officer is reviewed regularly by the Trustees. 

The total employee benefits of the key management personnel in 2021 was £210,989 (2020: £291,588). 

43 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
|||||
|---|---|---|---|
|9.|GOVERNANCE COSTS|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Auditors’ remuneration|- audit|59,627|43,866|
|- non-audit|-|3,000|
|Other legal and professional advisory|84,829|25,687|
|─────── ───────|
|144,456|72,553|
|═══════ ═══════|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **10. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Freehold|Fixtures,|
|Land &|Fittings &|Motor|
|Buildings Equipment|Vehicles|Total|
|£|£|£|£|
|COST|
|Balance as at 1 September 2020|6,256,104|1,506,720|321,693|8,084,517|
|Additions|-|13,220|-|13,220|
|Disposals|(518,970)|(541,575)|(186,312) (1,246,857)|
|──────── ──────── ──────── ────────|
|Balance as at 31 August 2021|5,737,134|978,365|135,381|6,850,880|
|════════ ════════ ════════ ════════|
|ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION|
|Balance as at 1 September 2020|2,930,947|1,355,995|271,523|4,558,465|
|Charge for year|117,588|25,592|6,195|149,375|
|Disposals|(232,636)|(492,929)|(150,518)|(876,083)|
|──────── ──────── ──────── ────────|
|Balance as at 31 August 2021|2,815,899|888,658|127,200|3,831,757|
|════════ ════════ ════════ ════════|
|NET BOOK VALUES|
|As at 31 August 2021|2,921,235|89,707|8,181|3,019,123|
|════════ ════════ ════════ ════════|
|As at 31 August 2020|3,325,157|150,725|50,170|3,526,052|
|════════ ════════ ════════ ════════|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


The net book value at 31 August 2021 represents fixed assets used for: 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Freehold|Fixtures,|
|Land &|Fittings &|Motor|
|Buildings Equipment|Vehicles|Total|
|£|£|£|£|
|Direct charitable purposes:|
|Schools|1,718,365|67,029|-|1,785,394|
|Other support|1,202,870|22,678|8,181|1,233,729|
|──────── ──────── ──────── ────────|
|2,921,235|89,707|8,181|3,019,123|
|════════ ════════ ════════ ════════|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


44 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **10. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS (Continued)** 

Of the assets noted above, the following represents fixed assets used for social investments: 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||
|---|---|---|
|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Social investments:|
|Schools|845,663|878,423|
|──────── ────────|
|845,663|878,423|
|════════ ════════|
|11. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS|
|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Investments:|
|Market value at 31 August 2020|7,912,298|9,076,370|
|Less: disposals at opening book value|(3,102,795) (2,121,889)|
|Add: purchases at cost|2,629,732|794,912|
|Foreign exchange movements|218,022|(42,576)|
|Cash movements|(295,495)|363,078|
|────────  ───────|
|7,361,762|8,069,895|
|Add: gains/(losses) on investment|428,133|(157,957)|
|────────   ───────|
|Market value at 31 August 2021|7,789,895|7,912,298|
|════════  ═══════|
|A summary of the investments held is shown below:|
|31 August 2021|
|Market|
|Cost|Value|
|£|£|
|Unit trusts|3,774,002|7,789,895|
|──────── ─ ───────|
|3,774,002|7,789,895|
|════════ ═ ═══════|
|At 31 August 2021 the charity held investments representing over 5% of the total portfolio in the following|
|entities:|
|% holding|
|iShares MSCI World Fund|23%|
|Reditus Income Fund|10%|
|Setanta Ethical Global Equity|10%|
|ILIM Infrastructure Fund|9%|
|Blufield Income Fund|5%|
|Dalmore infrastucture Fund (PIP)|7%|
|═══════|
|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Uniforms|-|4,680|
|════════ ════════|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **11. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS** 

