BYM Trustees 5-6 September 2025
Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees (BYMT) met on 5 and 6 September to discern on items of business including the annual report and accounts, investment policy, and strategic priorities.
What is this committee responsible for?
Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees are responsible for the national organisation of Quakers in Britain, including the stewardship of its properties, finances and staff. They are also responsible for legal compliance. They prepare an annual report on the activities and finances of Quakers in Britain which is submitted to the charity regulator and published on its website.
What did it do at this meeting?
Finance
Trustees approved the annual report and accounts for 2024, as well as reviewing the financial performance of the organisation in the first half of 2025. Ethical investments are an important source of income, and trustees considered some steps towards updating the investment policy. A final draft of the policy will come to the November meeting for approval. When considering future meeting dates, trustees agreed to shorten their annual residential meeting to one night instead of two, to reduce accommodation costs.
Prioritisation
Trustees are continuing to work on an updated version of the strategic priorities for the centrally managed work – they will continue to seek feedback from Friends (including at Meeting for Sufferings in October) and to refine these.
Policy
Trustees were joined by the clerk of Quaker Committee on Christian and Interfaith Relations (QCCIR) to discuss a new paper on the theology of trans inclusion that QCCIR expects to publish soon. This paper should help Friends to see this important issue in the context of our faith and not just as part of a secular 'debate'.
Governance
Trustees reviewed a revised draft of the Britain Yearly Meeting governing document, which will go to Yearly Meeting in May 2026 for approval.
Relationships
Trustees were joined by the CEO and one of the trustees of Woodbrooke, and were able to discuss how our two organisations can work together to mutual benefit.
How can I find out more?
Please visit the Trustees' page of the Quakers in Britain website, where you will find published minutes from Trustees' meetings.