ANGLICAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30[TH] JUNE 2025
CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 292594
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ANGLICAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
CONTENTS
Page 3 Legal and Administrative Information Pages 4 & 5 Trustees’ Report Page 6 Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees Page 7 Income and Expenditure Page 8 Balance Sheet Pages 9 Notes to the Accounts
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ANGLICAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
WORKING NAME Marriage Encounter (Anglican Expression) CHARITY NUMBER 292594 START OF FINANCIAL YEAR 1[st] July 2024 END OF FINANCIAL YEAR 3 0[th] June 2025 TRUSTEES AT 30[TH] JUNE 2023 Nick & Viv Drayton Malcolm & Margaret Harrison David & Liz Percival (Lay Executive couple) David & Ann Roberts Revd Ian & Jane Scott-Thompson (Chair couple) LEGAL STATUS Unincorporated Charity
GOVERNING DOCUMENT Trust Deed dated 17[th] June 1985 as amended by a Deed of Variation dated 10[th] May 2003
OBJECTS
To educate the public concerning the union of a man and a woman within the institution of marriage with particular reference to emotional, physical and sexual relationships and with a view to developing personal responsibilities and enriching family life to deepen such relationships through communication between marriage partners.
CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
PRIMARY BANKERS
8 Fay Close, Fareham, Hampshire PO14 2RS Lloyds Bank PLC CAF Bank Limited 25 Gresham Street 25 Kings Hill Avenue London West Malling EC2V 7HN Kent ME19 4JQ
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Norman Gillhespy FCA 4 Hopewell Close Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5PN
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ANGLICAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
The Trustees present their report on the financial statements of Anglican Marriage Encounter for the year ended 30 June 2025. The financial statements have been prepared on an accruals basis and comply with the charity’s Trust Deed and applicable law.
The charity
Anglican Marriage Encounter is a registered charity governed by the Trust Deed made on 17 June 1985 as varied by a Deed of Variation dated 10 May 2003. It is registered with the Charity Commission under number 292594.
The Trustees have had due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. The charity provides public benefit through the advancement of the education of engaged and married couples concerning the union of a man and a woman within the institution of marriage with particular reference to emotional, physical and sexual relationships and with a view to developing personal responsibilities and enriching family life to deepen such relationships through communication between marriage partners.
The charity pursues its aims primarily through providing teaching weekends, most of them residential, for married and engaged couples. Ongoing support is available after the weekends. The charity’s weekend programmes are widely publicised through adverts, magazine articles, leaflets in public places such as churches, libraries and doctor’s surgeries, through the internet, radio and by word of mouth. The weekends are open to engaged or married couples whatever their financial circumstances or faith. There are no charges other than a modest booking fee which can also be waived where necessary. All other funding comes through voluntary donations. We encourage couples who have attended a weekend to pass on information to others, particularly those who might be unable to afford to pay for a comparable programme.
Trustees
The Trustees who served during the year are given on page 3.
The Trustees met twice in the year, and dealt with necessary business by e-mail between meetings.
Selection and training of Trustees
Trustees are appointed from couples who have experienced one or more of the charity’s weekends and who can bring diverse experience from business, charity governance, church, and organisations supporting marriage. Relevant Charity Commission publications and guidance when issued, are circulated to Trustees with the opportunity for discussion during biannual business meetings.
Review of activities
Seven weekends had been planned for the year, of which two were cancelled for want of couples wishing to attend.
Four Marriage Encounter weekends were held, attended by 33 couples (34 couples on 4 weekends in 2023/24), and one Engaged Encounter weekend attended by 6 couples (14 on 2 weekends in 2023/24). The revival of interest in Engaged Encounter weekends last year has not been maintained this year.
