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← The A B Charitable Trust

2024-04-30-accounts

THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts Year Ended 30 April 2024

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustee ABCT Trustee Limited
Directors of the Trustee company Tarnjit Birdi
Anne Bonavero
Claire Bonavero
Olivier Bonavero
Philippe Bonavero
Sophie Bonavero (appointed 16 October 2023)
Athol Harley
James Lynch (appointed 16 October 2023)
Juliet Lyon C.B.E
Charity Director and Secretary Sara Harrity M.B.E.
Charity Number 1000147
Principal Address 8 Bloomsbury Street
London
WC1B 3SR
Auditor Cottons Accountants LLP
The Stables
Church Walk
Daventry
Northamptonshire
NN11 4BL
Bankers National Westminster Bank PLC
Liverpool Street Station
PO Box 282
216 Bishopsgate
London
EC2M 4QB
Pictet & Cie (Europe) SA
15A Avenue J.F. Kennedy
L-1855 Luxembourg

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The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024

CONTENTS

01 Trustee’s Report 3
02 Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustee of The A B Charitable Trust 12
03 Financial Statements 17
04 Notes to the financial statements 21

ABOUT US

The A B Charitable Trust is an independent grantmaking organisation, founded in 1990 by Yves and Anne Bonavero to champion human dignity and support marginalised and excluded groups. The Trust has no endowment and is funded annually by the Bonavero family.

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THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

01 Trustee’s Report

The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Trustee’s Report

The Trustee presents its report and accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 21 to 34 and comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP 2019). The report takes account of the requirement for trustees to report annually on public benefit and the Trustee has had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.

Structure, governance and management

The A B Charitable Trust (“the Charity”) is an unincorporated trust, constituted under a Trust Deed dated 30[th] March 1990. It is a registered charity, number 1000147. The Charity was established by an initial gift from Yves Jean Marc Bonavero (''the Settlor") in 1990. The Charity does not actively fundraise and seeks to continue its philanthropic work desired by the Settlor through the careful stewardship of its existing resources and ad hoc contributions.

Trustee

In July 2020, ABCT Trustee Ltd (company number 12699206) was incorporated to act as Trustee of the Charity in accordance with the terms of the governing document of the Charity.

The Directors of ABCT Trustee Ltd (“the Directors”) who served during the year were as follows:

Tarnjit Birdi

Anne Bonavero

Claire Bonavero

Olivier Bonavero

Philippe Bonavero

Sophie Bonavero (appointed 16 October 2023)

Athol Harley

James Lynch (appointed 16 October 2023)

Juliet Lyon

Director’s meetings

Directors agree the broad strategy and areas of activity for the Charity, including consideration of grant making, investment, reserves and risk management policies and performance. At their quarterly meetings, the Directors make decisions to award grants in line with the strategy determined at regular strategy reviews. Grant decisions up to £30k per annum are delegated to a Grants Committee of four Directors chaired by Philippe Bonavero, which meets quarterly. The day-to-day administration of grants prior to consideration by the Directors is delegated to the Charity’s Director.

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Risk management

The Charity’s risk register is reviewed annually. It was presented to the Board and approved in July 2023. Directors actively review any major risks which the Charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining reserves at prudent levels, combined with an annual review of the controls over key financial systems, will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions.

Objectives, achievements and performance

The objects of the Charity are to apply the income and all or such part or parts of the capital for or towards such charitable purposes and to make donations to such charitable institution or institutions at such time or such times and in such manner as the Directors may in their absolute discretion think fit.

The Directors have determined the aims of the Charity shall be to promote and defend human dignity and human rights. The Charity’s focus is on supporting the groups most marginalised and excluded by society.

The Charity’s four priorities and uplift in funding

The Charity continued to fund organisations:

Many organisations working in these fields find it increasingly hard to raise funds, at a time when demands on the ground are growing. In response, the Bonavero family decided to scale up their giving to reach the level of £8 million by financial year 2024/25.

The Bonavero Institute of Human Rights (BIHR)

Based at Mansfield College, BIHR is one of five research institutes in the Faculty of Law at Oxford. In 2015, the Charity provided the founding endowment to fund BIHR’s Director and core staff in perpetuity. The Institute’s normal services have been resumed following Covid-19, with activities in a new hybrid model of in person and online at https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/bonavero-institute-human-rights.

