THE WHITTLESEY CHARITY
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
For the year ended 31 December 2024
WHITINGS LLP CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS WISBECH, BURY ST. EDMUNDS, ELY, KINGS LYNN, MARCH, MILDENHALL, PETERBOROUGH, RAMSEY, ST IVES AND ST NEOTS
THE WHITTLESEY CHARITY
TRUSTEES REPORT
For the year ended 31 December 2024
The Whittlesey Charity, Town Hall, Market Street, Whittlesey, is registered with the Charity Commissioners (No. 1005069) and constituted by a Scheme dated 27 June 1990.
The Charity Trustees comprise:-
TRUSTEES: Claire Rayner ~ Chair Gary Cook - Finance Officer Philip Oldfield Robin Bailey Charles Kitchin Philip Green Sarah Brown Susan Bradshaw Chloe Smith
OBJECTS AND ACTIVITIES:
The objects of the Charity are to provide relief to persons in need and hardship, to promote educational support, support the local churches and also any charitable purpose for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit, being the Parishes of Whittlesey and district.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR:
During this reporting year the Charity and its Trustees have continued to ensure delivery of the business of the Charity including:
-
e contimumg to deal with various aspects of the Charity’s land estate: o the continuing registration of land holdings to protect the Charity land assets for the future. © maximising opportunities to attract and invest income: granting easements over Charity land; acquiring and disposing of land in accordance with its Charitable scheme dated 27 June 1990 and Charity Commission guidance; successfully defeating adverse possession claims for Charity land; and continuing to further enhance the Charity’s land portfolio for the future benefit of the Charity and its beneficiaries.
-
planned and ad hoc maintenance required to Charity land and assets, particularly the Town Hall and manorial droves and verges including instances of maintenance for landholders as a gesture of good will to the local community.
-
© continuing to seek advice as appropriate from the Charity’s professional land agents, solicitors and professional advisors for all land transactions and land management advice.
-
once again being able to make grants during the year of £38,206 to applicants within our area of benefit.
-
¢ continuing to deliver the Trustees’ programme of continuous improvement for the Charity to ensure resilience and appropriate ways of working for the benefit of the Charity and its future Trustees. During this year the current Trustees have:
-
invested further in IT to provide appropriate equipment to support current ways of working for the Charity and its Trustees.
-
© ensured the Charity’s compliance with GDPR requirements. © continued to evolve and embed the use of sub-committees for Estates management (including the management of the Town Hall), governance and finance and grants.
THE WHITTLESEY CHARITY
TRUSTEES REPORT (CONT’D)
For the year ended 31 December 2024
REVIEW OF THE YEAR (Cont'd):
-
© Invested resource and appointed a specialist contractor to develop a Charity website with associated online forms and information.
-
© continued to attract new Trustees as vacancies arise and to further develop the knowledge and skills of the current Trustees with information events and meetings. The Charity has focussed on recruiting Trustees with specific professional skillsets to enhance decisions in its key areas of finance and grant making and to further strengthen the Charity’s forward focus on reviewing and further evolving the Charity’s policies.
-
© continued to consider professional advice from specialist charity Accountants and Solicitors as they transition the Charity to CIO status.
The Charity’s move to CIO status has remained a focus of activity during this reporting year. Supported by its professional advisors the Charity continues to review and update its land assets, policies and procedures in readiness for this change to its status and the Charity’s appointed Solicitors continue to liaise with the Charity Commissioners ahead of submission ~ it is anticipated that a draft CIO constitution will be sent to the Charity Commission in early 2025 as part of the application to register the CIO to ensure that the Commission is satisfied that the CIO is being established for purposes recognised as charitable in law and that those purposes continue to benefit the public.
The Charity continues to be satisfied that the Trustees have carried out their responsibilities and obligations to the wide cross section of people and organisations within its area of benefit.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
A surplus, before grants paid, arose on general funds in the year of £49,523 (2023 £31,819).
Various grants were paid during 2024 of £38,206 (2023 £46,699).
A payment of £60,000 was made out of general funds into the Charity’s managed investment fund with CCLA.
General funds at 31 December 2024 amounted to £111,378 which the Trustees consider to be satisfactory in being able to sustain the charities requirements.
