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2022-06-30-accounts

THE COMMUNITY OF ST FRANCIS (European Province) Registered Charity No: 286615 FINAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 30th JUNE 2022 TRUSTEES’ REPORT ....................................................... Pages 1-3 FINAL ACCOUNTS Independent Examiner’s Report ......................................... Page 4 BALANCE SHEET as at 30th June 2022 .................................. Page 5 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Income & Expenditure Accounts for the Year Ended 30th June 2022 ...................................... Page 6 Notes to the Accounts .............................................Pages 7-10

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

The Community of St Francis (The Sisters of the First Order of the Society of St Francis)

Registered Charity, Number 286615

1. Address: 2 Yukon Way, Leicester LE1 2AF

2. Trustees.

Provincial Officers:

Sr Sue CSF Minister Provincial (to February 2022) Sr Beverley CSF (from February 2022)(ex-officio- elected) and appointed by the Minister Provincial:

Provincial Secretary (ex officio): Sr Maureen CSF Novice Guardian, (ex officio): Sr Maureen CSF Provincial Bursar, (ex officio): Sr Christine James CSF Chapter Members (see Structural Change below):

Sr Gina CSF, Sr Beverley CSF (to February 2022), Sr Joyce CSF, Sr Liz CSF Also Minister General (ex officio- elected): Sr Helen Julian CSF (died August 2021) Sr Sue CSF (from February 2022)

Custodian Trustees:

The Official Custodian for Charities

3. The Governing Instrument is "The Constitution of the Society of St Francis", which is read in conjunction with: "The Principles of the First Order of The Society of St Francis" (1996); "The Constitution of the First Order of the Society of St Francis"(2019); and "The Statutes of the European Province of the First Order of the Society of St Francis" (2021). The Community of St Francis is an Unincorporated Association.

4. Appointment of Trustees

The Trustees are members of the Chapter and are appointed as follows:

The Minister Provincial is elected by the professed members of the Community. The period of office is five years, and reelection is possible for one further term of five years. The Minister Provincial appoints the Provincial Secretary, the Provincial Bursar and the Novice Guardian, all with the approval of the Chapter members. The other Chapter members are elected by all sisters in profession. The period of office is three years. The Minister General is elected by the life professed members of the Community in the European Province and the Province of the Americas. The period of office is six years which may be followed by a further period of four years.

5. The Object of the Community

The object ......of the First Order is to build up a body of ... women who, accepting Christ as their Lord and Master, will seek to follow him in the way of renunciation and sacrifice as an act of witness and for the loving service of his brothers and sisters in the world. (The Principles of the First Order of The Society of St Francis)

6. Review of the year

Following the death of Sr Helen Julian (the Minister General) in late summer we now have fourteen sisters in the UK, living in three houses in London, Leicester, and rural Lincolnshire. Five sisters are living singly, two live in residential care homes, and two sisters are on leave of absence.

Two of our houses have now reopened post Covid for individual and group day guests and overnight stays, guests are slowly returning to share in our life, and appreciate time to pause and pray with us. People still seek guidance and help with their spiritual lives and some sisters offer spiritual direction, lead quiet days and retreats, while other sisters undertake part time or voluntary work using their skills and gifts of a more practical nature.

Our life and work is interwoven with daily prayer and worship and most of our ministry is not quantifiable in monetary terms. This regular life of prayer is the basis of our Franciscan life and service.

Leicester

Two sisters continue to live on St Matthew’s Estate, which is an ethnically diverse and deprived inner city area. They are well known on the estate, and over time have developed friendships with neighbours, and individuals and groups. They are called on to help in various situations and emergencies as the needs arise. One continues as a trustee for St Matthew’s Big Local and to support the IT aspects of St Philip’s Centre. She also continues as treasurer for Anglican Religious Communities and the CSF Provincial Bursar. Having been elected as Minister Provincial, Beverley finished working as the Chaplain at Queen’s Theological Foundation for Ecumenical Education in December 2021. She took up Office in February 2021 and, as well as settling into this new role, she continues to see people for spiritual direction online and in person.