BIHR continued to partner with Turpin & Miller LLP and the Centre for Criminology to run a legal aid clinic at HMP Huntercombe, a prison for foreign nationals. Through the clinic, funded by the Charity, individuals detained at HMP Huntercombe received high quality legal advice from the solicitors at Turpin & Miller LLP, drawing on BIHR students during case preparation. Building on this initial programme, the BIHR and Turpin & Miller LLP have also begun a programme to provide remote advice to women foreign nationals in prisons across England and Wales.

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The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Trustee’s Report

Challenges and the Charity’s approach

The operating context for ABCT partners has become increasingly challenging. Examples include the harshening hostile environment, restrictions on protest, increased cost of living – compounded by legislation that significantly undermines protections for marginalised and excluded groups in the UK, while weakening mechanisms for the Government to be held to account. This has led to soaring demand, increased complexity, and burnout for people working at the front line. In this context, the Charity looked for opportunities to support work actively seeking to change the status quo (through approaches including policy influencing, advocacy and campaigning, community organising, and narrative change work) – alongside supporting organisations to meet immediate pressing needs.

The Charity is committed to learning and improving. The team continued to strengthen relationships with partners and funders in its priority areas, many of whom are deeply concerned about the unprecedented level of threat to the human rights framework in the UK. These challenges require funders to step up and work better and differently with organisations in the field, to bring in other players, and use collective intelligence to help build momentum for change over the long term.

The Charity’s work

During the year the Charity distributed £6,351,400 to 213 organisations through 224 grants.

Details of all grants made can be found at https://abcharitabletrust.org.uk/grantholders/grants-awarded. The paragraphs below on each of the Charity’s priorities illustrate, in a broad-brush way, the work supported through grants made during the year.

The human rights framework

Through its open programme, the Charity funded work to promote and defend human rights (the British Institute for Human Rights, the Human Rights Consortium Northern Ireland, the Human Rights Consortium Scotland, JustFair); as well as approaches working for change across the Charity’s priorities, including work to shift narratives (Heard, Equally Ours) and community organising for young changemakers (the Advocacy Academy).

Special initiatives included:

Human Rights Fund for Scotland – having passed legislation to incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Scottish Government has committed to introducing legislation to incorporate four more UN treaties. The Fund aims to enhance the chance of new legislation having real impact, by providing targeted support for human rights organisations, offering connections, space, flexibility and longevity for individuals and organisations to tackle human rights challenges in Scotland. A key aim is wider impact across UK nations and internationally through learning and engagement.

Anchor grants included:

The Civil Liberties Trust (Liberty) – challenges injustice, defends freedom, and campaigns to make sure everyone in the UK is treated fairly. As the leading UK domestic human rights organisation, Liberty combines public campaigning, test case litigation, parliamentary work, policy analysis and provision of free advice and information to further its aims and bring about systemic change.

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Access to justice

Through its open programme, the Charity funded the provision of specialist legal advice services, often combined with policy influencing work, through specialist legal advice organisations working at the intersections of marginalisation and exclusion (including Centre for Women’s Justice, Friends Families and Travellers, Maternity Action, as well as 18 Law Centres across the country).

Special initiatives included:

Child Rights and Youth Justice – aims to reduce unnecessary criminalisation and incarceration of children in England and Wales. They provide specialist support to fill gaps in youth justice practice among lawyers and the judiciary, and advocate for the better protection of children’s rights.

Justice First Fellowships – through The Legal Education Foundation, the Charity continued to contribute to the Justice First Fellowship (JFF) scheme. JFF supports the next generation of social justice lawyers, helping to fill the gap in provision of social welfare law, which is of fundamental importance to realising the rights and entitlements of the most marginalised and excluded groups in the UK who cannot afford a lawyer. The JFF scheme benefited front line organisations working across the Charity’s priorities.

Anchor grants included:

Public Interest Law Centre – PILC tackles systemic injustice through the use of public law, in collaboration with grassroots communities and movements. They work to hold public bodies to account, and to address the gap between communities engulfed in day-to-day work, and lawyers often far removed from communities experiencing harm.

The criminal legal system and penal reform

Through its open programme, the Charity funded work including support for organisations working at the intersections of marginalisation and exclusion (Birth Companions, Circles Southeast, Lucy Faithful Foundation), asset-based work that promotes dignity (Creative Change Collective, Synergy Theatre Project); and influencing work (Centre for Justice Innovation, Peer Power Youth, Revolving Doors, Transform Justice).