Donations remained steady despite slightly fewer couples attending Weekends. Venue costs also remained steady due to the use of a new better priced venue. The net result was a deficit of £132 (deficit of £12,714 in 2023/24) which was deducted from Reserves. The Trustees are grateful that the charity is financially secure and hope that weekend bookings will become more predictable and increase. The cost of cancelling a weekend is significant and more venues are now requesting the full cost of a weekend to be paid in advance The Trustees continue to look for ways to revive activity, boost bookings and encourage volunteers. They
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have explored new ways of advenising ihe weekend and reaching ne, audiences of couplcs ineluding radio inlcrvlc1S and advells. Oui The annual TL aud OffiLcfi Day w&5 hcld in Sutton Coldficld as iu carlier years. Att¢ndancc ihis ycar was a bit lower than in past year5. The particulat locu5 Ot the day w'a5 on developing and rLniwin¥y ihL work and expandsng publiL awarene8% ()f the w'eekend4. Thiq was further ¢ommuniLatcd to thL I'oluntcLrs wh wLrc unablc ii) aiicnd. All I'oluners wcre encouraged 10 rctlect on how io dLVLlop thc fiirurc of rhe chariry weekend Loniinues through d monthly email newsleller, Facebook groups, and %mall groups mcciing online and in person. Lcadcrship succcssion and voluntccr rcsourccs arc a continuing conccm. The TTUbtLes would like tu reLord their graLiiude to dll thL Illy volunieets who Lontinue to scrvl Ihc chariry in $0 many wa. All of the chariry's activiiies are carried out by volunieers. The Tru4tees would alNu like to reLord their b*rdlilude t() Ihe TrnsteLS ()f Tim¢ for Marriage {Chariiy Number 1086617) who hav¢ ¢hos¢n to donal¢ ihc rcmaindcr of Ihcir linancial rcsourccs to AngliLan Marriage F..ncounrcr when Time for Marriage Lloscd in .lunc 20?5. This will appcar in ihe accounts for ncxt vcar. Reserves polic) The Trusiees have reviewed their policy for reserves in ihe lighi of recLnt and foicLast dLlicits. Rcscrb'es of £96,623 arc substanrial rclatlN'C ro 0rdI]ng costs, but the present ourlook is for further dLfiLII4 dnd continuin&F unccrtaintv about giving. Wc rcquirc sufticicnt rc%crvcs to bc ablc to commit to provide weekendq in faith, wiihout being dependent on any contribution ihe cnuplc% aiicndinsy those weekends may make ro rhe tuture activities of the organisation. The present substantial reservcs allo. the TrustLLS to Lontinue opcrating the chariiy for at ILasi Ihe nLxI two ycars withoul LonLLms (ibout linanLial solvency. Investment policy and return5 Bdnk intcrLsl is thL only invLsthicnl inLomc Lamed by thc chariiy. RTSk management The Trustees respoll5ible tor examininbi ihe major riskg thai ihe charily laces eaLh linlIa1 vear whcn review'ing ils plans. The Trustees maintain a risk regIsr whiLh they review annually, whilsi ensLiringi ihLre arc sys(cms in placc for monitoring and control, so as to Mitiga any impaci on thc charity'4 8etiviti¢%. The Trustees fLgu141rly rcvicw all poliLies and predUreS. Governance and internal control The Trustees delegate Inanagement of the charity's tiVitieS to the Lay Executive couple, wha repori In ihe Trllstccs at Ica81 nvicc a year. There are no paid ofticers and all the administration is conducted from private homes. lan Scott-Thomp$on ( Ill, Jane Scott-Thompson Chair Couple Date 161,.12
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Anglican Marriage Encounter {registered charity 292594) Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the tnislees oli my examination of the accolmts of thc Charity for the year ¢nded 30 June 2025 as sel out oIi Pdgjes 7 to 9. As the tnislees of the charity, you are responsibl¢ for the preparation of tlie accounts in accordaiice with the requireinents of the Charities Act 2011 {'Ihe Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounls carried out under soctioi) 145 of the 201 l Act and iii cw'iiigi oiit Iny exaTninatioii. I have lollowed the applicable Direction% bJiveii by the Charity commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I haN'e completed my examination. I collfjnn that no material Tl)atters liae come to my attention in coi)ncclion M'ith the exatnination whicli giN'cs mc cause lo beli¢.¢ that iii. inaleridl respect". aucout)liiigF r¢¢oids were not kept in aCcordce witl) seclion 1.30 of tlie Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounlingp records I have no concerns attd have come across no other matters in conijection ipith Ihe e_¥aminatioii lo whicli alleLilion should be drawn in order lo enable a proper understajiding of thc accounts lo be reached. Norman Gillhespy FCA 4 Hopem'ell Close Shoreha]n-by-Sea BN43 5PN Date