London: Southwark

The two sisters in the Southwark house have shared Community life with a prospective ordinand who joined the household for six months while undertaking a job in a Parish nearby. Day Individuals and groups are now coming again, together with residential guests who make use of the central London location. The regular pattern of the saying of the Offices and eucharists in the chapel are open to those who come to the house and guests appreciate this. Evening prayer once a week is still done on Zoom for those who want to share in the service and who cannot be at the house in person.

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One sister continues as a befriender supporting the mental and well-being ministry of the Blackfriars Settlement, and also assists with a craft group at her local church. When there has been reduced numbers of guests at the house she has ventured into joining an art group for the over 50’s, discovering the world of drawing, watercolour painting and acrylic and clay modelling. Some of her efforts were displayed in a local gallery at the end of the academic year.

Sue became acting Minister General in August 2021 following the death of Helen Julian, while still being Minister Provincial until February 2022. She has continued to participate in meetings and see people for spiritual direction on Zoom and increasingly person to person.

Nearby, a sister in her mid-eighties has moved into sheltered accommodation. She is now at the stage of life where she is beginning to shed some roles and responsibilities and is looking forward to celebrating her Golden Jubilee of profession next year.

Metheringham

The house reopened to guests over the year, with some caution regarding Covid still being around. Some guests have really appreciated the peace and quiet of the rural setting of the house to assist in their mental health and spiritual refreshment. A few guests of limited means were able to come because of the ‘donation’ request rather than a set fee. The resident sister has continued to give spiritual direction, in person and online, and has assisted with Leadership safeguarding training, mostly online in Lincoln diocese. She continues to be CSF General Secretary, and among other things supports the provincial ministers throughout the year. As Novice Guardian she guides and supports women enquiring about religious life.

During a period of discernment the CSF Candlemas Chapter decided to put the Metheringham house up for sale. In April the process was started and in June an offer was made on the house.

The house has had one resident sister since just before the start of the Covid pandemic.

Other sisters

One sister continues to work full time as Rector of the Upper Soar Benefice in Leicestershire, being responsible for five rural parishes. Her ministry is more or less back to normal, though with some Covid precautions in place as sporadic outbreaks of Covid occur in the local areas. Services were a mixture of live streaming and in person. Two of the parishes have achieved A Rocha Eco Bronze status which was a big achievement. She has been able to re-engage with the local schools taking in person collective interactive worship together with creative outdoor worship at Christmas and Easter, and special services of ‘Light up for Life’ reaching out to people who would not normally go to church but who have experienced the death of a loved one over the past few years of the Covid pandemic and want to mark their loss.

In Birmingham, two sisters continue to live singly in sheltered accommodation, being a Franciscan witness and praying presence, offering friendship where they live. Both receive prayer requests and are part of local church/cathedral worshipping communities.

Two elderly sisters continue in residential care in Newham, East London and Aberaeron, Wales.

Another sister is faithfully living out her vocation as a solitary in Lancashire.

Korea

The three sisters continue to be self-financing. One continues to run a small sewing business making vestments for Anglican clergy, and making traditional Korean clothing. She is also undertaking a further English course through the Broadcasting Open University and is a member of the Gender Equality Committee of the Anglican Church of Korea. Another is ordained and leads the Anglican church in Gumi. Other ministries include working with a project for deprived children, running Enneagram courses and parish based ministry in Daejeon diocese. All three sisters offer hospitality, spiritual care and teaching at the convent, and do pastoral work which extends widely.

Structural Change

With Chapter elections planned for February 2022, we realised that because of age and infirmity, the number of sisters willing and able to become Chapter members had decreased to a situation where an election would be a pointless exercise. After consultation with the wider community at the Sisters’ Meeting in November, it was decided to suspend the Statutes in relation to Chapter elections and that the Chapter would continue with its present membership, reviewed annually for the next three years.

The future

We are in a period of discerning the future as we are fewer in number, and our age range is 50’s - 90’s. We are unable to sustain living in three different houses and are looking to reduce to two houses.

