CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1003024
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation Financial Statements
5 April 2025
BSN ASSOCIATES LIMITED
Chartered accountants & statutory auditor 3B Swallowfield Courtyard Wolverhampton Road Oldbury West Midlands B69 2JG
Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Financial Statements
Year ended 5 April 2025
| Pages | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' annual report | 1 to 7 |
| Independent auditor's report to the members | 8 to 11 |
| Statement of financial activities | 12 |
| Statement of financial position | 13 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 14 to 25 |
Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Trustees' Annual Report
Year ended 5 April 2025
The trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2025.
Reference and administrative details
| Registered charity name | Polden Puckham Charitable | Foundation |
|---|---|---|
| Charity registration number | 1003024 | |
| Principal office | BM PPCF | |
| London | ||
| WC1N 3XX | ||
| The trustees | ||
| D Ball | ||
| S Fisher | ||
| J Gillett | ||
| S Pittam | ||
| A Seay | (Resigned 19 May 2024) | |
| C Forde | ||
| F M Duggan | ||
| Company secretary | Christine Oliver | |
| Auditor | BSN Associates Limited | |
| Chartered accountants & statutory auditor | ||
| 3B Swallowfield Courtyard | ||
| Wolverhampton Road | ||
| Oldbury | ||
| West Midlands | ||
| B69 2JG | ||
| Bankers | Triodos Bank NV | |
| Deanery Road | ||
| Bristol | ||
| BS1 5AS |
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Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
Structure, governance and management
Constitution and objects
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation (PPCF) is constituted under a trust deed dated 8 May 1991. The objects of the Foundation are to make grants for charitable purposes at the discretion of the trustees. A policy has been implemented that reflects the interests of the Settlors but has also evolved to meet new concerns.
Organisation
Meetings of the Trustees take place twice a year to discuss grant making, in spring and autumn. Two interim meetings also take place where other foundation business is discussed and progressed. The Trust Secretary C Oliver administers the Foundation on a day-to-day basis and is answerable to the Chair, D Ball.
Trustees
Dorothy Ball continued her term in the role of chair of trustees.
Objectives and activities
Grant-making policy
The Foundation provides funding to selected organisations working in the fields of peace and security and environmental sustainability, and the intersection between those two areas. In relation to the former, we support work that addresses the underlying causes of violent conflict and the development of ways to prevent and resolve conflict. In relation to the latter, we support work that addresses the pressures and conditions leading towards global environmental breakdown. Projects are generally funded from one to three years and information is requested on how projects are to be monitored and evaluated, with subsequent funding depending on satisfactory reporting in the previous year.
Our underlying approach
The Foundation aims to support projects that change values and attitudes within our main areas of focus that promote equality and social justice, and that develop radical alternatives to current economic and social structures. We give particular consideration to small pioneering organisations with a bold vision that reflects a strong values-base.
Exclusions
The Foundation does not generally give grants to organisations based outside the UK unless they are undertaking work that is of international focus and charitable in nature under UK law. Other exclusions include grants to individuals; travel and study bursaries (including overseas placements and expeditions); academic research; capital projects (e.g. building projects or purchase of nature reserves); community or local projects (except innovative projects for widespread application); international agencies, overseas appeals, conservation work, or very large organisations with turnover over more than £3 million, and appeals of a general nature.
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
Activities
During the year 33 grants were made, 6 less than the previous year. 16 of the grants related to peace and security or were cross cutting in nature, with 17 relating to environmental sustainability. The trustees met five times during the year for decision making meetings, three times for grant making and twice for decision making interim meetings. The secretary and trustees met all of the organisations currently funded and written records of these meetings were produced. The Foundation is a member of the following organisations; the Association of Charitable Foundations, the EDGE Funders Alliance, the Environmental Funders Network, the Resourcing Racial Justice collaboration and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change. We believe that membership of such organisations keeps us abreast of current thinking and new developments in the charitable trust sector and the areas of particular interest to the Foundation. The Governance and Procedures Handbook was updated and continues to be used as the authoritative internal document relating to our practice and procedures
Future strategy
Humanity teeters on the brink of a climate and biodiversity crisis, in an increasingly insecure world. Because of this emergency, we believe that the time is now to support the change that is so urgently needed. The trustees implemented the decision to devote all the resources of the foundation to our mission by 'spending down' our endowment over a time-limited period. Over the course of the year the trustees have continued to apply alternative methodology and strategy to our grant-making for this phase which began in Autumn 2021 and will continue through to 2028. We have made fewer, larger grants to empower the people and projects that we consider can make a crucial difference and help to achieve our shared vision: a just society based on a commitment to nonviolence and environmental sustainability. We continue to support work in our existing funding areas of Peace and Sustainable Security and Environmental Sustainability, with a particular focus on the intersection between the two, by:
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supporting alternative, creative thinking and radical solutions to address the problems we face, at scale and pace.
