## **THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
**TRUSTEES REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2024**
## **CHARITY NUMBER 1023682**
## **CHARITY INFORMATION**
## **TRUSTEES - Serving in the year and at the date of approval of the Trustees’ Report:**
Chairman Sarah Elizabeth Petit Skellingthorpe Hall Lincoln, LN6 5UU
Secretary Russell Petit Skellingthorpe Hall Lincoln, LN6 5UU
Timothy Charles Coltman Skellingthorpe Hall Lincoln, LC6 5UU
Anne Clare Coltman Skellingthorpe Hall Lincoln, LN6 5UU
Mary Jane Coltman 6 Paddocks Close Offord Cluny St Neots Cambridgeshire, PE19 5ZE
William Macalpine-Leny Flat 2, 35 Bristol Gardens London, W9 2JQ
## **CHARITY NUMBER:**
1023682
## **BANKERS:**
National Westminster Bank Plc 225 High Street Lincoln, LN2 1AZ
## **INVESTMENT ADVISORS:**
Investec Wealth & Investment Limited Beech House 61 Napier Street Sheffield, S11 8HA
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER:**
AR Matthews
12 Windrush Court 175 The Hill Burford. OX18 4RE
2
## **THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
## **YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2024**
## **CONTENTS**
||**PAGES**|
|---|---|
|**Charity Information**|**2**|
|**Contents**|**3**|
|**Trustees’ Report**|**4 – 7**|
|**Independent Examiners Report**|**8**|
|**Notes to Accounts**|**9 - 19**|
3
**THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
## **Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31[st] March 2024**
The Trustees’ present their report and the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2024.
## **1. Structure, Governance and Management**
The Charity is constituted by a Trust Deed dated 2[nd] April 1993 and registered with the Charity Commission under Charity Number 1023682.
The original endowment of £1,000 was provided by Margaret Patricia Bergne-Coupland. Further donations have been made throughout the years by family members, including the original donor, to augment the endowment of the Charity, the latest being a legacy of £240,000 from the estate of Margaret Patricia Bergne-Coupland who passed away on 1[st] March 2015.
Appointment of the Trustees is governed by the Trust Deed. The power to appoint new Trustees on the death or retirement of any Trustee, or to appoint additional Trustees, was vested in Margaret Patricia Bergne-Coupland during her lifetime, and since her death the statutory powers of appointing new Trustees’ apply. Without prejudice to any other power of appointment, a new Trustee or Trustees may be appointed by a resolution of a meeting of Trustees.
## _**Governance**_
The Trustees hold a meeting either towards the end of each calendar year or at the start of the following calendar year at which the Trustees agree the broad strategies and areas of activity of the Charity, including grant making, investment, reserves, risk management policies and performance. Other meetings may be held during the year as the need arises.
The Trustees keep the skill requirements of the Trustees under review. When appropriate, appointment of new Trustees is made from the Bergne-Coupland family members as they are already aware of the charitable objectives and organisational structure and background of the Charity. The induction process for newly appointed Trustees includes copies of the latest Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements, and a copy of the Trust Deed.
## _**Management**_
The day to day administration of grants and the processing and handling of applications prior to consideration by the Trustees is performed by the Finance Manager.
## _**Public Benefit**_
The Trustees refer to the advice contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Trust’s aims and objectives, in planning future activities and in setting the grant making policy for the year.
The Charity does not actively fundraise but seeks to continue philanthropic work through careful stewardship of its existing resources.
4
## **THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
## **Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31[st] March 2024 (continued)**
## **Investment Policy**
The Trust Deed empowers the Trustees to invest trust money as the Trustees in their absolute discretion see fit.
The Charity is reliant on the total return of its investments after allowing for inflation. The investment income is broadly received from stock exchange investments and securities and bank interest.
Investec Wealth & Investment Limited manages the security investments on the terms of the Investment Policy Statement submitted to them by the Trustees in accordance with the Trustee Act 2000. The Trustees take a long term view of the Trust’s future and intend to build up its financial resources over time. The portfolio should aim for a conservative rate of growth in the capital value of the fund. This policy is reviewed annually at a meeting with Investec attended by at least two Trustees and the Trusts Finance Manager.
The policy of the Charity continues to be the prudent management of the securities to provide funds to finance the Charity objectives.
## **Risk Management**
The Trustees have examined the major strategic business and operational risks which the Charity faces, and in particular those relating to the finances of the Charity and confirm that systems have been established to enable regular reports to be produced so that necessary steps can be taken to lessen these risks.
## **2. Objectives and Activities**
The objectives of the Charity are such charitable purposes for the public as the Trustees shall think fit, giving special consideration to charitable needs in Lincolnshire and considering - though not exclusively – the Fabric of Lincoln Cathedral and charities involved with care and support, nature conservation and animal welfare.
## **Activities**
Grant applications are encouraged from appropriate potential beneficiaries known to the Trustees, and details of the Charity are made available on the Charity Commission website to facilitate requests for assistance to be made.
At the start of each four year cycle period the Trustees select a number of charities to which annual grants are to be made for four consecutive years. The payments for the first year of this current four year cycle were made in the year to 31[st] March 2022. The total committed for each of these four years is £18,000 per annum. Other charitable grants are also made annually. All grants are recognised in the year in which they are paid. In addition, there is scope for larger one-off donations to be made during the year as the need arises. This policy is reviewed on a regular basis.
