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THE BATTLEFIELDS TRUST REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
30% SEPTEMBER 2025
COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE No: 2786730 REGISTERED CHARITY NO: No: 1017387
Registered Office
Crown House, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX
Company No. 2786730 Charity No. 1017387
BATTLEFIELDS TRUST
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 30 September 2025
The Trustees (who are also the Directors) present their report and the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 30" September 2025.
Trustees The following served as Trustees in the year to 30" September 2025
Gregg Archer David Austin Prof Anne Curry (Chair until 5" April 2025) (resigned 5" April 2025) Julian Humphrys Andrew Jeffrey (Treasurer) Bruce Logan Chris May Dr Ismini Broadhurst (Pells) Phil Philo (resigned 5 August 2024) Anthony Rich (Chair from 28" April 2025) Howard Simmons Neil Hart (appointed 5'" April 2025) Kevin Winter Dr Rachael Whitbread
Company Secretary: Bruce Logan
Registered Office: Crown House 27 Old Gloucester Street London WC1N 3AX
Independent Examiner:
Mr Philip Clark FCA
President and Patron: Prof. Michael Wood OBE
Honorary Vice Presidents: Kelvin van Hasselt Harvey Watson Patrons Earl of Ulster The Lord Boswell of Aynho The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC, DL Sir Robert Worcester, KBE, DL The Duke of Northumberland DL (from 5" April 2025)
Officers
Director of Operations — David Austin Research and Threats Co-ordinator — Simon Marsh Magazine Editor — Chris May Membership Officer — David Austin Events Officer - David Austin Governance and Board Officer - Bruce Logan Archaeological Adviser - Sam Wilson
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STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Battlefields Trust was established as an incorporated charity in 1993 having Memorandum and Articles as its Governing Document. Its charitable purposes are the preservation, interpretation and presentation of battlefields as heritage and educational resources, the term “battlefields” covering actions of any type on land, at sea or in the air, ranging from skirmishes and sieges to full scale battles.
The Trust is a membership organisation with overall policy, strategic direction and management of the Trust vested in the Board of Trustees who are elected by the membership and meet four times across the year. Trustee terms of office are three years with a maximum of three consecutive terms (nine years) before a mandatory break from office. The office of Chair is similarly limited to four consecutive years. Trustees are briefed on their legal duties and responsibilities and kept updated on good practice guidance and changing governance requirements as well as issues affecting the charity sector. The Board, in considering Trustee appointments has regard to the importance of ensuring it has the skills, knowledge, experience and capacity needed to manage the Trust effectively both for the present and in the longer term, to ensure there is diversity in perspective and appointment of new Trustees to renew the board and prevent any staleness. There are Codes of Conduct in place for Members, Trustees and Officers which are available on the Trust’s website.
The Trust has a regional member network with Regional Committees determining and co-ordinating local activities in consultation with local members and often in collaboration with local partner organisations and associations that share the Trust’s interests and objectives. The regions are aligned with groupings of local authority areas for administrative reasons but boundaries are not impermeable and joint working and mutual support across regional boundaries is strongly supported as it works towards the Trusts’ overall success. Regional boundaries are periodically reviewed to reflect factors such as size, ease of coverage, the extent and significance of battlefield heritage and related issues within a region and the local capacity available. There currently are 11 regions with heads/co-heads. Some regions have designated county co-ordinators with a sub-regional focus who provide valuable additional capacity through co-ordinating local events and communications.
Nationally, an Operations Group comprising Regional Chairs and relevant Trust Officers reports to the Trustees and is responsible for co-ordinating the Trust’s day to day operations and implementation of agreed plans. The Group also takes the lead on co-ordinating regional priorities, plans and funding bids for recommendation to the Trustees for incorporation in the Trust’s overall business plan and makes recommendations as appropriate on other matters to do with the day to day running of the Trust.
ACTIVITIES
Most of the Trust’s activities and especially those in which it engages with the public, are initiated and organised by members through the regional structure. These include battlefield walks, talks, seminars or study days and the provision or installation of battlefield interpretation material such as trail guides and information panels. It is generally through regional initiatives that battlefield projects such as research investigations or commemorations are conceived, worked up and delivered as part of the overall programme and with funding support from the Trust centrally if required. Likewise, member volunteers in the regions sustain links and work in collaboration with many local organisations and individuals that share the Trust’s objectives, interests and concerns. These include local battlefield, historical and heritage societies as well as local educational or academic bodies. Members from the regions also provide valuable support to the Research and Threats Co-ordinator in identifying and responding to threats to local battlefields when they arise. During the year the Trust organised a conference for partner battlefield heritage organisations providing a forum for sharing information, ideas, issues of common concern and good practice.