Equipping for Franciscan Life and Ministry

The international character of our Community significantly shapes us and the ministry we are able to offer in diverse circumstances. Much of the time news is shared and mutual support offered by phone, email and Zoom.

More examples of our work and ministry can be found in franciscan magazine, published three times a year, and on our website: www.franciscans.org.uk and Facebook pages: TheCommunityAndSocietyOfStFrancisEuropeanProvince. Each of these is produced jointly with our First Order brothers in the European province of The Society of St Francis.

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7. Public Benefit

The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. In all houses, we encourage those who we help, by way of offering accommodation, counselling or spiritual direction, to make a contribution to the community according to their means, and offer realistic guidelines, but we do not refuse our services if this is not forthcoming. Sisters also volunteer in various capacities, with a number of charities, and local community organisations.

8. Finance

The Community in the European Province administers its funds through the various addresses and centres of work in the United Kingdom. These, through the Provincial Fund which acts as a pool, help to finance the Province as a whole, whenever they are able to generate a net surplus within a given year. The Province reciprocates in meeting local needs, as agreed through annual budgeting and dialogue. The Chapter annually authorises both Provincial and House budgets at its Pentecost Meeting and the Provincial Budget is reviewed at the other meeting. Unbudgeted necessary expenditure of over £500 is authorised by the Minister Provincial and ratified at the next Chapter Meeting.

The aim of this system is to allow for a degree of local discretion in financial policy making while maintaining an interdependence and mutual accountability between our sisters as a whole.

Each address of the Community administers an account locally for the support of the sisters living and working from it, and to assist its mission there. These accounts receive donations, part-time salaries and other cash receipts. Each address is an integral part of the Community.

The Provincial Fund co-ordinates the work and mission of the Community in the Province, receiving any full-time salaries and the pensions of its members as well as Legacies and other Capital Receipts.

9. Policy on Reserves From the Constitution of the First Order of the Society of St Francis: The Sisters desire to have no security resting on earthly possessions but to be wholly dependent upon God, relying on faith and prayer. The First Order itself shall not normally hold any land, building or capital in its own name but shall, when possible, place all property of which it may have the use into the hands of others. (Constitution of the First Order, 35:1, 2.) Thus the Community is not restricted in its investment powers, except where legally required - notably under the terms of the Trustee Investment Act 1961. However, it is not in the spirit of the Community in its interpretation of the Gospel of Christ after the way of St Francis to invest in any material or financial asset for security of Capital or Income. It is expected that investments recorded in the Accounts will relate to designated funds, established by the Chapter for specific purposes.

10. Risk

The Chapter Members, in their duties as Trustees, consider regularly the major risks which may affect the Community, and decisions and recommendations for discussion and action are reported to the wider community.

Together with the Brothers of the Society of St Francis, the Community has developed policies and guidelines to ensure that vulnerable people, including children, are safeguarded and that spiritual direction, counselling and other pastoral work are carried out to a professional standard. These are reviewed on a regular basis.

The Trustees are satisfied that the funds are being managed on a low risk basis and are monitoring the situation with a long term overview.

We are conscious of the significant increases in the cost of food, electricity and gas. Some houses are benefiting from fixed term contracts for gas and electricity and house and individual budgets have been adjusted to allow for these increases.

The community is fortunate in that a large proportion of our income is from pensions with one sister in employment. We recognise that, over time, the income from pensions will decrease but long term planning has enabled us to maximise the possible state pensions for most sisters in their sixties and early seventies.

11. Other information not recorded in the Accounts

The Community wishes to acknowledge the blessing of great generosity from those who support us, not solely by money but also in time given to practical help and by their prayers. Such acts of generosity are largely local and personal and are, consequently, not quantifiable within the formal structure of an Annual Report, but the Community here records its gratitude.

Sr Beverley CSF Minister Provincial and Chairperson. 27 January 2023

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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Community of St Francis (European Province)

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Community of St Francis (the charity) for the year ended 30 June 2022.

