OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2025-03-31-accounts

The City of London Almshouses

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

Charity registration number 1005857 The Register of Social Housing Providers Number A2266

CONTENTS

ORIGINS OF THE CHARITY............................................................................................ 1 STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE ................................................................................ 2 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE ........................................................................ 4 FINANCIAL REVIEW ........................................................................................................ 5 TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES ....................................................................................... 7 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT ............................................................................ 9 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES .................................................................... 13 BALANCE SHEET .......................................................................................................... 14 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ................................................................ 15 REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS ......................................................... 27

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

ORIGINS OF THE CHARITY

The City of London Almshouses was registered with the Charity Commission in July 1991, under the name ‘City of London Almshouses Trust’, under a scheme which amalgamated the following three charities:

Charity name History
City of London Freemen’s Houses Regulated by a conveyance dated 1
January 1848 and comprised in a
Scheme of the Charity Commissioners
of the 19 August 1975
Rogers’ Almhouses Comprised in a declaration of trust dated
15 July1858
Brown’s Gift Regulated by declaration of trust dated
22 March 1934

1

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

TRUSTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE

GOVERNING DOCUMENTS

The City of London Almshouses is a registered charity and also a registered social landlord, under Section 1 (2) of the Housing Act 1996. It was registered with the Charity Commission in July 1991, under a scheme which amalgamated:

The Charity Commission agreed with effect from 26 July 2011 for the City of London Corporation to become the sole corporate Trustee in place of various individuals.

GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS

The Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London (also referred to as ‘the City Corporation’ or ‘the City of London Corporation’), a body corporate and politic, is the Trustee of The City of London Almshouses. The City Corporation is Trustee acting by the Court of Common Council of the City of London in its general corporate capacity and that executive body has delegated responsibility in respect of the administration and management of this charity to various committees and subcommittees of the Common Council, membership of which is drawn from 125 elected Members of the Common Council and external appointees to those committees. In making appointments to committees, the Court of Common Council will take into consideration any particular expertise and knowledge of the elected Members, and where relevant, external appointees. External appointments are made after due advertisement and rigorous selection to fill gaps in skills.

Members of the Court of Common Council are unpaid for support provided to the Charity and are elected by the electorate of the City of London. The Key Committees which had responsibility for directly managing matters related to the charity during 2024/25 was as follows:

The Housing Management and Almshouses Sub (Community and Children’s Services) Committee of the City Corporation administers the charity on behalf of the Trustee.

The above committee is ultimately responsible to the Court of Common Council of the City of London. Matters relating to the charity are considered at committee meetings at the Trustee’s discretion in public (except where it is not considered in the charity’s best interest to do so), supporting a decision-making process that is clear, transparent, and publicly accountable.

2

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

The Trustee believes that good governance is fundamental to the success of the charity. A comprehensive review of governance has been undertaken and implementation of recommendations is in progress to ensure that the charity is effective in fulfilling its objectives. Reference was made to the good practices recommended within the Charity Governance Code throughout this review, with a focus on ensuring regulatory compliance and the ongoing maintenance of an efficient and effective portfolio of charities that maximise impact for beneficiaries. The Almshouses comply with the Charity Governance Code and the Governance and Viability Standard as set out by the Regulator of Social Housing.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The objective of the charity is the provision of Almshouses for poor or aged persons, giving preference to freemen of the City of London, their wives, widows, sons, and daughters and where practicable to married couples.

Throughout the year the Almshouse Manager actively sought new applications, reporting to Trustees on applicants who may not quite meet the criteria (for instance within a year of the age requirement) making recommendations on applicants’ behalf when they filled all other criteria.

Investment Policy

The charity’s investments are held in units of the City of London Charities Pool (registered charity 1021138). The investment policy is to provide a real increase in annual income in the long term whilst preserving the value of the capital base. The annual report and financial statements of the Charities Pool (which include an analysis of investment performance against objectives set) are available from the Chamberlain of London, at the email address stated on page 27.

Public benefit statement

The Trustee confirms that it has referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing The City of London Almshouses’ aims and objectives and in planning future activities. The purpose of the charity is as stated above.