Special initiatives included:

Harm to Healing Coalition – the report (available: harmtohealing.uk) by Patrick Williams and Temi Mwale commissioned by the Charity to map small specialist grassroots organisations led by and working with racialised communities impacted by the criminal legal system, was launched at Conway Hall in November. The researchers ensured the groups most impacted by harms from the system were at the centre of the research, and a workshop was held in May for groups to review initial findings. The report highlighted the many government commissioned reports on this subject over decades, and the fact that little has changed. It sets out the vision of the Harm to Healing Coalition and elevates the valuable role of historically underfunded specialist grassroots organisations that bear the brunt of harms in coming up with solutions. A key aim is to shift philanthropic funding in this space.

Commons Law CIC – delivers criminal defence legal advice to individuals under legal aid, alongside offering individuals the opportunity to work with their crisis navigator, who has experience of supporting people with varied and complex needs to access their rights.

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The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Trustee’s Report

Anchor grants included:

The Criminal Justice Alliance – a network of 200+ organisational and academic members working towards a fair and effective system. Their members work across the piece – from prevention, policing, courts, prisons, probation and victims’ services. They facilitate working groups to coordinate and work towards policy and practical change.

Migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum

Through its open programme, the Charity funded work including support for organisations working at the intersections of marginalisation and exclusion (Project Mama, Human Trafficking Foundation, Safety4Sisters North West); asset based work that promotes dignity (Active Horizons, City of Sanctuary UK, Shpresa Programme); using the law as a tool for change (Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit, Kalayaan); and influencing work (Asylum Matters, Doctors of the World, People & Planet).

Special initiatives included:

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) Partnership – aims to build collaborative infrastructure so organisations, individuals, and groups can work together and campaign for the end of the NRPF condition attached to work, study, and family visas, that denies people access to most of the welfare safety net.

Palestine Response Partnership Project – established by Islington Law Centre, Migrant’s Law Project and Safe Passage International to explore and provide legal solutions to assist people from Gaza who want to reunite with family members in the UK.

Anchor grants included:

Migrants Organise - works with refugees, people seeking asylum, migrants, and supporters, to organise in solidarity for dignity, justice, and welcome. They combine practical holistic support for individuals with advocacy, campaigning, community organising to create a movement with power and influence to bring about policy change.

Small grants through delegated authority to the Director

The team took opportunities to make small grants in pursuit of ABCT’s mission where this could add value, responding in a flexible and responsive way to specific needs as they arose. Often enhancing ABCT’s core funding to partner organisations, small grants were made for a range of purposes including workshops and training, governance support, bridging salary and or budget gaps, organisational development, and contributing to scoping and research reports.

Grant making programmes

The grant amount for the year was £6,351,400, distributed to 213 organisations through 224 grants.

£3,428,200 was for the open programme, £2,050,200 for special initiatives, and £873,000 for anchor organisations.

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The 224 grants comprised 121 new grants and 103 renewals of multiyear grants made in previous years. Of the 121 new grants, 70 (58%) were new multiyear grants, and 51 (42%) were single year grants. Multiyear grants are subject to annual review and are formally committed on an annual basis.

174 of the 224 grants (78%) were unrestricted, totalling £4,543,700.

404 applications were made to the open programme, of which 20% were successful.

81 new grants were made through the open programme, with an average value of £23,209.

Type Migrants Migrants Criminal Legal Criminal Legal Access to Access to Human Human Total Total Total
& Refugees System Justice Rights
No. of Total No. of Total No. of Total No. of Total No. of Total
grants Awarded grants Awarded grants Awarded grants Awarded grants Awarded
Open programme - new 44 £1,028,000 17 £365,000 13 13
£327,000		 £327,000 7 £160,000 81 £1,880,000
Multi-year renewals 32 £706,500 19 £409,200 17 17
£390,500		 £390,500 2 £42,000 70 £1,548,200
Special initiatives - new 16 £356,000 14 £283,700 4 4
£410,000		 £410,000 3 £105,000 37 £1,154,700
Multi-year renewals 8 £340,500 4 £107,000 5 5
£327,000		 £327,000 3 £121,000 20 £895,500
Anchor - new - £ - - £ - 3 3
£195,000		 £195,000 - £ - 3 £195,000
Multi-year renewals 6 £319,000 4 £194,000 1 1
£55,000		 £55,000 2 £110,000 13 £678,000
Total 106 £2,750,000 58 £1,358.900 43 43
£1,704,500		 £1,704,500 17 £538,000 224 £6,351,400
Other* £291,652
Overall Total £6,643,052

*As well as grants made through the Charity’s grant making programmes, the Trust made five other grants totalling £291,652, on behalf of the Bonavero family, for: the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights; Friends of Ibba Girls School, South Sudan; Humanists UK; Mansfield College’s Sanctuary of Arts project; and the Nuffield Council on Bioethics.

