The Mothers' Union Diocese of Guildford
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Interim Report THE MOTHERS' UNION DIOCESE OF GUILDFORD Registered Charity No – 249931 ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2016 0 This page is left intentionally blank Front Page picture with kind permission from Epsom Deanery 1 The Mothers' Union – Guildford Diocese All Saints' Church Hall Office, 564 Woodham Lane, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5SH Registered Charity No – 249931 Patron – H. M. The Queen Annual Report and Accounts year ended 31st December 2016 Officers Diocesan President Mrs. Antonia Wilson, 64, Claygate Lane,Esher, KT10 0BJ Vice President Mrs. Karen Rand, 61, Kingswood Road,Tadworth, , KT20 5EF Administrator Mrs. Lesley Templeman, Cornerways, Horsell Park Woking GU21 4LY Treasurer Mr. Stephen Moore 10, Badger Close, Guildford GU2 9PJ Chaplain Rev'd Jackie Richardson All Saints' Weston Green, Chestnut Avenue, Esher, KT10 0JQ Banker Lloyds Bank Plc 147, High Street, Guildford GU1 3AD Independent Examiner Mr. Gavin Loveday 3 Fellow Green, West End GU24 9LL Trustees Diocesan President Mrs. Antonia Wilson, Vice President Mrs. Karen Rand Unit Co-ordinators Mrs. Elizabeth Shutt, Mrs. Carol Hagon, Mrs. Sylvia Taylor Mrs. Sheila Sutherland. General Trustees Mrs. Kate Ellis, Mrs. Jane Endean and Mrs. Shirley Martin. Aims and Objectives The Aim of the Mothers' Union is the advancement of Christian Religion in the sphere of marriage and family life, and in furtherance of the said aim (but not otherwise) to carry out all or any of the following objects. 1. To uphold Christ's teaching on the nature of marriage and to promote its wider understanding. 2. To encourage parents to bring up their children in the faith and life of the church. 3. To maintain a world-wide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service. 4. To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children; and 5. to help those whose family life has met with adversity. 2 Organisation Management of the Charity is by the Board of Trustees which is made up of elected members and four non- voting members, the Administrator, the Treasurer, the Diocesan Chaplain and the Editor of the Diocesan Newsletter. The organisation is represented in all twelve Deaneries and there are 45 branches across the Diocese. There are two Members’ Meetings per year and the Annual Lady Day Service in Guildford Cathedral. The trustees meet a minimum of four times per year as required by the constitution, and produce two copies of Lesley Templeman Administrator and Stephen The Angel, the diocesan magazine newsletter. Moore Treasurer Financial Statement A new Honorary Treasurer took over at the beginning of the year. The accounting system was migrated on to a new package produced by Data Developments especially for Churches and Church organisations. In the middle of the year we had to find and move to a new office as the office at St. Michael’s in Sheerwater was required for the Bishops Mission. We found the current office which had been recently refurbished. This incurred some, one off costs with in this year. This year we held a family day and also donated £1,500.00 to a Refuge to help refurbish their children’s play equipment. A full breakdown of the accounts is shown at the end of this report. Funds and Activities 1. Parenting Programme: providing Parenting Training courses for members and Clergy, including post training support. 2. Away From It All: a scheme to provide holidays for needy families. 3. Women’s Refuges: support and practical help for women in refuges and who are trying to rebuild their lives, through the Surrey and North East Hampshire Women’s Refuges. 4. Hospital Emergency Admissions: supplying comprehensive toiletry bags for emergency hospital admissions. Direct liaison for speedy provision. 5. Prisons: in all three prisons across the Diocese. Support for families with one partner in prison. Providing play workers and toys to engage with children visiting, encouraging a family environment and giving parents/adults space and time to talk. Running craft sessions and ‘Friday Club’ enabling inmates to make cards and write letters to their families. Providing gifts at Christmas and support for families in need. 6. Advocacy, Lobbying and Consultation on Women’s Playworkers at prisons issues and Family matters both in the UK and Internationally. Many campaigns have been speared headed by the MU and taken up by the government of the day, resulting in changes to the law in favour of women, children and families. Additionally: 7. Information and Communication via the Diocesan Website; The Angel – bi-annual magazine newsletter; weekly e-newsletter. 