Anglican Marriage Encounter
Income and Expenditure for the Year Ended 30th June 2025
| Unrestricted | Restricted | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Income | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Donations and Similar receipts | 2a | 32,926 | - | 32,926 | 33,270 | |
| Investment Income | 2b | 1,403 | - | 1,403 | 1,886 | |
| Total Income | 34,329 | - | 34,329 | 35,156 | ||
| Expenditure | ||||||
| Expenditure in Furtherance of | ||||||
| Charitable Objectives | 3a | 32,159 | - | 32,159 | 45,491 | |
| Expenditure on Managing and | ||||||
| Administering the Charity | 3b | 2,302 | - | 2,302 | 2,379 | |
| Total Expenditure | 34,461 | - | 34,461 | 47,870 | ||
| Net Income / (Expenditure) | (132) | - | (132) | (12,714) | ||
| Transfers between Funds | - | - | - | - | ||
| Balances Brought Forward | 96,754 | 720 | 97,474 | 110,188 | ||
| Balances Carried Forward | 96,623 | 720 | 97,343 | 97,474 | ||
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Anglican Marriage Encounter Balance Sheet as at 30th June 2025 2025 2024 Cash Funds Lbyds Bank CAF Bank 21.266 15.9T6 44.177 46.588 Shawbrwk Bank 30.000 3Q.000 PayPal 1.456 1.665 96,899 94,229 Debtors and prepayments D*p05ilS paid in advance for venues Gkft Aid dairn5 5(KJ 1.800 1.271 1.088 Dwations in transt 1.419 4.490 Creditors falling due in one year Tr8v81 expenses Bouking fees rp¢Ved in wjvant 744 825 400 420 1,24 Net total assets 97,343 97,474 Repr8sent8d by-. Gerieral Funds 96.623 96.754 RestnGtsd Funds 720 720 97,343 97,474 Apwovtd by the Trustees on 131R125- Swned on their tÉhalf ChrorT[vStees
Anglican Marriage Encounter
Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 30th June 2025
1. Basis of Accounting
The accounts have been prepared on an accruals basis, and meet at least the minimum levels of accountability recommended by the Charity Commission.
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Restricted | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **2. ** | Receipts | Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
| **a) ** | Donations and Similar Receipts | |||||||
| Gifts & Donations | 26,091 | 26,091 | 26,343 | |||||
| Gift Aid receivable | 5,295 | 5,295 | 5,245 | |||||
| Booking Fees & other income | 1,540 | 1,540 | 1,682 | |||||
| 32,926 | - | 32,926 | 33,270 | |||||
| **b) ** | Investment Income | |||||||
| Bank Interest | 1,403 | 1,403 | 1,886 | |||||
| 1,403 | - | 1,403 | 1,886 | |||||
| **3. ** | Payments | |||||||
| **a) ** | Expenditure in Furtherance of Charitable Objectives | |||||||
| Weekend Costs | ||||||||
| Marriage Encounter | 22,215 | 22,215 | 29,334 | |||||
| Engaged Encounter | 4,698 | 4,698 | 9,832 | |||||
| Weekend reunions & community day | - | - | - | |||||
| Leaflets, advertising, promotion | 1,753 | 1,753 | 2,586 | |||||
| Encounter Magazine | 2,794 | 2,794 | 2,790 | |||||
| 31,459 | - | 31,459 | 44,542 | |||||
| Training and Development | ||||||||
| Team & Officer Development | 700 | 700 | 949 | |||||
| Team Deeper Weekend | - | - | - | |||||
| 700 | - | 700 | 949 | |||||
| Total | 32,159 | - | 32,159 | 45,491 | ||||
| **b) ** | Expenditure on Managing and Administering the | Charity | ||||||
| Meetings & travel | - | 638 | ||||||
| Communications & Support | 1,441 | 1,441 | 882 | |||||
| Independent Examiner | - | - | - | |||||
| Banking Services | 424 | 424 | 422 | |||||
| Insurance | 437 | 437 | 437 | |||||
| 2,302 | - | 2,302 | 2,379 | |||||
| **4. ** | Restricted Funds | 2,025 | 2024 | |||||
| To purchase banners for use at Weekends | 720 | 720 | ||||||
| 720 | 720 | |||||||
5. Trustees expenses
A total of £1,158 (2024 - £904) was paid to trustees to reimburse them for travel and other expenses on charity business.
6. Staff Costs and Numbers
The Charity employed no staff during this or the previous financial period.
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