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2025-03-31-accounts

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1002470

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

FOR HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP Chartered Accountants 20 Eversley Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN40 1HE

HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

Page Report of the Trustees 1 to 3 Independent Examiner's Report 4 Statement of Financial Activities 5 Balance Sheet 6 Notes to the Financial Statements 7 to 15

HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims

The objects for which the Charity is established are:

a) The promotion of any charitable purposes for the benefit of the community in the area of Hastings Borough and Rother District and in particular the advancement of education, the protection of good health, both mental and physical, and the relief of poverty and sickness.

b) Other exclusively charitable purposes which are in the opinion of the Trustees beneficial to the community in the area of Hastings Borough and Rother District.

Working Name

The Charity's working name as agreed with the Charity Commission is "Relief".

Public benefit

The Trustees have considered their duty set out in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Commission, and in their opinion the foregoing report demonstrates that they have complied therewith.

Grantmaking

The Clerk to the Trustees under delegated powers makes grants within limits set down from time to time; but in addition the Trustees meet regularly to review all applications dealt with by the Clerk and consider all other applications received which fall outside those delegated powers. Where the Trust is acting as agent for other Grant Makings Charities, the Clerk also reports direct to their Trustees.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

The Trustees throughout the year continued to provide accommodation within the property to other local organisations and charities and also continued to provide an administration service to various grant making charities. In addition, following the transfer of Permanent Endowments from a number of small Charities previously administered by the Trust, the Trustees continued to make Grants in their own right out of income generated by these Endowment funds, in line with the Trust's objects.

The rental income relating to the provision of accommodation to other organisations showed an increase of approximately 11% over the previous year. Property costs (excluding Depreciation) amounted to £20,774 in the current year, which was £5,690 higher than the previous year. Most of this increase was due to electricity. Out of the Charity's own Endowment Funds and from Restricted monies administered on behalf of other Charities, grants distributed amounted to £53,172. This included 239 Individual Beneficiaries and monies towards costs of the 'Pantry". These latter funds are given to ETC Sussex.

Investment performance

The Trust's invested funds provided the required level of income and the Market Value of the Investments at the year end showed a unrealised loss of £46,470 which reversed part of the gain shown in last years accounts.

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

Total Income from all sources for the year was £89,496 (£66,805 in 2024) and total expenditure was £99,993 (£89,641 in 2024) which resulted in a deficit of £10,497 (£22,836 in 2024).

There was a loss in the market value of the investments of £46,470 (gain of £89,595 in 2024) so there was an overall deficit for the year of £56,967 (surplus of £66,759 in 2024).

The unrestricted funds, after allowing for transfers of administration fees, showed a surplus of £11,032 to give a balance carried forward of £13,642.

At the end of the year Restricted funds had a balance of £14,278.

Investment policy and objectives

The Charity has no restrictions with regard to investments, but has adopted a policy (with regard to the funds held as Permanent and Expendable Endowment) of long term investment, with low to medium risk, provided by way of a diversified well balanced spread of investments, designed to help with both growth and income requirements. To this end all monies have been invested in COIF Charities Funds.

Reserves policy

The Trust holds its unrestricted reserves in order to maintain the freehold property and cover outgoings relating to the property when there are significant voids.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document The Charity is controlled by its Declaration of Trust dated 12th June 1990 and constitutes an unincorporated charity.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The power of appointing new or additional Trustees is vested in the Trustees.

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.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Charity number 1002470

Principal address Bolton Tomson House 49 Cambridge Gardens HASTINGS East Sussex TN34 1EN

Trustees

P R Carcas Mrs R C Foster Mrs J] V Howe Miss H V Barraclough

Independent Examiner

Clare Corke FCCA Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP Chartered Accountants 20 Eversley Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN40 1HE

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Bankers

CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 43Q

Approved by orderof the board of trustees on 4th September 2025 arid signed on its behalf by:

P R Carcas - Trustee

:

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Hastings Area Community Trust

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Hastings Area Community Trust (the Trust) for the year ended 31st March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Clare Corke FCCA

Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP

Chartered Accountants 20 Eversley Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN40 1HE

5th September 2025

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
funds funds funds funds funds
Notes £ £ E £ £
INCOME AND
ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies 2 - 25,000 - 25,000 6,104
Charitable activities
Rents receivable 27,210 - - 27,210 24,463
Administration fees 4,000 - - 4,000 4,000
Investment income 3 959 ~ 32,327 33,286 32,238
Total 32,169 25,000 32,327 89,496 66,805
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities 4
Charitable activities 46,821 12,816 40,356 99,993 89,641
Net gains/(losses) on
investments - - (46,470) (46,470) 89,595
NET
INCOME/ (EXPENDITURE) (14,652) 12,184 (54,499) (56,967) 66,759
Transfers between funds 15 25,684 - (25,684) - -
Net movement in funds 11,032 12,184 (80,183) (56,967) 66,759
RECONCILIATION OF
FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 110,610 2,094 1,191,720 1,304,424 1,237,665
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED
FORWARD 121,642 14,278 1,111,537 1,247,457 1,304,424

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

All income and expenditure has arisen from continuing activities.