Consequently, the Trustee considers that The City of London Almshouses operates to benefit the general public and satisfies the public benefit test.

Renumeration Policy

The charity’s senior staff are employees of the City Corporation and, alongside all staff, pay is reviewed annually. The City Corporation is committed to attracting, recruiting and retaining skilled people and rewarding employees fairly for their contribution. As part of this commitment, staff are regularly appraised and, subject to performance, eligible for the payment of recognition awards.

3

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

The above policy applies to staff within the charity’s key management personnel, as defined within note 6 to the financial statements.

The charity is committed to equal opportunities for all employees. An Equality and Inclusion Board has been established to actively promote equality, diversity and inclusion in service delivery and employment practices. The Board is responsible for monitoring the delivery of the Equality and Inclusion Action Plan and progress against the Equality Objectives. This also includes addressing the City Corporation’s gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps.

The City’s Equality Objectives were recently reviewed in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 which requires public bodies to publish equality objectives every four years. The City’s Equality Objectives were approved by Policy and Resources Committee in March 2024 covering the five year period from 2024 to 2029 to coincide with the City’s Corporate Plan for 2024-29.

Senior staff posts of the City Corporation are individually evaluated and assessed independently against the external market allowing each post to be allocated an individual salary range within the relevant grade, which incorporates market factors as well as corporate importance.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

In 2024/25 Quiz nights have been held for residents at the Almshouses Community room. These events have been successful and a fun way for residents to come together. Weekly coffee mornings continues to be well attended by residents.

4

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Overview of Financial Performance

Income

In 2024/25 the charity total income for the year was £418,099, an overall increase of £106,209 against the previous year (2023/24: £311,890).

Income from charitable activities totalled £383,755 (2023/24: £275,939), comprising rental and service charge income.

Income from investments comprised £34,344 (2023/24: £35,951), being £31,455 from managed investments (2023/24: £25,879) and £2,889 from bank interest (2023/24: £10,072).

Expenditure

Total expenditure for the year was £517,281 (2023/24: £431,119). Within this, charitable activities expenditure totalled £517,281 (2023/24: £431,119). The key costs are Management, Services and Routine & Planned maintenance.

Investment performance

Over the course of 2024/25 the Charities Pool investment strategy delivered an absolute return (gross of fees) of +11.44% which was above the FTSE All Share Index benchmark return of +10.46% (2023/24: the investment strategy gained +14.18% versus +8.43% from the benchmark) . Over the longer term three and five year horizon, the Charities Pool continues to outperform the FTSE All Share Index as shown in the table below. The Charities Pool invests in the Artemis Income (Exclusions) Fund, which is an unconstrained, multi-cap strategy that aims to generate a rising income stream combined with long-term capital growth. The Fund invests in UK equities, and can also hold international equities and bonds. Shares in companies that derive more than 20% of their revenues from tobacco, gambling, weapons and fossil fuels are excluded.

31 March 2025 31 March 2024
3 year 5 year 3 year 5 year
Fund +9.16% +13.56% +9.03% +7.62%
FTSE All Share +7.22% +12.04% +8.05% +5.44%
Fund Outperformance +1.94% +1.52% +0.98% +2.18%

5

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

Funds held

The charity’s total funds held decreased by £37,105 to £3,121,803 as at 31 March 2025 (2023/24: £3,158,908). Within the total funds held, £37,648 (2023/24: £37,648) represent permanent endowment funds which are held as a capital fund to generate income for the primary objectives of the charity. Restricted income funds amounted to £1,319,751 (2023/24: £1,319,751) being social housing grants which are repayable under certain circumstances, primarily following the sale of a property.

Unrestricted income funds amounted to £1,764,404 (2023/24: £1,801,509). These funds are held for use in future years in accordance with the objectives of the charity.

Details of all funds held, including their purposes, is set out within note 15 to the financial statements.

Reserves

The Reserves Policy is to maintain the endowment funds of the charity in investments in the Charities Pool administered by the City of London Corporation and use the investment income together with other funds, in accordance with the objectives of the charity.