Internal

Continuous improvement

Building on the 2022/23 strategy review, the Charity continued to refine its processes around decision making. Consulting with partners and funders, a review of the anchor programme took place, which now aims to support specialist infrastructure organisations indispensable to their sector within the Charity’s four priorities. A review of grant endings looked at best practice in giving the earliest possible indication to partners in advance of funding relationships come to an end. As the key vehicle for communication, a revamp of the Charity’s website is underway, informed by the aim of being as clear and transparent as possible about ABCT priorities, in order to minimise the burden on those applying for funding.

Learning visits and events

A combination of Zoom and in person visits by Board members and the team took place. Visits are a key mechanism for organisational learning, building relationships with partners, and gaining greater understanding of their work. 28 visits took place during the year.

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The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Trustee’s Report

Representatives from the Charity attended two learning exchanges in New York: the first in October on community organising, and the second in March on the Justice First Fellowship programme. A learning visit with frontline organisations in Northern Ireland took place in January, at the invitation of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

The event to launch the Harm to Healing research report in November 2023 was attended by all the Charity’s board members, alongside circa 100 partners, funders, and other stakeholders.

Team

The Head of Programmes Rebecca Green returned from maternity leave in October. Emma Clarke went on maternity leave in December, and Havva Hassan went on maternity leave in February. Hannah Khatib was recruited as Grants Administrator cover, and Jessica Kimche was recruited as Grants Manager cover. Muna Barkhadle, former 2027 Associate in October 2022, was confirmed as Grants and Team Associate.

Public benefit

The Charity’s aims were carried out for the public benefit. This was achieved through giving 224 grants to 217 organisations working to improve the lives of marginalised and excluded groups. The Charity continued to demonstrate its commitment to funding unpopular causes.

Financial review

The Charity is reliant on income from the Bonavero family and Gift Aid. In the year under review income increased from £6,425,352 to £7,495,299. Discretionary grants and donations of £6,643,052 (2023 - £5,717,842) were made by the Charity.

Investment powers and reserves policies

The Charity aims to spend the majority of its funds in the short term whilst maintaining a prudent level of reserves to cover working capital and any emergency grants which may be required. Where excess funds are held by the Charity these are invested in bank deposits, on a prudent basis, in line with prevailing market rates.

Plans for the future

The increasingly challenging context across the Charity’s four priorities calls for a sharper focus on catalysing change. Working closely with others who share the Charity’s goals remains critical – to gain perspective, benefit from collective intelligence, and help ensure resources are optimally targeted. Collaborations are a key vehicle, as is intentionally seeking out organisations and initiatives working to shift the dial.

The future has perhaps never been more unpredictable. What is clear though, are the strains on frontline organisations working in fields that are oversubscribed and under-resourced; the very real challenges of burn out; and that people already at the sharp end of inequalities are the worst affected. The need to support the most marginalised and excluded groups and work with them for social change has never been more urgent.

Statement of Trustee responsibilities

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The Trustee is responsible for preparing the Trustee Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustee to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the Charity for that year.

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustee is required to:

The Trustee is responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable it to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. It is 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.

This report was approved by the Trustee and signed on its behalf by.

Philippe Bonavero

Director of ABCT Trustee Limited 24 September 2024

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THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

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Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustee of The A B Charitable Trust

JB CHARITABLETRUST

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The A B Charitable Trust (the “Charity”) for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. 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 financial statements:

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 financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements 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 financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustee’s use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements 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 financial statements are authorised for issue.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The Trustee is responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine

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The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustee of The A B Charitable Trust

whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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 (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of the Trustee

As explained more fully in the statement of Trustee responsibilities, the Trustee is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustee determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustee is 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 Trustee either intend to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements 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 financial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

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 of

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

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:

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

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 directors 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.

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The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustee of The A B Charitable Trust

Other matters

Your attention is drawn to the fact that the Charity has prepared financial statements 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 UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (as amended) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1[st] April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has now been withdrawn.

