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2023-03-31-accounts

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Charitable Trust

Annual Report and Accounts

31 March 2023

Charity Registration Number 327357

Contents

Reports

Reference and administrative information 1
Trustees’ report 2
Independent auditor’s report 53
Accounts
Statement of financial activities 57
Balance sheet 58
Statement of cash flows 59
Principal accounting policies 60
Notes to the accounts 66

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Charitable Trust

Reference and administrative information

Trustees Sister Bernadette Healy
Sister Anne Marie Buckley
Sister Eleanor O’Gorman
Sister Angela Murphy
Sister Eileen Keating
Sister Mary Deane
The Trustees are incorporated under the Charities Act
2011.
Province Team Leader Sister Eileen Keating
Province Bursar Sister Eleanor O’Gorman
Administrative address The Lodge
Chesterfield Road
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3FT
Charity registration number 327357
Auditor Buzzacott LLP
130 Wood Street
London
EC2V 6DL
Investment managers Rathbone Investment Management Limited
8 Finsbury Circus
London
EC2M 7AZ
Principal bankers The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
St Ann Street
Manchester
M60 2SS
Solicitors Stone King LLP
Upper Borough Court
Upper Borough Walls
Bath
BA1 1RG

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 1

Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

The Trustees present the statutory report and the accounts of the English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Charitable Trust (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 60 to 65 of the attached accounts and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Introduction

The Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Congregation) is an International Roman Catholic Religious Congregation. It was founded in Ireland in 1775, where its Generalate is still located. It is divided into several Provinces throughout the world. In the Union there are approximately 906 professed sisters.

The English Unit has a special relationship with the Irish Provinces. Our collaboration set up, in 2017, a Justice Desk with three sisters who are the co-ordinators for Interprovincial collaboration. These sisters are: Sister Jacinta McKillion of the English Unit, Sister Helen Lenehan of the North-East Irish Unit, and Sister Miriam Pollard of the South-West Irish Unit. This requires time and commitment. Brian O’Toole was appointed as the director of the Interprovincial Justice Desk and he is the Justice contact for the three provinces.

The Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also affiliated to the International Presentation Association (IPA), which is a network of 12 Presentation Congregations in 19 countries, across the globe. Together there are some 1,500 Presentation Sisters throughout the world. Every five years representatives from the English Province attend an International Presentation Gathering.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Introduction (continued)

At 31 March 2023, the English Unit comprised 58 sisters who live in 16 communities and three single living sisters. Below is a map showing the location of each community. All of our sisters have given most of their working lives to the charitable activities of the Congregation both in England and abroad. The average age of the membership has increased. There has been no increase in membership.

The Community Houses are for the most part located in those areas of towns or cities where it is believed that the sisters can provide the most help to the poor and marginalised. Many of our houses were founded in order to minister in these areas and the sisters still give valuable service to the people of their area.

Below is a map showing the location of each community:

In 1836, the Presentation Sisters went one step beyond when they began their ministry in England.

In 2013, the Presentation Sisters went one step further and began their ministry in the Holy Land.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Introduction (continued)

On 1 July 2018 the English Unit was expanded further to include the community in the Holy Land. As the CLT wrote in their letter of 16 April:

This decision followed the recent evaluation of the mission in the Holy Land and consultation with the Sisters in England and the Holy Land.

It is our continued hope that this decision continues to support and develop the mission in the Holy Land and also grow and strengthen our missionary spirit and the bonds of connectivity between the Sisters in England and the Holy Land.

The accounts accompanying this report are the accounts of the charity on which the assets of the English Province of the Congregation in the United Kingdom are held and through which its finances operate. The charity is governed by a Trust Deed dated 14 February 1986 and Charity Commission Schemes dated 5 January 1987 and 24 February 1995. It is registered under the Charities Act 2011, Charity Registration No 327357.

Principal aims

The aims of the charity are to support the charitable work of the English Unit of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This includes education in its broadest sense and engagement in other charitable works based on the Christian message of “bringing good news to the poor” in accordance with the Roman Catholic faith and traditions as well as the Constitutions and Chapter Documents of the Congregation. We are committed to care for each other and for our earth.

Mission

The charity has a continuing commitment to support the work of the sisters of the Unit and the Congregation and to care for those members throughout their lives. The following are some of the ministries in which the sisters are engaged. All of these ministries benefit members of the general public.

They fall into the following main headings:

Sisters also work in advisory roles in religious education, youth programmes and are also engaged in spiritual direction, counselling and therapeutic practice.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Mission (continued)

When setting the objectives and planning the work of the charity for the year, and when encouraging the work of individual sisters, the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies

As stated above under “Mission”, the activities of the charity can be divided into caring for members including older and frail sisters and three other principal areas:

Care of members

As with other Congregations, the age profile of the members is increasing as existing members grow older and there have been no new vocations in the last 29 years. The age profile is shown below.

The Congregation has an obligation, both moral and legal, to provide care for its members, none of whom have resources of their own and all of whom have devoted a significant part of their lives to the care of others who have been in need – both in this country and abroad. As

the age profile of the Unit increases so too does the need to provide increasingly expensive care for the sisters.

----- Start of picture text -----
Age profile of the sisters as at 31 March 2023
30
26
25
20
16
15
9
10
5
5
1
0
50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89 90+
Age of sister
Number of sisters
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We foresee that the number of sisters needing nursing/residential care will increase over the next decade.

The Trustees are giving careful consideration to the impact this will have on the Unit re:

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

Care of members (continued)

The aims of the Trustees in the forthcoming years include:

Operation of a residential and care establishment

The following is the report from the Registered Manager of the Care Centre.

Background

The charity owns and operates a Nursing and Residential Care Centre for vulnerable elderly adults at its site in Matlock, and is registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC) for 36 residents.

The philosophy of the Care Centre, as stated in its Mission Statement, is: ‘To strive to respect the individuality, dignity and need for privacy of each person and to encourage freedom of choice in daily living. Placing the person at the heart of their care, we work continually in partnership with them, their family, friends and associates as well as our healthcare professionals to achieve this.’

As the Care Centre is owned and operated by the Presentation Sisters, its ethos is Catholic. However, we have a strong belief in equal opportunities and inclusivity and warmly welcome people from other denominations who are happy to share the life of the Centre.

Throughout the year, the charity continued to assist members of the Province in their charitable and religious work. Currently five members are cared for in the charity’s Care Centre whilst other members were enabled to work and volunteer in their chosen ministry.

The reconvened (March 2022), Chaplaincy Team led by sisters: Anne-Marie, Mary, Magdalene and Eileen, all of the Matlock community has been a valuable support for the residents this year. The time spent of an evening, talking, reminiscing and providing religious and spiritual support with the residents has been met with much appreciation and praise from them and their families and reflects the ethos of the centre.

Furthermore, in November 2022, Sisters Mary, Susan, Nora and Treasa brought ‘CAPACITAR’ to the care centre. Each week one sister takes turns to bring simple and ancient healing skills to our residents. The aim of the exercises is to be used at times when we feel depleted of energy, low in mood and the lift is given. The care centre is extremely grateful for the time taken by all sisters who extend their ministries to the residents of the Care Centre.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

Operation of a residential and care establishment

Background (continued)

The following photos are examples of our sisters at work with the residents:

The above are all ‘CAPACITOR’ sessions run with the sisters.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

Operation of a residential and care establishment

Facilities and Services

The Care Centre provides long-term residential and nursing care for the elderly in 36 bedrooms. Each room has TV, wash basin facilities and all are linked to the Nurse Call system; one room is also en-suite. All areas of the home are accessible by lift/stairs. Residents are encouraged to use the sitting rooms/dining areas throughout the Care Centre, as well as our beautiful outdoor space and we continue to ensure that the Care Centre remains of a high decorative standard.

One of the Care Centres’ primary objectives, alongside first-class care, is to create well-being for its residents by making life as meaningful and purposeful as is possible. This is delivered through a blended programme of exercise, song and entertainment.

Here are a few examples of the work undertaken during the past 12 months:

Chair based exercising: Each week a member of the Care Centre activities team brings together residents and sisters to run a session. This helps with co-ordination and dexterity.

Art and Craft Classes: Again, the who Matlock Community is brought together and residents and sisters sit side by side enjoying our weekly programme of art classes. These are run by two volunteers supported by the activities team:

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

Operation of a residential and care establishment (continued)

Facilities and Services (continued)

Pet therapy: Each week, the resident guinea pigs make their rounds around the residents along with many dogs and cats that also make an appearance, bringing joy to the residents!

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

Operation of a residential and care establishment (continued)

Facilities and Services (continued)

The Care Centre likes to entertain its residents throughout the year and here we cater for all tastes, from traditional brass bands and choirs from the local community to good old sing songs with professional entertainers:

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

Care Centre Management Board

The trustees, via the Care Centre Management Board they have established, aim to ensure the Care Centre meets the required standards and legal requirements and strives to improve.

The Management Board meets four times per year and supervises the operation of the Care Centre by: setting budgets, agreeing an annual business plan, receiving monthly reports from the Registered Manager, considering reports from the monthly providers’ visits and general business supervision to give direction and compliance.

Monthly visits on behalf of the management board are undertaken by Miss Jacquie Scott who not only is a member of the management board but provides mentorship and mock inspections of the Care Centre to underpin the clinical governance of the centre.

The care centre has regular pharmacy inspections, and the Lead Nurse undertakes her own regular clinical and medication audits - corrective action is always taken as a result of any findings. The Care Centre also enjoys a pro-active and effective working relationship with its healthcare professionals who collectively deliver focused care and support to its residents.

Again, this year we have had no complaints about the care and service we provide, and many compliments have been received from relatives, whilst caring and nursing their loved ones through a difficult period.

Notable activity and achievements for 2022/23

We continue to control spending as much as possible. Whilst Covid related restrictions have lifted and grant monies have been withdrawn, the Care Centre still applies the same level of PPE. This has been a budgetary constraint, but a safe environment is still a priority.

Financial performance 2022/23

Operating conditions, particularly in relation to local authority fees remain tight and spend on PPE almost the same as the previous year, without the support of local authority grants. The long term aim is still to increase the bed occupancy to 41 and some re-modelling work has started on the floor and rooms. This will continue during 2023/24 but we are intending to maintain our financial performance in the coming year. We are seeking to increase bed numbers and thus employ economies of scale.

Fortunately, The Presentation Sisters Care Centre continues to enjoy an enviable reputation, and this means that much care and hard work goes into the service we provide to our residents; our staff and volunteers are to be commended for this. Unfortunately, due to our reputation, we are often unable to provide care for some people who need and prefer the atmosphere and ethos at the Presentation Sisters Care Centre as we are often full and clearly demand for our care continues to grow.

Education, social, health and pastoral work

The Sisters continue to carry out various forms of educational, social and pastoral work in order to fulfil their individual ministries. Some of this continues to happen through letter writing, Microsoft teams zoom meetings and telephone as well as face to face. Examples of some of these ministries are given by way of illustration.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

Education, social, health and pastoral work (continued)

Due to age and declining health, of the 58 Sisters, 45 are ministering in various parts of England and 2 in The Holy Land. “Small but beautiful” might describe the numerical size of the Unit. In a country of approximately 57 million people made up of nearly every nation under the sun, we number just 58 sisters – Irish, English, Scottish and Indian. Many sisters have ministered in India, Africa, the Americas and Europe and their experience brings a richness and global feel to the Province. However, the average age of the sisters is 81, and this has had a significant impact, along with the coronavirus on the energy, vibrancy and involvement in ministry which is part of the life of the Province.

The England of today is a society enriched by multi-cultural, multi-faith and multi-ethnicity. It has an ageing society – underpinned by the pandemic, causing a crisis in care and in the NHS. In addition, it is a country with 4 million children living in poverty/increased homelessness/drug abuse. It is more divided than ever between rich and poor, north and south, with issues regarding integration of migrants and refugees, and increasing levels of trafficking, homelessness and substance abuse.

In England today, the traditional family unit is no longer the norm and civil partnerships are increasing. There are increasing numbers of young people with mental health issues alongside becoming a country where the majority do not hold religious beliefs; where parishes are closing because of lack of priests/lack of consultation/fewer vocations/clericalism strong in some areas.

It is in this atmosphere that the ministries are carried out in the Unit. Through all forms of social media; prayer, education, pastoral work, health care, social work, prison, catechetics, spirituality and faith development, chaplaincy, counselling, work with travellers, refugees and asylum seekers has been carried out. Through the giftedness of each sister, we try to meet the needs of individuals and society where possible, in the place where we find ourselves.

Our lifestyle tries to facilitate communion with the poor and availability to those in need. Living simply, we challenge materialism, exploitation and injustice and give witness to Christ and his values.

The Matlock building was bought and opened as a Convent in 1927.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

Education, social, health and pastoral work (continued)

The Lodge has seen several changes in its use – from housing Sisters and then Boarders during term time, to the Chaplain, to Sisters, to being rented out and now back to the use of the Sisters.

Sr. Eileen Keating is Unit Leader. Born and brought up in Kerry, where she entered the Presentation Sisters, she has ministered in New Zealand and Chile before coming to England. She was Youth Chaplain and Parish ministry in Corsham and then moved to Holy Family, Sheffield – where she was Canonical Pastor for 27 years, before being elected as Unit Leader of the English Unit in the summer of 2014.

The Leadership Team have taken part in an induction programme organised by the Congregational Leadership team, and also team building and strategic planning with Caplor Horizons. Along with the other Trustees, they have participated in training sessions organised by Buzzacott and Stone King.

Leadership Team: Sisters Eileen Keating, Mary Deane and Eleanor O’Gorman.

The Heart of Presentation

Hospitality and Community are at the heart of ‘Presentation’. We share our stories, our ministries, our struggles and challenges with each other as well as celebrating with gratitude our journey in life. ‘Presentation’ is dynamic, being with people as we reach out to make Nano’s vision alive in our time and place, following our models Mary and Nano. We listen and respond to God in our lives and journey into the unknown as Mary and Nano did. We aspire to live lives of commitment, dedication, availability and being of service to all, especially to those made poor, so that they become empowered. We give witness by living lives of simplicity, by living the present with passion and by allowing God to love each of us more deeply as we strive to live prophetic missionaries.