The free reserves of the charity are held to cover working capital needs. The Trustee has revised its policy in 2020/21 to meet future working capital needs. The Trustee believes that a minimum amount of £2,800 should be held at present, which will be subject to annual review. Actual free reserves (unrestricted funds not designated or tied up in fixed assets) were £858k, well above the minimum amount, and the use of these reserves will be factored into the plans for future periods, including those set out on page 5.

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

The charity is committed to a programme of risk management as an element of its strategy to preserve the charity’s assets. In order to embed sound practice the senior leadership team ensures that risk management policies are applied, that there is an on-going review of activity and that appropriate advice and support is provided. A key risk register has been prepared for the charity, which has been reviewed by the Trustee. This identifies the potential impact of key risks and the measures which are in place to mitigate such risks.

Value for Money

The City of London Almshouses Charity assesses how it is achieving value for money in delivering its purpose and objectives, in accordance with the Regulator’s standard on Value for Money. This means managing resources economically, efficiently and effectively to provide quality services and homes.

The City of London Almshouses Charity is a small provider for the purposes of Value for Money Metrics. Disclosures are as follows.

6

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

Metric 2025 2024 2023
Reinvestment % 0 0 2.1%
New supplydelivered 0 0 0
Gearing N/A
N/A
N/A
EBITDA MRI Interest Cover N/A
N/A
N/A
Headline social housingcostper unit 11,186
11,395
8,299
Operatingmargin - 0.22 - 0.73
- 0.21
Return on Capital Employed - 0.03 - 0.06
- 0.02

The City of London Almshouses” does not have any debt and as such the VFM indicators in respect of gearing and EBITDA MRI are not applicable.

The Trustee is 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 the Trustee to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 and the Accounting Direction for private registered providers of social housing in England 2022. The Trustee is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Statement of Compliance

The Association’s governance arrangements comply with governance good practice and regulatory standards. The Association complies with the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) Governance and Financial Viability Standard.

TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustee is responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Charity law requires the Trustee to prepare financial statements for each financial year in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under charity law the Trustee must not approve the financial statements unless the Trustee is satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustee is required to:

7

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

The Trustee is 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 the Trustee to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. The Trustee is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the Trustee is aware:

Financial statements are published on the Trustee’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements, which may vary from legislation in other jurisdictions. The maintenance and integrity of the Trustee’s website is the responsibility of the Trustee. The Trustee’s responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity of the financial statements contained therein.

Adopted and signed for on behalf of the Trustee.

Henry Nicholas Almroth Colthurst, Deputy Chairman of Finance Committee of The City of London Corporation

Andrien Meyers, Deputy Deputy Chairman of Finance Committee of The City of London Corporation

Guildhall, London

30 September 2025

8

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEE OF THE CITY OF LONDON ALMSHOUSES

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The City of London School Almshouses (‘the charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustee's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustee with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

9

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

Other information

The Trustee are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. 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.

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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

In addition, we have nothing to report in respect of the following matter where the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of Trustee

As explained more fully in the Trustee’s responsibilities statement set out on pages 7 and 8, the Trustee is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustee 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 Trustee 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 Trustee either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

10

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Details of the extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations are set out below.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We identified and assessed the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements from irregularities, whether due to fraud or error, and discussed these between our audit team members. We then designed and performed audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the Charity operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Charities Act 2011 together with the Charities SORP (FRS102) 2019, the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 and the Accounting Direction for private registered providers of Social Housing 2022. We assessed the required compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audit procedures on the related financial statement items.

In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which might be fundamental to the Charity’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. We also considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the charity for fraud. The laws and regulations we considered in this context for the UK operations were General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Anti-fraud, bribery and corruption legislation, Health and safety legislation, and Employment legislation.

Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustee and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

11

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities, including fraud, to be within the timing of recognition of income, and the override of controls by management. Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included enquiries of management, internal audit, legal counsel and the Audit & Risk Committee about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals, reviewing accounting estimates for biases, reviewing regulatory correspondence with the Charity Commission, and reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity’s Trustee, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and section 137 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s Trustee those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s Trustee as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Crowe U.K. LLP Statutory Auditor

55 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JW

Crowe U.K. LLP is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

12

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
2023/24
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment 2024/25 Total
Notes Funds Funds Funds Total Funds Funds
£ £ £ £ £
Income from:
Charitable activities 2 383,755 - - 383,755 275,939
Investments 3 34,344 - - 34,344 35,951
Total income 418,099 - - 418,099 311,890
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 4 517,281 - - 517,281 431,119
Total expenditure 517,281 - - 517,281 431,119
Net gains/(losses) on investments 10 62,061 - - 62,061 76,523
Net gains/(losses) on short term deposit 16 - - 16 224
Net movement in investment 62,077 - - 62,077 76,747
Net income/(expenditure) and net movement in funds (37,105) - - (37,105) (42,482)
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 15 1,801,509 1,319,751 37,648 3,158,908 3,201,390
Total funds carried forward 15 1,764,404 1,319,751 37,648 3,121,803 3,158,908
----- End of picture text -----

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities.

There were no other recognised gains and losses other than those shown above. The notes on pages 15 to 27 form part of these financial statements.

13

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

Notes 2025 2024
Total Total
£ £
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets 9 2,226,878 2,243,856
Investments 10 918,011 855,950
Total fixed assets 3,144,889 3,099,806
Current assets
Debtors 11 39,769 31,708
Cash at bank and in hand 172,124 231,769
Total current assets 211,893 263,477
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 12 (98,880) (66,813)
Net current assets 113,013 196,664
Total assets less current liabilities 3,257,902 3,296,470
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year 13 (136,099) (137,562)
Total net assets 3,121,803 3,158,908
The funds of the charity:
Endowment funds 15 37,648 37,648
Restricted funds 15 1,319,751 1,319,751
Unrestricted funds 15 1,764,404 1,801,509
Total funds 3,121,803 3,158,908

The notes on pages 15 to 27 form part of these financial statements

Approved and signed on behalf of the Trustee.

Caroline Al-Beyerty

Chamberlain of London and Chief Financial Officer

30 September 2025

14

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items that are considered material in relation to the financial statements of the charity.

(a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK GAAP), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS102), the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), the Accounting Direction for private registered providers of social housing in England 2022, the Housing and Regeneration Act and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS102, have been prepared on the going concern basis and in accordance with the historical cost convention, as modified by the valuation of investments which are held at fair value.

(b) Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the Trustee considers that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The charity’s governing documents place an obligation on the City of London Corporation to preserve the Almshouses for the benefit of the public. Funding is provided from the City of London Corporation’s City’s Estate. On an annual basis, a medium-term financial forecast is prepared for City’s Estate, covering the next 5 years from the period covered by these financial statements. The latest forecast anticipates that adequate funds will be available in the 12 months from the date of these financial statements being signed to enable the charity to continue to fulfil its obligations.

In making this assessment, the Trustee has considered the financial position, including future income levels and the liquidity of the charity over the next 12-month period. The assessment helps to provide assurances that the charity can continue to keep operating over the next 12-month period. For this reason, the Trustee continues to adopt a going concern basis for the preparation of the financial statements.

(c) Key management judgements and assumptions

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenditure. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the result of which form the basis of decisions about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results.

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised

15

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

and in any future periods affected. Management do not consider there to be any significant management judgements and estimates made in the preparation of the financial statements.

(d) Statement of Cash Flows

As per Section 14.1 of the Charities SORP the Charity is not required to produce a statement of cash flows on the grounds that it is a small entity.

(e) Income

All income is included in the Statements of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income; it is more likely than not that economic benefit associated with the transaction will come to the charity and the amount can be quantified with reasonable certainty. Income consists of rental and service charge income, investment income and grants.

(f) Expenditure

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under the principal categories of ‘raising funds’ and ‘expenditure on charitable activities’. Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Support costs include activities undertaken by the City Corporation on behalf of the charity, such as human resources, digital services, legal support, accounting services, committee administration, public relations and premises costs. The basis of the cost allocation is the employee time spent on the respective services. Officers of the City Corporation provide financial and governance administrative assistance to the charity when required. From 2021/22, the City Corporation, as Trustee, has taken a decision to seek reimbursement for the administration fees incurred from each of its charities.