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner

As the Trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”)

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed _______ John O’Brien MSc, FCCA, FCIE Employee of Community Accounting Plus

10/02/2023 Date ____

Units 1 & 2 North West, 41 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GL.

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BALANCE SHEET as at 30 June 2022

Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible fixed assets
(8)
Investments
(9)
CURRENT ASSETS
Stocks
Debtors and prepayments
Deposit Funds
Cash at bank and in hand
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accruals
Other Creditors
NET CURRENT ASSETS
NET ASSETS
FUNDS
Unrestricted
Designated Funds
(10)
General Funds		 June 30, 2022
Consolidated
Provincial &
House Funds
£
424,494
448,060
872,554
72
6
543,778
121,349
665,205
(642)
(91)
664,472
1,537,026
1,141,333
395,693
1,537,026		 June 30, 2021
Consolidated
Provincial &
House Funds
£
431,863
459,243
891,106
82
1,750
493,251
146,268
641,351
(624)
(987)
639,740
1,530,846
1,159,357
371,489
1,530,846

Approved by the Trustees on 27 January 2023 and signed on their behalf by Sr Beverley CSF Minister Provincial

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Provincial & House Funds Consolidated for the year ended 30 June 2022

INCOME & EXPENDITURE

INCOME & EXPENDITURE
Notes
Income from:
Legacies
Grants and donations
Srs' Pensions/Allowances
Sisters' Salaries
Ministry
Contributions from Guests
Donated services and facilities
Sales/Industries
Interest
Profit on disposal of fixed assets
Total
Expenditure on:
Gen. Maintenance of Houses
(3)
On Behalf of Sisters
(4)
Travel & Vehicle Maintenance
(5)
Training & Education
Administration
(6)
Overseas Travel
Depreciation
Gifts
(7)
Contributions to FODF
Contributions to SSF
Removal Expenses
Shop purchases
Total
Gains and losses on investment assets
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between Funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Total
Total
General
Fund
Desig'd
Funds
30 Jun
2022
30 Jun 2021
£
£
£
£
78,839
24,878
24,878
117,310
102,331
102,331
94,019
34,481
34,481
42,615
6,546
6,546
6,202
11,704
11,704
11,688
8,400
8,400
8,400
206
206
169
395
8,417
8,812
9,180
660
660
2,595
188,941
9,077
198,018
371,017
99,052
99,052
95,245
27,389
27,389
18,633
7,999
7,999
7,678
2,314
2,314
251
10,578
10,578
11,794
219
219
9,924
9,924
10,949
8,809
8,809
15,721
10,000
10,000
10,000
3,000
3,000
2,000
1,371
1,371
2,264
73
170,731
9,924
180,655
174,608
(11,183)
(11,183)
72,031
18,210
(12,030)
6,180
5,491
5,994
(5,994)
24,204
(18,024)
6,180
5,491
371,489
1,159,357
1,530,846
1,262,406
395,693
1,141,333
1,537,026
1,267,897

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE 2022

1 Accounting Policies

a) Basis of accounting

b) Cost Allocation

Financial Activities are analysed into classifications to suit the Community's circumstances in accordance with paragraph 4.6 of SORP (FRS 102). Support and governance costs are integral to overall expenditure.

c) Recognition of income

These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:

the charity becomes entitled to the resources;

it is more likely than not that the Trustees will receive the resources; and

the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.

d) Expenditure and Liabilities

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e) Assets

Tangible fixed assets for use by charity. Expenditure on improvements to property, additions to major vehicles and major items of fixtures and equipment over £1,000 and which can be used for more than one year have been capitalised and are being depreciated on a straight line basis as follows:

Freehold buildings - over 50 years Fixtures and equipment - over 5 years Improvements to property - over 5 years Computer equipment - over 3 years.

The depreciation for motor vehicles is by a reducing balance basis of 25% per annum in order to reflect our current practice of purchasing good second-hand vehicles and retaining them for a longer period. A full year's depreciation is charged in the year of purchase. Smaller items are charged to income and expenditure immediately.