More detail on the Trust's full range of activities towards achieving its objectives is reported below.
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Battlefield Protection and Preservation
The Trust maintains a watching brief on potential threats to battlefields, typically related to inappropriate development proposals. Planning authorities usually notify the Trust about proposed development on registered battlefields. Members locally act as the Trust’s eyes and ears in reporting and monitoring threats and their vigilance, complemented by partner organisations and concerned members of the public reporting threats independently.
The Research and Threats Co-ordinator assesses reported threats and with support from the regional network determines what action to take. If development looks likely to proceed the Trust usually presses for prior archaeological investigations if appropriate and recommends actions that would mitigate the effect of the development on battlefield interpretation. The Trust also works collaboratively with landowners where possible to mutually resolve issues around managed access to battlefield sites and dealing with unsupervised access and metal detection. This role was further strengthened in 2023 with additional support and capacity from dedicated volunteers to help assess planning applications and support on the quarterly reports to the Board on protection and preservation.
The Trust engages with regulatory bodies and key players in the planning framework to ensure there is advocacy for battlefield heritage and that decisions on development threats or the protection of battlefields can be fully informed by the experience and knowledge available within the Trust. An annual meeting with Historic England enables the Trust, via its independent Battlefields Panel, to raise and review battlefield planning and regulatory issues. The Battlefields Panel includes those with expertise in planning, battlefield archaeology, conflict history and weapons and armour and provides a forum for specialist input on policy and practice relating to battlefield heritage and a source of advice for the Trust. In the last year the Trust supported the Battlefields Panel meeting with Historic England in October 2025 to continue discussions about possible Panel input into Historic England battlefield registration decision making. It presented to Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officers on 17th century bullet standardisation and identification with the Trust's archaeological advisor. It helped Natural England develop environmental guidance for managing registered battlefield in partnership with Historic England and the Forestry Commission. The Trust's Archaeological advisor and Research and Threats coordinator also coauthored an article for the Chartered Institute for Archaeologist's journal highlighting the Trust's guidance on managing change on historic battlefields.
The Trust remains concerned about the impact that Permitted Development can have on registered battlefields and continues to press local planning authorities to consider adoption of Article 4 directions for such landscapes, though without success to date. This issue was highlighted this year by damage to the 1469 Battle of Edgcote by HS2 (see below for more detail).
Key actions and events during the year concerning threats to battlefields were as follows:
Registered Battlefields
The Trust continues to see a range of low-level development pressures on registered battlefields and in the current reporting period responded to around 20 applications on 11 registered battlefields. This compares to 15 applications on 9 registered battlefields in the previous reporting period.
Examples have included Cropredy Bridge (1644) where a metal detecting survey is part of a condition of replacement of an all-weather cricket pitch at the request of the Trust; and Tewkesbury (1471) where an application for construction of a self-build bungalow in the middle of the registered area was withdrawn following Trust (and other) objections. The Trust is also in the process of commenting on the impact of the local plan on Adwalton Moor (1643); a woodland planting scheme at Bosworth (1485); and proposed developments at Chalgrove (1643). The Trust has also been involved in pushing for repairs and ongoing maintenance plans for Powick Bridge, the site of a battle in 1642 anda key part of the 1651 battlefield after its collapse in January 2024.
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Battle of Edgcote
As mentioned above there was significant concern raised by the Trust around the HS2 impact on the site of the 1469 Battle of Edgcote. HS2 has stripped topsoil at the site of the 1469 Battle of Edgcote without conducting an archaeologically supervised metal detecting survey. This was done to temporarily store excess earth from the construction of the high-speed rail line from London to Birmingham. Despite concerns from Historic England about potential harm to the battlefield, West Northamptonshire Council determined that an environmental impact assessment was not necessary and agreed to HS2 exercising its permitted development rights under existing planning law to undertake the work. The Battlefields Trust and the Northamptonshire Battlefields Society raised concerns, noting that the original distribution of artefacts can never be recovered and is working with HS2 on what can be salvaged once the work is complete. HS2 has now agreed a retrospective metal detecting survey in partiall mitigation, but the exercise of permitted development rights continue to threaten battlefield archaeology, landscape and setting.