## **12. STOCK** 

45 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

|**13.**|**DEBTORS**|||
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||**Due within one year:**|||
||Trade debtors|42,910|129,013|
||Other debtors and prepayments|64,688|100,403|
||Other loan|50,000|-|
|||────────|────────|
|||157,598|229,416|
|||════════|════════|
||**Due after one year:**|||
||Other debtors|287,500|287,500|
|||────────|────────|
|||287,500|287,500|
|||════════|════════|
|**14.**|**CREDITORS**|||
|||**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||**Due within one year:**|||
||Trade creditors|27,263|21,763|
||Bank overdraft|-|1,951|
||Tax and social security|28,914|118,212|
||Sundry creditors and accruals|615,722|1,048,281|
||Deferred income (note 15)|401,941|323,017|
|||────────|────────|
|||1,073,840|1,513,224|
|||════════|════════|
|||**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||**Due after one year:**|||
||Deferred income (note 15)|711,626|595,145|
|||────────|────────|
|||711,626|595,145|
|||════════|════════|
|**15.**|**DEFERRED INCOME**|||
|||**2021**|**2020**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Balance as at 1 September|918,162|1,044,743|
||Amount released to income|(356,758)|<br>(436,693)|
||Amounts returned to parents|(19,334)|<br>(83,738)|
||Amount deferred in the year|571,497|393,850|
|||───────|────────|
||Balance as at 31 August|1,113,567|918,162|
|||═══════|════════|



Deferred income comprises payments in advance for school fees and lease rentals received in advance. 

46 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **16. PROVISIONS** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
|||
|---|---|
|Total|
|£|
|At 1 September|624,500|
|New provisions in the year|395,000|
|Increase in provisions in the year|-|
|Utilised during the year|(127,000)|
|Provisions reversed in the year|(283,000)|
|────────|
|At 31 August|609,500|
|════════|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


The above provisions related to ongoing legal cases. 

## **17. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||
|---|---|---|
|2021|2020|
|£|£|
|Financial assets measured at amortised cost|384,512|146,427|
|════════ ════════|
|Cash at bank and in hand|1,378,700|1,391,411|
|════════ ════════|
|Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost|143,371|120,316|
|════════ ════════|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Financial assets measured at amortised cost comprise trade and other debtors. Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost comprise trade and other payables 

## **18. RESTRICTED FUNDS** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Balance at|Income Expenditure|Transfers Balance at|
|31.08.20|31.08.21|
|£|£|£|£|£|
|Education in Africa|10,500|-|-|-|10,500|
|Poor children in India|-|1,000|(1,000)|-|-|
|Support of retired Brothers|-|5,000|(5,000)|-|-|
|Maintenance of graves|-|2,000|-|-|2,000|
|School trips|1,829|3,902|(2,693)|-|3,038|
|──────── ──────── ──────── ──────── ─ ───────|
|12,329|11,902|(8,693)|-|15,538|
|════════ ════════ ════════ ════════ ═ ═══════|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


The Education in Africa fund represents funds received and thus to be expended for that purpose. The Poor children in India fund represents a donation received specifically for that purpose. The Support of retired Brothers fund represents a donation received specifically for that purpose. The Maintenance of graves fund represents a donation received specifically for that purpose. The school trips reserve is used to cover costs of trips run as part of school operations. 

47 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **19. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS** 

|**Designated Funds**<br>CCB Designated Fund 1<br>CCB Designated Fund 2<br>CCB Designated Fund 3<br>CCB Designated Fund 4<br>St Joseph Designated Fund<br>St Ambrose Designated Fund<br>**Total Designated Funds**<br>General Funds<br>Pension Reserve<br>**Total Unrestricted Funds**|**Balance at**<br>**31.08.20**<br>**Income**<br>**Expenditure**<br>**Gains/**<br>**(losses)**<br>**Transfers**<br>**Balance at**<br>**31.08.21**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>3,526,052<br>-<br>(506,929)<br>-<br>-<br>3,019,123<br>728,732<br>42,710<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>771,442<br>1,111,758<br>49,225<br>(281,322)<br>-<br>-<br>879,661<br>3,174,988<br>464,389<br>(449,937)<br>-<br>-<br>3,189,440<br>36,043<br>314<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>36,357<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|
|---|---|
||**8,577,573**<br>**556,638**<br>**(1,238,188)**<br>**-**<br>-<br>**7,896,023**<br>2,028,586<br>1,642,589<br>(1,864,098)<br>840,411<br>(321,200)<br>2,326,288<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(321,200)<br>321,200<br>-|
||**10,606,159**<br>**2,199,227**<br>**(3,102,286)**<br>**519,211**<br>**-**<br>**10,222,311**|