The Eucharist is central to our lives. The time we spend in silent prayer in community before the Blessed Sacrament is most helpful and the Presentation Day Novena unites us all powerfully. Growing in a deeper prayer life involves growing in the right relationships. Beginning the challenge of each day anew calls us to a deeper trust in a compassionate and loving God and to share his gifts with all we meet. Strengthened by His presence we can be filled with joy and open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We need to be filled with Christ and to share the Word of God with others.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

Education, social, health and pastoral work (continued)

The Heart of Presentation (continued)

With our associates we are growing in our understanding of interconnectedness with creation and all people, striving to create a more just and peaceful world.

Below are examples of the work carried out by our sisters reported to the rest of the Province over the last twelve months:

April 2022: Returning to the Holy Land

Our participation in the Congregational Community nurtures a global consciousness and a spirit of solidarity. It alerts us to the Gospel call to mobility for mission.C54

On Presentation Day, November 21, 2019 I went to the Holy Land in response to a heartfeltcall for ministry and returned in February, 2020. I had to be in the US to apply for a permanent visa and thought I would return in a few months. It was at that time that we were learning of Covid and the impact it was having on our society and the world. Everything was put on hold and I had no idea when it would be possible for me to return.

During these past two years God blessed me with a wonderful ministry. I was part of the Los Angeles, CA, Department of Health Covid Response Team for those made poor and those experiencing homelessness. Our teams did Covid testing, gave out food, sleeping bags, tents, administered flu vaccines and, when available, Covid vaccines. We also did Street Medicine and helped those with acute and chronic illnesses. For a few months I nursed in a Skid Row clinic frequented by the homeless population in Los Angeles. I truly loved and felt I was in a ministry that I had prayed about for many years.

Nevertheless, I still yearned to return to the people in the Holy Land. I have been asked why I wanted to go back since I was doing good work in a ministry I loved. My only answer was, “I am called! I feel it. I know it in my heart.” After much prayer and discernment and communication with our sisters in leadership, I knew I had to return. It would have been easy to stay. I had made many connections in my ministry and was well known by staff and patients. I knew all the sisters in my large community and enjoyed our gatherings, I was part of a Unit in the US with wonderful sisters that I have known for many years and I was near family, friends and relatives.

I arrived in the Holy land on the 26[th] of February 2022. I am in community with Sister Anna Manyonga who is from Zimbabwe. We come from very different cultures but our common thread is our love and service for Jesus and our congregation which was founded by Nano Nagle. We pray together daily and spend time sharing and getting to know each other. I am learning about her culture and she is learning about my Mexican American culture and both of us are trying to learn about the culture surrounding us each day. Even though, at this time, there are only two of us, we are closely connected with our sisters in America, Africa, Ireland, England, and different parts of the world as we all follow Christ and strive to live the Gospel and follow in the life and charism of Nano. We are also closely connected with other religious sisters and brothers in the area.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

April 2022: Returning to the Holy Land (continued)

It is interesting to live in a country where daily it seems I am learning more about our Jewish and Muslim sisters and brothers, their feasts and holy days, as well as more about our faith and Jesus and where he walked. I am currently learning Arabic and Anna Hebrew in Jerusalem, since only about half the people speak English. My class has proved to be a multinational, multifaith, multicultural experience. It fosters my dream for peace as we go about forming community together.

I have been in the Holy Land for a little over a month. As I write this, the first day of the Muslim Feast the Holy month of Ramadan, I can hear the Call to Prayer chanted in Arabic over the load speakers here in Jerusalem, near the

Garden of Gethsemane. Soon the Jewish people will celebrate Passover and we our Holy Week and Jesus’ Passion and then his Resurrection on Easter.

Being in a foreign land has many blessings yet it also has its challenges and pains. Just recently, I had a death in my family. It was a shock and I felt the deep pain of being so far from my loved ones. Through phone and internet, I have been able to communicate and pray with them. This past week I prayed and reflected on the many people who are also experiencing being separated from their loved ones during difficult time right now in Ukraine, in this land and in so many parts of the world people are being separated from their loved ones and don’t know if they are alive or dead. What came to mind was that we are in Lent and are preparing for our Lord’s Passion and death and the deep pain of Our Lady of Sorrows, so they know and understand our pain.

This time has called me to deeper relationship with God. It has been a time for me to draw closer to God’s unfailing love and to hold dear in my heart his words “I am with you always, until the end of time.” My trust and faith in Jesus have been comforting in knowing that he has welcomed our loved ones to be with Him in paradise and the joy they are experiencing as they gaze upon his beautiful face. We are Resurrection people and believe in the promises God has revealed to us and so with joyful hope we carry on following Him until the day comes for him to carry us home.

We all experience pain and suffering in our lives yet we are comforted by our deep faith in our merciful God who loves us and knows our hearts. We unite in our joys and celebrations and also unite in our sadness and sufferings. We are all on this journey together and let us continue to keep each other in prayer.

Sister Julie Hurtado, PBVM

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

May 2022: Acocks Green - A Window into Acocks Green Community

Eleanor and Angela form the Acocks Green community, living about four miles from Birmingham city centre. Acocks Green was named after the Acock family who built a large house in the area about five hundred years ago. Green was used as the area was agricultural.

Over many years the area has become more developed and is now a busy suburb of this multicultural city. Although the fields have been swallowed up by housing, we still have many trees lining the streets. We know this very well by the number of leaves that settle in our garden and swirl around the back door every autumn. Our road is fairly quiet and we are fortunate to have good neighbours who sometimes share food at special religious festivals or family celebrations.

Like everyone else, when Covid came we had to adapt. The weather was beautiful and we were able to enjoy the garden – the flowers, trees, birds and the sense of stillness. Recently we bought some plants recommended to us by Ali, who looks after our garden. We continue to enjoy the colourful flowers and the birdsong. Our community life is made of prayer, ministry, time to relax, to share, to celebrate feast days and join in parish life.

We are part of the parish of Sacred Heart and Holy Souls and priests and parishioners are always very supportive. The neighbours are also very friendly and will sometimes share their home cooked food with us when they are celebrating family occasions or religious festivals.

Angela writes: “I had to cancel the Meditation Groups and Associates group who met regularly in the convent. Fortunately, the Associates group has begun meeting again and I am delighted to welcome two new members. The group are currently studying the book by Anne Lyons called The Story of Nano Nagle: A life lived at the Razor’s Edge. The associates are always eager to learn about the life of our foundress.

The Meditation groups haven’t started again yet because of concerns over space and the numbers in the group but hopefully they will be able to meet again soon. However, the Bereavement Group has begun meeting again each month in the parish hall. They begin with tea, have time for sharing and end with a time of prayer. As some of the group live alone, they really appreciate this time and find it very supportive.

As well as enjoying visiting and meeting parishioners, I was recently invited in to Archbishop Ilsley Secondary School to lead some sessions on prayer with the staff. A number of staff joined me at 8am for some reflective time at the beginning of a busy day. I hope to share a few more sessions with staff leading up to Pentecost. As part of the Matlock leadership team, I go to Matlock for two weeks out of six, offering support to the sisters there.

Some of the associates pictured with Angela in the garden

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

May 2022: Acocks Green - A Window into Acocks Green Community (continued)

Like most people I could not go home, so my family came to me. My sister Ann and niece Ciara came in the autumn and my brother and his wife, Paschal and Marie, visited more recently. They all enjoyed their visits. We visited Birmingham and enjoyed some delicious meals together.”

As well as the responsibilities of being a member of the PLT and bursar, Eleanor also takes part in some voluntary activities locally. “I volunteer at Tabor House. This is a project for those experiencing homelessness and it helps people to move away from the streets. It can take eight people and there is also a cottage nearby which sleeps three. Befriending and mentoring are offered to guests who are ready to move forward. I usually cover the Sunday morning shift once a fortnight along with other volunteers. It tends to be a quiet shift and we carry out some cleaning tasks and are there for the guests in case they want a chat. The project is open to women as well as men but mostly the guests are male. I get to know them quite well over the weeks and months they are there. Many are from other parts of Europe and don’t have good English but we manage to communicate. It’s good to see them moving on to more permanent accommodation and work.

As a Cafod schools volunteer, I lead assemblies and workshops in primary schools, mainly in the Midlands area. This term schools are being invited to “Step Up to the Plate” as part of the Cafod campaign called Fix the Food System. I enjoy going in to schools and am always impressed and touched by the enthusiastic and generous response of the children and staff.

Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit my dad’s green fingers but I enjoy keeping the bird table stocked up. As I’m writing this, I’ve seen blue tits, robins, blackbirds, a flock of unruly starlings and a pair of goldfinches (as well as the odd pigeon and crow). I’ve also taken part in some litter picking as part of the Acocks Green in Bloom group. I love to be out enjoying God’s creation so walking or cycling is my way of taking time out. I’m also part of the parish music group, playing the flute at Mass on a Sunday morning.”

There is great activity in Birmingham at the moment as the city prepares to host the Commonwealth Games at the end of July and to warmly welcome many visitors from all over the world. You are also welcome to visit as we continue to share in the mission of Jesus and Nano here in Acocks Green.

Living Joyfully Event for Schools on 4-5 May 2022

This was a 2-day on-line event in which Religious from different Congregations visited schools and met with students via zoom to share something about our lives and mission. I participated on 5 May and spent the day visiting secondary and primary schools around the country. Most sessions lasted an hour with from anywhere between 30 up to 150 students in each session and with 3 or 4 religious. Each of us would give a short input and we were asked lots of questions.

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Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Activities, specific objectives and relevant policies (continued)

Living Joyfully Event for Schools on 4-5 May 2022 (continued)

In the picture shown I am participating with Sister Aelred – A Benedictine Nun from Minster Abbey, and Father Hugh Seenan – Missionaries of Africa. It was a joy filled and encouraging event. I found some of the questions challenging but we received a lot of positive feedback from those participating.

Celebrating Earth Day – Susan Richert

Presentation Sisters celebrated Earth Day on the 22nd April by zooming around the world and experiencing cultural dance, song, poetry and creativity on the theme of Dancing with Earth…Earth we are.

Organised by the Sisters at the Garden of Oneness in Zambia - and led by Sr Lynette Rodrigues via zoom, we honoured Mother Earth and Nano, woman of Light. The programme was opened by the children in the Garden of Oneness welcoming us.

We were reminded that in the beginning was light – light within

ALL Life and that we are beginnings of light – movingly expressed in dance by Sister Mahnoor in Pakistan against the stunning scenery of the Swat Valley. Sisters Mary and Esther from Ireland reminded us in song - that the Spirit of God, which flows in the clear running water, in the trees and in the finger of morning, brings us to birth and fills our lives.

Creation continues to groan and grow.

Sisters Lillypushpam, Sukirtha and other Sisters in India, through their expressive movements touched our hearts as we watched them express the beauty and wonder of Mother Earth as well as her agony and the agony of all people. This led Sister Miriam in Newfoundland to proclaim in song - All Our Relations and we need to open the ears and eyes of our minds and hearts to each other and to Mother Earth.

Sister Saima in Pakistan helped us to hear again through song the echo of the call to follow Nano our inspiration, our light, our courage. Through dance, Sister Bernadette in Ireland helped us to reach deep within us to the mystical spirit of earth and of Nano and of ourselves – a theme continued from Africa by Sr Yvonne – where our ancestors, human and non-human began. Sister Mary in Latin America reminded us of the importance of telling stories and we heard the story of Pacha Mamma and the energy of Nano. All was brought together by Sister Mary in England inviting us, through our movement, to tread gently on our earth, breathe deeply of the air, lie gently in the water, touch gently to the fire.

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June/July 2022: Province Assembly

Nano’s daughters in every sense of the word.

Our time together at the Assembly was marked by rich and deep conversation around issues about which each of us felt very passionately. Our minds and hearts were opened to new learning. Like the disciples after the miracle of the loaves and fishes, we gathered all the fragments and we now pray that we hold onto the wisdom that has been shared and move the ideas expressed forward, as we continue to grow and develop them in our individual and ongoing work.

Many words of challenge had been part of our gathering. We were aware that the conversations that we had with one another were graced, but some were difficult. May we continue to weave closer together as a community of Presentation Sisters, marked by growing understanding, charity, patience, and commitment to dialogue.

Celebrating Jubilees of our Sisters

We celebrated Jubilees and questions naturally arise: Why did these sisters enter, and why did they stay?

The Sisters who celebrated have spent 60 and 70 years growing into their identity and loved as Presentation Sisters. Like Christ, each has dedicated herself to the outworking of God’s will in her own life, not as an act of servile obedience rooted in fear, but as a faithful response to that Love which first sparked a desire to grow in God’s love, to remain in that Love and to witness to it publicly by a lifetime of dedicated service as a Presentation Sister.

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Celebrating Jubilees of our Sisters (continued)

Jubilee celebration at Assembly. Sisters. Eithne, Philomena and Frederica very much part of it all.

The Sisters who are celebrating their jubilee may be tempted to think they are finished; finished teaching, or spiritual direction, finished trying to solve problems and, finished being in the thick of it, whatever “it” is. Feel your promises, were faithful to the vows taken, achieve all, or most, of the goals you set for yourself, honoured the commitments you made when you were younger, and, so now, can sit back and look with contentment on a job well done, and say I am finished. But you really are not!

Sisters. Treasa, Lucy and Margaret renewing vows

We cannot ever be finished with, or retire from, being a ‘loved lover’. It is a vocation that is ageless’ it is lived with arthritic hands and knees, just as well as when our hands were wrinklefree, and our knees did not creak when we could still genuflect and touch the chapel floor! It is also thankfully a vocation that is not restricted to specific apostolates, or dependent on physical strength. The love we have shared with God, always invited the outpouring of more love from us. The more our own egos subside, and the love of God for us and all creation increasingly fills our own being, the more we will be asked to, and able to, love without limit.

A Jubilee is, of course, a time to look back and reminisce, but maybe it also needs to be a time to let go of those first 60 or 70 years, a time to overcome the temptation to cling to the past, to what has been, in order to look ahead to the future, which we are still called on to create, and to ask of yourselves again, what does the Lord require of me?

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Celebrating Jubilees of our Sisters (continued)

There is a great deal of life in each one of us that still needs to be lived. But we have to choose how we want to live it. As Joan Chittister, reminds us: “we can die before our time, or we can live until we die.”

Our vocation asks of us to be “loved lovers” right up until the last day, confident that we will be sustained by grace, by a love so much greater than all the many years we have lived, and served, and loved so far. As St. Paul says: God who began this good work in us, will go on completing it. It is a process which is not finished. We are not finished! May God continue to complete this work in each of us for many more years, until our love grows wider and wider, and deeper and deeper, and our lives become one with all of creation, and with the Absolute love who is the source of all.