Unregistered Battlefields
' The Trust also looks to review impacts to unregistered battlefield sites to mitigate or prevent damage. Examples where the Trust was involved in the last year include Northam (1069) where a Marina Development was rejected following Trust comment and archaeological advice; and Ripple Field (1643) where an archaeological condition was attached to development plans at the request of the Trust.
Interpreting Promoting and Presenting Battlefield Heritage
The Trust has a number of functions and a range of activities that all contribute to achieving its objectives of raising awareness and understanding of battlefield heritage. These include:
Magazine
The Trust’s quarterly magazine “Battlefield” is highly rated by its readers and a key factor in membership retention and recruitment. The magazine keeps members and external subscribers up to date with news, events and current battlefield heritage issues as well as publishing articles covering a range of battles and military campaigns across its 36 pages. We published 4 magazines in the last year with the main stories covering: Spion Kop, The Wars of the Roses, The Battle of Castillon and May 1639 — The First Shots of the Civil Wars. The Winter Magazine was a Special Edition covering the Wars of the Roses. This was particularly well received and there are plans do other special editions in future years.
Research and Information Resources
The reporting year saw further investment in the Trust's on-line battlefield information centre: the Battlefields Hub. One battle — Birmingham 1643 has been added to the Hub, with others in preparation, including Assandun 1016 and Sherburn in Elmet 1645. The Battlefields Hub now contains details of 97 battles and is a key resource for anyone wishing to understand the details of these engagements.
The on-line database of Wars of the Roses Memorial Database went live with a soft launch in March 2025 following a successful partnership project to develop the database involving the Battlefields Trust, the Mortimer History Society, the Northamptonshire Battlefields Society, the Richard Ill Society, the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society, and the Yorkist History Trust. The database provides a guide to the many monuments that mark this critical but often overlooked historical period. The British Civil Wars Memorial database launched in 2024, continues to expand and now has almost doubled to 480 entries, showing how this resource continues to evolve.
The Trust continues to publish its Annual Journal, Battalia. This is an interdisciplinary academic journal, dedicated to the study of battles, battlefields, and military campaigns across the world. Its scope covers any period and geographical location. It is a free, fully open-access, online and peer-reviewed publication. Battalia Volume III 2025 included articles on The ‘Battle’ of Wakefield 1460 Reconsidered, British Civil War Field Words and Field Signs — An Initial Hand List, Brunnanburh and Brunanburh: Two Names, One Place and a Battle in a Cambridgeshire Valley and Review Article: The Ottoman Empire and the First World War. -4-
The Trust’s research function is important to furthering understanding and interpretation of battlefields in addition to providing a resource for supporting actions to protect and preserve them, for instance in pressing the case for inclusion in Historic England’s Register of Historic Battlefields.
Examples include Archaeological and project work for
Western Rebellion 1549 battlefield investigations at Fenny Bridges in Devon in cooperation with University of Exeter, Devon Archaeological Society, Devon County Council, and Past Participate. While this did not uncover any battle-related artefacts, but further investigations are planned for 2025. A public meeting with around 60 attendees was held to explain the project and gather information about the battle and related finds. Artefacts were brought in by the public and a number will be examined by the Archaeology and History Department of Exeter University using advanced scanning equipment.
Continuing research into the site of the Battle of Assandun (1016): 4 resistivity studies, research by an architectural historian and a medieval charter expert to examine the churches of St Andrew in Ashingdon and St Nicholas in neighbouring Canewdon; and Ground Penetrating Radar survey report for All Saints church at Ashdon. This work was done along with grants from the Essex Heritage Trust and Ashdon Museum Trust. At Montgomery (1644) there has been extensive survey work and the Welsh Marches and West Midlands region and it also led the preparation of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for Wales for just under £250K to undertake a community-based project at Montgomery. The bid (outside of this reporting period), unfortunately was rejected, but further work is being planned funded by the Trust in the future.
In addition, this region’s archaeological survey team collaborated with the National Trust at Powis Castle to undertake investigatory survey work. to find evidence of the 1644 siege of Powis Castle and to determine whether the methodology used could be adopted across the National Trust.