The Trustees have designated funds equating to the following: 

Designated Fund 1 – total of the tangible fixed assets and work in progress costs of the Charity. Designated Fund 2 – Mission and Ministry Funding. This fund exists to support the non-educational Mission and Ministry activities of the Trust over the next decade. 

Designated Fund 3 – schools/educational funding. This represents working capital needed by the schools together with a provision for the shortfall in the non-teaching staff pension scheme over the next decade. Designated Fund 4 – amount committed for the care and welfare of the Province’s members over the next decade. 

St Joseph’s Designated Fund – relates to funds held by the school for specific extra-curricular activities. St Ambrose’ Designated Fund – relates to funds set aside for the future replacement of the boiler and school roof. 

## **20. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS** 

|**ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS**||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**||
||**Funds**|**Funds**|<br>**Total**|
||**£**|**£**|<br>**£**|
|Fund balances at 31 August 2021 are represented by:||||
|Tangible fixed assets|3,019,123|-|<br>3,019,123|
|Investments|7,789,895|-|<br>7,789,895|
|Current assets|1,808,259|15,538|<br>1,823,797|
|Creditors|(1,785,466)|-|(1,785,466)|
|Provisions|(609,500)|-|<br>(609,500)|
|Pension deficit|-|-|<br>-|
||───────|───────|───────|
||10,222,311|15,538|10,237,849|
||───────|───────|───────|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**||
||**Funds**|**Funds**|<br>**Total**|
||**£**|**£**|<br>**£**|
|Fund balances at 31 August 2020 are represented by:||||
|Tangible fixed assets|3,526,052|-|<br>3,526,052|
|Investments|7,912,298|-|<br>7,912,298|
|Current assets|1,900,678|12,329|<br>1,913,007|
|Creditors|(2,108,369)|-|(2,108,369)|
|Provisions|(624,500)|-|<br>(624,500)|
|Pension deficit|-|-|<br>-|
||───────|───────|───────|
||10,606,159|12,329|10,618,488|
||───────|───────|───────|



48 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **21. LEASING** 

At 31 August 2021 the charity was committed to making the following payments under non-cancellable operating leases. All operating leases relate to the rent of equipment. 

|operating leases. All operating leases relate to the rent of|equipment.||
|---|---|---|
||**2021**|**2020**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Payments due within:|||
|Within one year|27,919|22,394|
|Between two and five years|21,621|34,749|
||──────|──────|
||49,540|57,143|
||**══════**|**══════**|



The total operating lease payments recognised as an expense was £28,734 (2020: £41,165). 

At 31 August 2021 the charity had entered into operating lease agreements acting as lessor. The following amounts are due to be received within the following time periods: 

||**2021**|**2020**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Within one year|117,600|117,600|
|Between two and five years|470,400|470,400|
|In over five years|795,600|913,200|
||──────|──────|
||1,383,600|1,501,200|
||**══════**|**══════**|



## **22. RECONCILIATION OF NET EXPENDITURE TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES** 

||**2021**|**2020**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Net expenditure for the period|(380,639)|(2,129,852)|
|Adjustments in respect of:|||
|Depreciation charges|149,375|176,738|
|Impairment charges|-|-|
|Investment income|(213,548)|(406,448)|
|Investment gains|(428,133)|157,597|
|Net profit/(loss) on disposals of fixed assets|(329,226)|2,626|
|Decrease in stock|4,680|-|
|Decrease in debtors|71,818|163,274|
|(Decrease)/increase in creditors|(320,952)|450,799|
|Pension adjustment|-|(399,600)|
|Foreign exchange movement on investments|(218,022)|42,576|
|Decrease in provisions|15,000|(38,000)|
||──────|──────|
||(1,649,647)|(1,980,290)|
||══════|══════|



49 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **23. PENSION COMMITMENT AND OTHER POST RETIREMENT BENEFITS** 

## **Defined Benefit Pension Scheme** 

The group operated a defined benefit scheme in the UK. The last full actuarial valuation was carried out at 5 April 2011 by a qualified independent actuary. The scheme was closed to future accrual of benefit on 31 October 2010. 