Sister. Eileen Keating

October 2022: Sapling to Grand Oak

We live in a time of great concern about the need to save Planet Earth which is under threat of non-survival; from the melting ice caps at the Poles to the wanton destruction of the Amazon rainforests, from the ever-widening expanse of desert areas no longer fit for human habitation and the general disregard for the value of maintaining a natural healthy ecosystem, all of this is shouted from the rooftops by the scientists and their warnings are dire.

On Saturday October 8th. in Matlock the sun shone warmly on the Presentation Community, Associates, Staff, Groundsmen and Friends as we gathered to plant an Oak sapling in the Convent grounds, one small but significant contribution towards the healing that Mother Earth calls for. The ceremony prepared by Eileen the Provincial Leader, began with a song of lament (by Jodie Clarke) which called for the response of forgiveness for the damage done to Earth ..Kyrie Eleison, Lord have mercy. Eileen spoke of our commitment to caring for Creation reminding us that, as Jesus said, a mustard seed can grow into something much bigger, and seeds speak of Hope as an investment in the future. We can make a difference by something as simple and small as planting and nurturing a tree. A quotation from the Nobel Peace Prizewinning Kenyan, Wangaari Maathai who inspired the planting of millions of trees said: ‘Christ was crucified on the Cross. I always say somebody had to go into the forest, cut a tree and chop it up for Jesus to be crucified. What a great celebration of His conquering Death it would be if we were to plant trees …in thanksgiving ‘.

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October 2022: Sapling to Grand Oak (continued)

The Oak sapling which was used symbolically at our June Assembly -with the promise of being planted in the Autumn- has, from earliest times, been a strong symbol of Presentation Life; ‘From Acorn to Oak ‘an image of the small beginnings of Nano Nagle’s foundation growing into a huge tree covering the four corners of the earth. So, this ceremony of planting has been especially meaningful to us as well as cementing our commitment to caring for God’s creation.

‘Lord, bless this sapling. Grant its fertility and steady growth. May it be a sign of your Kingdom which starts with the small and weak but grows in secret and will one day fill the whole of Creation, Amen’.

The preparation of the ground and the general organisation was carried out by our evergenerous groundsmen and the planting ceremony was followed by lovely eats in the Hall prepared by kitchen and dining-room staff. A beautiful and meaningful day was enjoyed by all.

This is the reason that the Birch Tree (150 years old) had to be removed. A great sadness. Now 2 Oaks have been planted. There is another one or two that have to come down. Our legacy lives on.

October 2022: Six Streets Tabletop Sale, White Street

Each year the Six Streets Community invite residents of the streets to join in this venture, allowing the proceeds of each table to go to a charity of the resident’s choice.

I responded by displaying some items for sale that I had not used or that were past use that I had found in cupboards. The display was small but attracted attention, non-the-less. I had decided that the proceeds would go the Medaille Trust who do wonderful work rehabilitating victims of Trafficking and it was very gratifying when one buyer text me afterwards to say “I was very impressed by your professional display about the charity… hope it might be laminated for future use”!

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October 2022: Six Streets Tabletop Sale, White Street (continued)

The event also provided an opportunity to talk about the evil of trafficking and its extent in Derby. Many remembered hearing the story publicised recently about Sir Mo Farah and I even came across one or two people who belonged to associations dealing with the problem.

Sister Susan had kindly agreed to join me during the afternoon, and I appreciated the company as it was an occasion to meet folk from other streets as they came along and to have a few words in conversation. Some spoke of their time on the street,

or when they had moved, how life and the area had changed and how they imagined the future. Several had young children or babies in prams all looking for bargains!! Sadly, the crowd was not as big as it could have been as it coincided with the Derby Festival in town. Nevertheless, questions were asked about who we were and what ‘Presentation’ meant etc.

An Indian family who had just moved into White Street last month called by and it was good that they were able to chat to Sister Susan who has been to India. Another lady said, “I remember you from Carol singing 4 years ago”!!

The picture was taken halfway through the sale when some of our items had been sold. The couple of hours made about £35 which was good considering that all our items were priced 50p or £1, and unfortunately rain threatened to halt proceedings many times during the afternoon.

Sister Teresa Kennedy

October 2022: Annual conference for the Association of Provincial Bursars

Eleanor attended the annual conference for the Association of Provincial Bursars which took place in High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesden, Herts, from 3-5 October. The programme was varied, with speakers covering a wide range of topics. This conference was also an opportunity to celebrate 40 years since the beginning of the Association in 1982.

Sister Imelda Poole IBVM and Garry Smith, CEO of the Medaille Trust, spoke about their work in combatting modern slavery in Albania and the UK. Their work falls under four main headings – prevent, protect, pursue (justice) and partner. Their vision is of a world where people are free from exploitation through human trafficking and modern slavery. It is a long journey as it is estimated that there are 40,000,000 trafficked people in the world today and 71% are women and children. But they are encouraged by the quote:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has" - Margaret Mead

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October 2022: Annual conference for the Association of Provincial Bursars (continued) Evelyn Partners gave a presentation on the complexity of being a religious charity investor. They stressed the importance of having a considered and practical investment policy. They also reminded us that there is a lot of emphasis on making a positive impact through our investments. However, we are already making a positive impact through our ministries and our presence.

Melissa Andrews gave an update on the Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS). This was set up in February 2022 following the Elliott review. Melissa spoke about the training they are making available for religious. As part of celebrating 40 years of the APB, some of the members of the conference took us on a trip through the archives. One of the interesting facts was that in 1983 there were 55 members who were all religious. In 2022, there are 220 members - 150 are religious and 70 are lay bursars.

On the Tuesday evening we gathered for Mass which was celebrated by Archbishop Malcolm MacMahon OP. The 40th anniversary celebrations then continued with a drink’s reception hosted by Buzzacott and Stone King.

On the last day of the conference, we heard from Professor Jim MacManus who is President of the Directors of Public Health. He spoke about health and care for the elderly and the world post-covid.

The meeting was closed by Jon Hales who updated us on employment law. It was a very worthwhile and enjoyable conference.

November 2022: News from Livesey St Community

We are five sisters living in community, the eldest of whom is Sister Philomena Jordan. Sister Philomena is 94 years old and will be 95 in January 2023. Age is taking its toll on her mobility but not on her wit, humour or strength of character. On the whole her memory is good but like all of us she has her forgetful moments. We are grateful for all the help Social Services give us to help care for her, including applying to a fund to pay for a step lift. Each sister takes it in turn, on a daily basis, to see to Sister Philomena’s needs each day.

I am Sister Janette. As well as joining the other sisters in community prayers and taking my turn to cook and help with some cleaning, I am also the community bursar. I attend Provincial meetings for safeguarding and vocations. I continue to work at St Luke’s Centre; I cannot believe I am now in my 17[th] year. Since the outbreak of Covid, I have mostly been working from home on zoom. I work with a Clinical Psychologist and another therapist assessing candidates for the priesthood, religious life and the diaconate.

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November 2022: News from Livesey St Community (continued)

Sister Regina writes…

I work in St. Malachy’s where we celebrated the Centenary of the parish on Sunday 16[th] October this year. Our day started with a beautiful, concelebrated Mass at 11 o’clock which was absolutely packed. After Mass all were invited to a party in the school. The whole Parish Community was involved in the preparation, the school staff decorated the hall and provided the party, bouncy castle and face-painting for the children. One of the parents made a delicious cake with a photo of Father Vincent Marshall - the first Parish Priest, a Kerry man and later to become Bishop of Salford and Father Paul Daly our present Parish Priest who recently became Canon Paul. Parishioners provided soup, hot dogs, Irish stew, African dishes, sausage rolls, and vast variety of sandwiches etc. a mountain of food which was enjoyed by all. People were delighted to meet their ‘old’ teachers and classmates and are still talking about it.

Sister Anne writes…

Every year is eventful, but the past year has been particularly so. We welcomed Sister Dolores from the hospital to begin her convalescence so 5 became 6. In spite of all she was going through she brought new life and joy. She introduced Sister Philomena to Mr Google which caused much laughter and Sister Philomena always got the message and saw the joke. It was good to see Sister Dolores getting back to health. Our main Apostolate is in the Spiritual Dimension – Regina and I do the “Journey of Faith” each year and at Easter, two men, Prince and Michael came into the Church. We always go to the Cathedral on the First Sunday of Lent to meet the bishop and be formally enrolled. This is a lovely occasion for the Families and Friends as also in their Reception into the Church on Holy Saturday Night. We prepare the Families for Baptism and this past year we had more than 60 Baptisms – some were prepared by the Vietnamese Community – four Adults were prepared by the Deaf Community. Sister Regina deals with Families from St Malachy’s and I with Families from St Patrick’s.

We have Sacramental Programmes for our children preparing for Reconciliation and First Holy Communion with a monthly Meeting for Parents and Children followed by input from the children at the following Sunday Mass. Children from non- Catholic schools come to the Programmes but are also given weekly instruction.

We started a Confirmation Programme for our children in Years 8 and 9 in our Local High Schools in May hoping to have Confirmation in June but our Parish Priest, Father Jim was changed to a new Parish so Confirmation in abeyance! Our new Parish Priest, Father Paul Daly came – it’s been hectic for him. Last Wednesday he was made a Canon at the Cathedral – it was a lovely Service, and we met a lot of Priest Friends. We had a Party upstairs in Church afterwards to celebrate the “Canonization!” It was a great success.

The Confirmation Programme was re-started, and the bishop is coming to confirm our Young People on 30[th ] November – the Feast of St. Andrew. The bishop was abroad earlier for his work for the Environment and Cafod hence the delay.

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November 2022: News from Livesey St Community (continued)

We had Wonderful Celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in both ends of the Parish. Now looking forward to Christmas Fayre – Santa has retired so do you know anyone to fill his place? Our caring and cooking expertise have improved as they say, “Practice makes Perfect”.

Sister Janette Brown

Sister Carmel writes…

My main Ministry is one of caring within the Community through cooking and direct support alongside embracing vulnerability amidst the challenges of old age.

I still keep in touch with people through a Ministry of Welcoming to the house those who need support, by phone, text and by taking Holy Communion to a family with disabilities. I am also involved with Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation issues and the Archives. And most of all its one of prayer and trying to live in solidarity with people who are in need at this time.

Each December I get involved with the Toy Appeal through Xaverian College who provide the toys and I deliver them to the homes of the families whose names I have put forward for help.

Ministry with Migrants & Asylum Seekers in the Holy Land

Presentation Sisters have been in ministry with Migrants and Asylum Seekers in the Holy Land since 2016. This ministry takes place in the context of the Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers (VMAS), which is a part of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (LPJ) is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jerusalem, which has 4 territorial vicariates Cyprus, Israel, Palestine and Jordan, and 2 personal vicariates; St. James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel (SJV) and the Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers in Israel (VMAS).

The Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers in Israel is the youngest of the six Vicariates of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and its mission is to serve the Catholic Migrant workers and Asylum Seekers living very often as a minority, in the heart of a Jewish Society in Israel.

Migrant workers from various countries come to work in three main sectors, caregiving, agriculture and construction. Another group are the Asylum Seekers who are seeking asylum in Israel fleeing from war, hunger, conflict and other difficulties in their home countries. The Asylum Seekers are predominantly from Eritrea and Ethiopia. So, today, the Vicariate serves the above-mentioned Asylum Seeker communities and the Migrant Worker communities from the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, other parts of Africa (French and English speaking), Latin America, Ukraine, Romania and China.

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Ministry with Migrants & Asylum Seekers in the Holy Land (continued)

Our main vocation in VMAS is to provide a home away from home for these Christian sisters and brothers who have the same baptism as we have, but, our service is open to non-Christian Migrants and Asylum seekers as well. Because there is no comprehensive state policy to assist and integrate Migrants and Asylum seekers here, this makes these vulnerable people worse off than their counterparts in other parts of the world. They live in a lot of fear and uncertainty, on the margins of our society.

As disciples of Jesus, the margins are our places of service, seeking and befriending the neglected and outcasts, who are forced to live on the fringes of today’s society, where they continue to be ostracised, ridiculed and shunned. Pope Francis continuously challenges us to go to the margins, to dare to get our hands dirty through loving service. He challenges us to ‘ welcome, protect, promote and integrate ’ Migrants and Asylum seekers into the new environment in which they find themselves.

As a Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers, we partner and collaborate with local and international organizations to live out our vocation in journeying the Migrants and Asylum Seekers, by providing a safe and enriching environment, advocating and empowering them through education, promoting the values and teachings of the Catholic Church and rendering social services. We are committed to providing our vulnerable brothers and sisters with psychological, spiritual, physical and emotional support in their day-to-day life, through accompanying, consoling, encouraging and strengthening them in the many challenges they face.

So, apart from providing pastoral care (liturgical, sacramental, social, etc.), as a Vicariate we also give special attention to the second generation, sons and daughters of Migrants and Asylum Seekers, through various activities, such as Infant Care, Catechism, After School Programs and Youth Programs. Two important centres for Migrants and Asylum Seekers, one in Jerusalem (Saint Rachel Center - SRC) and one in Tel Aviv (Our Lady Woman of Valor – OLWV) have become the hubs of these ministries.

The work that we do in VMAS allows these people, the right to be human, which they are denied by a lot of sectors in today’s world, where they are seen as a number, a statistic, not as a fellow human being – a brother or sister. As a Vicariate we continue to heed the ongoing call of Pope Francis to be ‘ neighbours ’ to Migrants and Asylum Seekers, when most people in our world today are turning against them and shutting their doors and borders to them.

Ministry with Migrants & Asylum Seekers in the Holy

Land : As a follower of Nano, who sought out the poor and neglected of 18[th] century Cork, Ireland, in my responsibilities of secretary for VMAS and coordinator of the English Speaking African Communities of Migrants and Asylum Seekers here, I continue to dedicate myself to the service of our brothers and sisters on the margins.

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Ministry with Migrants & Asylum Seekers in the Holy Land (continued)

For as Pope Francis says, through them, the Lord calls us to conversion, to be set free from exclusivity, indifference and the throw-away culture, through them, the Lord invites us to embrace fully our Christian life and to contribute, each according to his or her proper vocation, to the building up of a world that is more and more in accord with God’s plan.

As we look to Christmas, as we fix our gaze on the Holy Family of Nazareth, who were forced to become refugees, let us bear in mind and heart, the tragedy of Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refuges, who are victims of rejection and exploitation, who are victims of human trafficking and of slave labour. May Mary, the Mother of Migrants and refugees, and Saint Joseph, who experienced the bitterness of emigration to Egypt , continue to intercede and pray for these brothers and sisters of ours, guide and direct those at their service.