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supporting the movements holding power to account and that advocate and press for the necessary changes.
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bringing about policy and transformational system change to achieve a just society based on a commitment to nonviolence and environmental sustainability.
Public benefit statement
The trustees consider they have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
Public benefit
The Foundation works in the following ways to further its charitable purposes for the public benefit:
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We provide grants that support the work, growth and development of organisations engaged in peace-building in the UK and internationally.
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We provide grants that support the work, growth and development of organisations engaged in promoting environmental sustainability in the UK and internationally.
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Within these fields we seek to support new initiatives and small to medium sized organisations in particular, believing as we do that our limited funds are most likely to deliver maximum public benefit through these groups.
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Within our main areas of focus indicated above we seek particularly to support work that promotes gender equality, racial justice and corporate social responsibility - all causes that we believe are in the public interest.
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
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We support work on policy and attitude change in particular, because we believe that in doing so we will ultimately be more effective and provide greater public benefit.
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Whilst we no longer manage an endowment, we have historically sought to invest our resources responsibly in ways that either promoted our values and mission or at the very least did not contradict or undermine them. We invested in accordance with our mission and Quaker values in terms of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria, so avoided investments in industries and companies that we consider to work against the public benefit, such as alcohol, arms, oil, gas and other fossil fuels, mining, pornography, supermarkets, tobacco, nuclear energy generation, large banks, government bonds and gambling.
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We use ethical banks, thus seeking to avoid inadvertently financing companies that profit from public harm.
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We seek to run our internal systems efficiently and sustainably, in order to maximise our impact for public benefit and minimise harm.
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We believe that all grants made in the year have an educational function in pointing the way forward to create a fairer and more sustainable society.
Achievements, performance and financial review
Investment policy
In previous years, the Trustees took the decision to liquidate the Foundation's investments in order to ensure that sufficient resources are in place to meet the needs of our grant-making activities in the immediate and medium term, in accordance with our strategic spend down plan. The investment firm Rathbone Greenbank who managed the Foundation's investment portfolio undertook sales of the majority of our assets. The funds generated by these sales have been deposited into short term bonds so that they can be accessed as required. A very small proportion of our portfolio holdings remain and will be sold when the opportunity allows.
Risk management
The Trustees seek to spread investment risk where possible. Trustees are aware of the danger of the large investment holding in the private company C & J Clark Limited. As it is a private company the marketability of the shares is strictly limited. We continue to take any opportunities to diversify from time to time and will continue to do so. We believe that the stringent auditing process for the Foundation's accounts reduces the risks considerably of any financial mismanagement.
Reserves policy
Since the Foundation is not an operational one it does not need to have great continuous liquidity of reserves. The trustees consider that an appreciable amount of cash in the bank is appropriate given current market uncertainties in relation to the release of capital.
Funder Commitment on Climate Change
In November 2019, the Foundation became a signatory to the Funder Commitment on Climate Change (https://fundercommitmentclimatechange.org/). As a funder supporting work in the fields of peace and security and environmental sustainability, we have a long and abiding interest in addressing the climate crisis. We have committed to reporting our progress annually on the five goals below:
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
1. Educate and learn
We will make opportunities for our trustees, staff and stakeholders to learn more about the key causes and solutions of climate change.
Over the course of the year, trustees and the Trust Secretary have been provided with and taken up opportunities to learn more about the key causes and solutions of climate change, primarily though our membership of the Environmental Funders Network and other funder bodies, but also through opportunities provided by our grantees, some of whom are working at the cutting edge of climate change mitigation.
2. Commit resources
We will commit resources to accelerate work that addresses the causes and impacts of climate change. (If our governing document or other factors make it difficult to directly fund such work, we will find other ways to contribute, or consider how such barriers might be overcome).