The Trustee, the City Corporation, accounts centrally for all payroll related deductions. As a result, the charity accounts for all such sums due as having been paid.

(g) Taxation

The charity meets the definition of a charitable trust for UK income tax purposes, as set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010. Accordingly, the charity is exempt from UK taxation in respect of income or capital gains under part 10 of the Income Tax Act 2007 or section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

(h) Investments

Investments are made in the City of London Charities Pool (charity number 1021138) which is an investment mechanism operating in a similar way to a unit trust. This enables the City of London Corporation to “pool” small charitable investments together

16

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

and consequently obtain better returns than would be the case if investments were made individually.

Investments are valued at bid-price. Gains and losses for the year on investments held as fixed assets are included in the Statement of Financial Activities.

(i) Funds structure

Income, expenditure and gains/losses are allocated to particular funds according to their purpose:

Permanent endowment fund – this fund consists of funds which are held in perpetuity for the benefit of the charity as a result of conditions imposed by the original donors and trusts. Income generated from the cash held in this fund can be spent on the charitable purpose of the charity, hence is allocated to the unrestricted income fund.

Restricted funds – these include income that is subject to specific restrictions imposed by donors, with related expenditure deducted when incurred.

Unrestricted income funds – these funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the Trustee and include both income generated by assets held within the permanent endowment and from those representing unrestricted funds. Specifically, this represents any surplus of income over expenditure for the charity which is carried forward to meet the requirements of future years, known as free reserves.

(j) Pension Costs

Staff are employed by the City of London Corporation and are eligible to contribute to the City of London Local Government Pension Fund, which is a funded defined benefit scheme. The estimated net deficit on the Fund is the responsibility of the City of London Corporation as a whole, as one employer, rather than the specific responsibility of any of its three main funds (City Fund, City’s Estate and Bridge House Foundation) or the trusts it supports.

The Fund’s estimated net liability has been determined by independent actuaries in accordance with FRS102 as £2.7m as at 31 March 2025 (£49.9m as at 31 March 2024). Since any net deficit is apportioned between the financial statements of the City of London’s three main funds, the charity’s Trustee does not anticipate that any of the liability will fall on the charity. The charity is unable to identify its share of the pension scheme assets and liabilities and therefore the Pension Fund is accounted for as a defined contribution scheme in these financial statements.

Barnett Waddingham, an independent actuary, carried out the latest triennial actuarial assessment of the scheme as at 31 March 2022, using the projected unit method. The 31 March 2022 valuation was carried out in 2022/23 and has set contribution rates for the period 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2026 at 21%. Contribution rates adopted for the financial years 2023/24,2024/25 and 2025/26 were set at 21%.

17

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

(k) Tangible fixed assets

The City of London Almshouses were erected in the mid-19[th] century. There is no record of the original cost and no value has therefore been attributed. The cost stated for fixed assets for land and buildings relates to subsequent improvements and refurbishments. This excludes expenditure on routine and planned repairs and maintenance of fixed assets which is charged directly within the Trust’s charitable activities.

Depreciation for improvements and refurbishments to buildings is charged on a straight-line basis, in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life as follows:

Years Improvements and refurbishments to buildings 61

It is the Trust’s policy to ensure that the dwellings are kept in a good standard of repair and that there are sufficient resources to meet this requirement.

(l) Insurance

The charity, elected Members and staff supporting the charity’s administration are covered by the City Corporations insurance liability policies, and otherwise under the indemnity the City Corporation provides to Members and staff, funded from City’s Estate.

2. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2024/25 2023/24
£ £
Rental income 284,883 201,160
Service charges 97,409 73,316
Deferred income from Gresham Lease 1,463 1,463
Total 383,755 275,939
----- End of picture text -----

The void losses incurred in 2024/25 is £56,743.87. (2023/24: £107,770.96)

3. INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS

Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2024/25 2023/24
£ £
Investment income 31,455 25,879
Interest 2,889 10,072
Total 34,344 35,951

18

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

4. EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds
Direct Support Total Direct Support Total
costs costs 2024/25 costs costs 2023/24
£ £ £ £ £ £
Almshouses running costs
Management - 190,680 190,680 - 161,438 161,438
Services 120,420 - 120,420 136,371 - 136,371
Routine maintenance 163,099 - 163,099 101,639 - 101,639
Planned maintenance 28,420 - 28,420 11,579 - 11,579
Contributions to Funds and Provisions (3,966) - (3,966) 635 - 635
Depreciation of housing properties 18,628 - 18,628 19,457 - 19,457
Total 326,601 190,680 517,281 269,681 161,438 431,119
----- End of picture text -----

Within charitable activities are the services costs, comprised of:

----- Start of picture text -----
2024/25 2023/24
£ £
Lighting 5,470 5,865
Matrons 60,641 41,420
Window Cleaning 1,060 1,060
Water Rates 3 1
Groundsman 32,825 53,094
Rent 8,213 7,185
Council Tax 10,955 27,746
Pest Control 1,253 0
Total 120,420 136,371
----- End of picture text -----

5. SUPPORT COSTS

Support costs include activities undertaken by the City of London Corporation on behalf of the Charity, such as human resources, digital services, legal support, accounting services, committee administration and premises costs. Such costs are determined on a departmental basis, and are allocated on a cost recovery basis to the charity based on time spent, with associated office accommodation charged proportionately to the space occupied by the respective activities, with the split of costs as follows:

19

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

----- Start of picture text -----
Charitable
activities Governance 2024/25 2023/24
£ £ £ £
Audit fees - 15,430 15,430 6,930
Central support 12,000 - 12,000 12,000
Legal fees 6,586 - 6,586 1,602
Other Management costs 156,664 - 156,664 140,906
Sub-total 175,250 15,430 190,680 161,438
Reallocation of governance costs 15,430 (15,430) - -
Total 190,680 - 190,680 161,438
----- End of picture text -----

All support costs are undertaken from unrestricted funds and allocated based on the proportion relating to direct activities.

6. STAFF COSTS

All staff that work on behalf of the charity are employed by the City Corporation. The average number of people directly undertaking activities on behalf of the charity during the year was 2.04 (2023/24: 2.01).

Amounts paid in respect of employees directly undertaking activities on behalf of the charity were as follows:

----- Start of picture text -----
2024/25 2023/24
£ £
Salaries and wages 76,767 75,488
National Insurance costs 5,481 6,119
Employer's pension contributions 11,218 12,907
Total emoluments of employees 93,465 94,514
----- End of picture text -----

The charity considers its key management personnel to comprise the Members of the City of London Corporation, acting collectively for the City Corporation in its capacity as the Trustee. The number of directly charged employees whose emoluments (excluding employer’s pension contribution) for the year were over £60,000 was nil (2023/24: nil). The charity does not have a Chief Executive.

7. AUDITOR’S REMUNERATION

Crowe U.K. LLP are the auditors of the City of London City’s Estate Fund and provide assurance services to all of the different charities of which it is Trustee. In 2024/25 an

20

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

audit fee of £15,430 was recharged (2023/24 £6,930). No other services were provided to the charity by its auditors during the year (2023/24: £nil).

8. TRUSTEE EXPENSES

The Members of the City of London Corporation acting on behalf of the Trustee did not receive any remuneration or reimbursement of expenses during 2024/25 (2023/24: nil).

9. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

----- Start of picture text -----
Land and Work in Total
Buildings Progress
£ £ £
Cost
At 1 April 2024 2,454,463 - 2,454,463
Additions 1,650 - 1,650
At 31 March 2025 2,456,113 - 2,456,113
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024 210,607 - 210,607
Charge for the year 18,628 - 18,628
At 31 March 2025 229,235 - 229,235
Net book value
At 31 March 2025 2,226,878 - 2,226,878
At 31 March 2024 2,243,856 - 2,243,856
----- End of picture text -----

The number of units supported social housing accommodation under management at 31 March 2025 was 42. (2024: 42)

10. INVESTMENTS

The investments are held in the City of London Corporation Charities Pool, a charity registered in the UK with the Charity Commission (charity number 1021138). The Charities Pool is a UK registered unit trust.