Prayer :

Lord, make us bearers of hope, so that where there is darkness, your light might shine, and where there is discouragement, confidence in the future may be reborn.

Lord, make us instruments of your justice, so that where there is exclusion, fraternity may flourish, and where there is greed, a spirit of sharing may grow.

Lord, make us builders of your Kingdom, together with migrants and refugees and with all who dwell on the peripheries.

Lord let us learn how beautiful it is To live together as brothers and sisters. Amen

Rome, St John Lateran. 9 May 2022

Sr Anna Manyonga

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COP27 Reflections

Maurice Sadlier (Sister Eileen Keating’s Nephew), Programmes & Policy Director, World Vision Ireland.

As I left COP27 on Saturday afternoon, midway through the 2-week conference, I did so with a warm glow. This was not necessarily because of the state of negotiations but, in part, because I spent my last 20 minutes in the sprawling venue with Constance Okollet a Climate Justice Warrior from Uganda. I purposely sought out Constance on my way out because firstly she gives the best hugs in the world – an all-enveloping hug that fixes everything – but mostly because I am always inspired by her calm but steely and determined activism. How is it going in the village I enquired, ok she answered “It keeps pushing us against the wall; but we are pushing back, we won’t let it win” she replied pushing her hands into the air in front of her as if to demonstrating how she and her community are not willing to lose the battle against the climate crisis or let others off the hook.

I also had the pleasure to spend my time at COP27 with Shania, a 15-year-old from Tanga, Tanzania. Shania participates in our SAUTI-Youth Project and is another Climate Justice Warrior I am full of admiration for. SAUTI stands for Sustainable Accountability Uniting Tanzanian and Irish Youth an EU funded project which empowers children and young people to advocate for climate justice at a local level - holding local government to account for ambitious and youth focused climate action. Sauti is also the Swahili word for voice and as World Vision we seek to ensure the voice of children and young people is heard and that they can meaningfully participate in the decisions that impact their lives.

I am immensely proud of the work Shania did in her time at COP27 she was a powerful voice for young people not only from her village, district or country but for all children. COPs can be intimidating, they are huge sprawling venues with a mindboggling number of events, discussions, stands even before you try and figure out the formal negotiation process. Shania took it all in her stride speaking confidently to Ministers, UN agencies, journalists, donors and her peers – all the time calling for greater participation of children and young people in climate action. She wasn’t afraid to ask the hard questions either “my community is feeling the impacts of climate change – we all know this is not fair, how much more damage has to be done before global leaders take serious action?” she asked a panel of leaders on Youth and Future Generations Day at COP27. She had been invited to speak in the intergenerational dialogue as part of the COP27 President’s initiative on the day - Shania’s closing ask was not just for greater participation but greater ambition “it is my hope… that we will use all possible means within our power to address the effects of climate change. We have to do something now and write a new history for the future generation of tomorrow.”

Despite the positive moves to include young people at COP27 there is a still a long way to go and major challenges to overcome to enable meaningful participation in decision making processes particularly at the international level. As an observer to the process Shania wanted to see how negotiations happen to get a sense of how it all works - we went to observe the Action for Climate Empowerment or ACE negotiations. The aim of ACE is to empower all members of society to engage in climate action, so it seemed pretty relevant! Unfortunately, Shania could not even observe these negotiations - the room was deemed too full therefore observers were booted out. This is in part a logistical challenge but represents a significant

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Maurice Sadlier (Sister Eileen Keating’s Nephew), Programmes & Policy Director, World Vision Ireland. (continued)

change in process and mind shift that is required to enable meaningful participation of children in climate action. I was able to observe some of the ACE negotiations and it was disheartening to see attempts to row back on human rights language - even language that was already agreed in the Paris Agreement. You would imagine a decision that has human rights (to information, to participate, to education) at its core would be strengthening human rights language not trying to weaken it. Climate change is one of the most pressing human rights issues of our time.

Nonetheless, the COP looks set to adopt an ACE decision this week that will support Shania in her call for greater participation. The Action Plan under the Glasgow work programme on Action for Climate

Empowerment which will be adopted by the COP includes a set of activities and recommendations to improve participation of everyone including children. One of the actions to be included calls for Parties to “Meaningfully including youth in and engaging with them on climate action at all levels and facilitating the inclusive participation of, inter alia, children…” this is a positive step and one that when implemented at national level will result in better, more ambitious and fairer climate action.

After all we know that when children and young people are included, we have better results – our world will be a safer and better place. It is the just thing to do!

Vocations Commission

The Leadership Team met with the Vocations Commission on Wednesday 16 of November - Sisters Teresa Kennedy, Janette Brown (who joined the meeting via zoom) and Mary Deane.

It was an opportunity to share about the present reality and share some ideas about how we might move forward.

At present we have no enquirers. We continue to respond to requests to visit schools and Parishes, give talks and network with other religious in trying to promote a culture of vocations. We are grateful to the sisters in the Province who also participate in this ministry. We are working more closely with the Irish Provinces as ‘ we commit to grow new skills and ensure best practice in the area of vocation promotion. ’ CG2018

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Vocations Commission (continued)

Mindful that all of us have a responsibility in encouraging and promoting vocations, we spoke of the importance of personal witness and encounter. Sister Teresa has prepared a reflection for communities to engage with based on the letter from Pope Francis for the World Day for Consecrated life 2022 which we will be sharing with the local leaders at our next meeting.

Pope Francis is continually calling us to witness to the joy of the Gospel. In a recent meeting to celebrate the 50[th] anniversary of the Institute of Theology of Religious Life in Rome run by the Claretian Missionaries, he said:

‘Consecrated life today should not be discouraged by a "lack of vocations or by aging… Those who allow themselves to be caught up in pessimism set aside their faith. It is the Lord of history who sustains us and invites us to faithfulness and fruitfulness

May we hold an open heart and mind as we continue to work and pray for vocations.

NRVP Conference

On Saturday 4 November, I attended The National Religious Vocations Personnel Conference at the Hayes Centre, Middlesex. It was the first in person meeting since 2019 and it was a great opportunity to meet people who I’ve only met on zoom. The day begab with a Memorial Mass for Sister Frances Kelly CNS, who was the national Religious Life Promoter until her untimely death in August. Sister Frances was always so full of life and enthusiasm for Religious life. May she rest in peace.

Father Jan Nowotnik (Director of Mission and National Ecumenical Officer at the Conference of Bishops of England and Wales.) gave input on synodality and the national synthesis document. He spoke to the main themes that emerged from the conversations and reports submitted from each Diocese. These included the role of women in the church, the need for ongoing formation for all and for accompaniment. Pope Francis speaks of the art of accompaniment as a way of journeying together that builds trust and understanding of peoples stories, struggles and faith journey. There followed some lively discussions as we reflected on the calls and challenges posed by the document.

Sister Lynne Baron FCJ reported on the Living Joyfully Events that provide young people with an opportunity to meet religious, ask questions and find out more about the wide variety of communities present in the UK. For the past two years these events to celebrate religious life in preparation for Vocations Sunday, has been online. It has involved Religious from about 25 different congregations; 18 schools were involved and approximately 5,000 students. Personally, I found they were certainly joy -filled events and a great opportunity to meet and work with other religious in this area.

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NRVP Conference (continued)

The NRVP Conference highlighted the need for us to work together as religious in a spirit of collaboration rather than competition as we continue to remind people that Religious life is a life, and that God continues to call people to this way of life.

Mary Deane

December 2022: Nuneaton Community

Each month our parish have a coffee morning to raise funds for local Charities. As well as the Presentation Project they support - Myton Hospice - Air Ambulance - Nuneaton food Bank - Macmillan cancer Research.

On Wednesday November 16 the morning was for the IPA project 2022. The event was spoken about during morning Mass and with raffles, coffee and cakes the sum of £570 was raised.

We were grateful for this donation particularly during these difficult times for families and individuals. Hearing about the needs of Zambia and India prompted their giving and we hope to keep the parish updated on how the funds have supported both missions.

Matlock Community Reflections

When invited to write something about life in our community it was agreed that individuals might express their appreciation of what living here in Matlock means to them. The following piece is a reasonably accurate account of what we said.

The Convent building has a long history, being a farm, then a Hydro treatment centre until about 1926 when it was spotted by Mother Xavier Murphy who was looking for somewhere to replace ‘Etonfield’ in Liverpool which had been founded from Madras, India. By 1927 it was purchased and opened as a school. Great names like Zavier, Berchmans, Mildred, Clare, Dominic, Cecilia, Oliver, Ursula, Lelia and more, too many to mention, scatter the pages of the account of this Foundation as the seeds of Presentation Presence in MATLOCK were sown. (Sister Susan has put the full history in booklet form if you would like to ask her). The foresight, dedication and hard work of the early years of the Community are not lost on us who must really feel we are standing on the shoulders of great Presentation Nuns.

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Matlock Community Reflections (continued)

Obviously, Nano’s heritage of education was the starting point but stories are told of the hospitality which characterised the Community from the very earliest times. Stories abound about the Sisters working so hard, visiting homes, welcoming everyone … delivery men and the ‘men of the road ‘always knew how to find a hot cup of tea, chat, and more, even a safe place to stay when totally down-and-out.

We who are privileged to reside here in this beautiful Matlock have a real appreciation of what’s gone before us, our inheritance spiritual and physical. Almost without exception we speak about the views and the spacious gardens and green areas and such close access to the cemetery where we can visit and pray to all the faithful Presentation Sisters gone before, in that space which we ourselves expect to be our own last resting place on earth.

Much is said about our welcoming Convent community and especially by those of us who are more recent arrivals; one Sister said that despite coming from a very different background, she felt ‘as loved and cared for as the Sisters I knew long ago,’ she has the freedom ‘to be myself.’

Most of us have come from a busy lifetime of outside ministry and appreciate the opportunity of the ‘more time’ for quiet and prayer and to enjoy the less frenetic way of living in spacious and lovely surroundings. ‘Time is of the essence…time for

prayer, time for listening and time to help whenever it’s needed.’

Although the members of our community are all ‘of an age,’ it doesn’t mean that our days of active ministry are over, far from it! Those of us who are able to drive, help in ferrying people to appointments, hospitals, airports, shopping and any other needs that arise. Being available and cheerfully willing is the principle. The presence of the Care Centre just upstairs is a wonderful point of ministry where visiting our own Sisters and other residents is hugely important, and most of the mobile, and even some of the less mobile, love to do this. It can also be said that the younger elderly is appreciated by the older elderly whose small needs are often met by the previous. In a very special way, we are extremely lucky in having an amazing caring staff for whom nothing is too much trouble, they give a committed service over and above the call of duty and we try not to ‘abuse’ their generosity, ‘a staff who provide for all my needs’ as one Sister wrote. She also said ‘I am provided with novels and spiritual books and can watch football, and I thank God for bringing me to this beautiful place which is now my home’ We could each re-echo that same sentiment.

To the question of what we would miss if we hadn’t Matlock some expressed it like this … miss the example , faithfulness, companionship, and support of each other and staff, the presence of the sick and vulnerable under this roof, the open welcoming community we are, the beautiful surroundings, the peace, the space to be free, not confined, the security of knowing where we can get the next meal, of having the warmth and security of home. You might say that this must be the ‘hundredfold’ spoken about in the following of the Lord.

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February 2023:

Flame Congress 2023 Rise Up

The Flame Conference is the largest Catholic youth conference in the UK and is taking place on Saturday 4 March at the Ovo Arena, Wembley. It is open to young people from 14 to university age. The Province are supporting the Conference by sponsoring the T shirts that will be worn by the young people from Birmingham Diocese. Communities may also like to support this conference by encouraging young people to attend and offering to help them with the cost of travel or the ticket.

Interfaith Forum at Beckett School

On 3 February, I participated in an Interfaith Forum at Becket School, Nottingham with approx. 180 Year 9 Pupils (14–15-year-olds). This event was organised to raise awareness and celebrate the UN Interfaith Harmony Week which is an annual event observed during the first week of February.

It was a privilege to be part of a group representing different faith communities. These included representatives from the Bahai faith, the liberal and Orthodox Jewish community, the Imam from the Islamic Centre, Muslim students from Nottingham university, Buddhists and a Pentecostal Minister along with myself.

It was an enlightening and inspiring event. I had some interesting conversations in trying to answer the questions that was sent in preparation for the event that I have to say I found a bit daunting and certainly challenging.

1) Introductions - name, what is your belief, ice breaker question

2) Do you think there is a God?

3) What is your favourite/most challenging thing about your belief?

4) What do you think will happen when we die?

5) What does prayer look like to you?

6) Can you explain the link between humanity and the environment? What role do we have to play in the environmental issues we’re facing today?

7) If your faith community was in control of the country instead of the government, what are the first 3 things you would change?

8) If schools could only teach 1 thing about your belief, what would you want it to be?

We didn’t have time to get through them all and there were more questions that came from the pupils in response to what the panel was sharing. It was great to hear the engagement and response of pupils and staff and I was delighted to have been part of it.

Mary Deane

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Café at St. Teresa’s Church, Warsop

Refurbishment needed doing in our church in Warsop. Outside, the skip was full of rubbish and one day, one of the founding members of the Café, saw a young lad going through the rubble and waste, looking for food. Inspired by Nano Nagle and the Sisters who followed, and are still following Nano, something had to be done. This led to the Presentation Associates and friends in Warsop establishing a CAFÉ - on the first Saturday of every month.

It took a while to get going but before the “lockdown” occurred due to COVID, they provided a hot meal for up to 50 guests. This was in line with Nano’s own initiative when she and the first 3 Sisters hosted Christmas dinner for the poor in their home.

In October 2022, the Associates and friends, resurrected the café. Each Wednesday they provided a warm space and a hot meal. However, they discovered that other groups were providing this on a Wednesday – so they decided to move to Saturdays. Now they have at least 35 guests and several other volunteers, coming along and the number looks set to increase.

They provide a warm space, a hot drink, social interaction and a fantastic 3 course meal. Nothing but the best for those who come in. A pot is left out for donations - but no one is ever asked for anything. The Lord does provide because what the donations put into the pot goes a good way to covering the cost of the next meal.

They also do take-aways – for those Parishioners who cannot for some reason or other come to the hall. Neither is it uncommon to see people going out with a little bag - a little something to go with their cup of tea in the afternoon.