2 Analysis of receipts of government grants

A grant of £1,788 (£7,085 in 2021) was received being a renewable energy grant following the installation of a biomass boiler in the Metheringham house.

Analysis of Expenditure
3
General maintenance of houses
Rent, rates & Council Tax
Insurance
Household
Repairs & maintenance
Heat & light
Food
Chapel
Garden
4
On behalf of Sisters
Personal, inc. therapy & conferences
Care home fees
Funeral expenses & plans
Books & Papers
5
Travel & vehicle maintenance
Travel
Vehicle running & maintenance		 Total
2022
45,870
11,236
5,948
2,344
15,415
16,208
703
1,328		 Total
2021
40,387
7,725
5,860
3,904
13,885
19,745
494
3,245
99,052
17,339
8,083
(1,262)
3,229
27,389
1,184
6,815
7,999		 95,245
11,574
3,804
3,255
18,633
967
6,711
7,678

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6 Administration

Office & general expenses incl Chapters
Postage & telephone
Independent Examination
7
Gifts
Gifts – organisations
Gifts – individuals
8
Fixed Assets
Cost or valuation
Balance bt forward
Additions
Disposals
Balance cd. forward
Depreciation
Balance bt forward
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposal
Balance cd forward
Net book value at 30 June 2022
Net book value at 30 June 2021
9
Investments
Market value brought forward
Addition
Disposal at opening market value
(Decrease) / Increase in market value
Market value carried forward		 Freehold
Land &
Buildings
Property &
Improv'ts
463,268
47,961
2,651		 4,864
5,042
672
10,578
8,234
575
8,809
Motor
Vehicle
Fixtures &
Equipment
36,024
558
(7,200)		 5,880
5,290
624
11,794
15,236
485
15,721
Computers
Total
1,214
549,025
2,651
(7,200)
463,268
50,612
48,484
46,481
5,147
901		 28,824
558
20,425
558
3,876
(7,104)		 1,214
544,476
1,214
117,162
9,924
(7,104)
53,631
47,382		 17,197
558		 1,214
119,982
409,637
3,230		 11,627 424,494
414,784
1,480		 15,599 431,863
2022
459,243
(11,183)
448,060		 2021
387,212
72,031
459,243

The investments comprise deposits with CCLA Investment Management and M & G Charifund. They have historical cost values of £123,572 and £50,039 respectively. They are designated for the Development Fund and the Building Fund (see Note 10).

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Designated Funds
Fund Name
Development Fund
Building Fund
Vehicle Fund
Training Fund
Total Funds		 Fund Balances
brought
forward
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
Gains and
Losses
Fund Balances
carried
forward
510,947
8,376
(7,848)
(14,477)
496,998
592,811
(6,048)
2,651
3,294
592,708
45,599
691
(3,876)
(787)
41,627
10,000
10
(10)
10,000
1,159,357
9,077
(9,924)
(5,994)
(11,183)
1,141,333

Development Fund - established to provide income or capital support for development Building Fund - funds for house purchase and building improvements Vehicle Fund - established to provide income or capital support for the costs of vehicle replacement Training Fund - established to provide support for the costs of training sisters and General Chapters

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11 Analysis of Net Assets between Funds (consolidated)

Analysis of Net Assets between Funds (consolidated)
Designated Funds
Development Fund
Building Fund
Vehicle Fund
Training Fund
General Fund		 Tangible
Fixed
Assets
Investm'ts
Net Current
Assets
Total
£
£
£
£
268,219
228,779
496,998
412,867
179,841
592,708
11,627
30,000
41,627
10,000
10,000
424,494
448,060
268,779
1,141,333
395,693
395,693
424,494
448,060
664,472
1,537,026

12 Trustees' Benefits

The Charity provides for the essential needs of all members of the Community. As Sisters of the Community, the Trustees’ living and personal expenses during the year were borne by the charity but they received no remuneration or reimbursement for expenses in connection with their duties as Trustees.

13 Carrying amount of financial assets
Carrying amount of financial assets 2022 2021
Equity instruments measured at fair value through income & expenditure 448,060 459,243

14 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the period.

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