As a funder of work in the field of environmental sustainability, we consider that all of our environmental and cross-cutting grants work in some way to address the causes and impacts of climate change. We also consider that as the negative impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises increase, this will result in increased instability and negative impacts for global peace and security. In light of these growing and interconnected crises and in recognition that this is a crucial decade for climate action, the trustees initiated the process of committing the entire resources of the trust to addressing these problems between now and 2028.
3. Integrate
Within all our existing programmes, priorities and processes, we will seek opportunities to contribute to a fair and lasting transition to a post carbon society, and to support adaptation to climate change impacts.
We seek to put the climate crisis and a just transition to a post carbon society at the heart of all of our decision-making.
4. Steward our investments for a post carbon future
Having made the decision to liquidate our portfolio and hold our assets in bonds and notice accounts to provide security in terms of the funds available for making grants there is now little opportunity to steward our investments for a post carbon future. Trustees have tried to select financial institutions that have relatively high ESG standards for the Foundation's notice accounts and fixed period bonds. These include Charity Bank, Nationwide Building Society and Skipton Building Society. The Foundation uses Triodos Bank for its current account.
5. Decarbonise our operations
We will take ambitious action to minimise the carbon footprint of our own operations.
As a small Foundation without a physical office and with a sole staff member working from their home, our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions are negligible. We do not currently calculate our Scope 3 emissions, however, our internal policies in relation to both upstream and downstream activities, aim to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce the carbon footprint of our work.
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
Financial review
Key statistics:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||
| Income | ||||
| Investment income and bank interest | 142,877 | 189,060 | ||
| Other Income | 61,250 | 1,000 | ||
| Expenditure | 3,509,308 | 3,288,461 | ||
| Key items: | ||||
| Support and governance costs | 87,645 | 81,767 | ||
| Grants | 3,421,663 | 3,206,694 | ||
| t breakdown: | ||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Total number of recipient organisations | 33 | 39 | ||
| Average amount per organisation | 103,687 | 84,390 | ||
| No. of | ||||
| No. of grants | 2025 | grants | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |||
| Peace and | ||||
| security/Cross-cutting | 17 | 1,747,194 | 17 | 1,599,382 |
| Environmental | ||||
| sustainability | 16 | 1,674,469 | 22 | 1,613,812 |
Grant breakdown:
There was an overall loss on the valuation of investments in the year of £106,843 compared to a loss in the prior year of £552,687. The loss resulted from a marked decline in the valuation of unlisted investments in Clarks.
There were no restricted funds at the year end. Unrestricted funds, including investments at market value, amounted to £4,743,350 (2024: £8,140,374) and designated funds amounted to £Nil (2024: £15,000).
Trustees' responsibilities statement
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' 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 charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each 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 period.
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP;
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make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are 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.
The trustees' annual report was approved on 8[th] November 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
doalag Bal
D Ball J Gillett Trustee Trustee
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Year ended 5 April 2025
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation (the 'charity') for the year ended 5 April 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, statement of financial position and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 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:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 5 April 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice;
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
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 trustees' 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.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
We would like to draw attention to the fact that the trustees have taken the decision to wind down the charity by 2028.
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Polden Puckham Charitable
Foundation (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
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 trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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the information given in the trustees' report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or
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adequate accounting records have not been kept; or
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the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the trustees' responsibilities statement, the trustees are 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 trustees determine 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 trustees are 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 trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Polden Puckham Charitable
Foundation (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
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.
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 irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
Irregularities that result from fraud might be inherently more difficult than irregularities that result from error, which gives risk to a risk of material misstatement. We are of the opinion that the planned audit approach, the documentation and interrogation of the entity's controls means that the audit procedures carried out were capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud. We have also reviewed financial statement disclosures and tested these to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations. We have audited the risk of management override of controls, including through testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, and evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business. We have also made enquiries of entity staff in compliance functions to identify any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and have reviewed correspondence with regulatory bodies as part of our audit procedures.
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
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Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
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Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control.
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Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the trustees.
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Conclude on the appropriateness of the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the charity to cease to continue as a going concern.