What is really important is that those who are serving and those who pop in to see how things are, provide pastoral care - someone who will sit and listen. This is just as important as the meal and certainly valued.

Presentation Associates and Volunteers - who prepare, serve the meals and do the washing up!

The pictures show some of the volunteers who give their time generously to helping and some guests who sit down to enjoy their dinner .

Sister Susan Richert.

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Café at St. Teresa’s Church, Warsop (continued)

Sister Mary enjoys a joke with one of the volunteers

Sister Mary lends a helping hand

They even offer “take-aways” to our more vulnerable parishioners

Happy Diners!

March 2023: Intergenerational Work at the Care Centre

These young people are studying health and social care and introductions made to arrange for bi-weekly visits to our residents in the Care Centre. Life is coming back and contact with many other groups is most welcome.

We do appreciate the young people visiting and it brings a different vibe - keeps us on our toes.

Highfield Sixth Formers. Young volunteers from 6th Form Highfields School.

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Snap shot of life in Moseley!

Moseley village is a suburb of south Birmingham, 3 miles south of the city Centre. The area is a popular cosmopolitan residential location with several bars and restaurants.

One of the neighborhood’s best loved landmarks is 11-acre Moseley Park. You can only access this is you have a key! I do not have one! The oldest surviving building in Moseley is St. Mary’s Church- it received license in 1405 and is still a place of worship. Not so popular are the bells of the Church!

Another notable landmark is Moseley Hall, an 18[th] century country house surrounded by parkland. A member of the wealthy Cadbury family bought it and gave it to the city in 1889. Since then, it has become a convalescent home and is now a community hospital offering general and sub-acute care and specialist stroke and brain injury rehabilitation. (NHS)

Like every area Moseley has its affluent areas and other areas that suffer deprivation. I cannot believe I have been living here for 14 years! Time sure marches on! The focus of my time here has been ministering to the people I work with daily.

I see up to 25 people weekly. The past year has been difficult on many fronts. There has been a lot of illness in my family and the loss of my sister Nora has been hard. I cannot believe that on the 10[th] of March we marked her first anniversary.

In September an email landed in my inbox to inform me I was due for reaccreditation! This now happens every 5 years. It means I had to write a paper showing the development of my work over that time, produce evidence of 400 hours of professional development and write about supervision and its impact on my work. As if that was not enough at the end of it, I had to have an interview!! Needless to say, I had some sleepless nights, but eventually managed to submit what was required before the deadline. This was followed by an interview and finally I received email with confirmation that I had qualified for reregistration! Alleluia, I heaved a sigh of relief as I wasn’t ready just yet to hang up my hat!

I continue to work for ICAP a registered charity providing culturally sensitive counselling for the Irish community in Britain, helping to heal lives and deal with trauma, depression, and suicide. The people we see have very complex needs and are often very damaged people.

I also have a private practice where I see and work with people from all background’s, cultures, and nationalities. The work is incredibly demanding as I work with very challenging people who are often severely traumatized and fragile.

I feel humbled by the trust each person I see puts in me and often feel overwhelmed by their suffering and at same time marvel at the resilience of the human spirt. They often feel lost, powerless and are unable to see a way forward. They know they want something different in life, but are unable to see and figure out what it is that inhibits their freedom.

There are many stages involved in the process and is not without pain and suffering for client and therapist! Some years ago, I attended a weekend conference given by Allan Abbass, a psychiatrist, teacher and researcher from Canada who introduced me to ISTDP (intensive short term psychodynamic psychotherapy). Don’t worry I am not about to give a lecture on the techniques here! Working with ISTDP techniques has transformed my work and the lives of the clients I work with, empowering them and enabling them to be active participants in their own wellbeing. The work is hopefully about helping the people I work with to recover the capacity to love, to live, and to create lives that matter.

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Snap shot of life in Moseley! (continued)

Supervision plays a vital part in my work and I am fortunate to have a supervisor who is extremely skilled and experienced and has done a lot of training in ISTDP work. ISTDP is very difficult to learn so I really value the input of my supervisor!

Just a few acknowledgments from clients I have finished working with:

“Philomena, the work over the past year has helped me more than I could ever have hoped for, thank you so much”

“Thank you for all you have done for me, for always wanting the best for me. I will always remember your kindness and attention. You have had a huge impact on my life for good”

“I am so grateful that you journeyed with me over the past 3 years. Thank you for your patience and attention. I know I tell long tales but you always got to the core. I am in a better place than when we first met. Thank you.”

When I was finishing for Christmas break one of my clients as she was about to leave wished me a happy Christmas and New Year and then asked if I would be going clubbing in the New Year! I managed to keep a straight face until I closed the door and then collapsed in laughter! It is nice even for a few minutes to forget reality!

My weekends are devoted to the chores, cleaning, washing, shopping, catching up on the dreaded paper work, training days and cluster meetings! I also like cooking and enjoy cooking for my neighbours in Acock’s Green on special occasions! The highlight of my weekend is a walk to Canon Hill Park which is a delightful park for a stroll or more if you are that way inclined or if you fancy a ride in a swan pedal boat! I just enjoy the fresh air and off load to the swans, geese, ducks, and squirrels!

Sister Philomena O’Hara

Chaplaincy Team for the Care Home

Inspired by our Presentation Values and mission, we work to ensure the dignity of all people is respected and their rights upheld by engaging in compassionate service and bearing witness to the gospel message of love and unity .

Over the years our sisters have provided pastoral and spiritual support to the staff and patients in the Presentation Care Centre. These past few years have been very difficult as the sisters have been unable to visit in the care home and have been missed by patients and staff. With the easing of restrictions, it was decided to highlight the importance of the pastoral and spiritual dimension of the Care Centre with the formal appointment of a Chaplaincy Team.

We are grateful to Sisters Anne- Marie Buckley, Mary O’Halloran, Magdalen Hughes and Eileen Hall who have generously agreed to offer their services in working together as part of the Chaplaincy Team.

Role of Chaplaincy Team

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Chaplaincy Team for the Care Home (continued)

They will work in collaboration with the staff and be accountable to Jayne Carnall (Manager of the Care Centre). We wish them every blessing as they continue to shine the beam of Nano’s lantern through their presence and ministry.

Overseas

During the year, we have continued to receive donations for our overseas missions and these have been forwarded to them. The Bursar oversees and ensures that these accounts are kept accurately. If a sister living abroad is in receipt of a pension from England, the pension will be forwarded to her Unit for her support.

We support missionary and care services overseas, particularly in Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Presentation Associates are sponsoring children’s education in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In one mission in Zambia, a Cheshire Home is administered by the sisters and staffed by nurses and carers. Here, children with physical disabilities and limitations are medically examined and treatment is made available.

Volunteers

Throughout the year, many of the sisters give their time to assist those in need. The majority of the Sisters receive no financial reward for this work which contributes to the overall achievement of the charity’s objectives. In addition, members are involved in administering the work of the Unit and the Charity – without their contribution the Charity would not be able to function as effectively as it does.

Sisters often do voluntary work in more than one area. This is reflected in the table below as more sisters than are in the province are in these figures. Other sisters receive a small/nominal stipend for the ministry they undertake. These ministries are usually in the areas of Parish; Catechesis; Spirituality.

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Volunteers (continued)

Volunteers (continued)
Area No. of
volunteers		 Approx. hours volunteered
(over theyear)
Hospital visiting,hospice/housebound 39 18,000
Chaplaincies: school, prison and hospital 8 3,500
General Parish Ministry/ Children’s Groups 27 12,001
Spirituality 23 5,600
Refugee service 7 1,800
Outreach to women / Homeless 4 138
Outreach to Special Needs Adults 3 504
Outreach to local community 24 7,400
Administration 21 12,200
Commissions 5 950
Vocation/Formation 3 250
Associates/Properties 22 2,611
Justice And Peace 18 864
Ministryto Travellers 4 2,262
Carers of sisters within own community 13 8,300
Counselling 1 40
Overseas volunteering (bi-annual) 1 240
Heritage Centre/Archives 1 120
FriendshipGroup/Ecumenism 1 72
Support of Other Charities(i.e.,Cafod etc.) 2 240
Total 77,092

An example of this is that Sister Eleanor has been working with Cafod as a school’s volunteer for about five years. Cafod (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) is an international development charity which aims to reach out to people living in poverty with practical help, whatever their religion or culture. They also campaign for global justice, so that everyone can live their life to the fullest. Cafod’s aims and values are very much aligned with the values of the Presentation Sisters.

‘As a school’s volunteer, I visit primary schools, mainly in the Birmingham Diocese, and offer assemblies and workshops on specific themes using the resources provided by the Cafod schools team. I have recently given assemblies on themes such as the Amazon rainforest and the effect of climate change on people living in Uganda. There have been interactive workshops where children have imagined what it would be like to live without easy access to water and opportunities to design posters based on the UN rights of the child. I have particularly enjoyed giving workshops to individual classes on Laudato Si and the children have made promises to care for the environment.

I enjoy working with children who are already aware that we are all one family and that we need to take care of each other and care for the earth, our home.’

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Grants, donations and support of missionary work and ministry

Grants and donations

Grants and donations are made by the trustees in consultation with other members of the Unit. In the main, the charity supports the work of the Presentation Sisters in those overseas countries where there is the most need. The charity has in this present year responded to requests from our sisters in areas affected by natural disasters.

The trustees continue to give financial support also to United Kingdom organisations whose work is within the objects of the charity e.g., CAFOD and C.A.P. The Unit also supports short term requests for charity in relation to natural disasters, famine etc.

The charity does not regard itself as a grant making entity and applications for grants and donations are not invited.

Use of our buildings for networking and collaboration

Due to the pandemic, we have been unable to maintain a policy of “open house”. However, in normal circumstances our houses are used by others for various activities. In this way, we share our resources with the local community.

Examples of such uses are:

Outside of the Covid Pandemic, the following Diocesan and Parish organisations hold meetings within the charity’s properties and make use of its facilities:

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Grants, donations and support of missionary work and ministry (continued)

Use of our buildings for networking and collaboration (continued)

In addition, the following religious instruction programmes take place:

Solidarity Fund set up in 2001

We contribute to the Solidarity Fund which has been set up by the Congregational Leadership Team to further the work among the poor and to assist in the provision of training for ministry in new situations. In this way, while we ourselves are an ageing group, we can support the younger and more active members of the Congregation to continue our ministry of bringing “good news to the poor” in those parts of the world which are desperately poor.

Ministry Of Justice

The ministry of Justice is a core commitment of the members of the Presentation Congregation and their Associates. To carry out this statement we see the following as our vision:

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Grants, donations and support of missionary work and ministry (continued)

Ministry Of Justice (continued)

In order to ensure the on-going commitment of members a ‘Towards Creating Just Systems’ is active in the Province.

The sisters, Associates and all with whom we network, are committed to change at personal, local, country and world level in order to bring about more just systems, fair trade issues, care of our earth and sustainable development.

We write letters, protest peacefully, challenge respectfully on behalf of those unable to do so themselves. We network with other groups both in localities and globally to bring about change. We look at our own use of resources and try to be responsible and careful.

Re-cycling is encouraged and taken seriously as is the use of energy in our houses; so also, is the whole area of ecology and care of the earth.

Vocations

While it is the responsibility of every member of the Congregation to pray for and encourage women to think about our way of life, there is a Vocation Team which consists of three sisters. The team meets regularly to plan Vocation Days and support communities in their responsibility of praying and encouraging women to think about this way of life.

They also respond to enquiries and accompany some who request help in discerning their vocation in life. They organise events for young adults to deepen their Faith and prayer life and thus discover their vocation in life. Events include retreats, Lectio Divina groups, Flame Rally, World Youth Events and Bible Study.

Investment policy

The charity’s investments are managed by professional investment managers under a discretionary investment agreement. The investment strategy is set by the trustees, with help and advice from the Finance Team and Investment Manager and takes into account income requirements, risk profile and the investment managers’ views of the market prospects in the medium term.

The policy is to maximise total return through a diversified portfolio whilst providing a level of income advised by the trustees from time to time.

The charity has an ethical policy precluding investment in any company which, after reasonable enquiry, clearly has significant profits from an activity which is contrary to the objectives of the Christian Church. The charity has divested from Fossil fuel companies in line with the Congregational Finance policy and mission focus.

The performance of the portfolio and the charity’s investment strategy are reviewed by the trustees and the Congregational Bursar who meet with the investment managers annually.

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Fundraising Policy

The charity aims to achieve best practice in the way in which it communicates with donors and other supporters. The charity takes care with both the tone of its communications and the accuracy of its data to minimise the pressures on supporters. It applies best practices to protect supporter’s data and never sells data, it never swaps data and ensures that communication preferences can be changed at any time. The charity and the group manage its own fundraising activities to react to and investigate any complaints regarding its fundraising activities and to learn from them and improve its service. During the year, the charity received no complaints about its fundraising activities.

Financial report for the year

Income and expenditure

Total income for the year was £3.37 million (2022: £3.14 million), of which £1.09 million (2022: £1.1 million) comprised voluntary income. This included £1.03 million (2022: £1.02 million) in respect to sisters’ pensions. A further £1.62 million (2022: £1.51 million) of income comprised fees for care services.

During the year the charity incurred expenditure of £3.4 million (2022: £3.26 million), of which £1.3 million (2022: £1.2 million) related to the upkeep of the sisters and enabling them to carry out their charitable work. £1.9 million (2022: £1.79 million) was spent on providing care services at Matlock. Donations in support of miscellaneous charitable activities, including to the work of the Congregation overseas, amounted to £162,288 (2022: £ 207,594).

The net expenditure for the year before investment gains totalled £38,756 (2022: £127,402). Net investment losses totalled £905,531 (2022: net investment gains £329,752) and resulted in a decrease in funds over the year of £944,287 (2022: increase in funds of £202,350).

The charity’s investments are managed by Rathbone Investment Management Limited. They have invested in accordance with the Trustees’ (and the Congregation’s) investment policy set out above and in compliance with the ethical guidelines given to them. The investments together with cash held by the investment managers for investment had a market value of £13,252,202 at 31 March 2023.

During the year, the charity’s listed investments achieved an income yield of 2% and a capital decrease of approximately 6%. Further details of the investment portfolio are included in note 12 to the attached accounts.

The Trustees continue to take a long term view and believe their investment policy remains appropriate.

Financial position and reserves policy

The balance sheet shows total reserves of £22.2 million (2022: £23.1 million). £47,093 (2022: £68,401) of these reserves represent restricted funds held primarily for the Congregation’s missions overseas.

