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2025-06-30-accounts

THE COMMUNITY OF ST FRANCIS (European Province) Registered Charity No: 286615 FINAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 30th JUNE 2025 TRUSTEES’ REPORT ....................................................... Pages 1-3 FINAL ACCOUNTS Independent Examiner’s Report ......................................... Page 4 BALANCE SHEET as at 30th June 2025 .................................. Page 5 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Income & Expenditure Accounts for the Year Ended 30th June 2025 ...................................... 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: 20 Podsmead Road, Gloucester GL1 5PA

2. Trustees.

Provincial Chapter:

Sr Beverley CSF (ex-officio- elected) Provincial Secretary: Sr Maureen CSF Novice Guardian: Sr Maureen CSF Provincial Bursar: Sr Christine James CSF Sr Gina CSF Sr Joyce CSF, Sr Liz CSF Sr Sue CSF (from March 2025)

Also Minister General (ex officio- elected): Sr Sue CSF to March 2025 Sr Pamela Clare CSF from March 2025 (Acting) Custodian Trustees:

The Official Custodian for Charities

3. 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 period of office is six years which may be followed by a further period of four years. All sisters in profession who are able and who are normally resident in the British Isles will serve on Chapter. The membership shall be renewed annually.

4. 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" (2024). The Community of St Francis is an Unincorporated Association.

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. Agents:

Bankers: The Co-operative Bank, PO Box 250, Skelmersdale WN6 6WT and NatWest, 2 Hendford, Yeovil BA20 1TN Independent Examiner: CAPlus, Units 1 & 2 North West, 41 Talbot Street, Nottingham NG1 5GL.

7. Review of the year

We now have 14 Sisters in the UK our ages range from mid 50’s to early 90’s living in houses in London, Leicester and 5 sisters living singly, one sister is in residential care and one sister is on leave of absence. 12 sisters are in life profession and 2 are novices. In addition, there is one postulant.

Our life continues to be interwoven within a framework of 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.

Sisters are variously engaged in ministry according to their gifts and skills and seizing the moment as the Holy Spirit provides opportunities.

In February, together with the Brothers of the Society of St Francis, we held a General Chapter, a residential meeting with talks and a visit to Coventry Cathedral. It was a refreshing and rewarding time together.

In January our Minister General became seriously ill and, in March, she resigned. This became an opportunity to think about the role of a Minster General in particular, given that we are now 14 sisters in the UK, three sisters in Korea and 2 sisters in the USA. We are now entering an experimental period where the various duties of a Minister General will be undertaken by different sisters with leadership roles within their own Provinces.

Leicester

The two sisters in Leicester are engaged both locally in the Parish and with organisations in St Matthews, the estate where they live, and nationally within CSF (Minister Provincial and Provincial Bursar) and the wider church. As Minster Provincial, much time is taken up with pastoral visits and meetings.

It was with great relief that a Pioneer Priest was appointed to the Parish in January and, while continuing to hold some of the Parish responsibilities, the sisters have been able to take a step back compared to the previous year. Our membership of

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national organisations continues with trips to London for meetings as does our local work in the Parish and for other local organisations including St Matthews Big Local where one sister has been a board member since its inception.

One sister completed the second half of her sabbatical. Since March, both sisters have spent time travelling , one carrying out her annual pastoral visit to the Korean sisters and both have been supporting one of the elderly sisters in Smethwick and house hunting in Gloucester.

Major changes are ahead as they look to close the house where they have been living for the past 18 years. They are grateful to the Diocese for the use of the property and to their many friends and neighbours both locally and in the church who have befriended and supported them during their stay in Leicester.

In the Birmingham area, two sisters live singly in sheltered accommodation, continuing to be a Franciscan praying presence, offering friendship where they live and worship and participating in the church communities of which they are a part.

Southwark

The household comprises 6 sisters, 3 in life profession and 3 in formation. The house has a guest ministry providing an affordable, central place for small groups to meet or individuals to stay for a day or longer. The sisters participate in the life and worship of several local churches and they regularly volunteer in a wide range of local organisations including English conversation groups, food banks and groups supporting homeless people. One of the sisters is in leadership and administrative roles, both in England and internationally within CSF. During the year, one sister became seriously ill, returning to the house after several months in hospital and rehabilitation.

Nearby, a sister in her late-eighties continues to live in sheltered accommodation. She continues to take an active role in the housing complex where she lives and within CSF as Secretary for Liturgy, a member of Chapter and compiling an intercessory paper for the franciscan magazine.

Other sisters

One sister continues to work full time as Rector of the Upper Soar Benefice in Leicestershire, being responsible for five parishes. She is encouraging four parishes to work towards a Silver A Rocha (eco) award, is pioneering work in local schools and developing forms of worship to attract people who would not normally attend a traditional church service. Many of her services are mixed mode, both in person and by Zoom enabling people who are housebound or unable to travel to participate. She has taken a labyrinth to the new community space in Dunton Bassett and also to a primary school allowing the participants to interact with the seasonal stories of Advent and Christmas respectively.

One elderly sister continues to live in residential care in Aberaeron while another sister lives out her vocation as a solitary in Lancashire.