Up to and including the year ended 31 August 2013, the Charity could not identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities on a consistent and reasonable basis. Therefore, in accordance with FRS102 Section 28 ‘Retirement and post-employment benefits’, payments to the scheme were accounted for as for a defined contribution scheme. A creditor was, however, recognised in respect of an agreed deficit recovery plan. 

During the year ended 31 August 2014, the Charity entered into a Deed of Amendment and Apportionment in relation to this scheme which resulted in there being only one employer (the Charity) and therefore the multiemployer exemption is no longer applicable. Accordingly, the scheme is now accounted for under FRS102 Section 28 as a defined benefit scheme as detailed below. 

On 26 October 2018, the High Court handed down a judgement involving the Lloyds Banking Group’s defined benefit pension schemes.  The judgement concluded the schemes should be amended to equalise pension benefits for men and women in relation to guaranteed minimum pension benefits, (‘GMP’).  The Government will need to consider this outcome in conjunction with the Government’s recent consultation on GMP indexation in public sector schemes before concluding on any changes required to LGPS schemes. 

## **The major assumptions used by the actuary were:** 

||**31 August 2021**|**31 August 2020**|
|---|---|---|
|Rate of increase in salaries per annum|N/A|N/A|
|Rate of increase in inflation linked pensions in payment per|||
|annum|3.7%|3.4%|
|Expected rate of return on the plan assets|3.85%|3.75%|
|Discount rate per annum|1.7%|1.6%|
|Inflation assumption per annum|3.7%|3.4%|
|Mortality table pre-retirement|AM/F00|AM/F00|
|Mortality table post retirement|100% S2PA|100% S2PA|
||CMI2019 (1.25%)|CMI2019 (1.25%)|
|**he assets in the scheme were:**|||
||**31 August 2021**|**31 August 2020**|
||**Value £’000**|**Value £’000**|
|Equities|4,207|3,586|
|Bonds|2,296|2,292|
|Cash|667|896|
||──────|──────|
|Total fair value of assets|7,170|6,774|
|Present value of funded obligations|(6,577)|(6,592)|
||──────|──────|
|**Total surplus/(deficit)**|**593**|**182**|
||══════|══════|



## **The assets in the scheme were:** 

As per section 28.22 of FRS 102 a defined benefit plan asset shall only be recognised to the extent that the Charity is able to recover the surplus. Given there is no expectation the surplus will be recovered, the asset has not been recognised on the balance sheet. 

50 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **23. PENSION COMMITMENT AND OTHER POST RETIREMENT BENEFITS (continued)** 

**Analysis of gain included in Statement of Financial Activities:** 

||**31 August 2021**|**31 August 2020**|
|---|---|---|
||**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Losses/(gains) on scheme assets and obligations|182|(400)|
||──────|──────|
|**Losses/(gains) shown in Statement of Financial Activities**|**182**|**(400)**|
||══════|══════|



**Reconciliation of change in defined benefit obligation:** 

||||**31 August 2021**|**31 August 2021**|**31 August 2020**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Opening defined benefit obligation||||6,592|6,857|
|Interest cost||||104|115|
|Actuarial losses/(gains) on obligation||||76|(180)|
|Benefits paid||||(195)|(200)|
|Past service cost||||-|-|
|||||──────|──────|
|**Closing defined benefit obligation**||||**6,577**|**6,592**|
|||||══════|══════|
|**econciliation of change in plan**|**assets:**|||||
||||**31 August 2021**||**31 August 2020**|
|||||**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Opening fair value of plan assets||||6,774|6,457|
|Expected return on plan assets||||109|111|
|Actuarial gains on assets||||166|90|
|Contributions paid by the employer||||316|316|
|Benefits paid||||(195)|(200)|
|||||──────|──────|
|||||**7,170**|**6,774**|
|||||══════|══════|
|**mounts for the current and previous four**||**periods:**||||
||**2021**|**2020**|**2019**|**2018**|**2017**|
||**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|**£’000**|
|Defined benefit obligation|(6,577)|(6,592)|(6,857)|<br>(5,946)|(6,568)|
|Plan assets|7,170|6,774|6,457|5,780|5,475|
|Surplus/(deficit)|593|182|(400)|(166)|(1,093)|