Events and Activities
The range of events and activities described below are fundamental to achieving the Trust’s aims and provide opportunities to engage and involve the community at large, generating a wider understanding and interest in battlefield heritage and its preservation. They are also a source of new Trust members as well as raising funds through donations or other fund-raising activities. Many activities take place in collaboration with other organisations that share the Trust’s objectives and the Trust regularly supports the work of these organisations through collaboration with them or with practical support such as funding or sharing of expertise.
Walks, Talks and Study Days: The Trust runs a full programme of activities including guided battlefield walks, talks and lectures (both on-line and venue based) as well as study days and conferences. It works closely with partner organisations, regularly collaborating with them on joint events and conferences.
Walks included annual visits to battlefields such as Warrington Bridge, Maldon, Stoke Field, Cheriton and Clifton Moor; and visits to museums such as Norwich Castle Museum and Cumbria’s Museum of Military History Carlisle. This year we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Register of Historic Battlefields in England, which identified the 43 (now 47) most important battlefields in England and gave them limited protection in the planning system. The walks were also timed to coincide with Heritage Open Days weekends to increase publicity and encourage those who might never have visited a battlefield, or encountered the Battlefields Trust before, an opportunity to do so. Walks were held at the battlefields of Tewkesbury (1471), Northampton (1460), Otterburn (1388), Edgcote (1469), Maldon (991), Winwick (1648), Newark (1644), Lansdown (1643), St Albans II (1461), Myton (1319), Ethandun (878), Newbury | (1643), and Rowton Heath (1645) and had around 275 participants.
In person Talks included a Presentation on Battle of Assandun to Essex Records Office 21st June 2025 — 100 attendees; involvement in the annual Civil War Conference, this time looking at the events in the second half of 1645 jointly organised with the Friends of the National Civil War Centre - Newark Museum and a
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seminar involving the National Trust and University of the 3rd Age and BT members explored the Civil War in West Landon and the role of great houses such as Osterley and Syon.
The Trust also ran an online series of Zoom talks, continuing the momentum from what was previously a temporary(!) Covid measure These have the advantage of a wider outreach than just those that can attend the walks with typical audiences averaging 140 and ranging from 80-180 and logging on from multiple time zones. In the last reporting year we held 18 talks covering topics ranging from “Arms and Armour of the British Civil Wars” to “The Shelter of the Tubes: Taking Refuge in the London Underground in Two World Wars”; and from “The People of 1381” to “O’Neil’s Rebellion, 1596 — England’s Worst Defeat in Ireland.”
AGM: This year the Mercia Region hosted the Battlefields Trust Annual AGM in Reading in April 2025. Just over eighty members attended the two-day event that had talks on Day 1 covering the Norman Art of War, memorials to the Battles of the Wars of the Roses, The First Battle of Newbury and a History of Greenham Common and a coach tour on Day 2 to Greenham Common and the Second Battle of Newbury with lunch at Shaw house.
Battlefield Trails and Information: The creation and maintenance of trails, self-guiding leaflets, mobile interpretation apps and information panels is key to generating public awareness of and interest in battlefields. The Trust also posts battlefield video tours and mini-documentaries on its social media sites and sponsors or supports other organisations, such as historical or battlefield societies that work towards their own battlefield information projects. New interpretation boards were erected in the iast year at Stow on the Wold (1646), Fornham (1173), and Nibley Green (1470) and Mortimer’s Cross (1461). Festivals and Commemorative Events: The Trust has maintained its presence at key festivals such as Tewkesbury, Barnet, Evesham, and Hastings. These events provide an opportunity to promote awareness of the Trust and the importance of battlefields by engaging with the public and also for recruitment of new members.
Education and Outreach: The Trust’s Education and Outreach sub-committee progressed its activities with a focus on the historical curriculum and producing materials which can be used within a classroom environment. Current efforts are concentrating on materials to support teaching on the Battle of Hastings .
Support and training is provided for members of local communities who take up the opportunity to participate in Trust projects and where particular skills are required, such as archaeological survey work, advice is given on best practice and protocols. The Trust’s education packs whilst created with educational settings in mind, remain freely available on-line to the public. As mentioned above considerable work has been undertaken on environmental and archaeological guidance with external bodies.