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Financial report for the year (continued)

Financial position and reserves policy (continued)

Of the balance, £7.7 million (2022: £8.1 million) is represented by tangible fixed assets used to support the work of the sisters. A further £12 million (2022: £12 million) represents a retirement reserve designated to provide income to communities for the care of elderly sisters. It is the charity’s policy to designate as a separate fund an amount to provide for the sisters in the future, as they are wholly dependent on the charity, and to give the level of resources necessary to continue to support their work. Given the increasing age profile of the sisters and the lack of new vocations this sum will only provide modest resources to look after them.

The Trustees have examined the requirement for free reserves i.e. those unrestricted funds not invested in tangible fixed assets, designated for specific purposes or otherwise committed. The Trustees consider that, given the nature of the charity’s work, the level of free reserves should be approximately six to twelve months’ annual expenditure, to provide for contingencies and unevenness in future income. At the date of the balance sheet, free reserves amounted to £2.3 million (2022: £2.95 million) which is within the amount implicit in the policy. The Trustees will continue to monitor reserves but do not regard the overall reserves of the charity as inadequate or excessive.

The charity’s assets

Acquisitions and disposals of fixed assets during the year are recorded in the notes to the accounts.

Future plans

The trustees do not anticipate any significant change to the charity or its activities over the next two to five years. It is their intention to meet the following objectives:

Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Future plans (continued)

Governance, management and community structure

Governance

The trustees are incorporated under the Charities Act 2011. They are appointed by the Unit Leader and their number is specified in the Trust Deed. At any one time, there must be a minimum of five trustees. The Unit itself is administered by the Unit Team Leader, a Team of four and other trustees including the Province Bursar. In assisting and supporting the Unit, the trustees work closely as a team and meet regularly throughout the year. The members of the Unit Team are elected by members of the English Unit and are accountable to the Congregational Leadership Team.

The Unit Team is elected by the members of the Unit for a six-year term. On being elected the incoming Unit Team is required to spend some time with those leaving office. They also meet with the Unit’s legal, financial, investment and property advisers to obtain a full briefing of their responsibilities and the charity’s position.

Each community in England is visited regularly by the Unit Leader and/or her Team and there is a system of accountability operational in the Unit ensuring that the Team is aware of developments in the work and life of each community. This ensures that progress of the ministries undertaken by the sisters is kept under review.

The Congregational Leader Sister Julie Watson and Sister Anne Mc’Dermott, a member of the Congregational Leadership Team, visited the English Province between OctoberDecember 2021. They initially met with the Province Leadership Team for an induction programme and then visited each community and met with the sisters. Following their visit, a report was sent to the Sisters and the Province Leadership Team

Management

The names of the trustees who served during this year 2022-2023 are set out as part of the reference and administrative details on page 1 of this annual report and accounts. Brief biographical details on each trustee in office at 31 March 2023 are given below. The leadership team began their term of office in August 2022.

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Management (continued)

Sister Eleanor O’Gorman made her first profession of vows in 1985, she has lived in communities in Scunthorpe, Acocks Green, Glossop and Gorton and has taught in primary schools in Scunthorpe, Birmingham and Stockport. She is currently living in Acocks Green where she is doing voluntary work with Cafod and at Tabor House, a centre for people experiencing homelessness.

Sister Eileen Keating, elected the Unit Leader in April 2014, came from her 25-year ministry in Sheffield (from left to right) where she was the Canonical Pastor. Among her many other roles was advocacy for asylum seekers. Prior to that Sister Eileen had spent some years in New Zealand and South America, where her ministries were many and varied, and so brings a wealth of experience to the Leadership role.

Sr Mary Deane made her first profession in 1987, she is resident in Shirebrook and has lived in communities in Redditch, Coventry and Nottingham She has worked in a number of ministries including teaching, school and university chaplaincy. From 2006-2012 she served on the Congregational Leadership Team and from 2012-2018 was Congregational Leader. She currently is involved with vocation ministry and is the Link sister with the Friends of Nano in the Province.

The above sisters are members of the Province Leadership Team.

The following sisters make up the full complement of the board of trustees:

Sister Anne –Marie Buckley is resident at Presentation Convent in Matlock. She has retired from a very active life in teaching and Pastoral Ministry.

Sister Angela Murphy is resident in Acocks Green, Community, Birmingham. Sister Angela continues to minister in the prayer and spirituality area.

Sr Bernadette Healy lives in Market Harborough and is a member of the leadership Team for the Matlock community. She has taught in primary schools in Bicester, Huddersfield and Birmingham and currently has pastoral responsibility for the Traveller community in the Nottingham Diocese.

Trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

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Governance, management and community structure (continued)

Trustees’ responsibilities (continued)

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the charity’s trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Structure and management reporting

The trustees are ultimately responsible for the policies, activities and assets of the charity. The Unit Leader and her Leadership Team meet once a month to review developments and make decisions. The full board of trustees meet twice a year and when necessary, meet with the charity’s professional advisers including property consultants, accountants, and investment managers. The day-to-day management of the charity’s activities and the carrying out of its policies is delegated to the appropriate members of the Congregation.

Community structure

On 31 March 2023, the Province consisted of 58 sisters. For the most part the sisters live in small communities of between three and four sisters. However, we have one community of six members and another community of 24 sisters. Four sisters live on their own for the sake of mission. The largest community has named leadership while other communities work on a collaborative model, and have a designated Cluster Leader.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 48

Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Governance, management and community structure (continued)

Structure and management reporting (continued)

Care Centre

The Charity owns and operates a highly regarded Care Centre for older people within the Matlock Community. The Care Centre is open to all regardless of belief.

The Care Centre fulfils the aim of the charity to both provide an appropriate care facility for sisters of the Congregation and for members of the public who need care and would benefit from a peaceful and religious environment. Whilst fees are charged for the Care Centre, assistance is given for residents to be able to claim state assistance, subject to Government qualification criteria. Top-Up fees are reduced when there is an inability to pay and any specific cases of hardship are put to the trustees if the resident does not qualify for state assistance. All residents have access to pastoral services provided by the sisters and the onsite chapel is available for services and contemplation.

The Business Manager of the Care Centre during the year was responsible for the day-to-day administration. This post is held by Mrs Jayne Carnall. Medical care was supervised by the Matron, and Nicola Wilson, again, held this post during the year.

A Management Board, chaired by Mr Steven Taylor, meets every three months. The Board reports to the Province Leader on matters regarding residents, finance and premises. The Chairman of the Board, the Administration Manager and Matron attend these meetings. Members of the Province, Sisters Eileen Keating, Eleanor O’Gorman and Bernadette Healy and Mrs Julie Lowe (a retired nurse), are members of this Board. Sister Eileen Keating represents the Province Leadership Team on this Board. The Care Quality Commission liaises with the Province Leadership.

The charity has a serious and continuing commitment to the care, support and maintenance of the members who are being cared for in our Care Centre at Matlock. We continue to be aware of the increasing age and fragility of the members of the Province and seek always to find the best ways to care for them.

Key management personnel

The trustees consider that they comprise the key management personnel of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day-to-day basis.

As noted above, the day-to-day operations of the Care Centre are overseen by a Management Board. Steve Taylor (until 31 July 2022 a director of Axiom Healthcare Limited and a member of the Management Board), the Registered Manager and Care Centre Manager, and the Matron oversee the running of the Care Centre and report to the Province Leader on matters regarding residents, finance and premises.

The pay of the Registered Manager and Care Centre Manager and the Matron are reviewed annually by the trustees and the members of the Management Board. Their pay generally is increased in line with average earnings within the Care Centre. Consultancy fees payable to Axiom Healthcare Limited are paid under a service agreement, the terms of which are agreed by the trustees.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Charitable Trust 49

Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Governance, management and community structure (continued)

Structure and management reporting (continued)

Working with other organisations

The charity works closely with a number of other charities and public bodies in various fields to achieve its mission. In some instances, sisters are employed by organisations whilst in other instances the relationships are more informal. In working together, the sisters further the Congregation’s mission. They also work in coordination with other organisations in order to further their objectives in relation to care and education.

Examples of other organisations with which members cooperate are as follows:

Risk management

In line with the requirement for trustees to undertake a risk assessment exercise and report on the same in their annual report, the trustees have looked at the risks the Congregation currently faces, including those in the Care Centre, and have reviewed the measures already in place, or needing to be put in place, to mitigate them.

The following main areas where risks may occur have been identified:

Governance and management

The Unit Team Leader works closely with her team ensuring that responsibility and information regarding the charity is shared. This mitigates the risk of one key person holding all the responsibility and information for the charity. Management of key areas of the charity (care of the elderly sisters, the Care Centre, finance) have been delegated to the appropriate members of the Congregation and competent individuals who are accountable to and work closely with the trustees.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 50

Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Governance, management and community structure (continued)

Risk management (continued)

Financial

All local houses are accountable to the Unit Bursar regarding finance and resources. The Unit Leader and her Leadership Team meet once a month to review developments and make decisions. As regards the Care Centre, a Management Board meets every three months. The Board reports to the Unit Leader on matters regarding residents, finance and premises.

All sisters and staff receive training and formation in appropriate skills. It also ensures the good use of the charity’s resources and members are enabled to learn new skills and constantly update their training in the light of new developments.

Properties and investments

The principal financial assets of the charity are its properties and investment portfolio. The Unit Bursar oversees the maintenance and management of properties in conjunction with the trustees and advisers. All the properties are fully insured with a reputable insurance company. The investment portfolio is subject to market fluctuations and so is managed by a competent and reputable firm of investment managers who act in accordance with the trustees’ investment policy which is reviewed annually. The trustees meet annually with the investment managers to review the performance of the portfolio and to ensure that funds are at appropriate levels to meet the charity’s needs both now and into the future.

Care of sisters

An analysis of the age profile of the sisters in the Unit shows that the main group of sisters are in their 70s and 80s. Recent experience has shown that this is the group likely to have unexpected health issues. Therefore, the planning for the future needs to take provision for the future of these sisters into account alongside the more obvious needs of the more elderly. The trustees are aware of their legal and moral responsibility to care for their members. None of the sisters has resources of her own as all pensions, salaries and other income have been donated to the charity under a Gift Aid compliant Deed of Covenant. Key to managing this risk is: ensuring there are financial resources available to finance this care now and into the future by setting aside designated funds for this purpose; also, regular reviews of the ministries and needs of the sisters in order to identify and address those needing more support or care.

Care Centre

The Care Centre operates in a highly regulated field of activity and as such is subject to regular inspection by a number of agencies. The result of this degree of scrutiny is that operational risk policies are very well developed in the areas of quality of service, health and safety of residents and employees and employment issues. The Management Board, the Registered Manager and the Lead Nurse with experience of running health care organisations advise the trustees on the myriad of clinical, care and other risks associated with the operation of the Care Centre including, for example, safeguarding (see below); the chronic shortage of qualified nurses and care assistants; the impact of the planned changes in the provision of care funding with effect from April 2020 as a result of the Care Act 2014; and the changing regulatory environment including alterations to the inspection regime of the Care Quality Commission and the need for specific written policies.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Charitable Trust 51

Trustees’ report Year to 31 March 2023

Governance, management and community structure (continued)

Risk management (continued)

Care Centre (continued)

The Care Centre complies with all regulations regarding fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors, emergency exits, and procedures for alerting the fire brigade. Fire tests are regularly carried out and handbooks are provided for workers. In all our properties, a qualified engineer annually inspects our machinery and plant equipment.

Safeguarding

Sisters engaged in any ministry in Great Britain and all those who work or volunteer for the charity and work with children or vulnerable adults (including our elderly sisters) must obtain clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The sisters commit themselves to care in this area, guided by CSAS, the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service. This entails being aware of the need to protect those who are vulnerable. The Catholic Church has unified the structures for Safeguarding, using a ‘One Church Approach’.

‘The Catholic Church in England and Wales is striving towards a culture of safeguarding where all are safe from harm and abuse.

This commitment calls the whole Church to live the values and principles. Whilst all members of the Church have a role to play in promoting a culture of safeguarding, clear leadership is crucial. Bishops and Congregation Leaders need to be vigilant in exercising their ministry of leadership, ensuring that a culture of safeguarding is both understood and embraced by the whole Church.

(Extract from CSAS Document)

The Unit is now aligned with the Salford Roman Catholic Diocese. To this end, the Unit Leadership has appointed a Safeguarding Coordinator for the Unit. This has involved a financial outlay in order to enable the safeguarding lead sister to fulfil her role.

Employees, volunteers and members of the Congregation

The trustees wish to record their recognition of the professionalism and commitment of all their staff, volunteers and the individual members of the Province and Congregation. Their dedication and positive approach are very much appreciated.

Signed on behalf of the trustees:

Eileen Keating PBVM

Trustee

Approved by the Trustees on: 7th September 2023

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 52

Independent auditor’s report 31 March 2023

Independent auditor’s report to the Trustees of The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Charitable Trust

Opinion

We have audited the accounts of The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Charitable Trust (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows, the principal accounting policies and notes to the accounts. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the accounts:

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 accounts section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the accounts 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 accounts, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the accounts 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 accounts 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 Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report and Accounts, other than the accounts and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the accounts does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

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Independent auditor’s report 31 March 2023

Other information (continued)

In connection with our audit of the accounts, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the accounts or our knowledge obtained in 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 there is a material misstatement in the accounts or a material misstatement of the other information. 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

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ responsibilities statement, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts 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 accounts that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the accounts, 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 accounts

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the accounts 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 these accounts.

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

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 54

Independent auditor’s report 31 March 2023

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts (continued)

How the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 55

Independent auditor’s report 31 March 2023

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the accounts (continued)

How the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud (continued)

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

We did not identify any irregularities, including fraud.

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.