## **Reconciliation of change in plan assets:** 

## **Amounts for the current and previous four periods:** 

Based on the current Schedule of Contributions, the company/group expects to pay contributions in the region of £316k to the scheme during the next accounting period. 

51 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **23. PENSION COMMITMENT AND OTHER POST RETIREMENT BENEFITS (continued)** 

## **Teachers’ Pension Scheme** 

The Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) is a statutory, contributory, defined benefit scheme, governed by the Teachers' Pensions Regulations 2010, and, from 1 April 2014, by the Teachers’ Pension Scheme Regulations 2014. These regulations apply to teachers in schools and other educational establishments, including academies, in England and Wales that are maintained by local authorities. In addition, teachers in many independent and voluntary-aided schools and teachers and lecturers in some establishments of further and higher education may be eligible for membership. Membership is automatic for full-time teachers and lecturers and, from 1 January 2007, automatic too for teachers and lecturers in part-time employment following appointment or a change of contract. Teachers and lecturers are able to opt out of the TPS. 

## **Teachers' pension budgeting and valuation account** 

The Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) is a statutory, contributory, defined benefit scheme, governed by the Teachers’ Pension Scheme Regulations 2014.  These regulations apply to teachers in schools, colleges and other educational establishments.  Membership is automatic for teachers and lecturers at eligible institutions. Teachers and lecturers are able to opt out of the TPS. 

The TPS is an unfunded scheme and members contribute on a ’pay as you go‘ basis – these contributions, along with those made by employers, are credited to the Exchequer under arrangements governed by the above Act. Retirement and other pension benefits are paid by public funds provided by Parliament. 

Under the definitions set out in FRS 102 (28.11), the TPS is a multi-employer pension plan. The Charity is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities of the plan. 

Accordingly, the charity has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS 102 and has accounted for its contributions to the scheme as if it were a defined-contribution plan. The School has set out above the information available on the plan and the implications for the School in terms of the anticipated contribution rates. 

The valuation of the TPS is carried out in line with regulations made under the Public Service Pension Act 2013. Valuations credit the teachers’ pension account with a real rate of return assuming funds are invested in notional investments that produce that real rate of return. 

The latest actuarial review of the TPS was carried out as at 31 March 2016. The valuation report was published by the Department for Education (the Department) in April 2019.  The valuation reported total scheme liabilities (pensions currently in payment and the estimated cost of future benefits) for service to the effective date of £218 billion, and notional assets (estimated future contributions together with the notional investments held at the valuation date) of £198 billion giving a notional past service deficit of £22 billion. 

As a result of the valuation, new employer contribution rates were set at 23.68% of pensionable pay from September 2019 onwards (compared to 16.48% during 2018/19). DfE has agreed to pay a teacher pension employer contribution grant to cover the additional costs during the 2019-20 academic year. 

A full copy of the valuation report and supporting documentation can be found on the Teachers’ Pension Scheme website. 

## **24. CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE HOLDINGS** 

The Trustees hold certain investments and bank accounts as custodian Trustee holdings only. The assets, totalling £175,121 at 31 August 2021 (2020: £175,104) are held securely and separately from those of the Trustees who are responsible for their safe custody.  They are not therefore included in the Trust’s balance sheet. 

52 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **25. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS** 

There have been no disclosable post balance sheet events. 