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Polden Puckham Charitable
Foundation (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
- Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity's members, as a body, in accordance with section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's members 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 members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
HannahGustice HM TEA
Hannah Justice FCA FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of BSN Associates Limited Chartered accountants & statutory auditor 3B Swallowfield Courtyard Wolverhampton Road Oldbury West Midlands B69 2JG 8[th] November 2025
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Statement of Financial Activities
Year ended 5 April 2025
| 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | ||||
| funds | Total funds | Total funds | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments | ||||
| Investment income | 4 | 142,877 | 142,877 | 189,060 |
| Other income | 5 | 61,250 | 61,250 | 1,000 |
───────── |
───────── |
───────── |
||
| Total income | 204,127 | 204,127 | 190,060 | |
═════════ |
═════════ |
═════════ |
||
| Expenditure | ||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 6,7 | 3,509,308 | 3,509,308 | 3,288,461 |
──────────── |
──────────── |
──────────── |
||
| Total expenditure | 3,509,308 | 3,509,308 | 3,288,461 | |
════════════ |
════════════ |
════════════ |
||
| Net losses on investments | 10 | 106,843 | 106,843 | 552,687 |
──────────── |
──────────── |
──────────── |
||
| Net expenditure and net movement in funds | (3,412,024) | (3,412,024) | (3,651,088) | |
════════════ |
════════════ |
════════════ |
||
| Reconciliation of funds | ||||
| Total funds brought forward | 8,155,374 | 8,155,374 | 11,806,462 | |
──────────── |
──────────── |
───────────── |
||
| Total funds carried forward | 4,743,350 | 4,743,350 | 8,155,374 | |
════════════ |
════════════ |
═════════════ |
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 15 to 26 form part of these financial statements.
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Statement of Financial Position
5 April 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | |
| Fixed assets | |||
| Tangible fixed assets | 15 | 2,331 | – |
| Investments | 16 | 653,858 | 790,701 |
| ───────── | ───────── | ||
| 656,189 | 790,701 | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 17 | 3,205 | 1,999 |
| Investments | 18 | 2,781,307 | 6,752,986 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 1,309,309 | 614,138 | |
| ──────────── | ──────────── | ||
| 4,093,821 | 7,369,123 | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 19 | 6,660 | 4,450 |
| ──────────── | ──────────── | ||
| Net current assets | 4,087,161 | 7,364,673 | |
| ──────────── | ──────────── | ||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 4,743,350 | 8,155,374 | |
| ──────────── | ──────────── | ||
| Net assets | 4,743,350 | 8,155,374 | |
| ════════════ | ════════════ | ||
| Funds of the charity | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 4,743,350 | 8,155,374 | |
| ──────────── | ──────────── | ||
| Total charity funds | 21 | 4,743,350 ════════════ |
8,155,374 ════════════ |
These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 8[th] November 2025, and are signed on behalf of the board by:
D Ball Trustee
J Gillett Trustee
The notes on pages 15 to 26 form part of these financial statements.
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements
Year ended 5 April 2025
1. General information
The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is BM PPCF, London, WC1N 3XX.
2. Statement of compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the 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) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.
3. Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
The entity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined in FRS102.
Going concern
The trustees do not consider there to be any material uncertainties about the Charity's ability to continue as a going concern, however it is the intention of the Charity to wind down by 2028.
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
No significant estimates or judgements have been made by management when preparing the financial statements. The policies followed are shown below.
Income tax
The charity is exempt from taxation.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes and objectives.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Incoming resources
All income is included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured.
Investment income is recognised when receivable and is shown gross to include income tax recovered and recoverable. Investment income comprises the returns on investments for the year and interest on cash balances.
Resources expended
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:
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expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of managing the charities investments.
-
expenditure on charitable activities includes grants payable to third parties in furtherance of the charity's objectives, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.
Tangible assets
Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.
Depreciation
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
Equipment - 25% straight line
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Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Investments
Investments in listed equities and other instruments are carried at fair value. Investments in equities and fixed interest securities traded in quoted public markets are valued at fair value which is equivalent to their market price. Holdings in common investment funds, unit trusts and open ended investment companies are at bid price.
Investments held in unlisted equities are measured at fair value based on the value provided by independent advisers to the companies concerned. The valuations used are those closest to the date of the year end. Where the fair value cannot be established then such investments are recorded at cost, and are subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
Current asset investments comprise funds held by investment managers that are waiting reinvestment or are to be used to meet investment management costs or other costs of the charity. Current asset investments also comprise interest bearing bonds.