Use of this report

This report is made solely to the charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and with regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s Trustees 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 Trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Buzzacott LLP Statutory Auditor 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL

12th October 2023

Buzzacott LLP is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 56

Statement of financial activities Year to 31 March 2023

Notes
Un-
restricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
2023
£		 Un-
restricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
2022
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
1
Investments and interest receivable
2
Charitable activities
. Charges for care services
Other sources:
. Trainee Nursing Associate
Apprenticeship Placement grant
. Coronavirus Infection Control,
Rapid Testing and PPE grants
. Surplus on disposal of tangible
fixed assets
3
. Miscellaneous
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
. Investment manager’s fees
Charitable activities
. Support of members of the
Congregation and their ministry
4
. Provision of care services
5
. Grants and donations in support of
miscellaneous charitable purposes
6
Total expenditure
Net expenditure before
net investment (losses) gains
8
Net investment (losses) gains
12
Net (expenditure) income and net
movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
at 1 April 2022
Total funds carried forward
at 31 March 2023
1,039,152

292,044
1,615,580
8,000
2,422

350,751
7,344		 54,416
29
—
—
—
—
—		 1,093,568
292,073
1,615,580
8,000
2,422
350,751
7,344		 1,029,004
267,555
1,506,132
—
76,570
167,701
10,756		 79,849
4
—
—
—
—
—		 1,108,853
267,559
1,506,132
—
76,570
167,701
10,756
3,315,293 54,445 3,369,738 3,057,718 79,853 3,137,571
61,028

1,287,282

1,897,896

86,535		 —
—
—
75,753		 61,028
1,287,282
1,897,896
162,288		 69,492
1,199,023
1,786,123
72,206		 —
—
2,741
135,388		 69,492
1,199,023
1,788,864
207,594
3,332,741 75,753 3,408,494 3,126,844 138,129 3,264,973

(17,448)

(905,531)		 (21,308)
—		 (38,756)
(905,531)		 (69,126)
329,752		 (58,276)
—		 (127,402)
329,752
(922,979)
23,038,893		 (21,308)
68,401		 (944,287)
23,107,294		 260,626
22,778,267		 (58,276)
126,677		 202,350
22,904,944
22,115,914 47,093 22,163,007 23,038,893 68,401 23,107,294

All of the charity’s activities comprised continuing operations during the above two financial years.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 57

Balance sheet 31 March 2023

Notes 2023
£		 2023
£		 2022
£		 2022
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
11
Investments
12
Current assets
Debtors
13
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
14
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors:amounts falling due after
more than one year
15
Total net assets
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
16
Unrestricted income funds
. Tangible fixed assets fund
17
. Designated funds
18
. General fund		 379,382
1,142,060		 7,740,810
13,252,202		 394,626
1,066,932		 8,086,350
13,926,401
20,993,012
1,269,995		 22,012,751
1,214,543
1,521,442
(251,447)		 1,461,558
(247,015)
7,740,810
12,000,000
2,375,104		 8,086,350
12,000,000
2,952,543
22,263,007
(100,000)		 23,227,294
(120,000)
22,163,007 23,107,294
47,093
22,115,914		 68,401
23,038,893
22,163,007 23,107,294

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Eileen Keating

Trustee

Date:[7th September 2023]

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 58

Statement of cash flows Year to 31 March 2023

Notes
2023
£		 2022
£
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash used in operating activities
A
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investment income and interest received
Proceeds from the disposal of tangible fixed assets
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Proceeds from the disposal of investments
Purchase of investments
Net cash provided by investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April 2022
B
Change in cash and cash equivalents due to exchange rate
movements
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 2023
B

**(422,099) **		 (146,690)


294,791
591,846
(158,360)
433,606
**(684,178) **		 253,632
264,552
(39,023)
958,837
(1,227,333)
477,705 210,665

55,606

1,137,272
282		 63,975
1,074,431
(1,134)

1,193,160		 1,137,272

Notes to the statement of cash flows for the year to 31 March 2023.

A Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash provided by used in operating activities

activities
2023
£		 2022
£
Net movement in funds (as per the statement of financial
activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charge
(Losses) gains on investments
Investment income and interest receivable
Surplus on disposal of tangible fixed assets
Exchange (gains) losses
Decrease in debtors
Decrease in creditors
Net cash used in operating activities		 (944,287)
266,029
905,531
(292,073)
(350,751)
(282)
12,525
(18,791)		 202,350
265,563
(329,752)
(267,559)
(167,701)
1,134
193,503
(44,228)
(422,099) (146,690)
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents 2023
£		 2022
£
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash held by investment managers
Total cash and cash equivalents		 1,142,060
51,100		 1,066,932
70,340
1,193,160 1,137,272

B Analysis of cash and cash equivalents

No separate reconciliation of net debt has been prepared as there is no difference between the net cash (debt) of the charity and the above cash and cash equivalents.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 59

Principal accounting policies 31 March 2023

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the accounts are laid out below.

Basis of preparation

These accounts have been prepared for the year to 31 March 2023 with comparative information provided for the year to 31 March 2022.

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policies below or the notes to these accounts.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (Charities SORP FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The accounts are presented in sterling and are rounded to the nearest pound.

Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

Preparation of the accounts requires the Trustees to make significant judgements and estimates.

The items in the accounts where these judgements and estimates have been made include:

Assessment of going concern

The Trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these accounts. The Trustees have made this assessment in respect to a period of at least one year from the date of approval of these accounts.

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Principal accounting policies 31 March 2023

Assessment of going concern (continued)

The Trustees of the charity have concluded that there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The Trustees are of the opinion that the charity will have sufficient resources to meet its liabilities as they fall due. The most significant areas of judgement that affect items in the accounts are detailed above. With regard to the next accounting period, the year ending 31 March 2024, the most significant areas that affect the carrying value of the assets held by the charity are the level of investment return and the performance of the investment markets (see the investment policy and the risk management sections of the Trustees’ report for more information).

Income recognition

Income is recognised in the period in which the charity is entitled to the income, the amount of the income can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

Income comprises donations and legacies, investment income and interest receivable, charges for care services and other income including the surplus on the disposal of tangible fixed assets.

Donations, including salaries and pensions of individual religious received under Gift Aid or deed of covenant, are recognised when the charity has confirmation of both the amount and settlement date. In the event of donations pledged but not received, the amount is accrued for where the receipt is considered probable. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

In accordance with the Charities SORP FRS 102 volunteer time is not recognised.

Legacies are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the legacy, the executors have established that there are sufficient surplus assets in the estate to pay the legacy, and any conditions attached to the legacy are within the control of the charity.

Entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, but the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material. In the event that the gift is in the form of an asset other than cash or a financial asset traded on a recognised stock exchange, recognition is subject to the value of the gift being reliably measurable with a degree of reasonable accuracy and the title of the asset having being transferred to the charity.

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Principal accounting policies 31 March 2023

Income recognition (continued)

Investment income is recognised once the dividend or similar distribution has been declared and notification has been received of the amount due.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Income from fees and related charges in respect to care services is recognised to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the charity and the revenue can be reliably measured. It is measured at fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding discounts and rebates.

Other income is measured at fair value and is recognised in the period in which the charity is entitled to receipt and the amount can be measured with reasonable certainty.

Income from the Government’s Job Retention Scheme in respect to the Covid-19 pandemic, and other specific grants, is accounted for when the charity has entitlement to the income, the amount of income can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

The surplus on the disposal of tangible fixed assets is calculated as the difference between the sale proceeds net of sale costs and the net book value of the asset immediately prior to disposal. It is accounted for once legal completion of the disposal has taken place.

Expenditure recognition

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses are allocated to the applicable expenditure headings. The classification between activities is as follows:

Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure associated with raising funds for the charity. This relates to investment management fees only.

Expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs associated with furthering the charitable purposes of the charity through the provision of its charitable activities. Such costs include costs in respect to the support of members of the Congregation; expenditure incurred in the provision of care services to residents at the charity’s Care Centre in Matlock, Derbyshire; and charitable grants and donations.

Donations relate, in the main, to the support of the Congregation’s own work overseas and the support of other Roman Catholic charitable organisations. Donations are included in the statement of financial activities when approved for payment. Provision is made for donations approved but unpaid at the period end.

All expenditure is stated inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

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Mary Charitable Trust 62

Principal accounting policies 31 March 2023

Allocation of support and governance costs

Support costs represent indirect charitable expenditure. In order to carry out the primary purposes of the charity it is necessary to provide support in the form of personnel development, financial procedures, provision of office services and equipment and a suitable working environment. The nature of the charity’s structure means that support costs applicable to each of the charity’s activities can be identified directly and there has been no need for any apportionment between headings.

Governance costs comprise the costs involving the public accountability of the charity (including audit costs) and costs in respect to compliance with regulation and good practice.

Governance costs are apportioned using percentages based on the direct expenditure incurred on the support of members of the Congregation and their ministry and on the provision of care services. No apportionment is made to expenditure on donations and grants or to expenditure on raising funds as the amounts are not deemed material.

Tangible fixed assets

All assets costing more than £1,500 and with an expected useful life exceeding one year are capitalised.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 63

Principal accounting policies 31 March 2023

Fixed asset investments

Listed investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price.

The charity does not acquire put options, derivatives or other complex financial instruments.

As noted above the main form of financial risk faced by the charity is that of volatility in equity markets and investment markets due to wider economic conditions, the attitude of investors to investment risk, and changes in sentiment concerning equities and within particular sectors or sub sectors.

Realised gains (or losses) on investment assets are calculated as the difference between disposal proceeds and their opening carrying value or their purchase value is acquired subsequent to the first day of the financial year. Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the fair value at the year end and their carrying value at that date. Realised and unrealised investment gains (or losses) are combined in the statement of financial activities and are credited (or debited) in the year in which they arise.

Debtors

Debtors are recognised at their settlement amount, less any provision for non-recoverability. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid. They have been discounted to the present value of the future cash receipt where such discounting is material.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand represents such accounts and instruments that are available on demand or have a maturity of less than three months from the date of acquisition. Deposits for more than three months but less than one year have been disclosed as short term deposits. Cash placed on deposit for more than one year is disclosed as a fixed asset investment.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are recognised at the amount the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt. They have been discounted to the present value of the future cash payment where such discounting is material.

Foreign currencies

Income received and costs incurred overseas are translated into Sterling at the rate of exchange in force at the year end. This policy does not comply with FRS 102 but has been adopted to avoid over-complexity. The amounts involved are not material.

Exchange differences arising on translation of assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date are recorded as movements on general funds.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 64

Principal accounting policies 31 March 2023

Pension contributions

The charity offers its employees membership of a defined contribution pension scheme administered by the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST). Contributions to the scheme are debited to the statement of financial activities in the year in which they are payable to the scheme. The assets of the scheme are held by an independent corporate trustee, whose activities are governed by the National Employment Savings Trust Order 2010, made by the Secretary of State in exercise of powers confirmed under the Pensions Act 2008.

Finance leases

Assets held under finance leases are capitalised and depreciated over their useful lives. The corresponding lease obligation is treated in the balance sheet as a liability. The interest element of rental obligations is charged to the statement of financial activities over the period of the lease at a constant proportion of the outstanding balance of capital repayment.

Operating leases

Rentals under operating leases are charged to the statement of financial activities as the rentals fall due.

Funds structure

Restricted funds comprise monies raised for, or their use restricted to, a specific purpose, or contributions subject to donor imposed conditions.

The general fund comprises those monies which may be used towards meeting the charitable objectives of the charity and which may be applied at the discretion of the Trustees.

The designated funds are monies or other assets set aside out of general funds and designated for specific purposes by the Trustees.

The tangible fixed assets fund represents the net book value of those tangible fixed assets used for the support of the sisters and their ministry. A decision was made to separate this fund from the general fund in recognition of the fact that the assets are used in the day to day work of the charity, and the fund value would not be realisable easily if needed to meet future contingencies.

Services provided by members of the Congregation

For the purposes of these accounts, no monetary value has been placed on administrative and other services provided by the members of the Congregation.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 65

Notes to the accounts 31 March 2023

1 Income from: Donations and legacies

Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
2023
£
Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
funds
2022
£
Pensions and salaries of individual
religious received under deed of
covenant
General donations		 1,031,876
7,276
—

54,416		 1,031,876
61,692
1,023,387

5,617
—

79,849
1,023,387

85,466
1,039,152
54,416		 1,093,568
1,029,004
79,849
1,108,853

2 Income from: Investments and interest receivable

Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
2023
£		 Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
2022
£
Income from listed
investments
. UK fixed interest
. UK equities
. Overseas equities and
alternatives
Interest receivable
. Bank interest
. Other interest		 46,108
127,632
114,183
—

—

—		 46,108
127,632
114,183		 34,444
129,567
91,553		 —
—
—		 34,444
129,567
91,553
287,923
—		 287,923 255,564 — 255,564
1,825
2,296
29

—		 1,854
2,296		 9,695
2,296		 4
—		 9,699
2,296
4,121
29		 4,150 11,991 4 11,995
292,044
29		 292,073 267,555 4 267,559

3 Income from: Surplus on disposal of tangible fixed assets

Income from: Surplus on disposal of tangible fixed assets
Total
funds
2023
£
352,079
1,199
(2,527)
350,751		 Total
funds
2022
£
Surplus on disposal of non-specialised freehold property
Surplus on disposal of motor vehicles
Loss on disposal of furniture, plant and equipment		 162,110
5,591
—
167,701

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 66

Notes to the accounts 31 March 2023

4 Expenditure on: Support of members of the Congregation and their ministry

Un-
restricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
2023
£
Unrestricted
funds
£

124,433

318,824

549,017

28,120

92,943

75,854

9,832

1,199,023


Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
2022
£
Staff costs (note 9)
Premises
Sisters’ living and ministry
expenses
Education, training and
spiritual renewal
Depreciation of buildings
Other support costs
Governance costs (note 7)		 158,692
347,666
562,222
37,386
94,855
74,983
11,478
—

—

—

—

—

—

—		 158,692
347,666
562,222
37,386
94,855
74,983
11,478
—

—

—

—

—

—

—
124,433

318,824

549,017

28,120

92,943

75,854

9,832
1,287,282
—		 1,287,282
—
1,199,023

5 Expenditure on: Provision of care services

Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
2023
£		 Unrestricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
2022
£
Staff costs (note 9)
Depreciation of buildings
Other costs
Governance costs
(note 7)		 1,407,915
95,490
377,569
16,922		 —
—
—
—		 1,407,915
95,490
377,569
16,922		 1,280,146
95,490
395,819
14,668		 —
—
2,741
—		 1,280,146
95,490
398,560
14,668
1,897,896 — 1,897,896 1,786,123 2,741 1,788,864

6 Expenditure on: Grants and donations in support of miscellaneous charitable activities

The charity makes grants and donations, principally in support of the overseas missions of the Congregation and to other causes which further the Roman Catholic faith.