Social Media: The Trust maintains a regular presence on Facebook and Twitter/X. In particular, the Trust uses these fora to publish “on this day” reports on a historic battle, publicise forthcoming events and report on walks and talks that have been held. We have almost 13k followers on these two platforms.
Grant aided projects: All Grant aided projects are listed in the financial review. Whether run directly by the Trust or in collaboration with other organisations, these projects add to the Trust’s scope for protecting and promoting battlefields and raising awareness of battlefield heritage amongst local communities and the general public. This year the official delivery of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) funded Mortimers Cross Battlefield Project finally closed with delivery of 4 interpretation panels, the purchase of audio visual equipment for the region and an unveiling event with talks by members of the original project team at Kingsland Church. In total the project spent £71k over 7 years. An underspend of £7k was returned to the HLF, and a small amount of £1k in unspent monies from the Trust's resources remains for future activities on this battle.
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VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT ENGAGEMENT AND CONTRIBUTION
The Trust relies entirely on volunteers to organise all the activities described in this report as well as the background technical and administrative support needed for day to day running of the Trust. Volunteers are drawn mostly from the Trust’s membership via regional networks and also from organisations with shared objectives. At the close of the reporting year, it was estimated that there are some 85 regular volunteers with many more individuals involved on an ad hoc basis.
The Trust encourages inclusion and active involvement of local communities in its projects offering support and training as necessary, for instance by involving community volunteers in archaeological projects. Likewise, the Trust frequently offers support to local community groups or associations wishing to explore and promote battlefield heritage by sharing its expertise or providing funding towards local initiatives, particularly for the provision of information panels.
The Trust readily co-operates and collaborates with other organisations with shared concerns and interests so that volunteer resources and effort can be pooled and used to maximum effect. Working with communities and alongside other organisations such as educational bodies, museums and heritage organisations, generates interest in and awareness of the Trust’s work which in turn opens up a wider pool of potential volunteers.
MEMBERSHIP
The Trust had 1546 members (in 1393 memberships) on 30 September 2025 compared with 1628 members (in 1455 memberships) on 30 September 2024: This reduction is primarily as a result of increase in subscription rates. The Board approved an increase in subscription rates and a simplification of membership categories for 2024/2025 whichis still filtering through in subscriptions.
New membership comes from attendance at events, in particular festivals covered above, and online applications. The Trust also has historically had a high retention rate of over 90%.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
The Trustees confirm that the Trust’s activities provide a public benefit in line with its objects of the preservation, interpretation and presentation of battlefield sites as educational and heritage resources.
The Trust seeks to secure and promote battlefield heritage for the public benefit generally and welcomes and encourages public involvement in its activities with most of the Trust's activities, such as battlefield walks, study days and seminars open to the public The Trust’s battlefield guides, trail leaflets and information boards provide in situ public information whilst other specific resources are freely available to the public via its website including:
- e The Battlefields Hub containing detailed reference information on numerous battles. e Education and learning material — in particular the Battlefield education packs focused on specific battles
The Trust's social media sites additionally host short documentaries and battlefield tours produced by the Trust as well as highlighting topical or important information about battlefield heritage. Whether supporting specific battlefield projects (such as major battle commemorations or archaeological investigations) or dealing with queries or concerns about battlefields from the public, the Trust contributes to a better understanding of national history.
As well as working collaboratively with partner organisations sharing similar aims, the Trust also works with public bodies such as Historic England that are concerned with heritage, sharing advice and expertise as required.
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RISK ASSESSMENT
A risk register is regularly reviewed and updated by the Trustees. With the Trust relying entirely on volunteers there is an ongoing risk related to securing and mobilising sufficient capacity and expertise within the Trust’s membership to run the Trust and its activities without over-reliance on too few individuals and the associated risk of “single points of failure”. Trustees are also aware of Charity Commission best practice that management decisions, particularly at Board level should be made with the benefit of a range of inputs and perspectives.
Risk assessments are carried out for Trust-led projects, events and activities such as walks in line with the Health and Safety Policy.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The total income for the year was £81,078 (2024: £62,993) with expenditure of £83,457 (2024: £61,201). The net unrestricted surplus was £13,560 (2024 surplus: £1,792) with a deficit on restricted funds of £15,939 (2024 deficit: ENil). At the end of the year, unrestricted reserves were £111,282 (2024: £97,722).