All gains and losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise. Realised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their purchase value. Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the fair value at the year end and their carrying value. Realised and unrealised investment gains and losses are combined in the Statement of Financial Activities.
Financial instruments
A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs.
Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.
Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.
Where investments in shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, the investment is subsequently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in income and expenditure. All other such investments are subsequently measured at cost less impairment.
Other financial instruments, including derivatives, are initially recognised at fair value, unless payment for an asset is deferred beyond normal business terms or financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate, in which case the asset is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
Other financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in the statement of financial activities, with the exception of hedging instruments in a designated hedging relationship.
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Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Financial instruments (continued)
Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised under the appropriate heading in the statement of financial activities in which the initial gain was recognised.
For all equity instruments regardless of significance, and other financial assets that are individually significant, these are assessed individually for impairment. Other financial assets are either assessed individually or grouped on the basis of similar credit risk characteristics.
Any reversals of impairment are recognised immediately, to the extent that the reversal does not result in a carrying amount of the financial asset that exceeds what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised.
Defined contribution plans
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in which the related service is provided. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that the prepayment will lead to a reduction in future payments or a cash refund.
When contributions are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the end of the reporting date in which the employees render the related service, the liability is measured on a discounted present value basis. The unwinding of the discount is recognised as an expense in the period in which it arises.
4. Investment income
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income from UK listed investments | 1,800 | 1,800 | 13,315 | 13,315 |
| Interest on bank deposits | 141,077 | 141,077 | 175,745 | 175,745 |
───────── |
───────── |
───────── |
───────── |
|
| 142,877 | 142,877 | 189,060 | 189,060 | |
═════════ |
═════════ |
═════════ |
═════════ |
5. Other income
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Other income | 61,250 | 61,250 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
════════ |
════════ |
═══════ |
═══════ |
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Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
6. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Grant making | 3,421,663 | 3,421,663 | 3,206,694 | 3,206,694 |
| Support costs | 87,645 | 87,645 | 81,767 | 81,767 |
──────────── |
──────────── |
──────────── |
──────────── |
|
| 3,509,308 | 3,509,308 | 3,288,461 | 3,288,461 | |
════════════ |
════════════ |
════════════ |
════════════ |
7. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type
| Grant funding | Total funds | Total fund | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| of activities | Support costs | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Grant making | 3,421,663 | 77,996 | 3,499,659 | 3,282,341 |
| Governance costs | – | 9,649 | 9,649 | 6,120 |
──────────── |
──────── |
──────────── |
──────────── |
|
| 3,421,663 | 87,645 | 3,509,308 | 3,288,461 | |
════════════ |
════════ |
════════════ |
════════════ |
8. Analysis of support costs
Support costs can be analysed as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Staff costs | 47,643 | 45,193 |
| General office | 6,391 | 6,918 |
| Governance costs | 9,649 | 6,120 |
| Secretary's travel expenses | 2,493 | 2,004 |
| Subscriptions | 7,820 | 3,192 |
| Conferences, meetings and travel | 13,251 | 17,315 |
| Depreciation | 398 | 1,025 |
──────── |
──────── |
|
| 87,645 | 81,767 | |
════════ |
════════ |
|
| Governance costs can be analysed as follows: | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Audit fees | 7,166 | 5,615 |
| Legal and professional fees | 2,118 | 86 |
| Bank charges | 365 | 419 |
─────── |
─────── |
|
| 9,649 | 6,120 | |
═══════ |
═══════ |
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Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
| 9. | Analysis of grants | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Grants to institutions | |||