For and on behalf of the Trustees
CLAIRE RAYNER ©
CHAIR
GARY COOK -
FINANCE OFFICER
29 September 2025
THE WHITTLESEY CHARITY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
GENERAL FUNDS
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|For|the year|ended|31|December|2024|
|£|2024|£|£|2023|£|
|RECEIPTS:|
|Income|from|Investments:|
|Property|Income:|
|Charity|Land|Rents|84,132|61,387|
|Shooting|Rights|Payment|1,127|-|
|RSPB|rent|10|-|
|Hire|of Townhall|-|75|
|Compensation|950|4,050|
|Wayleaves|217|86,436|213|65,725|
|Bank|Interest|received|1,945|-|
|Dividends|-|Charity|Official|Investment|Fund|7,706|6,786|
|Other|Income:|
|Charity|Books|42|60|
|TOTAL RECEIPTS|96,129|72,571|
|PAYMENTS:|
|Charitable|Activities:|
|Advertising|-|180|
|Gas|and|Electricity|4,060|4,712|
|Rates|739|640|
|Insurance|2,498|2,361|
|Repairs|and|Renewals|3,399|3,112|
|Cleaning|1,620|1,540|
|Retiring|Clerk's|Salary|-|625|
|Clerk's|Salary|7,344|7,500|
|Telephone|550|504|
|Legal|and|Professional|Fees|5,410|17,558|
|Land|Drainage|Work|17,636|-|
|Sundry|Expenses|122|125|
|Computer|Software|462|479|
|Chairs|Expenses|98|82|
|Clerk's|expenses|66|130|
|IT|Services|and|subscriptions|473|145|
|Website|Design|750|-|
|Management|and|Administration:|
|Postage,|Stationery|and|Copying|54|46|
|Independent|Examiner's|Fees|1,272|900|
|Bank|Charges|113|113|
|TOTAL PAYMENTS|46,606|40,752|
----- End of picture text -----
THE WHITTLESEY CHARITY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|GENERAL|FUNDS|
|For|the|year ended|31|December|2024|
|2024|2023|
|£|£|
|EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER PAYMENTS|49,523|31,819|
|(Available|for|distribution)|(Note|2)|
|Grants|made during|the|year|(Note|3)|(38,206)|(46,699)|
|Purchase|of Land|at|Blackbush|-|(130,000)|
|CCLA|Investment Fund-|purchase|of shares|(60,000)|-|
|Transfer from|Manorial|Fund|76,924|19,877|
|NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS)|for the year|28,242|(125,003)|
|BANK/CASH BALANCE|as|at|i|January|83,137|208,140|
|BANK/CASH BALANCE|as|at 31|December|£111,379|£83,137|
----- End of picture text -----
4,
THE WHITTLESEY CHARITY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
MANORIAL FUND (DESIGNATED)
For the year ended 31 December 2024
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2024|2023|
|£|£|£|£|
|RECEIPTS:|
|Income|from|Investments:|
|Whittlesey|Wildfowlers|-|1,127|
|RSPB|-|10|
|Black|Bush|Drove|-|12,362|
|Jones|Lane|-|-|6,178|19,677|
|Interest|on|Deposit|-|927|
|TOTAL RECEIPTS|s|20,604|
|Transfer|to|General|Funds|(76,924)|(19,877)|
|NET|(PAYMENTS)/RECEIPTS|for the|year|(76,924)|727|
|BANK BALANCE|as|at|||January|76,924|76,197|
|BANK BALANCE|as|at 31|December|-|£76,924|
----- End of picture text -----
THE WHITTLESEY CHARITY
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
As at 31 December 2024
----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted
General Total Total
Funds 2024 2023
£ £ £
CASH FUNDS:
Bank Current Account 4,905 4,905 8,048
Bank Deposit Account 106,473 106,473 152,013
TOTAL FUNDS 111,378 £111,378 160,061
LIABILITIES:
Amounts due for supplies
and services provided - - 1,030
NON-MONETARY ASSETS:
Permanent Endowments: Trustees values
264.158 acres of Agricultural Land 2,641,580
Town Hall 400,000
26.755 acres Turf Drove, Turves 219,182
15.29 acres Black Bush 130,000
30.89 acres Half Acre Drove, Jones Lane, Eastrea 260,630
40.40 acres at Blackbush 340,000
----- End of picture text -----
Other Assets (General Purpose Fund): Held for investment purposes -
15,424.28 Income Units - Charity Official Investment Fund Market Value @ 31.12.2024 £313,010 (31.12.23 - 12,456 Income Units £247,202).