## **26. RELATED PARTIES** 

During the year the Trustees were involved with the following related party transactions: 

|**Related party**|**Lease**|**Contributions**|**Reimbursement**|**Donations**|**Outstanding**||**Outstanding**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**payments**|**by colleges to**|**of costs incurred**|**made to the**|**at 31 August**||**at 31 August**||
||**received**|**programmes**||**college**|**2021**||**2020**||
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**||**£**||**£**|
|St Ambrose College|26,700|-|-|-||-||-|
|St Anselm’s College|30,000|-|-|-||-||-|
|St Edward’s College|48,000|-|-|-||-||-|
|St Joseph’s College|30,000|-|-|-||-||-|



## **Related party relationships** 

The four colleges named above are considered to represent related parties due to either the English Province itself or certain of its Trustees being members of the colleges, together with the English Province having the ability to appoint a number of college governors. 

The Trustees have taken the view that it would not be appropriate to consolidate the accounts of the academy trusts under FRS 102 as the Academies must abide by strict financial and operating provisions laid down by the Department for Education and these amount to severe long term restrictions. 

The Trustees comprise Christian Brothers who, in common with the non-Trustee Brothers, are provided with living accommodation and daily essentials by the Charity. 

During the year the Trustees, similar to the non-Trustee Christian Brothers, donated all of their earned income by perpetual gift aid to the Charity. In the year to 31 August 2021 this amounted to £61,387 (2020: £60,396). Similarly, as stated in Note 8, the Trustees have their living and personal expenses borne by the Charity and they receive no remuneration in connection with their duties as Trustees. No expenses relating to travel and other costs were reimbursed to Trustees in either 2021 or 2020. 

The Charity has also had transactions in the year with CCB Northern Ireland Trust. During the year the Charity recharged the Northern Ireland Trust £8,506 representing expenses incurred on their behalf (2020: £8,454). At the year end the amount owed to the Charity was £16,960 (2020: £8,454). This is linked to the Charity as Br E Garvey is a Trustee of CCB Northern Ireland Trust as well as the English Trust. 

The Charity also had transactions in the year with ‘The Congregation of Christian Brothers European Province - Republic of Ireland” (CCBEP-ROI), a Charity registered in the Republic of Ireland. At 31 August 2021 the Charity owed £10,707 (2020: £13,558) to the CCBEP-ROI representing expenses incurred. 

53 



_**THE ENGLISH PROVINCE OF THE CONGREGATION OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TRUSTEES Financial Statements**_ 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31 August 2021** 

## **27. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**2020**|**2019**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**INCOME:**|||||
|Donations and legacies|25,066|20,500|45,566|14,902|
|Investment income|406,448|<br>-|406,448|171,838|
|**_Income from charitable activities_**|||||
|Operation of the schools|2,614,612|3,919|2,618,531|3,722,673|
|Other income|426,058|-|426,058|328,944|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total income**|**3,472,184**|**24,419**|**3,496,603**|**4,238,357**|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**EXPENDITURE ON:**|||||
|Raising funds|30,301|-|30,301|35,452|
|Charitable activities|5,133,198|392,759|5,525,957|5,961,405|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total expenditure:**|**5,163,499**|**392,759**|**5,556,258**|**5,996,857**|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Net expenditure**|**(1,691,315)**|<br>**(368,340)**|<br>**(2,059,655)**|**(1,758,500)**|
|Transfers between funds|-|-|-|-|
|**Net expenditure after transfers**|**(1,691,315)**|<br>**(368,340)**|<br>**(2,059,655)**|**(1,758,500)**|
|Net (losses)/gains on investments|(157,597)|<br>-|(157,597)|492,691|
|**Other recognised (losses)/gains**|||||
|Actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit|||||
|pension scheme|87,400|-|87,400|(482,000)|
||───────|────────|────────|───────|
|**Net movement in funds**|**(1,761,512)**|<br>**(368,340)**|<br>**(2,129,852)**|**(1,747,809)**|
|**_Reconciliation of funds_**|||||
|Total funds brought forward|12,367,671|380,669|12,748,340|14,496,149|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total funds carried forward**|**10,606,159**|**12,329**|**10,618,488**|**12,748,340**|
||═══════|═══════|═══════|═══════|



54