In the previous years the Trust received a very generous legacy which will give it a sound financial base on which to develop future activities. The online lecture series continues to lead to a number of donations. The Trust is well set to continue to develop its activities, focussing on delivering regional priorities.
The restricted reserves principally relate to expenditure for the Mortimer’s Cross project with funding for this was largely received in the prior years. 2024-25 saw the completion of work linked to the HLF funding and repayment of unspent grants. A small balance remains to cover maintenance of the project boards and other related promotions. Other restricted projects are coming to a close with modest expenditure to complete.
Funds
In addition to the unrestricted funds, the Trust manages a number of restricted funds for specific purposes. Although most resources received for such funds are in the form of grants, others are raised through individual fundraising appeals.
The funds are: -
Unrestricted Funds: available for the general use of the Trust in pursuance of its charitable activities, at the discretion of the Trustees.
Restricted Funds: funds received for specific purposes as defined by the donors and agreed by the Trustees, including;
Education (Historic England): to develop educational resources relating to battlefields in England. This project completed during the year and Historic England has agreed to unspent funds being used towards a resource pack relating to battles in the Tees Valley. Mortimer’s Cross: (Heritage Lottery Fund) to undertake an archaeological and research project around the site and events of the battle at Mortimer’s Cross and to present the site to the public. The Trust is holding money fundraised by the Mortimer’s Cross project, on their behalf Shrewsbury: residual funding received from the Shrewsbury 1403 project to fund the restoration of signage at the site and any other form of promotion of the battlefield. Boroughbridge: a project to fund interpretation of the Battle of Boroughbridge and the surrounding area.
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Reserves Policy
The Trustees aim to hold a national cash reserve (less liabilities and excluding money held by regional groups which are used locally but consolidated into these accounts) of six months of normal expenditure (i.e. excluding restricted funds and specific projects), to allow for the annual cyclical variation in income from membership as compared to the regular nature of expenditure on items such as the magazine and annual AGM and conference. Currently, this equates to a target of approximately £16,000. Appropriate unrestricted reserves at 30'" September 2025 amounted to £111,282 (2024: £97,721). Trustees have allocated some of these funds towards regional plans and a significant upgrade to the Resource Centre website and will consider other proposals as they come forward.
All reserves are held at the bank and with current interest rates and cash flow requirements, funds are held in current accounts. forTrustees considerthe financial position to be satisfactory and believe that the Trust remains a going concern the foreseeable future, recognising the uncertainties of funding sources.
Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees
The Trustees (who are aiso directors of the Battlefields Trust for the purposes of company law) 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).
Company and charity law require the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year for that period. In preparing financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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e select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; e observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; e make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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e 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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e Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
As far as the Trustees are aware at the time the report is approved:
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e There is no relevant information of which the Trust’s independent examiner is unaware; and
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e The Trustees have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the Independent Examiner is aware of that information.
Signed:
Anthony Rich, (- Chair On behalf of the Board of Trustees
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TE a Fae ENOLANY Gn erate | Independent examiner's report | on the accounts
Section A
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Independent Examiner’s Report
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Report to the trustees/directors/ THE BATTLEFIELDS TRUST members of On accounts for the year |30 SEPTEMBER 2025 ended Set out on pages | 10 TO 14
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|I|report to|the|charity trustees|on|my examination|of the|accounts|of the|
|Company for|the|year ended|30/09/2025.|
|Responsibilities and|As|the|charity's|trustees of the Company (who|are|also|the|directors|of the|
|basis|of report|company for the|purposes|of company|law),|you|are|responsible|for the|
|preparation|of the|accounts|in|accordance|with|the|requirements|of the|