| Grants for environmental sustainability | 1,684,469 | 1,613,812 | |
| Grants for peace and security | 1,737,194 | 1,599,382 | |
──────────── |
──────────── |
||
| 3,421,663 | 3,213,194 | ||
──────────── |
──────────── |
||
| Total grants | 3,421,663 | 3,213,194 | |
════════════ |
════════════ |
||
| Grants can be analysed as follows: | |||
| 2025 | |||
| £ | |||
| CEE Bill | 145,000 | ||
| Centre for Sustainable Energy | 3,000 | ||
| Climate Emergency | 74,805 | ||
| Corporate Europe Observatory | 105,413 | ||
| Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland | 70,000 | ||
| Fingerprint Content | 150,000 | ||
| Future Economy Scotland | 157,500 | ||
| Global Justice Now | 90,000 | ||
| Gower Street | 2,000 | ||
| Impact Together | 125,000 | ||
| New Economy Organisers Network | 149,376 | ||
| Our House | 10,000 | ||
| Rewriting Earth | 100,000 | ||
| Stamp Out Poverty | 150,000 | ||
| Stop Burning Trees Coalition | 5,000 | ||
| Stop Ecocide | 189,875 | ||
| Uplift | 157,500 | ||
──────────── |
|||
| Total for Environmental Sustainability | 1,684,469 | ||
════════════ |
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Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
9. Analysis of grants (continued)
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| BASIC | 150,000 |
| Common Wealth | 125,000 |
| Compass | 103,000 |
| Debt Justice | 200,000 |
| ETC Group | 157,500 |
| Finance for Future | 25,000 |
| Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) | 125,000 |
| Green New Deal UK | 157,500 |
| Homerton College Cambridge | 25,000 |
| Peace Direct | 150,000 |
| Platform: London | 100,000 |
| Positive Money | 130,000 |
| Resourcing Racial Justice | 4,000 |
| The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants | 133,194 |
| Thirty Percy Foundation | 2,000 |
| World Basic Income | 150,000 |
──────────── |
|
| Total for Peace and Security/Cross-cutting | 1,737,194════════════ |
10. Net losses on investments
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Gains/(losses) on listed investments | 55,680 | 55,680 | (6,612) | (6,612) |
| Gains/(losses) on other investment | ||||
| assets | (162,523) | (162,523) | (546,075) | (546,075) |
───────── |
───────── |
───────── |
───────── |
|
(106,843)═════════ |
(106,843)═════════ |
(552,687)═════════ |
(552,687)═════════ |
11. Net expenditure
Net expenditure is stated after charging/(crediting):
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| £ | £ |
| 398 | 1,025 |
════ |
═══════ |
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Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
12. Auditors remuneration
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Fees payable to the charity's auditor and its associates for other services: | ||
| Audit-related assurance services | 6,095 | 3,405 |
| Other non-audit services | 948 | 2,205 |
─────── |
─────── |
|
| 7,043 | 5,610 | |
═══════ |
═══════ |
13. Staff costs
The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 41,798 | 39,652 |
| Employer contributions to pension plans | 5,845 | 5,541 |
──────── |
──────── |
|
| 47,643 | 45,193 | |
════════ |
════════ |
The average head count of employees during the year was 1 (2024: 1). The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year is analysed as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| No. | No. | |
| Number of full-time staff | 1 | 1 |
════ |
════ |
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: Nil).
14. Trustee remuneration and expenses
The Trustees give their time and expertise freely without any form of remuneration or other form of benefit (2024: £Nil). Trustees receive reimbursement of travelling and other expenses incurred by them in attending Trustee conferences and meetings. The number of Trustees reimbursed was 6 (2024: 6) and the total amount reimbursed was £1,200 (2024: £2,560).
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Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
15. Tangible fixed assets
| Equipment | |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| Cost | |
| At 6 April 2024 | 6,347 |
| Additions | 2,729 |
─────── |
|
| At 5 April 2025 | 9,076 |
═══════ |
|
| Depreciation | |
| At 6 April 2024 | 6,347 |
| Charge for the year | 398 |
─────── |
|
| At 5 April 2025 | 6,745 |
═══════ |
|
| Carrying amount | |
| At 5 April 2025 | 2,331 |
═══════ |
|
| At 5 April 2024 | –═══════ |
16. Investments
| Listed | Other | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| investments | investments | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Cost or valuation | |||
| At 6 April 2024 | 56,100 | 734,601 | 790,701 |
| Additions | – | – | – |
| Disposals | (30,000) | – | (30,000) |
| Fair value movements | 55,680 | (162,523) | (106,843) |
──────── |
───────── |
───────── |
|
| At 5 April 2025 | 81,780 | 572,078 | 653,858 |
════════ |
═════════ |
═════════ |
|
| Impairment | |||
| At 6 April 2024 and 5 April 2025 | – | – | |
═════════ |
═════════ |
||
| Carrying amount | |||
| At 5 April 2025 | 81,780 | 572,078 | 653,858 |
════════ |
═════════ |
═════════ |
|
| At 5 April 2024 | 56,100════════ |
734,601═════════ |
790,701═════════ |
All investments shown above are held at valuation.