3 8. A sales and literature service for Information and Fundraising. Includes Marriage Packs suitable for clergy and lay persons. Faith Based Activities A. Annual Lady Day Service on Feast of the Annunciation. B. Monthly Pilgrimage of Prayer at Guildford Cathedral, led by deaneries by rotation C. Intercessory Prayer: Emails are sent out when a particular emergency prayer is required. In some cases, small groups convene to concentrate prayer for these requests. When possible an update on the situation is reported to members and appreciation acknowledged. D. Silent Retreats are held twice a year at Ladywell Convent, Godalming. E. Support for The Mothers’ Union central projects through branch fundraising, and supporting national and international appeals. Cutting the Cake to commemorate 140 years of the Mothers' Union F. Maintaining links with and support of by Bev Jullien, Lynne Tembey and Bishop Andrew Proud Mothers’ Union members around the world, especially through our Wave of Prayer partners. Also through links specific to personal contacts of members. President’s Report My term of office as Diocesan President began on 1st January 2016. I joined The Mothers’ Union in 2003, was Branch Leader for four years, became Deanery Co-ordinator in 2013 and joined the Trustee Board in October 2013. I have met members of the MU in Malawi and Barbados as well as around Britain and Ireland giving me a wide and international perspective. In early 2016 the Trustee Board drew up the Draft Diocesan Plan in which were Antonia Wilson identified areas of concern and included plans to provide improvement, specifically: President of Trustees a) To update, modernise and improve the website and the register of members. b) To create two-way communication with incumbents in the diocese, supported by our Archdeacons and Rural Deans. c) Offer an improved prayerful resource and family information, based in Deanery areas – as highlighted for inclusion in the Bishop’s Diocesan Plan. d) To work closely with Mary Sumner House (Central Office of The Mothers’ Union) as a revised Constitution went into the Consultation Phase. During 2016 the activities, fundraising and distribution of funds flourished within the Guildford Diocese. There are 1300 members. Branches have been active. Membership has fallen slightly though natural causes but one new branch has opened. Some branches have become groups meeting less often but continuing in prayer and action. Most members are involved in parish activities, whether through MU or not. The Badge of Membership always encourages recipients of MU support. Increasingly, new (usually younger) members prefer to receive news online and join groups for specific activities or fund raising events. 4 The Bishop of Guildford, the Rt. Revd. Andrew Watson, is a member and the new Bishop of Dorking, the Rt. Revd. Jo Wells, was enrolled as a member at the Members’ Meeting in November 2016. Guildford Cathedral continues to support the MU at all times, providing meeting rooms when required and hosting the Annual Lady Day Eucharist Service. The monthly Pilgrimage of Prayer services are held in the Lady Chapel. The MU has supported the Cathedral during the current period of refurbishment when building works have made life challenging for the cathedral staff and all who visit. As recorded above, the Funds and Activities are fully active. An increasing number of volunteers help with Prison projects. The Reverend Jo Wells Bishop of Dorking refuges are supported most generously by the membership in at the Autumn Members meeting supplying a wide range of goods for the women and children. Feedback and acknowledgement for all this work is received regularly and passed onto the members through the weekly update. The Parenting programme has been particularly successful with groups continuing to meet following their training. A new branch has been formed from one of these groups. Mothers Union Enterprises, (MUe), the commercial arm through which cards, calendars, diaries and a large selection of gifts and goods are sold, has been very well supported and appreciated throughout the diocese – earning Guildford the accolade of .......... (certificate of greatness!!??). Sheila Sutherland, the trustee who has responsibility for this, should be credited and thanked for her continued hard work and results with MUe. Throughout the year members of the Guildford Mothers’ Union have served the charity with huge amounts of time and compassion, always given of their time freely as volunteers. With over 1200 members the time given is impossible to quantify. In keeping with the Aim and Objects of the charity members support Reverend Jo Wells Bishop of Dorking and families in their local areas and across the diocese as well and Antonia on the Bouncy Slide at the looking after many vulnerable and needy members of their Families Day communities. MU Services, Commissioning Services, Training Days and Conferences