This has been done in order for the financial statements to provide a true and fair view in accordance with current Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the Charity’s trustee, as a body, in accordance with part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charity's trustee 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 trustee as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Richard Wilch FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of Cottons Accountants LLP

Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor

The Stables Church Walk Daventry Northamptonshire NN11 4BL

Cottons Accountants LLP is eligible for appointment as auditor of the Charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

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THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024

03

Financial Statements

The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Financial Statements

Statement of financial activities

Note ―――― 2024 ― ―――
―――― 2023 ―		 ―――
Restricted
Funds
£
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Total
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Total
Funds
£
Income and Expenditure
Income
Income from generated funds
Gift Aid and other contributions
3
Tax recoverable on Gift Aid
contributions
Investment income
4
Total income
Expenditure
Charitable activities
Grants
15
Grant related support costs
5
Cost of grant-making
Governance costs
6
Total expenditure
Net surplus/(deficit) for the year
Reconciliation of funds
Fund balances at beginning of year
Fund Balances at end of year		 233,322
7,120,972
58,330
30,243
-
52,432
7,354,294
258,322
6,076,303

88,573
64,580
19,076

52,432
-
7,071

6,334,625

83,656

7,071
291,652
7,203,647
291,652
6,351,400
-
579,185
7,495,299
322,902
6,102,450

6,643,052
346,312
5,371,530

579,185
-
397,234
6,425,352

5,717,842

397,234
291,652
6,930,585
-
8,530
7,222,237
346,312
5,768,764

8,530
-
43,494
6,115,076

43,494
291,652
6,939,115
7,230,767
346,312
5,812,258
6,158,570
-
264,532
264,532
(23,410)
290,192
266,782
191,653
1,466,655
191,653
1,731,187
1,658,308
215,063
1,176,463

1,922,840
191,653
1,466,655

1,391,526

1,658,308

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 21 to 34 form part of these financial statements.

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Balance sheet

Note ―― 30-Apr-2024 ―― ―― 30-Apr-2024 ―― ―― 30-Apr-2023 ―― ―― 30-Apr-2023 ――
£ £ £ £
Current assets
Debtors and prepayments 10 3,443 27,686
Cash and cash equivalents 3,207,372 2,947,865
Total current assets 3,210,815 2,975,551
Creditors: amounts falling due within 11 (1,287,975) (1,317,243)
one year
Net assets 1,922,840 1,658,308
Income funds
Restricted funds 12 191,653 191,653
Unrestricted funds 1,731,187 1,466,655
Total capital and reserves 1,922,840 1,658,308

The accounts were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustee of The A B Charitable Trust (registered charity number 1000147) and signed on its behalf by:

Philippe Bonavero

Director of ABCT Trustee Limited 24 September 2024

The notes on pages 21 to 34 form part of these financial statements.

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The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Financial Statements

Statement of cash flows

2024
2023
£
£
Surplus for the year
Adjustments for:
Investment income received
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Cash generated from charitable activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Investments income received
Cash generated from investing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		 264,532
266,782
(52,432)
(7,071)
24,243
(25,381)
(29,268)
516,978
207,075
751,308
52,432
7,071
52,432
7,071
259,507
758,379
2,947,865
2,189,486
3,207,372
2,947,865

The notes on pages 21 to 34 form part of these financial statements.

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JB TRUSTCHARITABLE

Notes to the financial statements

1. Accounting Policies

Charity information

The A B Charitable Trust is an unincorporated trust, constituted under a Trust Deed dated 30[th] March 1990.

(a) Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charity's Trust Deed, the Charities Act 2011, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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 UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1[st] January 2019). The Charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn.

The financial statements are prepared in pound sterling (“£”), which is the functional currency of the Charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

(b) Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustee has a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustee continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

(c) Charitable funds

The Charity has a single permanent fund which was wholly unrestricted as at the year end. The terms of the trust deed allow the income to be accumulated and the capital to be spent if the Trustee so determines.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor or trust deed.

Unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the Trustee is free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objectives. Unrestricted funds include designated funds where the Trustee, at its discretion, wishes to create a fund for a specific purpose.

21

The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Financial Statements

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

1. Accounting Policies (continued)

(d) Income

All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.

Donations are recognised once received. 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.

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.

(e) Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses including support costs and governance costs are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings.

Grants payable are payments made to third parties in the furtherance of the charitable objectives of the Charity. In the case of an unconditional grant offer this is accrued once the recipient has been notified of the grant award. The notification gives the recipient a reasonable expectation that they will receive the

one-year or multi-year grant. Grant awards that are subject to the recipient fulfilling performance conditions are only accrued when the recipient has been notified of the grant and any remaining unfulfilled condition attached to that grant is outside the control of the Charity.

(f) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

The Charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the Charity's balance sheet when the Charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

22

JB CHARITABLETRUST

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

1. Accounting Policies (continued)

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

ii) Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

iii) Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the Charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

(h) Governance costs

Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the Charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. The costs include costs related to the statutory audit fees together with other overhead costs.

(i) Irrecoverable VAT

Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it was incurred.

2. Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the Charity’s accounting policies, the Trustee is required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both.