Korea

The three sisters in South Korea continue to be self-financing. They are engaged in ministry in two local dioceses and in the Anglican Church nationally, building on their individual current ministries – sewing church vestments, a member of the Equality Committee of the Anglican Church in Korea, work with deprived children, running Enneagram courses, and parish ministry in Daejeon, and ordained leadership of the church in Gumi. They also are engaged in Interfaith Peace pilgrimages in Seoul. They have opened a second house in the traditional Korean village where they live with the intention of developing a guest ministry and having a workshop for vestment making.

We are small in number but we continue in our Franciscan calling and seek to live out this way of life to the best of our ability and with hope. We are dispersed geographically but seek to keep connected personally with the annual Sisters meeting, and with Chapter meetings and community celebrations and other events. We also stay connected by phone, WhatsApp, email and Zoom.

The international character of our Community still significantly shapes us and the ministry we are able to offer in diverse circumstances.

More examples of our work and ministry can be found in the 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.

8. Future Plans

Many of our works and ministries will continue for so long as we are capable but changing in response to the needs around us. Having looked at various locations and properties, we purchased a house in Gloucester in July 2025. We look forward to the Sisters there finding ministries and work appropriate to their skills, ages and experience.

9 . 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.

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10. 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.

A significant increase in sisters personal expenses was due to sabbatical costs.

Keeping in mind the move to net zero emissions, we have increased the vehicle fund with a view to replacing our current vehicles with electric or hybrid ones as the need arises and, given that we now have novices, we have increased the Training Fund.

11. 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.

12. 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.

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.

13. 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 2026

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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 2025.

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 _______ Eva Stevens BSc, CPFA Employee of Community Accounting Plus

Date _03/02/2026______

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

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BALANCE SHEET as at 30 June 2025

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, 2025
Consolidated
Provincial &
House Funds
£
7,493
515,853
523,346
1,447,302
139,416
1,586,718
(750)
(1,633)
1,584,335
2,107,681
1,758,920
348,761
2,107,681		 June 30, 2024
Consolidated
Provincial &
House Funds
£
9,990
507,993
517,983
40
1,392,727
135,965
1,528,732
(720)
(3,839)
1,524,173
2,042,156
1,698,982
343,174
2,042,156

Approved by the Trustees on 27 January 2026 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 2025

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
Shop purchases
Legal and professional fees
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
2025
30 Jun 2024
£
£
£
£
12,659
12,659
23,323
113,291
113,291
111,745
31,388
31,388
29,982
3,325
3,325
3,919
7,835
7,835
13,013
8,400
8,400
8,400
22
22
182
60,412
14,279
74,691
71,770
237,332
14,279
251,611
262,334
118,513
118,513
100,145
27,543
27,543
37,655
12,307
12,307
7,983
2,885
2,885
589
13,946
13,946
11,664
1,101
1,101
1,300
2,497
2,497
3,330
4,410
4,410
6,808
5,000
5,000
7,500
4,813
4,813
2,250
7
931
931
254
191,449
2,497
193,946
179,485
7,860
7,860
50,626
45,883
19,642
65,525
133,475
(40,296)
40,296
5,587
59,938
65,525
133,475
343,174
1,698,982
2,042,156
1,908,681
348,761
1,758,920
2,107,681
2,042,156

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE 2025

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.

Debtors Debtors (including trade debtors and loans receivable) are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity. Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.

Analysis of Expenditure
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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
2025
50,723
10,913
8,149
2,861
19,895
20,899
146
4,927
118,513
24,580
305
2,658
27,543
4,260
8,047
12,307		 Total
2024
45,891
8,523
7,217
1,380
13,602
18,325
176
5,031
100,145
26,937
2,253
5,830
2,635
37,655
3,133
4,850
7,983

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6
Administration
Office & general expenses incl Chapters
Communications
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 2025
Net book value at 30 June 2024
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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

8,429
4,692
825
13,946
4,087
323
4,410
Motor
Vehicle
Fixtures &
Equipment
31,939

6,891
3,968
805
11,664
6,299
509
6,808
Computers
Total
31,939
31,939
21,949
2,497		 31,939
21,949
2,497
24,446 24,446
7,493 7,493
9,990 9,990
2025
507,993
7,860
515,853		 2024
457,367
50,626
507,993

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).

10
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
534,094
10,779
(8,204)
(13,179)
523,490
1,079,898
50,000
21,039
1,150,937
69,990
2,809
(2,497)
(2,809)
67,493
15,000
691
1,309
17,000
1,698,982
14,279
(2,497)
40,296
7,860
1,758,920
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
Fund Transfers £
Interest from the Development Fund investments is transferred to the General Fund (8,204)
Interest from the Vehicle Fund is transferred to the General Fund (2,809)
Interest from the Training Fund is transferred to the General Fund (691)
From General Funds to Training Fund provision for an event in 2027 2,000
From General Funds to Building Fund to increase provision for property purchase 50,000

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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
£
£
£
£
288,186
235,302
523,488
227,667
923,272
1,150,939
7,493
60,000
67,493
17,000
17,000
7,493
515,853
1,235,574
1,758,920
348,761
348,761
7,493
515,853
1,584,335
2,107,681

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

Equity instruments measured at fair value through income & expenditure

2025 2024
515,853 507,993

14 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the period.

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