The notes form part of these financial statements

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

P R Carcas - Trustee .

BALANCE SHEET 31ST MARCH 2025

2025 2024
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
Total
funds
Total
funds
Notes £ £ £ £ £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 11 108,000 - - 108,000 112,000
Investments 12 = - 1,090,524 1,090,524 1,136,994
108,000 - 1,090,524 1,198,524 1,248,994
CURRENTASSETS
Debtors
Cash atbank
13 182
16,643
-
14,278
-
21,012
182
51,933
169
60, 386
16,825 14,278 21,012 52,115 60,555
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within
one year 14 (3,183) - i (3,182) (5,125)
NETCURRENTASSETS 13,642 14,278 21,013 48,933 55,430
TOTALASSETS LESS
CURRENTLIABILITIES 121,642 14,278 1,111,537 1,247,457 1,304,424
NETASSETS 121,642 14,278 1,111,537 1,247,457 1,304,424
FUNDS i5
Unrestricted funds 121,642 110,610
Restricted funds 14,278 2,094
Endowmentfunds 1,111,537 1,191,720
TOTALFUNDS 1,247,457 1,304,424

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 4th September 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

The notes form part of these financial statements

HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

  1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘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 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the ‘fistorical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

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 a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

Tangible fixed assets

The main building has been included at market value in March 2003. The building is in constant use in furtherance of the charity's objects and is properly maintained to the standards that ensure that its residual value is not less than its book value. It is depreciated over 50 years on a_ straight line basis.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Cash at bank

Cash at bank includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the opening of the deposit.

Debtors

Debtors are recognised at their recoverable amounts to which the trust is entitled.

Creditors

Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement value.

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
funds funds funds funds funds
E £ £ £ £
Donations
Grants
-
-
-
25,000
-
-
-
25,000
104
6,000
- 25,000 - 25,000 6,104
Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:
2025 2024
£ £
Sussex Housing Trust for the Elderly 10,000 6,000
Isabel Blackman Foundation 15,000 -
25,000 6,000

3. INVESTMENT INCOME

INVESTMENT INCOME
2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total
funds funds funds funds funds
£ £ £ £ £
Deposit account
interest 959 = - 959 898
Dividends received - - 32,327 32,327 31,340
959 - 32,327 33,286 32,238
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS
Grant
funding of
Direct activities Support
Costs (see (see note costs (see
note 5) 6) note 7) Totals
£ £ £ £
Charitableactivities 45,765 53,172 1,056 99,993

4, CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

5. DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
2025 2024
£ £
Staff costs 19,791 18,064
Electricity 15,162 9,646
Gas 325 369
Rates 172 177
Water 482 586
Insurance 1,465 1,353
Repairs 2,500 2,519
Cleaning services and materials 668 371
Printing, postage, telephone and stationery 1,090 1,017
General expenses 44 20
Bank charges 66 63
Depreciation 4,000 4,000
45,765 38,185
6. GRANTS PAYABLE
2025 2024
£ £
Charitable activities 53,172 50,244
The total grants paid to institutions during the year was as
follows:
2025 2024
£ £
Education Training Consortium Sussex - 763
The total grants paid to individuals during the year was as
follows:
2025 2024
£ £
Individuals 53,172 49,481
7. SUPPORT COSTS
Governance
costs
£
Charitableactivities 1,056

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

7x SUPPORT COSTS - continued

Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:

2025 2024
Charitable Total
activities activities
£ £
Independent examiners fees 516 684
Accountancy 540 528
1,056 1,212
  1. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31st March 2025 nor for the year ended 31st March 2024.

Trustees’ expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31st March 2025 nor for the year ended 31st March 2024.

  1. STAFF COSTS
9. STAFF COSTS
2025 2024
£ £
Wages and salaries 19,791 18,064
19,791 18,064
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
2025 2024
Staff 3 3
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
10. COMPARATIVES FORTHE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total
funds funds funds funds
£ £ £ £
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies 104 6,000 - 6,104
Charitable activities
Rents receivable 24,463 = 24,463
Administration fees 4,000 - - 4,000
Investment income 899 - 31,339 32,238
Total 29,466 6,000 31,339 66,805
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Charitable activities 39,397 15,699 34,545 89,641
Netgainsoninvestments 7 - 89,595 89,595

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

10. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total
funds funds funds funds
£ £ £ £
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (9,931) (9,699) 86,389 66,759
Transfers between funds 272 (272) - -
Net movement in funds (9,659) (9,971) 86,389 66,759
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 120,269 12,065 1,105,331 1,237,665
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 110,610 2,094 1,191,720 1,304,424
11. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Freehold
property
£
Cost
At 1st April 2024 and 31st March 2025 200,000
DEPRECIATION
At 1st April 2024 88,000
Charge for year 4,000
At 31st March 2025 92,000
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31st March 2025 108,000
At31stMarch2024 112,000

The freehold property, 48-49 Cambridge Gardens, Hastings, was valued in March 2003 by Estate Agents "Rush, Witt & Wilson".