23

The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Financial Statements

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

3. Donations

―――― 2024 ――
Restricted
Funds
£
Unrestricted
Funds
£		 ――
―――― 2023 ――
Total
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Unrestricted
Funds
£		 ――
Total
Funds
£
Gift Aid and other
contributions
Tax recoverable on Gift Aid
contributions
Total		 233,322
7,120,972
58,330
30,243
7,354,294
258,322
6,076,303

88,573
64,580
19,076
6,334,625

83,656
291,652
7,151,215		 7,442,867
322,902
6,095,379		 6,418,281

4. Investment income

2024 2023
£ £
Interest receivable 52,432 7,071

5. Grant related support costs

2024
£
2023
£
External activities and engagement
Staff costs
Other overheads
Total		 85,223
13,600
432,586
350,690
61,376
32,944
579,185
397,234

6. Governance costs

2024
£
2023
£
Auditors’ remuneration
Professional fees
Total		 3,600
4,000
4,930
39,494
8,530
43,494

24

JB CHARITABLETRUST

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

7. Trustee

No Trustee (or any persons connected with it) received any remuneration or benefits from the Charity during the year. During the year, the charity reimbursed one Trustee expenses totalling £606.31 (2023 - £nil). These expenses were in relation to reimbursed travelling costs.

8. Employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was 7 (2023 - 6).

Employment costs

2024 2023
£ £
Wages and salaries 374,121 302,187
Social security costs 37,750 30,803
Pension costs 20,715 17,699
Total 432,586 350,689

The number of employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000 is as follows:

2024 2023
£90,000 to £100,000 - 1
£100,000 to £110,000 1 -

9. Retirement benefit schemes

Defined contribution schemes

The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Charity in an independently administered fund.

The charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes was £20,715 (2023 - £17,699). The amount owed to the pension scheme at the year-end was £2,017 (2023 - £1,109).

10. Debtors

2024 2023
£ £
Prepayments and accrued income 3,443 5,686
Other debtors - 22,000
Total 3,443 27,686

25

The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Financial Statements

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

11. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

2024
£
2023
£
Trade creditors
Grants payable and other creditors
Accruals and deferred income
Other taxation and social security
Total		 1,861
6,266
1,274,465
1,301,609
3,000
3,000
8,649
6,368
1,287,975
1,317,243

12. Restricted funds

The income funds of the Charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:

2024
£
2023
£
Balance at 1stMay
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Balance at 30th April		 191,653
215,063
291,652
322,902
(291,652)
(346,312)
191,653
191,653

The restricted funds relate to amounts that have been donated by Anne and Yves Bonavero in the expectation that certain funding applications aiming at defending and promoting human dignity and/or access to justice through participative democracy would be received by the Charity.

13. Analysis of net assets between funds

Fund balances at 30[th] April 2024 are represented by:

――― 2024 ――
Restricted
Funds
£
Unrestricted
Funds
£		 ―
――― 2023 ――
Total
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Unrestricted
Funds
£		 ―
Total
Funds
£

1,658,308
Current assets/(liabilities)
191,653
1,731,187
1,922,840
191,653
1,466,655

26

JB CHARITABLETRUST

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

14. Auditor's limitation liability agreement

Upon appointment of Cottons Accountants LLP as auditors, the Charity entered into a liability limitation agreement with the auditors and this was approved on 24 September 2024. Liability is limited to £120,000. The effect of the liability limitation agreement is to limit the auditor's liability to less than such amount as is fair and reasonable.

The agreement limits the liability owed to the Charity by the auditors in respect of any negligence, default or breach of duty, or breach of trust, occurring in the course of the audit of the accounts for the year ending 30 April 2024.

The agreement does not limit liability for any instance of fraud or dishonesty on behalf of the auditor or any other liability that cannot be excluded or restricted by applicable laws or regulations.

27

The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Financial Statements

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

15. Grants allocated in year

― Amount Awarded ― ― Amount Awarded ―
£ £
Migrants and refugees
Abigail Housing 22,000
Action for Race Equality (ARE) 100,000
Action for Refugees in Lewisham 16,500
Active Horizons 20,000
AFRUCA - Safeguarding Children 20,000
Aid Box Community 22,000
Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit ATLEU 30,000
Asha North Staffordshire 22,000
Asylos 22,000
Asylum Justice 25,000
Asylum Link Merseyside (ALM) 25,000
Asylum Matters 20,000
Asylum Support Appeals Project 44,000
Babylon Migrants Project 3,000
Bail For Immigration Detainees 30,000
Baobab Centre for Young Survivors in Exile 20,000
Belong Nottingham 25,000
Bristol Refugee Rights 25,000
British Red Cross 27,500
Care Rights Project 10,000
Centre for Progressive Change 25,000
Citizens UK 30,000
City of Sanctuary Sheffield 22,000
City of Sanctuary UK 30,000
Compass Collective 20,000
Counterpoints Arts 16,500
Da'aro Youth Project 20,000
Detention Action 22,000
Doctors of the World UK 30,000
East European Resource Centre 30,000
ECPAT UK 25,000
Ella's Home 22,000
Entraide (Mutual Aid) 10,000
Europia 22,000
Carried forward 853,500 -