21

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

The value of investments held by the charity are as follows:

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
Market value 1 April 855,950 779,427
Gain/(loss) for the year 62,061 76,523
Market value 31 March 918,011 855,950
Cost 31 March 417,370 417,370
Units held in Charities Pool 86,077 86,077
----- End of picture text -----

The type of listed investments held as at 31 March was as follows:

Total at 31 Total at 31
March 2025 March 2024
£ £
Equities 878,716 813,963
Pooled Units 28,185 31,927
Cash held byFund Manager 11,110 10,060
Total 918,011 855,950

11. DEBTORS

2025 2024
£ £
Other debtors 39,769 31,708

12. CREDITORS – AMOUNTS DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025 2024
£ £
Trade creditors 26,041 27,049
Deferred income 24,777 37,307
Accruals 48,062 2,457
Total 98,880 66,813

22

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

13. CREDITORS – AMOUNTS DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
Deferred income 136,099 137,562
Total 136,099 137,562
2025 2024
Deferred income analysis within creditors: £ £
Balance at 1st April 137,562 139,025
Amounts released to income (1,463) (1,463)
Balance at 31 March 136,099 137,562
----- End of picture text -----

Deferred income: lease to Gresham Almshouses

The City of London Almshouses (CoLA) owns the site. An agreement was entered into with Gresham Almshouses operated by the Sir Thomas Gresham Charity (charity number 221982) dated 7 December 1994 for the lease of the site for the next 125 years for the sum of £180,000. The deferred income is recognised on a straight-line basis to the end of the term in 2118/19, with the remaining value recorded as a longterm creditor.

14. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND

At 31 March 2025

At 31 March 2025
General funds
Designated
funds
Total at
31 March 2025
Total at
31 March
2024
£
£
£
£
£
£
297,537
609,590
1,319,751
-
2,226,878
2,243,856
717,545
200,466
-
-
918,011
855,950
174,245
-
37,648
211,893
263,477
(234,979)
-
-
(234,979)
(204,375)
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Endowment funds
Tangible fixed assets
Fixed assets - investments
Current assets
Total liabilities
Total 954,348
810,056
1,319,751
37,648
3,121,803
3,158,908

At 31 March 2024

At 31 March 2024
Unrestricted funds Restated
General funds Designated
funds		 Restricted funds Endowment funds Total at
31 March 2024		 Total at
31 March
2023
£ £ £ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets 303,187 620,918 1,319,751 - 2,243,856 2,265,423
Fixed assets - investments 665,291 190,659 - - 855,950 779,427
Current assets 225,829 - - 37,648 263,477 431,542
Total liabilities (204,375) - - - (204,375) (275,002)
Total 989,932 811,577 1,319,751 37,648 3,158,908 3,201,390

23

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

15. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

----- Start of picture text -----
Total as at
Total as at 1 Gains & 31 March
At 31 March 2025 April 2024 Income Expenditure (losses) Transfers 2025
£ £ £ £ £ £
Endowment funds:
Permanent endowment 37,648 - - - - 37,648
Restricted funds:
Social Housing Grant 1,319,751 - - - - 1,319,751
Unrestricted funds:
General funds 989,932 418,099 (517,281) 52,270 11,328 954,348
Designated funds:
Cyclical repairs 36,000 - - - - 36,000
Capital reserves fund 620,918 - - - (11,328) 609,590
Extraordinary repairs 154,659 - - 9,807 - 164,466
Total unrestricted funds 1,801,509 418,099 (517,281) 62,077 - 1,764,404
Total funds 3,158,908 418,099 (517,281) 62,077 - 3,121,803
----- End of picture text -----

Transfer relates to the reallocation of depreciation charges to the Capital reserves fund.

