Meeting for Sufferings: BYM trustees
Jennifer Barraclough reported to Meeting for Sufferings
Meeting for Sufferings was thanked by the clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) trustees, Jennifer Barraclough, for its contribution to creating a productive relationship between the two bodies.
A verbal report on the meeting of BYM trustees, which had been held the previous day on Friday 27 March, was given.
Sufferings was particularly thanked for its contribution to developing a positive partnership between the two bodies and for helping the move from a ‘place of mutual uncertainties’ – dealing with questions such as ‘Who we are?’ and ‘What are we for?’ – to ‘a place of confident exploration’.
Paul Parker, recording clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting, gave a carefully worded update on the ‘uncomfortable employment’ dispute at Friends House.
He described the efforts that had been made to resolve the dispute and talked of the work done with the UNITE union. He also spoke about the process of conciliation that had been followed and mentioned that ‘we have found it a challenging, frustrating and upsetting time’. He stressed that every effort is being made to find an appropriate resolution.
Peter Ullathorne, treasurer of Britain Yearly Meeting, presented a summary of the 2014 financial activities. He said that legacies had ‘exceeded expectations’ and that the level of contributions stood at about £2 million. He explained that the income generated from the Hospitality Company at Friends House ‘has covered most of the running costs of the building’.
He also talked about investment policy, tax justice, the Pensions Trust and the cost of running the Yearly Meeting Gathering at Bath in 2014, which attracted some 2,000 people. The net cost was £160,000. This involved an expenditure of £660,000 and income of £500,000.
A Friend asked about staff costs at Friends House. Peter Ullathorne explained that staff costs were £5,273,000. £500,000 was for the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in Geneva.
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