28

JB CHARITABLETRUST

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

15 Grants allocated in year (continued)

― Amount Awarded ― ― Amount Awarded ―
£ £
Brought forward 853,500 -
Flourish NI 15,000
Focus on Labour Exploitation 20,000
Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group 22,000
Global Dialogue 155,000
Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit 40,000
Hackney Migrant Centre 30,000
Happy Baby Community 20,000
Hear Me Out 25,000
Helen Bamber Foundation 55,000
Hope at Home 20,000
Hope Projects 22,000
IMIX 22,000
Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organisation (IRMO) 25,000
Islington Law Centre 22,000
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants 55,000
Kalayaan 20,000
Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) 44,000
Latin American Women?s Rights Service 22,000
Lewisham Refugee & Migrant Network 22,000
Manuel Bravo Project 25,000
Medical Justice 25,000
Migrant Centre NI 22,000
Migrant Democracy Project 15,000
Migrants in Culture 15,000
Migrants Organise 55,000
New Europeans UK 20,000
Notre Dame Refugee Centre 20,000
Nottingham Arimathea Trust 22,000
Oasis 25,000
Our Second Home 20,000
Paiwand 22,000
Paul Hamlyn Foundation 3,000
People & Planet Student Activities Ltd 20,000
Peterborough Asylum and Refugee Community Association (PARCA) 22,000
Carried forward 1,840,500 -

29

The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Financial Statements

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

15 Grants allocated in year (continued)

― Amount Awarded ―
£
£
Brought forward
POMOC
Positive Action in Housing
Project 17
Project MAMA
Rainbow Migration
Refugee Action
Refugee Action Kingston
Refugee Education UK
Refugee Legal Support
Refugee Resource
Refugee Support Devon
Right to Remain
Room to Heal
Safe Passage International
Safety4Sisters North West
Scottish Refugee Council
Settled
Shpresa Programme
Sister Circle
Slough Refugee Support
Solace Surviving Exile and Persecution
Tamil Welfare Association (Newham) UK
The Boaz Trust
The Human Trafficking Foundation
The Hummingbird Refugee Project
The No Accommodation Network (NACCOM)
The RAMP Project
The Snowdrop Project
Voices in Exile
We Belong
Welsh Refugee Council (WRC)
Work Rights Centre
Young Roots
Total migrants and refugees
Carried forward		 1,840,500
-
20,000
20,000
27,500
20,000
22,000
55,000
25,000
27,500
35,000
20,000
20,000
22,000
15,000
72,000
25,000
33,000
30,000
20,000
25,000
20,000
30,000
22,000
22,000
25,000
20,000
55,000
33,000
22,000
27,500
30,000
25,000
22,000
22,000
2,750,000
-
2,750,000

30

JB CHARITABLETRUST

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

15 Grants allocated in year (continued)

― Amount Awarded ― ― Amount Awarded ―
£ £
Brought forward - -
2,750,000
Criminal legal system
abandofbrothers 25,000 25,000
Action for Race Equality (ARE) 27,500 27,500
Agenda Alliance 25,000 25,000
Beating Time 20,000 20,000
Belong: Making Justice Happen 18,700 18,700
Birth Companions 20,000 20,000
Carney's Community 25,000 25,000
Changing Tunes 22,000 22,000
Child Rights and Youth Justice C.I.C. 15,000 15,000
Circles South East 30,000 30,000
Circles South West 27,500 27,500
Circles UK 40,000 40,000
Clean Break 16,500 16,500
Clinks 55,000 55,000
Commons Law CIC 25,000 25,000
CREATIVE CHANGE COLLECTIVE 20,000 20,000
Criminal Justice Alliance 55,000 55,000
Families Outside 30,000 30,000
Himaya Haven Community Interest Company 20,000 20,000
Inner City Life 15,000 15,000
INQUEST Charitable Trust 8,800 8,800
Just for Kids Law 30,000 30,000
Khulisa 20,000 20,000
Lucy Faithfull Foundation Scotland, part of The Lucy Faithfull Foundation 22,000 22,000
Making It Out 15,000 15,000
Mary Magdalene CiC 15,000 15,000
Maslaha 25,000 25,000
Nacro 20,000 20,000
Not Beyond Redemption 10,000 10,000
Peer Power Youth 25,000 25,000
Prison Radio Association 22,000 22,000
Prison Reform Trust 44,000 44,000
Prisoners' Advice Service (PAS) 25,000 25,000
Carried forward 814,000 814,000
2,750,000