|Companies|Act 2006|(“the|2006|Act’).|-|
|Having|satisfied|myself that the|accounts|of the Company|are|not required|
|to|be|audited|for this year under|Part|16|of the|2006|Act and|are|eligible|for|
|independent examination,|||report|in|respect|of my|examination|of your|
|charity's|accounts|as|carried|out|under section|145|of the|Charities Act 2011|
|(“the|2011|Act”).|In|carrying|out my examination,|||have|followed|the|
|Directions|given|by the|Charity Commission|(under section|145(5)(b)|of the|
|2011|Act.|
|Independent|||have|completed|my examination.|lL|confirm|that|no|material|matters|have|
|examiner's|statement|Come|to my attention|(other than|that disclosed|below|) which|gives me|
|cause|to|believe|that:|
||accounting|records|were|not|kept|in|accordance|with|section|386|of the|
|Companies|Act 2006;|or|
||the|accounts|do|not accord|with|such|records;|or|
||the accounts|do|not comply with|relevant|accounting|requirements|under|
|section|396|of the|Companies Act 2006|other than|any|requirement|that the|
|accounts|give|a|‘true|and|fair’|view which|is|not a|matter considered|as|part|
|of an|independent|examination;|or|
|*the|accounts|have|not|been|prepared|in|accordance|with|the|Charities|
|SORP|(FRS102).|
|||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.|
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Name: | PHILIP CLARK FCA
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IER
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eee 9 October 2018
Charity Number 1017387 Company Number 02786730
Battlefields Trust
Statement of Financial Activities
for the year ending 30° September 2025
| Note | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | 2023-24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Subscriptions and donations | 2 | 52,012 | - | 52,012 | 42,858 |
| Activities for raisingfunds | 3 | 27,438 | - | 27,438 | 19,564 |
| Investment income | 1,629 | - | 1,629 | 571 | |
| Incoming resources from generated funds | 81,079 | - | 81,079 | 62,993 | |
| Incoming resources from charitable activities | 4 | - | - | - | - |
| Total incoming resources | 81,079 | - | 81,079 | 62,993 | |
| Expenditure on: | |||||
| Raising funds | 5 | 21,122 | - | 21,122 | 15,607 |
| Charitable | |||||
| activities | 6 | 46,396 | 15,939 | 62,335 | 45,594 |
| Total Resourcesexpended | ___—«67,518 | = 15,939 | 83,457 | —__:(61,201 | |
| Net incoming/(outgoing) resources | 13,560 | (15,939) | (2,379) | 1,792 | |
| Transfers between funds | - | - | - | - | |
| Net movement in funds | 13,560 | (15,939) | (2,379) | 1,792 | |
| Funds broughtforward | 97,722 | 26,302 | 124,024 | 122,231 | |
| Fundscarriedforward | 111,282 | 10,363 | 121,645 | 124,023 |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.
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Balance Sheet
Charity Number 1017387 Company Number 02786730 Battlefields Trust
as at 30 September 2025
| Note | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | 2023-24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| CurrentAssets | |||||
| Cash | 111,583 | 10,363 | 121,946 | 116,148 | |
| Debtors | - | - | - | 8,176 | |
| Total CurrentAssets | 111,583 | 10,363 | 121,946 | 124,324 | |
| Creditors: amounts fallingdue | 7 | 300 | - | 300 | 300 |
| within one year | |||||
| NetAssets | 111,283 | 10,363 | 121,646 | 124,024 | |
| Represented by: | |||||
| Unrestricted Funds | 8 | 111,283 | - | 111,283 | 97,722 |
| Restricted Funds | 8 | - | 10,363 | 10,363 | 26,302 |
| TotalFunds | 111,283 | 10,363 | 121,645 | 124,024 |
For the year ending 30 September 2025, the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The Directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies’ regime and in accordance with FRS102 and the Charity SORP. The notes on pages xx to xx form part of these accounts.
Anthony Rich Chair of Trustees Approved by the Trustees on: [ g Hapork
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Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ending 30 September 2025
Charity Number 1017387 Company Number 02786730
Battlefields Trust
Note 1: Accounting Policies
- a) Basis of Preparation
These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities and the financial framework applicable in the UK (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102.
These accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the current and previous periods.
-
b) Stocks Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. No stock was recorded during the year as any resources expended on saleable items were minimal and charged to expenditure.
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c) Funds Restricted funds are given to the Trust for specific purposes and are expendable by the Trustees in furtherance of particular projects. Unrestricted funds are available for any purpose of the Trust.
d) Incoming resources
Incoming resources are recognised once the Trust has entitlement to the resources, it is certain that the resources will be received and the monetary value of incoming resources can be measured with sufficient reliability. Life memberships are offered however, due to the small numbers, the full income from these has been credited to the subscription income in the year of receipt. Gift Aid income is recorded on receipt.
-
e) Resources expended
-
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Trust to the expenditure.
