British Friends of Quaker Council for European Affairs Registered charity 293776
Registered Address: C/O Finance and Property, Religious Society of Friends, Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ.
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2022
1. Purpose, Objectives and Activities
British Friends of Quaker Council for European Affairs (BFoQCEA) is a Quaker charity whose main purpose is to promote Quaker values at the European level. These values are based on Quaker testimonies to peace, integrity, simplicity, equality and good stewardship of the planet (sustainability). The Charity is also referred to as the British Committee of Quaker Council for European Affairs in our Governing Document.
The purpose of BFoQCEA is achieved primarily by supporting the work of Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA), an international non-profit Association registered and based in Brussels, Belgium, and by promoting the work of QCEA within Britain Yearly Meeting, the national Quaker Church in Britain. Detailed information about the work of QCEA can be found here: https://www.qcea.org.
BFoQCEA raises sterling funds largely through donations from individuals, Quaker Meetings and Charitable Trusts; acts as agent in the collection of some direct grants to QCEA such as that made by Britain Yearly Meeting; acts as agent in the collection of some membership and service fees charged by QCEA and makes sterling payments on behalf of QCEA such as the rent for Quaker House Brussels, where QCEA is based.
BFoQCEA participates in the governance of QCEA by appointing a member of its Council, as do Britain Yearly Meeting and each of the Quaker Yearly Meetings in Europe. QCEA relies for funding from year to year entirely on the Yearly Meetings, Quaker Meetings, individual Friends and Quaker and other Charitable Trusts. BFoQCEA promotes the work of QCEA so that British Friends and other interested people are aware of the activities of QCEA, issues of concern to British Quakers, and the importance of speaking truth to power at the European level.
The appointment by QCEA of a Communications Officer, who has attended meetings of BFoQCEA since July 22, has enabled us to be well informed about the ongoing work of QCEA.
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Recent work has included: participation in debates and conferences on peace building and prevention of violent conflict; contributing to a workshop at the European parliament “European arms trade and human rights: The Case of Yemen and alleged war crimes”; working with partners to promote a human rights based approach to migration at the EU level, and working towards the 2023 publication of a major study telling the stories of communities around the world affected by the impact of militarism on the environment and climate.
In addition to fund raising, in 2022 BFoQCEA participated in the Yearly Meeting (annual gathering) of Quakers in Britain by holding an online event entitled “Voicing your values in Europe” to promote the work of QCEA, and organised an event jointly with Northern Friends Peace Board (https://nfpb.org.uk) and QCEA on the relationship between militarism and climate change. This event took place in January 2022 as a follow up to COP 26.
BFoQCEA helped with the distribution of ‘Around Europe’, the quarterly newsletter of QCEA, and prepared an appeal leaflet for insertion in ‘the Friend’ (Quaker weekly publication), which appeared in January 2023.
In July 2022, the application by British Friends of QCEA to become a ‘Quaker Recognised Body’ was considered and approved by the standing representative body of Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.
In April 2022, BFoQCEA agreed to a request from Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) to act as the collector of sterling donations to the FWCC appeal for funds for Quakers in Poland, Georgia and Estonia who were supporting Ukrainian refugees fleeing the effects of Russian warfare.
BFoQCEA promoted and provided banking support for the November 4-day QCEA “Europe at the Crossroads” Study Tour of European Institution formal and informal structures.
2. Governance
The Trustees of the charity met 8 times during 2022 via Zoom video-conferencing. In addition, an Annual General Meeting of the Charity was held on May 27[th] at Friends House, London, and online. At the AGM, Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick was appointed as clerk (chair) taking over from John Crosfield who has served as a member of the Executive Committee of QCEA since January 2022. Sarah Dodgson was appointed deputy clerk (chair) and Elspeth Wollen note-taker (secretary), Martin Ford as Treasurer and Martin Hughes as the Charity Commission Contact.
As of 31[st] December 2022, the trustees were:
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John Crosfield Andrew Jameson Sarah Dodgson Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick Martin Ford Marcie Winstanley Martin Hughes Elspeth Wollen Sue Myers
As noted as an intention in our 2021 Annual Report, during 2022 trustees considered ways of clarifying the governance of the charity and simplifying our financial reporting where possible and appropriate. Trustees accepted the recommendations of a small group set up to review the existing constitution that no changes be made in the near future. Meanwhile, we developed some rules of good practice, such as the length of terms of service of our trustees, to guide the way we operate.
A copy of our Governing Document and annual financial returns can be found on the Charities Commission website here: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/cy/charity-search/-/charity-details/293776.