  1. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS
FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS
Listed
investments
£
MARKET VALUE
At 1st April 2024 1,136,994
Revaluations (46,470)
At 31st March 2025 1,090,524
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31st March 2025 1,090,524
At31stMarch2024 1,136,994

The historical cost of the investments is £678,918.

There were no investment assets outside the UK.

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

13. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2025 2024
£ £
Other debtors 182 169
14. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2025 2024
£ £
Other creditors 3,182 5,125
15. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Net Transfers
movement between At
At 1/4/24 in funds funds 31/3/25
£ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund (1,390) (10,652) 25,684 13,642
Designated property reserve 112,000 (4,000) - 108,000
110,610 (14,652) 25,684 121,642
Restricted funds
The Isabel Blackman Foundation Fund 400 12,570 - 12,970
Sussex Housing Trust for the Elderly 696 (386) - 310
Orbit fund 195 - - 195
Baby Pantry 803 - - 803
2,094 12,184 - 14,278
Endowment funds
Permanent endowment 583,266 (27,175) - 556,091
Expendable endowment fund 35,749 (2,456) (22,594) 10,699
Hart expendable endowment fund 572,705 (24,868) (3,090) 544,747
1,191,720 (54,499) (25,684) 1,111,537
TOTALFUNDS 1,304,424 (56,967) - 1,247,457

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

15. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Gains and Movement
resources expended losses in funds
£ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 32,169 (42,821) - (10,652)
Designated property reserve - (4,000) - (4,000)
32,169 (46,821) - (14,652)
Restricted funds
The Isabel Blackman Foundation Fund 15,000 (2,430) - 12,570
Sussex Housing Trust for the Elderly 10,000 (10,386) - (386)
25,000 (12,816) - 12,184
Endowment funds
Permanent endowment
Expendable endowment fund
-
15,863
od
(18,319)
(27,175)
od
(27,175)
(2,456)
Hart expendable endowment fund 16,464 (22,037) (19,295) (24,868)
32,327 (40,356) (46,470) (54,499)
TOTAL FUNDS 89,496 (99,993) (46,470) (56,967)
Comparatives for movement in funds
Net Transfers
movement between At
At 1/4/23 in funds funds 31/3/24
£ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 4,269 (5,931) 272 (1,390)
Designated property reserve 116,000 (4,000) - 112,000
120,269 (9,931) 272 110,610
Restricted funds
The Isabel Blackman Foundation Fund 6,936 (7,073) 537 400
Sussex Housing Trust for the Elderly 3,368 (1,863) (809) 696
Orbit fund 195 - - 195
Baby Pantry 1,566 (763) - 803
12,065 (9,699) (272) 2,094
Endowment funds
Permanent endowment 534,853 48,413 - 583,266
Expendable endowment fund 34,027 1,722 - 35,749
Hart expendable endowment fund 536,451 36,254 - 572,705
1,105,331 86,389 - 1,191,720
TOTALFUNDS 1,237,665 66,759 - 1,304,424

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

15. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Gains and Movement
resources expended losses in funds
£ £ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 29,466 (35,397) - (5,931)
Designated property reserve ~ (4,000) - (4,000)
29,466 (39,397) - (9,931)
Restricted funds
The Isabel Blackman Foundation Fund - (7,073) - (7,073)
Sussex Housing Trust for the Elderly 6,000 (7,863) - (1,863)
Baby Pantry - (763) ~ (763)
6,000 (15,699) - (9,699)
Endowment funds
Permanent endowment - - 48,413 48,413
Expendable endowment fund 15,552 (13,830) - 1,722
Hart expendable endowment fund 15,787 (20,715) 41,182 36,254
31,339 (34,545) 89,595 86,389
TOTALFUNDS 66,805 (89,641) 89,595 66,759

Restricted funds

Regular grants are received from "The Isabel Blackman Foundation," and "Sussex Housing Trust for the Elderly" towards the housing and other needs of individuals, which Hastings Area Community Trust disperses to those in need.

Endowment funds

The Hart Fund

When the Trustees of the Hart Charitable Trust transferred a substantial part of its assets to this Charity in 2014/15 they indicated that they did not wish "to create any form of Trust over these monies"; but would like the funds to be "held as an expendable Endowment,with the capital sums being invested to produce income broadly similar to the income supplied to Relief by The Hart Charitable Trust in the past”.

The Trustees also asked that Relief should use the income generated within the spirit of the original objects of the Hart Charitable Trust, that is "for or towards the relief, either generally or individually, of persons resident in 'The Borough of Hastings and District of Rother’ who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress".

The Hart Trustees ended by saying that the expressed wishes (outlined above) "do not preclude the Trustees of Hastings Area Community Trust from applying either the whole or any part of the Capital for purposes similar to those set out for the use of income".

Transfers between funds

A transfer was made from the Hart expendable endowment fund to the General unrestricted fund cover the administration fees charged by the charity for dealing with the grant payments for the year.

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HASTINGS AREA COMMUNITY TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

15. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Transfers between funds - continued

A transfer was made from the Expendable endowment fund to the General unrestricted fund cover the administration fees charged by the charity for dealing with the grant payments made out of the fund during the year and also to transfer the administration fees which were outstanding from earlier years.

16. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 3ist March 2025.

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