For and on behalf of the Trustees
----- Start of picture text -----
CLAIRE RAYNER ~ CHAIR
GARY COOK - FINANCE OFFICER
----- End of picture text -----
29 September 2025
THE WHITTLESEY CHARITY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
For the year ended 31 December 2024
1. BASIS OF ACCOUNTING:
The Accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis under Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) and the Charity has complied with the appropriate legal requirements of the Act.
2. DIVISION OF FUNDS STATEMENT:
| DIVISION OF FUNDS STATEMENT:STATEMENT: | |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| Branch No. | Relief in Need |
| Balance brought forward | 46,229 |
| Share ofsurplus foryear | 14,362 |
| Share ofManorial fund transfer less purchase ofshares | 4,908 |
| Grants made during the year (Note 3) | (7,570) |
| Transfer to Public Purposes | (20,000) |
| Balance carried forward | 37,929 |
| Branch No, 2 Education | |
| Balance brought forward | 23,914 |
| Share ofsurplus foryear | 14,362 |
| Share of Manorial fund transfer less purchase ofshares | 4,908 |
| Grants made during the year(Note 3) | (10,300) |
| Balance carried forward | 32,883 |
| Branch No, 3 Public Purposes | |
| Balance brought forward | 8,858 |
| Share ofsurplus for year | 14,362 |
| Share ofManorial fund transfer less purchase ofshares | 4,908 |
| Grants made during the year (Note 3) | (16,200) |
| Transfer from ReliefinNeed | 20,000 |
| Balance carried forward | 31,928 |
| Branch No. 4 Church | |
| Balance brought forward | 4,136 |
| Share ofsurplus foryear | 6,438 |
| Share ofManorial fund transfer less purchase ofshares | 2,200 |
| Grants made during the year (Note 3) | (4,136) |
| Balancecarriedforward | 8,638 |
Total
£111,378
THE WHITTLESEY CHARITY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
For the year ended 31 December 2024
3. GRANTS MADE DURING THE YEAR comprises:
| £ | £ | |
|---|---|---|
| No. | Reliefin Need | |
| Indvidual Grants awarded | 885 | |
| Holiday atHome | 1,000 | |
| Helping Whittlesey | 625 | |
| Phoenix Youth Provision | 5,000 | |
| StThomas Day Doles | 606 | 7,570 |
| No. 2 Education | ||
| Individual Grants awarded | 3,500 | |
| New Road Primary School | 1,000 | |
| Park Lane Primary School | 1,500 | |
| Straw Bear Festival | 1,300 | |
| Ist Whittlesey Scouts | 3,000 | |
| 16,360 | ||
| No. 3 Public Purposes | ||
| Coates Fete on the Green | 1,200 | |
| Coates Silver Lining | 500 | |
| Thursday Club | 500 | |
| Poppy Blitz | 500 | |
| Whittlesey Festival | 2,000 | |
| Whittlesey Extravaganza | 2,000 | |
| St Andrew's Hall | 1,000 | |
| Whittlesey Christmas Lights | 3,000 | |
| Defibrilators forAl | 1,006 | |
| PCC StMary's Church | 1,500 | |
| PCC StAndrews Church | 1,500 | |
| Holy Trinity Coates | 1,500 | |
| 16,2600 | ||
| No. 4 Church | ||
| PCC St Mary's Church | 1,655 | |
| PCC StAndrews Church | 1,655 | |
| Holy Trinity Coates | 827 | 4,136 |
| £38,206 |
THE WHITTLESEY CHARITY
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE WHITTLESEY CHARITY
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Whittlesey Charity (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on Pages 3 to 8.
Responsibilities and Basis of Report:
As the Charity’s Trustees 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 Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the 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 matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records.
[ 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.
K J DAY F.C.C.A
c/o Whitings LLP Chartered Accountants 12/13 The Crescent Wisbech Cambs PE13 1EH