3. Financial Summary
The Income of the charity during 2022 was £ 59,299. This compares with £188,037 in 2021. Donations from Quaker Meetings were £11,077 (including part of Ireland Yearly Meeting), donations from individuals £7,504 and donations from Quaker and other grant-making Trusts £31,000. A donation of £450 was received into the DW Saunders Fund to support QCEA Study Tour Bursaries. A total of £5,470 was received on behalf of QCEA acting as agent for membership and publication payments and a total of £6,418 in disbursements was made on behalf of QCEA. This included rent payments to Britain Yearly Meeting for the use of Quaker House in Brussels.
In this year Britain Yearly Meeting made a direct donation to QCEA to support their work rather than making the payment via BFoQCEA.
We were able to make a donation to QCEA of £50,000 in 2022.
| Donations to QCEA |
2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | 50,000 | 182,798 | 63,000 | 83,000 | 88,000 |
| Euros | 57,909 | 210,823 | 70,280 | 95,590 | 96,681 |
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The significant fall in the value of the donation to QCEA reflects the very substantial one-off donation in 2021 from a Quaker Charitable Trust which was disposing of all its invested assets prior to ceasing operation.
QCEA’s Study Tour, ‘Europe at a Crossroads’, based at Quaker House, Brussels, took place 14 – 17 November 2022. BFoQCEA received and passed on £4,292 acting as agent for Study Tour payments for QCEA and additionally provided direct and indirect Study Tour bursaries totalling £1,120 supporting 3 participants from the global south and 1 from the UK.
A total of £7,282 was received on behalf of the FWCC Ukraine appeal of which £6,561 was distributed under the direction of FWCC during the year and the remainder retained for distribution during 2023.
At the end of the year, our General Fund reserve was £2,565, the DW Saunders Fund was £17,628, the Ramallah bursary fund £1,102 and the FWCC fund £720.
These funds were held as £12,444 cash in the charity’s two CAF Bank Accounts and as a fixed asset bond valued at £9,573.
4. Looking ahead to 2023
During 2023 we will continue our core work of supporting, promoting and fund-raising for the work of QCEA with Quakers and Quaker Meetings throughout Britain.
5. Public Benefit
The Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. British Friends of QCEA supports work that benefits the public in Britain as a part of Europe’s sphere of influence and elsewhere in the world by promoting the values of peace and human rights embodied in the Quaker testimonies to peace, simplicity, integrity and equality.
Signed: Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick
Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick, Clerk, 12 April 2023
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6. Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of the British Committee of the Quaker Council for European Affairs
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2022.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As the charity's trustees of the British Committee of the Quaker Council for European Affairs you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the British Committee of the Quaker Council for European Affairs 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 in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the British Committee of the Quaker Council for European Affairs as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting 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 and have 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.
David Olver, 10 Daleside Road, Riddlesden, Keighley, BD20 5ES
23 February 2023
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| Statement of Financial Activities for the Year | Statement of Financial Activities for the Year | Statement of Financial Activities for the Year | Statement of Financial Activities for the Year | Ending 31st December 2022 | Ending 31st December 2022 | Ending 31st December 2022 | 6 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Friends of Quaker Council for European Affairs (BFoQCEA) |
Unrestricted funds | Restricted funds | Total 2022 | Total 2021 |
||||||
| Reg Charity: 293776 | General fund |
QCEA fund | FWCC for | Ramallah Bursary |
DW Saunders | |||||
| Ukraine | Capital | Income | ||||||||
| Income | Note | |||||||||
| Gifts and donations | 2/7/8 | 53,761 | 7,282 | 532 | 61,575 | 186,421 | ||||