Grants are only made in furtherance of the charitable objectives of the Trust. A liability for such grants is recognised when approved by the Trustees.
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f) Cost of generating funds The costs of generating funds are those costs attributable to generating incoming resources for the Trust, other than those costs incurred in undertaking charitable activities.
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g) Charitable activities
Costs of charitable activities comprise all costs incurred in the pursuit of the charitable objectives of the Trust.
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----- Start of picture text -----
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Charity Number 1017387|Company Number 02786730|
|Battlefields|Trust|
|Notes to the|Financial|Statements|
|for the year ending 30" September 2025|
|Note|Unrestricted|—|Restricted|2024-25|2023-24|
|2:|Subscriptions|and|donations|
|Donations|552|-|552|218|
|Subscriptions|39,181|-|39,181|34,464|
|Gift|Aid|
|;|12,279|-|12,279|8,176|
|eee|a|
|52,012|-|52,012|42,858|
|SSS|es|> —SS=———_=———|
|All subscription|and donation income|in 2023-24 was|unrestricted|
|Note|3: Activities for raising funds|
|Conferences,|Study Days, Walks and Talks|27,438|-|27,438|19,564|
|eee|ee|
|27,438|-|27,438|19,564|
|SSS|a|
|All activities for raising funds|in 2023-24 were|unrestricted|
|Note 4: Incoming|resources from Charitable Activities|
|Mortimer's|Cross|Project|-|-|-|-|
|eee|a|
|SSS|=|
|All incoming resources from|Charitable|Activities|in 2023-24 were|restricted|
|Note|5:|Raising funds|
|Conferences,|Study Days, Walks and Talks|19,637|-|19,637|13,854|
|Web site costs|1,485|-|1,485|1,753|
|eee|
|21,122|-|21,122|15,607|
|a|=————————————|
|All costs of raising funds|in 2022-23 were|unrestricted|
|Note|6:|Charitable|Activities|
|Mortimer's|Cross|
|Magazine|-|15,939|15,939|-|
|Interpretation|27,264|-|27,264|29,282|
|Governance|and Conservation|of Sites|15,770|-|15,770|14,110|
|and support costs|3,363|-|3,363|3,953|
|eee|
|46,397|15,939|62,336|47,346|
|ee|4834|
|In 2023-24,|all costs|relating to the|Mortimer's|Cross project were|restricted.|
|All|other costs were|unrestricted.|
----- End of picture text -----
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| Note 7:Creditors | Unrestricted | Restricted | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AccruedExpenses | 300 | - | 300 | 300 | ||
| ee 300 - 300 |
ee 300 |
|||||
| In2023-24,the accruedexpenseswere | were unrestricted. | |||||
| Note 8:Analysis ofFunds | ||||||
| B/fwd | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | C/fwd | ||
| Restricted Funds | ||||||
| HistoricEngland Education Mortimers Cross Shrewsbury Boroughbridge |
795 16,942 3,399 5,167 |
- - - - |
- (15,939) - - |
- | - - - |
795 1,002 3,399 5,167 |
| Total RestrictedFunds | 26,302 | - | (15,939) | - | 10,363 | |
| GeneralFunds | 97,722 | 81,078 | (67,518) | - | 111,283 | |
| TotalFunds | 124,024 81,078 (83,457) - 121,646 re 121,646 |
|||||
| Restricted Funds 2023-24 | ||||||
| Historic England Education MortimersCross Shrewsbury Boroughbridge |
795 16,942 3,399 5,167 |
- - - - |
- - - - |
- - - - |
795 16,942 3,399 5,167 |
|
| Total RestrictedFunds | 26,302 | - | - | - | 26,302 | |
| GeneralFunds | 95,929 | 62,993 | (61,201) | - | 97,722 | |
| TotalFunds | 122,231 62,993 (61,201) - 124,024 124,024 |
Trustees are in the process of reviewing unspent restricted funds. Where projects still have funds outstanding, funding.Trustees are working on future plans to ensure that the funding is spent in accordance with the terms of individual
Note 9: Related Party Transactions During the year there were no related party transactions (2024 - £Nil)
Note 10: Trustee Expenses
During the year expenditure totalling £4,613 was reimbursed to Trustees (2024 - £3,795). This relates to operational expenditure incurred on the Trusts behalf and allowable travel expenses.
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