The grants and donations payable during the year were as follows:

Un-
restricted
funds
£		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
2023
£		 Unrestricted
funds
£
Restricted
funds
£
Total
funds
2022
£
. Generalate of the
Congregation
. Overseas missions of
the Congregation
. Church Action on
Poverty		 84,135
—
2,400

—

75,753

—
84,135

75,753

2,400
69,806

—

2,400
—

135,388

—
69,806

135,388

2,400
86,535
75,753		 162,288
72,206
135,388
207,594

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 67

Notes to the accounts 31 March 2023

7 Governance costs

Governance costs
Total
funds
2023
£		 Total
funds
2022
£
Legal andprofessional fees 28,400 24,500
Allocated as follows: Total
funds
2023
£		 Total
funds
2022
£
Support of members of the Congregation and their ministry (note 4)
Provision of care services (note 5)		 11,478
16,922		 9,832
14,668
28,400 24,500

All governance costs related to unrestricted funds in both 2022 and 2023.

8 Net expenditure before net investment (losses) gains This is stated after charging:

Total
funds
2023
£		 Total
funds
2022
£
Staff costs (note 9)
Auditor’s remuneration, including VAT
. Statutory audit services
Depreciation
Exchange(gains)losses		 1,566,607
28,400
266,029
(282)		 1,404,579
20,500
265,563
1,134
9 Staff costs, Trustees’ remuneration and key management personnel
2023
£
Staff costs during the year were as follows:
Wages and salaries
1,350,495
Social security costs
100,022
Pension contributions
21,761
1,472,278
Agency staff
94,329
1,566,607
Staff costs by function were as follows:
Support of members of the Congregation and their ministry (note 4)
158,692
Provision of care services (note 5)
1,407,915
1,566,607		 Staff costs, Trustees’ remuneration and key management personnel
2023
£
Staff costs during the year were as follows:
Wages and salaries
1,350,495
Social security costs
100,022
Pension contributions
21,761
1,472,278
Agency staff
94,329
1,566,607
Staff costs by function were as follows:
Support of members of the Congregation and their ministry (note 4)
158,692
Provision of care services (note 5)
1,407,915
1,566,607		 2022
£
Staff costs during the year were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension contributions
Agency staff
Staff costs by function were as follows:
Support of members of the Congregation and their ministry (note 4)
Provision of care services (note 5)		 1,350,495
100,022
21,761		 1,252,140
87,141
19,057
1,472,278
94,329		 1,358,338
46,241
1,566,607 1,404,579
158,692
1,407,915		 124,433
1,280,146
1,566,607 1,404,579

One employee earned between £70,000 and £80,000 per annum (including benefits) during the year (2022: One employee earned between £60,000 and £70,000 per annum). Included with wages and salaries above is an ex-gratia payment of £3,000 (2022: £nil) made to one employee (2022: none).

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 68

Notes to the accounts 31 March 2023

2023
FTE		 2022
FTE		 2023
average		 2022
average
Support of members of the Congregation
and their ministry
Provision of care services		 7
55		 5
58		 10
60		 10
65
62 63 70 75

As members of the Congregation, the Trustees’ living expenses during the year were borne by the charity, but they received no remuneration or reimbursement of expenses in connection with their duties as Trustees during the year.

Key management

The Trustees consider that they comprise the key management of the charity in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day to day basis.

All Trustees are members of the Congregation and whilst their living and personal expenses are borne by the charity they receive no remuneration or reimbursement of expenses in connection with their duties as Trustees or work as key management (2022: £nil).

The Registered Manager; Care Centre Manager and the Matron are considered key management personnel of the charity’s Care Centre in charge of running and operating the Care Centre under the supervision of the Management Board. The total remuneration for the year (including employer’s pension contributions) was £120,716 (2022: £107,441).

Steve Taylor is Chair of the Care Centre Management Board and provided his services through Axiom Healthcare Services Limited until 31 July 2022. Consultancy fees payable to Axiom Healthcare Services Limited were £8,095 (2022: £24,415). After 31 July 2022 Steve Taylor received no remuneration from the charity.

10 Taxation

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Charitable Trust is a registered charity and, therefore, is not liable to income tax or corporation tax on income derived from its charitable activities, as it falls within the various exemptions available to registered charities.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 69

Notes to the accounts 31 March 2023

11 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets
Freehold and long leasehold
land and buildings		 Furniture,
plant and
equipment
£		 Motor
vehicles
£		 Total
£
Non-
Specialised
£		 Specialised
£
Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2022
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2023
At deemed cost (1996 valuation)
At cost
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 April 2022
Depreciation charge for the year
On disposals
At 31 March 2023
Net book values
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022		 2,440,465
—
(238,566)		 9,421,706
95,579
—		 295,406
66,004
(8,428)		 256,190
—
(9,495)		 12,413,767
161,583
(256,489)
2,201,899 9,517,285 352,982 246,695 12,318,861
920,587
1,281,312		 6,475,476
3,041,809		 —
352,982		 —
246,695		 7,396,063
4,922,798
2,201,899 9,517,285 352,982 246,695 12,318,861
466,033
—
—		 3,449,900
190,345
—		 187,959
56,637
(5,901)		 223,525
19,047
(9,494)		 4,327,417
266,029
(15,395)
466,033 3,640,245 238,695 233,078 4,578,051
1,735,866 5,877,040 114,287 13,617 7,740,810
1,974,432 5,971,806 107,447 32,665 8,086,350

Included within freehold and long leasehold land and buildings is a property held on a 999 year lease signed on 5 March 1964. The property is included in the accounts at a net book value of £935,399 (2022: £971,048). There were no additions to the property in the year (2022 – none) and accumulated depreciation was £847,069 (2022: £811,420). The lease provides for the charity to occupy the property at an annual rent of £1 but to take responsibility for all costs relating to the building including repairs, maintenance and insurance. Under the lease the charity covenants to occupy and use the property solely as a Roman Catholic institution for religious and charitable purposes in accordance with its trust deed. At any time, should the charity wish to cease to occupy the premises, the Trustees are to give the lessor six months’ notice in writing and, on surrender of the lease, the lessor is required to pay to the charity an amount equal to the value of the lease term surrendered, such value to be determined between the two parties.

As permitted under FRS 102, the charity has opted to adopt a policy of not revaluing its tangible fixed assets. The book value of the land and buildings owned at 1 April 1996 is based on Trustees’ valuation made, with professional assistance, as at that date on the basis of replacement cost for existing use. As permitted by FRS 102, with effect from 1 April 2014 the value assigned to this property is now deemed its cost. Additions in subsequent years are stated at cost. Other tangible fixed assets are stated at cost.

The historical cost of the freehold land and buildings included above at a valuation cannot be obtained without significant time and expense researching past records. The Trustees are of the opinion that such information would not add to the understanding of the accounts.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 70

Notes to the accounts 31 March 2023

11 Tangible fixed assets (continued)

It is likely that the open market values of certain of the charity’s land and buildings are materially greater than their book values. The amount of such differences cannot be ascertained without incurring significant costs, which, in the opinion of Trustees, is not justified in terms of the benefit to the users of the accounts.

Capital commitments

At 31 March 2023, the charity had no capital commitments (2022: £nil.)

12 Investments

Investments
2023
£		 2022
£
Listed investments
Market value at 1 April 2023
Additions
Disposals at book value (proceeds: £433,606; losses: £20,693)
Net unrealised investment (losses) gains
Market value at 31 March 2023
Cash held by investment managers for re-investment
Historical cost of listed investments at 31 March 2023		 13,856,061
684,178
(454,299)
(884,838)		 13,257,813
1,227,333
(850,015)
220,930
13,201,102
51,100		 13,856,061
70,340
13,252,202 13,926,401
9,126,937 8,813,677

Listed investments held at 31 March 2023 comprised the following:

2023
£		 2022
£
UK fixed interest
UK equities
Overseas equities
Alternatives		 2,197,352
4,236,110
5,352,751
1,414,889		 2,077,674
4,643,358
5,499,848
1,635,181
13,201,102 13,856,061

All listed investments were dealt in on a recognised stock exchange.

At 31 March 2023 listed investments included no individual investment holdings deemed material when compared to the overall portfolio valuation as at that date (2022 – none).

13 Debtors

Debtors
2023
£		 2022
£
Care charges receivable
Loan (see below)
Investment income receivable
Prepayments and accrued income
Pensions of individual religious received under deed of covenant including
lump sum pension receipts		 138,000
124,721
9,894
45,015
61,751		 137,624
122,426
14,908
2,079
117,589
379,382 394,626

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 71

Notes to the accounts 31 March 2023

13 Debtors (continued)

The loan represents an amount advanced to a former member of the Congregation to facilitate the purchase of a property. The loan, which is secured by way of a first legal charge over the property, is repayable on the sale of the property or the death of the former member. On repayment the loan attracts interest of 3% per annum calculated from the date it was advanced to the date of repayment. The accrued interest to 31 March 2023 of £48,205 (2022: £45,910) has been added to the loan.

2023
£		 2022
£
Loan amount
Accrued interest		 76,516
48,205		 76,516
45,910
124,721 122,426
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2023
£		 2022
£
Amounts payable in respect to capital works
Expense creditors
Amount due to the Generalate of the Congregation (including grant payable
of £20,000 (see note 15))
Taxation and social security costs
Other creditors
Deferred grants
Accruals		 25,440
15,950

96,366
34,398
22,462
5,514
51,317		 22,217
56,400
86,900
19,274
4,926
7,936
49,362
251,447 247,015

14 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

15 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

2023
£		 2022
£
Amounts due to the Generalate of the Congregation 100,000 120,000

In 2019 the charity committed to make a ten year grant of £200,000 in aggregate to the Generalate of the Congregation towards the cost of a building project to develop the Western Apex of Nano Nagle, Cork, Ireland. £20,000 is payable per annum.

16 Restricted funds

The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trusts to be applied for specific purposes:

At
1 April
2022
£		 Income
£		 Expenditure
£		 At
31 March
2023
£
Overseas missions fund
Care Centre residents’ fund		 68,128
273		 54,442
3		 (75,753)
—		 46,817
276
68,401 54,445 (75,753) 47,093

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 72

Notes to the accounts 31 March 2023

16 Restricted funds (continued)

Restricted funds(continued)
At
1 April
2021
£		 Income
£		 Expenditure
£		 At
31 March
2022
£
Overseas missions fund
Care Centre residents’ fund		 124,478
2,199		 79,038
815		 (135,388)
(2,741)		 68,128
273
126,677 79,853 (138,129) 68,401

Funds held at 31 March 2023 to be applied as follows:

The overseas missions fund

The overseas missions fund represents monies received for the purposes of supporting overseas missions of the Congregation.

The Care Centre residents’ fund

The Care Centre residents’ fund represents donations to be applied for the benefit of all residents of the Care Centre and used to pay for entertainment and other items to be decided on after consultation with the residents.

17 Tangible fixed assets fund

Tangible fixed assets fund
2023
£
At 1 April 2022
Net movement in year
At 31 March 2023		 8,086,350
(345,540)
7,740,810
2022
£
At 1 April 2021
Net movement in year
At 31 March 2022		 8,409,741
(323,391)
8,086,350

The tangible fixed assets fund represents the net book value of the charity’s tangible fixed assets. A decision was made to separate this fund from the general fund and other designated funds of the charity in recognition of the fact that the tangible fixed assets are essential to the day-to-day work of the charity and as such their value should not be regarded as funds that would be realisable with ease, in order to meet future contingencies.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 73

Notes to the accounts 31 March 2023

18 Designated funds

The income funds of the charity include the following designated funds, which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the Trustees for specific purposes:

At
1 April
2022
£		 New
designations
£		 Released
£		 At
31 March
2023
£
Retirement reserve 12,000,000
**— **
—		 12,000,000
At
1 April
2021
£		 New
designations
£		 Released
£		 At
31 March
2022
£
Retirement reserve 12,000,000
—		 — 12,000,000

Retirement reserve

The retirement reserve consists of monies which the Trustees have set aside in order to provide for the sisters in their retirement. The value of the fund has been calculated using actuarial principles, but is adjusted as necessary in the light of available resources and changes in the number of the Province’s members and their age profile.

19 Analysis of net assets between funds

General
funds
£		 Tangible
fixed assets
funds
£
7,740,810
—
—
—
7,740,810		 Designated
funds
£
—
12,000,000
—
—
12,000,000		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
£
Fund balances at 31 March
2023 are represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Net current assets
Long term liabilities
Total net assets
—
1,252,202
1,222,902
(100,000)		 —
—
47,093
—		 7,740,810
13,252,202
1,269,995
(100,000)
2,375,104 47,093 22,163,007
General
funds
£		 Tangible
fixed assets
funds
£
8,086,350
—
—
—
8,086,350		 Designated
funds
£
—
12,000,000
—
—
12,000,000		 Restricted
funds
£		 Total
funds
£
Fund balances at 31 March
2022 are represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Net current assets
Long term liabilities
Total net assets		 —
1,926,401
1,146,142
(120,000)		 —
—
68,401
—		 8,086,350
13,926,401
1,214,543
(120,000)
2,952,543 68,401 23,107,294

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 74

Notes to the accounts 31 March 2023

19 Analysis of net assets between funds (continued)

The total unrealised gains as at 31 March 2023 constitutes movements on revaluation and are as follows:

2023
£		 2022
£
Total unrealised gains at 31 March 2023 on investments
Reconciliation of movements in unrealised gains
Unrealised gains at 1 April 2022
Net losses in respect to disposals of listed investments in the year
Net (losses) gains arising on revaluation of listed investments arising in
the year
Total unrealisedgains at 31 March 2023		 4,074,165 5,042,384
5,042,384
(83,381)
(884,838)		 4,998,176
(176,722)
220,930
4,074,165 5,042,384

20 Commitments under operating leases

At 31 March 2023, the charity had future minimum commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

2023
£		 2022
£
Equipment
Payments falling due:
. Within one year
. Between two and five years
.After five years		 6,576
26,304
5,040		 2,444
—
32,880 2,444

21 Related party transactions and transactions with Trustees

As members of the charity, none of the Trustees have resources of their own as all earnings, pensions and other income have been donated to the charity under a Gift Aid compliant Deed of Covenant. During the year, the total amount donated by the Trustees to the charity was £86,733 (2022: £92,197).

Details of other transactions with Trustees are given in note 9 to these accounts

There were no other related party transactions in the year. In 2022 the Care Centre Manager, who is member of key management personnel at the Care Centre, purchased a used vehicle from the charity on an arm’s length basis for £2,500.

22 Ultimate control

The charity, which is constituted as a trust, was controlled throughout the period by The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by virtue of the fact that the Provincial Leader of the Congregation appoints the Trustees.

The English Province of the Union of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin

Mary Charitable Trust 75