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Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
16. Investments (continued)
Financial assets held at fair value
Investments can be analysed by category as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| UK fixed interest | – | 30,000 |
| UK listed equities and unit trusts | 81,780 | 26,100 |
| UK unlisted equities | 572,078 | 734,601 |
───────── |
──────────── |
|
| 653,858 | 1,092,141 | |
═════════ |
════════════ |
Listed Investments
Listed Investments are valued at fair value at the year end by the investment managers Rathbone Greenbank Investments.
Unlisted Investments
The shares in C & J Clark Limited have been valued at £0.88 per share based on the market value as of 25th June 2025.
Investments by organisation are listed below:
| Market | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Value | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Ethical Property Co | 40,467 | 81,780 | |
| Parry People Movers Ltd | 22,516 | – | |
──────── |
──────── |
||
| Total Listed Investments | 62,983 | 81,780 | |
════════ |
════════ |
||
| Market | |||
| Cost | Value | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| C & J Clark Limited £1 Ordinary Shares | 454,102 | 572,078 | |
═════════ |
═════════ |
||
| Market | |||
| Cost | Value | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Total Investments | 517,085 | 653,858 | |
═════════ |
═════════ |
||
| 17. | Debtors | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Prepayments and accrued income | 3,205 | 1,999 | |
═══════ |
═══════ |
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Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
18. Investments
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Other investments | 2,781,307 | 6,752,986 | |
════════════ |
════════════ |
||
| 19. | Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Accruals and deferred income | 6,660 | 4,450 | |
═══════ |
═══════ |
20. Pensions and other post retirement benefits
Defined contribution plans
The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £5,845 (2024: £5,541).
21. Analysis of charitable funds
Unrestricted funds
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At | Gains and | At | |||
| 6 April 2024 | Income | Expenditure | losses | 5 April 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 8,140,374 | 204,127 | (3,494,308) | (106,843) | 4,743,350 |
| Designated Fund | |||||
| Legacy | 15,000 | – | (15,000) | – | – |
──────────── |
───────── |
──────────── |
───────── |
──────────── |
|
| 8,155,374 | 204,127 | (3,509,308) | (106,843) | 4,743,350 | |
════════════ |
═════════ |
════════════ |
═════════ |
════════════ |
|
| At | Gains and | At | |||
| 6 April 2023 | Income | Expenditure | losses | 5 April 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 11,791,462 | 190,060 | (3,288,461) | (552,687) | 8,140,374 |
| Designated Fund | |||||
| Legacy | 15,000 | – | – | – | 15,000 |
───────────── |
───────── |
──────────── |
───────── |
──────────── |
|
| 11,806,462 | 190,060 | (3,288,461) | (552,687) | 8,155,374 | |
═════════════ |
═════════ |
════════════ |
═════════ |
════════════ |
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Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b
Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
22. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Designated | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Tangible fixed assets | - | 2,331 | 2,331 |
| Investments | - | 653,858 | 653,858 |
| Current assets | - | 4,093,821 | 4,093,821 |
| Creditors less than 1 year | - | (6,660) | (6,660) |
──────────── |
──────────── |
──────────── |
|
| Net assets | - | 4,743,350 | 4,743,350 |
════════════ |
════════════ |
════════════ |
|
| Designated | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Tangible fixed assets | - | – | – |
| Investments | - | 790,701 | 790,701 |
| Current assets | 15,000 | 7,354,123 | 7,369,123 |
| Creditors less than 1 year | - | (4,450) | (4,450) |
──────────── |
──────────── |
──────────── |
|
| Net assets | 15,000 | 8,140,374 | 8,155,374 |
════════════ |
════════════ |
════════════ |
23. Future commitments - grants
Grants awarded to organisations that are awarded for more than a one year period, only receive successive instalments if they can demonstrate the successful application of the project to date, and subsequent payment is still subject to the approval of the trustees. Therefore as these commitments are uncertain they are not provided for.
24. Related parties
During the year, a grant amounting to £25,000 was awarded to Homerton College Cambridge for the establishment of a Centre for Systemic Change, of which one of the trustees is a cofounder. The trustee was not involved in discussions or any decision-making relating to the matter.
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Doc ID: 151fe3def97d172744b0227544692a65d4e5612b