| Conference fees | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Interest | 2/7 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 206 | 275 | 101 | |||
| Receipts for QCEA | 2/6 | 5,470 | 5,470 | 1,613 | ||||||
| Total incoming resources | 53,829 | 5,470 | 7,282 | 0 | 0 | 738 | 67,320 | 188,135 | ||
| Charitable Expenditure | ||||||||||
| QHB rent paid by BfoQCEA | 4 | 8,630 | 8,630 | 6,062 | ||||||
| BFoQCEA grant to QCEA | 3/4 | 50,114 | 50,114 | 176,487 | ||||||
| Acting for FWCC (Ukraine) | 8 | 6,561 | 6,561 | |||||||
| Bursaries | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1,385 | 1,385 | 0 | ||||
| Acting for QCEA | 6 | 6,418 | 6,418 | 1,613 | ||||||
| Sub-total | 58,744 | 6,418 | 6,561 | 0 | 0 | 1,385 | 73,109 | 184,162 | ||
| Governance | 148 | 148 | 249 | |||||||
| Bank charges | 81 | 81 | 96 | |||||||
| Admin & publicity | 0 | 0 | 355 | |||||||
| Total resources expended | 58,973 | 6,418 | 6,561 | 0 | 0 | 1,385 | 73,338 | 184,862 | ||
| Net incoming resources | 6 | (5,144) | (948) | 721 | 0 | 0 | (647) | (6,018) | 3,273 | |
| Gains/(losses) on investments | 450 | 450 | (98) | |||||||
| Net movement in funds | 6 | (5,144) | (948) | 721 | 0 | 450 | (647) | (5,568) | 3,175 | |
| Transfers between funds | (1,173) | 1,173 | 0 | 0 | (1,173) | 0 | ||||
| Brought forward 1st January | 6 | 8,883 | (225) | 0 | 1,103 | 17,120 | 705 | 27,586 | 24,410 | |
| Carried forward 31st December | 6 | 2,565 | (0) | 721 | 1,103 | 17,570 | 58 | 22,018 | 27,586 | |
| Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2022 | ||||||||||
| 2.5% Index Linked Treasury 2024 | 9,573 | 9,573 | 9,123 | |||||||
| Fixed Assets | ||||||||||
| CAF Bank current account | 100 | 100 | 100 | |||||||
| CAF Bank Gold account | 2,465 | 0 | 721 | 1,103 | 7,997 | 58 | 12,344 | 18,362 | ||
| Debtors & prepayments | ||||||||||
| Current Assets | 2,565 | 0 | 721 | 1,103 | 7,997 | 58 | 22,018 | 27,586 | ||
| Less creditors due within one year | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| Net Assets | 2,565 | 0 | 721 | 1,103 | 17,570 | 58 | 22,018 | 27,586 | ||
| Note: QHB = Quaker House Brussels, QCEA= Quaker Council for European Affairs and FWCC=Friends World Committee for Consultation |
| Note 1 Accounting Policies | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A) Basis of accounting: | ||||||||
| The accounts have been prepared: | ||||||||
| 1) on a cash basis | ||||||||
| 2) Under the historic cost convention, but with investments shown at market value | ||||||||
| B) Foreign currencies | ||||||||
| Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are converted into sterling at the transaction. |
rate of exchange ruling at the date of the | |||||||
| Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are converted into sterling at the rate of | exchange ruling at the end of the Financial Year. | |||||||
| Note 2 General Fund Income | ||||||||
| Gifts & donations | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
| Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) | - £ |
31,000 £ |
0.0% | |||||
| Trusts | 31,000 £ |
121,200 £ |
25.6% | |||||
| Quaker Meetings | 10,127 £ |
13,777 £ |
73.5% | |||||
| Individuals | 7,504 £ |
14,953 £ |
50.2% | |||||
| From part of Ireland Yearly Meeting | 950 £ |
970 £ |
97.9% | |||||
| Other donations | 4,180 £ |
4,522 £ |
92.4% | |||||
| Conference fees | - £ |
- £ |
||||||
| 53,761 £ |
186,421 £ |
28.8% | ||||||
| Interest | ||||||||
| Bank interest | 68 £ |
3 £ |
||||||
| 53,829 £ |
186,424 £ |
28.9% | ||||||
| Receipts for QCEA | ||||||||
| Direct Grants | - £ |
- £ |
- £ |
0 | 25.6% | |||
| 53,829 £ |
186,424 £ |
28.9% | ||||||
| Associate Membership subs | 1,162 | 1,577 | ||||||
| Supporting Membership subs | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Around Europe subscriptions | 16 | 36 | ||||||
| 1,178 | 1,178 £ |
1,613 | 1,613 £ |
73.0% | ||||
| 55,007 £ |
188,037 £ |
29.3% | ||||||
| QCEA Study Tour - UK participants | 4,292 | 0 | ||||||
| QCEA Conference Fees | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| BYM for European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) |
0 | 0 | ||||||
| BYM landlord's expenses | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Miscellaneous Inc received for QCEA | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Sub-total | 5,470 £ |
1,613 £ |
339.1% | |||||
| Total income | 59,299 £ |
188,037 £ |
31.5% | |||||
| Note 3 Periodic transfers to QCEA | ||||||||
