2023-12-31-accounts - Cursillos In Christianity In England And Wales

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ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

FOR

CURSILLO IN CHRISTIANITY ENGLAND & WALES Charity No 803033 www.cursillouk.org

Prepared by Jenny Maguire Cursillo in Christianity England & Wales National Treasurer Confidential

CURSILLOS IN CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND & WALES Charity Number www.cursillouk.org

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Annual Report

Independent Examiner’s Report

Income & Expenditure Statements by Diocese

Central Account Liverpool Shrewsbury Hallam Notes to the Financial Statements

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

CURSILLOS IN CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND & WALES Charity Number www.cursillouk.org

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Charity number

1121205

Registered office

Higher Pimbo Farmhouse, 19 Pimbo Lane, Upholland, Lancs, WN8 9QJ

Trustees

Austin Corcoran Trustee Bill Dupuzel Trustee

Secretariat:

President Joanne Morris National Secretary Georgie Turner Treasurer Jenny Maguire

Independent examiner

Andrew Southworth CPFA 63 Hallbridge Gardens, Upholland, Skelmersdale WN8 0EP

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The Charity is controlled by its Constitution

Risk management

The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the Charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

OBJECTIVES AND AIMS

Cursillo in Christianity is established to Christianise the environment with the consent of the Roman Catholic Bishops of England & Wales.

Cursillo is a Catholic movement dedicated to spreading the Word of God and helping people form a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. The Cursillo Movement is active right across the globe and in different Christian denominations.

We are a community of lay and religious who strive by our mission and our daily lives to live a life following the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Our community extends across the United Kingdom and is available for all to join and share in the joys of living the Gospel.

Cursillo employs a method that emphasises the importance of a balanced life of prayer, continued spiritual study, and action. We do this by providing a range of support services including 3 day residential courses, online and in person support groups, and continued formation.

CURSILLOS IN CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND & WALES Charity Number www.cursillouk.org

REPORT OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Positive developments as we began a new financial year and difficulties faced.

This year we have continued to focus on the development of the Birmingham Diocese, this has contributed to a growing leadership team enabling them to run a number of Encounter events and a couple of 3 day weekends.

The regular monthly reflection events have been an extremely positive addition making it possible for people to come together across the country to share their faith and reduce the feelings of isolation. The Liverpool Diocese has continued to flourish with an increased focus on the West Lancashire and Warrington areas.

Both Hallam and Shrewsbury have faced difficulties this year due to ill health and changes in the leadership team.

As Cursillo continues to grow in England and Wales we have identified the need to update all our policies and procedures and to create a development & finance strategy over the coming year to allow us to ensure we are growing in line with current legislation and meeting the needs of those we serve.

What did we achieve this year and who did we reach?

Reflection Evenings

Amongst the many devastating effects that covid had on peoples lives, closing churches made practicing ones faith a lot harder and isolation became a real reality for people. In order to combat that isolation and enable people to continue to share their faith we created a programme of monthly online reflections These enable people to listen to a talk on topics such as Preparation, Compassion, Victory, Blessed, Struggle. We then spend time in small groups reflecting and sharing on what we have heard and spending time in prayer & friendship together.

Encounter Days

We held 4 Encounter days in Warrington, Upholland, Stafford & Birmingham. These days provide the opportunity for people to come together to share their faith and to discover how Cursillo can strengthen their faith through a community of friendship.

Cursillo 3 days

We held 4 Cursillo 3 days in Stonyhurst and Shallowford, sadly the effects of covid meant we were unable to hold one in St Josephs Prayer Center in Formby. The 3 days are residential, Cursillo itself does not charge for these events however there is a cost to the retreat houses for accommodation and food. The ever rising costs of these retreat house has been identified as a potential threat for the future as it can place the opportunity to attend out of peoples reach. We have identified the need to create a fundraising plan for the future.

Grouping

Following the 3 days people are encouraged to continue sharing their faith in small groups, the Cursillo method is to live a of prayer study & action, these small groups enable people to share in any difficulties

CURSILLOS IN CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND & WALES Charity Number www.cursillouk.org

they may be having in these areas or to share in ways they have shared Christs life with others. Following the 3 days people often go off and offer supportive action in their local communities. We have identified the need to develop a plan to support the growth of our small groups.

Ultreya

Liverpool continue to hold monthly Ultreyas for anyone who has attended the 3 days to come together to celebrate Mass, listen to a reflection or witness and join together over a shared table & social time. In April we were able to also offer a well attended healing Mass.

National Cursillo held their National Ultreya in St Josephs Prayer Centre in Liverpool. It was well attended with people travelling from around the country. It was a time of community, sharing and faith. All were welcome people were encouraged to bring along their families bring along your families.

Formation:

For those who recognise a desire within to grow, mature and share in their faith opportunities for formation are extremely important. During 2023 we were able to offer a school of leaders focussing on what it means to share our faith with others and how we can support each other to do this. Prior to each 3 days we hold a number of team days and meetings where we reflect on scripture and learn the fundamentals of what it means to be a Christian in today’s world.

Who we reach:

Cursillo develops a consciousness that we are called to be leaders in our everyday lives, to bring Christ to others. This starts within our own homes our schools and workplaces however many share their gifts in a great many ways including supporting refuges and asylum seekers, working in prisons, visiting the sick or homeless, cleaning or becoming readers in their churches. As people do this through joining other organisations we do not have an exact ways in which people make a difference through their actions. This has been identified as an area we need to develop further in the future.

Earnings generated this year through our own fundraising activities

Fundraising is a key factor in our sustainability. This year we have held a number of fundraising events including, movie & music nights, raffles and general donations. Moving forward we have identified the need to approach the Archdiocese & other funding bodies for financial support, this will require us to develop a clear business plan and financial analysis.

Volunteers

We currently have 15 volunteers who take up the roles of Lay directors, treasurers and secretaries within the different diocese.

Staff

We currently have no staff, all administrative duties are currently completed by the volunteers and members of cursillo.

Trustees

We currently have 2 trustees.

CURSILLOS IN CHRISTIANITY IN ENGLAND & WALES Charity Number www.cursillouk.org