31

The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Financial Statements

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

15 Grants allocated in year (continued)

― Amount Awarded ―
£
£
Brought forward
Release
Revolving Doors Agency
RiseUp (Europe) CiC
Safer Living Foundation
Spark Inside
StandOut Programmes
StopWatch
Synergy Theatre Project
The 4Front Project
The Big House Theatre Company
The Centre for Justice Innovation UK
The Footprints Project
The Howard League for Penal Reform
The Irene Taylor Trust
The Turnaround Project
The Violence Intervention Project
The Wickers (Account Project)
Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Transform Justice
Treasures Foundation
Unlock
Why me?
Wipers Youth CIC
Working Chance
Zahid Mubarek Trust
Total criminal legal system
Access to justice
APPEAL (Centre for Criminal Appeals)
Bristol Law Centre
Central England Law Centre
Centre for Women's Justice
Children's Law Centre
Community Law Advice Network
Carried forward		 814,000
2,750,000
25,000
25,000
2,400
27,500
22,000
22,000
22,000
18,000
22,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
50,000
15,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
16,500
20,000
25,000
30,000
20,000
15,000
27,500
1,358,900
22,000
22,000
44,000
20,000
30,000
25,000
163,000
4,108,900

32

JB CHARITABLETRUST

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

15 Grants allocated in year (continued)

― Amount Awarded ― ― Amount Awarded ―
£ £
Brought forward 163,000 163,000
4,108,900
Community Law Service (Northampton and County) 20,000 20,000
Derbyshire Law Centre 22,000 22,000
Ealing Law Centre 22,000 22,000
Equality and Employment Law Centre 30,000 30,000
Friends, Families and Travellers 22,000 22,000
Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre 27,500 27,500
Harlow Advice Centre 20,000 20,000
Harrow Law Centre 22,000 22,000
Here for Good 30,000 30,000
Hillingdon Law Centre 25,000 25,000
Justice Collaborations 200,000 200,000
JustRight Scotland 44,000 44,000
Law Centre NI 25,000 25,000
Law Centres Network 120,000 120,000
Legal Aid Practitioners Group 55,000 55,000
Legal Education Foundation 300,000 300,000
Legal Services Agency Ltd. 27,000 27,000
Mary Ward Legal Centre 25,000 25,000
Maternity Action 30,000 30,000
Merseyside Law Centre 22,000 22,000
Norfolk Community Law Service 20,000 20,000
North East Law Centre 22,000 22,000
North Wales Law Centre Steering Group 45,000 45,000
Nucleus 25,000 25,000
Paddington Law Centre 20,000 20,000
Public Interest Law Centre 93,000 93,000
Public Law Project 70,000 70,000
South Wales Law Centre - t/a Speakeasy Law Centre 22,000 22,000
Southwark Law Centre 40,000 40,000
Suffolk Law Centre 22,000 22,000
The AIRE Centre 22,000 22,000
Working Families 30,000 30,000
Z2K (registered as Zacchaeus 2000 Trust) 22,000 22,000
Total access to justice 1,704,500
Carried forward - -
5,813.400

33

The A B Charitable Trust Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30[th] April 2024 Financial Statements

Notes to the financial statements (continued)

15 Grants allocated in year (continued)

― Amount Awarded ―
£
£
Brought forward
Human rights
Access to Justice Foundation
Committee on the Administration of Justice Ltd
Corra Foundation
Equally Ours
Greater Manchester Law Centre
Heard
HOPE not hate Charitable Trust
Human Rights Consortium
Human Rights Consortium Scotland
INQUEST Charitable Trust
Just Fair
Rights & Security International
The Advocacy Academy
The British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR)
The Civil Liberties Trust
The Public Interest Litigation Support Project
The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford
Total human rights
Total grants awarded (unrestricted funds)		 -
5,813,400
33,000
25,000
50,000
25,000
55,000
25,000
55,000
25,000
20,000
22,000
20,000
25,000
20,000
20,000
55,000
30,000
33,000
538,000
6,351,400

34