| Periodically, BfoQCEA make a a transfer to QCEA comprised of some or all of the | following: | |||||||
| A) A grant made by BFoQCEA to QCEA to fund its work (Notes 4 and 5) | ||||||||
| B) Add amounts received in Sterling on behalf of QCEA and transferred to them | ||||||||
| C) Deduct Sterling expenses incurred by QCEA and paid on behalf of QCEA | ||||||||
| Payment | BFoQCEA grant | Bursaries | Sterling receipts |
Less Sterling expenses |
Total | |||
| 27/04/2022 | 25,000.00 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
25,000.00 £ |
|||
| 31/10/2022 | 10,000.00 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
10,000.00 £ |
|||
| 05/12/2022 | 15,000.00 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
- £ |
15,000.00 £ |
|||
| 13/10/2022 | - £ |
- £ |
3,149.00 £ |
- £ |
3,149.00 £ |
Study Tour Participants Payment | ||
| 24/10/2022 | - £ |
- £ |
1,143.00 £ |
- £ |
1,143.00 £ |
Study Tour Participants Payment | ||
| 09/11/2022 | - £ |
670.00 £ |
- £ |
- £ |
670.00 £ |
Study Tour Bursary Payment | ||
| 50,000.00 £ |
670.00 £ |
4,292.00 £ |
- £ |
54,962.00 £ |
||||
| In 2022, BFoQCEA transferred £4,292 received from study tour participants and | additionally made a study tour bursary payment to | QCEA of £670. | ||||||
| In 2022, no Sterling expenses were deducted from the transfers. | ||||||||
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| Note 4 BFoQCEA grant to QCEA | ||||||||
| For 2022, BFoQCEA agreed to make a grant to QCEA of £50,000. A further study tour payment of £114 was refunded to a participant with agreement from QCEA. BFoQCEA have designated this sum as an additional donation to QCEA from the BFoQCEA General Fund. Separately BFoQCEA paid the rent for QHB totalling £8,630. This is considered to be a further indirect grant payment. |
||||||||
| Note 5 Transferring Sterling payments to QCEA in Euros | Note 5 Transferring Sterling payments to QCEA in Euros | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | Euro | Sterling | Euro | |||||||||
| Payment | Exchange rate | Payment | equivalent | transfer | equivalent | |||||||
| 27/04/2022 | 1.176500 | £ | 25,000.00 |
€ | 29,415.50 |
£ | 25,000.00 |
€ | 29,412.50 |
|||
| 31/10/2022 | 1.144200 | £ | 10,000.00 |
€ | 11,442.00 |
£ | 10,000.00 |
€ | 11,442.00 |
|||
| 05/12/2022 | 1.137000 | £ | 15,000.00 |
€ | 17,055.00 |
£ | 15,000.00 |
€ | 17,055.00 |
|||
| 13/10/2022 | 1.136800 | £ | 3,149.00 |
€ | 3,579.78 |
£ | 3,149.00 |
€ | 3,579.78 |
|||
| 24/10/2022 | 1.119300 | £ | 1,143.00 |
€ | 1,279.36 |
£ | 1,143.00 |
€ | 1,279.36 |
|||
| 09/11/2022 | 1.117400 | £ | 670.00 |
€ | 748.66 |
£ | 670.00 |
€ | 748.66 |
|||
| Totals | £ | 54,962.00 |
€ | 63,520.30 |
£ | 54,962.00 |
€ | 63,517.30 |
||||
| Note 6 QCEA Fund |
In 2022, BFoQCEA received a total £5,470 on behalf of QCEA and made payments on behalf of QCEA totalling £6,418. The generated an in-year QCEA fund deficit of £948 to add the the QCEA fund deficit of £225 standing at the end of 2021. The QCEA Fund cumulative deficit at the end of 2022 therefore stood at £1,173. To reset the QCEA fund back to balance, a journal transfer of £1173 was made from the General Fund into the QCEA Fund. This in effect represents a further donation to QCEA.
Note 7 DW Saunders Fund
The DW Saunders Fund is restricted for use in providing bursary support to individuals to enable them to participate in QCEA Study Tours. During 2022, income totalled £206 from investments and £532 from donations making a total income of £738. A total of £1,385 in bursary support was made for participants of the November 2022 Study Tour (£670 direct to QCEA and £715 to a participant via an intermediary), resulting in a reduction in the DW Saunders Income Fund value of £647. The net Income Fund value at the end of the year therefore fell from £706 to £58. The DW Saunders Capital Fund increased in value during the year by £450 ending the year with a valuation of £17,570.
Note 8 Acting for FWCC (Ukraine)
In 2022, BFoQCEA agreed to receive funds on behalf of FWCC generated as a result of their Appeal for public donations to support Quakers in Poland, Estonia and Georgia working with refugees from the war in Ukraine. A total of £7,282 was receieved of which £6,561 was transferred by the end of the year to charitable recipients in the three stated countries as directed by FWCC. The remaining £721 will be transferred to recipients during 2023.
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Signed
Martin Ford, Treasurer, 9 April 2023
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