Total as at
Total as at Gains & 31 March
At 31 March 2024 1 April 2023 Income Expenditure (losses) Transfers 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £
Endowment funds:
Permanent endowment 37,648 - - - - 37,648
Restricted funds:
Social Housing Grant 1,319,751 - - - - 1,319,751
Unrestricted funds:
General funds 1,021,850 311,890 (431,119) 64,654 22,657 989,932
Designated funds:
Cyclical repairs 36,000 - - - - 36,000
Capital reserves fund 643,575 - - - (22,657) 620,918
Extraordinaryrepairs 142,566 - - 12,093 - 154,659
Total unrestricted funds 1,843,991 311,890 (431,119) 76,747 - 1,801,509
Total funds 3,201,390 311,890 (431,119) 76,747 - 3,158,908

Purpose of endowment funds

The permanent endowment is held to generate income that is accounted for within the unrestricted funds This original permanent endowment can only be used at the winding up the Trust.

24

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

Purpose of the restricted funds

Social Housing Grant

Social Housing Grants are repayable under certain circumstances, primarily following the sale of a property.

Included in the movement in Funds Analysis above is £1,319,751 in respect of social housing grant. This represents the total cumulative government grant receivable all of which has been recognized through the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

Purpose of the unrestricted funds

The general fund comprises the accumulation of income surpluses as a result of unspent investment and other income. Any undistributed annual income is held for use in future years in accordance with the objectives of the Trust.

Purpose of the designated funds

Those unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustee for specific purposes, as follows:

Cyclical repairs

Provision for future repainting, consists of yearly transfers from the revenue account based on the expected cost of repainting and transferred out to the revenue account in the year when cost arises.

Extraordinary repairs

To fund the future extraordinary repair, improvement or rebuilding of the Trust’s property, consisting of yearly transfers based on income generated from investments alongside any increase or decrease in the market value of the investments representing this reserve.

16. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The City Corporation acting by the Court of Aldermen is the sole Trustee of the charity, as described on page 2.

The charity is required to disclose information on related party transactions with bodies or individuals that have the potential to control or influence the charity. Members are required to disclose their interests, and these can be viewed online at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

Members and senior staff are requested to disclose all related party transactions, including instances where their close family has made such transactions.

Figures in brackets represent the amounts due at the balance sheet date. Other figures represent the value of the transactions during the year.

25

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

Connected Detail of
Related party party 2024/25 2023/24 transaction
£ £
The City of
London
Corporation is
the Trustee Distribution from
City of London Corporation for the charity 31,455 (nil) 25,879 (nil) the Charities Pool
Sir Thomas
Gresham Charity
entered into a 125
The City of year lease of the
London site from COLA as
Corporation is per the agreement
Sir Thomas Gresham Charity the Trustee dated 7 December
(221982) for the charity 1,463 (137,562) 1,463 (137,562) 1994
The City of
London
Corporation is
the Trustee
Support Cost for the charity 190,680 161,438 Support cost Note 5

26

The City of London Almshouses | Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024/25

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS

CHARITY NAME: The City of London Almshouses

Registered charity number: 1005857

The Register of Social Housing Providers Number: A2266

PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE CHARITY & THE CITY CORPORATION:

Guildhall, London, EC2P 2EJ

TRUSTEE:

The Mayor and Commonalty & Citizens of the City of London

SENIOR MANAGEMENT:

Chief Executive

Ian Thomas CBE - The Town Clerk and Chief Executive of the City of London Corporation

Treasurer

Caroline Al-Beyerty - The Chamberlain and Chief Financial Officer of the City of London Corporation

Solicitor

Michael Cogher - The Comptroller and City Solicitor of the City of London Corporation

AUDITORS:

Crowe U.K. LLP, 55 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JW

BANKERS:

Lloyds Bank Plc., P.O. Box 1000, BX1 1LT

INVESTMENT FUND MANAGERS:

Artemis Investment Management LLP, Cassini House, 57 St. James's Street, London, SW1A 1LD

Contact for The Chamberlain & Chief Financial Officer, to request copies of governance documents:

CHBOffice-BusinessSupport@cityoflondon.gov.uk

27