5
**THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
## **Trustee’s Report for the year ended 31[st] March 2024 (continued)**
## **3. Achievements and Performance**
Grants awarded are listed in Note 3 to the accounts and totalled £31,000 during the year. The Trustees consider the performance of the Charity for this year has been satisfactory.
## **4. Financial Review**
Total Incoming Resources of £37,124 (2023 - £41,603) and Total Resources Expended of £44,915 (2023 - £49,375) for the year. Exchange gains/losses are excluded Total Resources Expended includes charitable activities of £37,300 (2023 - £33,300}
Charitable donations amounting to £31,000 were made during the year, (2023 - £35,000).
## _**Plans for the future**_
The Trustees are committed to the furtherance of the Charity’s objectives. The Trustees will determine the beneficiaries of the next four year cycle at their meeting in December 2026.
## _**Reserves Policy**_
The credit balance on Unrestricted Funds Account of £31,751 at the year end is generally considered by the Trustees to represent the level of free reserves of the Charity.. In addition to the payment of regular annual donations, there is scope for larger one-off donations to be made during the year as the need arises.
The capital of the Endowment Fund, which stands at £1,245,322 may, at the Trustees’ discretion, be used in furtherance of the objectives of the Charity and is predominantly held in the fixed asset investment portfolio.
Funds available are sufficient for the Charity to continue in operation and its investments provide a firm base for providing future funds to meet the objectives in the Charity scheme.
At 31[st] March 2024, the total value of the fund is £1,277,073.
6
THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHAIUTY
Trustees, Report for the year ended 31° March 2024 (continued)
s. Trustees, Responsibilities
The Tntstees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance
.W4th apph'cabk Iaw aRd regul*ions.
The Tn[eeS are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year in accordance with
l_IniteA_ KintsAn. fTpnprA.Ilv.A¢¢.eptpd .A¢rniinlino PrAr.tie.e fl_In•tpH KintsAnrn _A_erniinting StAnAArAR And
appIlble law.) The financial statements are required by law to give a true a1 fair view of the state of
affaits4f 4he £knity andof Its incoming resources and application of resources ofthe Charity forthat
perio(L In preparing thesc financial ststements. the Trustes should follow best practise and".
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them Consistently.
makè Juagèinérkts and eStlle$ arè reasonable and prudent.
preparc the fmancial sL*ements on the goins Coll basis unless it is inappropriate
to Presume that the Charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable
accuracs. at ani" tirnc the financssl PGJitivn of thc cl.? &id cnablc th¥TI to ¢Esurc that thc kncsal
ststements comply with the applicable law. regulations and the trust deed. They are also responsible for
aftguarding the &ssets of the Chanty and hence for taknllg Teasonable steps for tbe prevention and
detection of fraud and other iThe2ularitics.
This rewrt w&8 approved by the T on >. I i.
2024
THK BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO TH TRUSTEES ON THE
UIYAIIDITED ACC015NTS OTr 'fHE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHAIUTY
I report to the TnteeS on my examinalion of the accounts of The Bergne-coupland Charity for the year
cndcd 31, NlarcF. •0•4. H'kicxi wc Sct out pagcs 9 1
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER
The TThteeS are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of
thc ch}ticS Act :e; l (tkc ?0 I l .1¢;,
Thc Tru3tCC3 ar 3ati)ficd that on audit 13 not rcquircd fo-.
year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and have chosen instead to have an
independent examination.
I report in respect of my eknmination of the Charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the
2011 .4CT. In caTrygng m}, eNamin.2tirn I Iia:'e fe,Ileii'ed the applicable directions gii'en bs, the
Charity Commission undei section 145(5Xb) of the 2011 Act.
INDEPENDENf EXANERs STATEMENT
I can confirni that l am qualified to uodertake the eKqmination beCae l am a retired accountant of the
C&artered ,Icccw-
E--l--.d attd 111 I
IJ Gne o< lir+ed boL'-- ar.d hol'e the re4ilialte
ability and experience.
I have completed my examination. I can ¢onfirn] that no matters have come to my attention givin2 me
cause to believe that in any materiaI respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section IJO
of the ?01 l Act" or
the accounis do not accord with those iecords. or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the forni and
content of acwunts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Rewrts) Regulations ?(X18
other than any requirement that the accounts give a tn and fair view wlll'ch is not a
matter considered as part of an independent examinatiOIL
I have no concerns and have comc across no other matters in connection with the ewnination to which
attention should be dwn in this report in order to enable a pro[ understsnding7 of the accounts to
reached.
Signed..
AR Matththl's
I: Il'li1 dnkn-h Court
175 The Hill
Burford. OXI8 4RE
Dated
2v24
**THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
**Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2024**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **(a) Entity Status**
The Trust is an incorporated charity registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales.
## **(b) Basis of Accounting**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practise applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1[st] January 2015) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes. Fair value movements are dealt with through the Statement of Financial Activities.
The Trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have considered possible events or conditions that might cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The Trustees have made this assessment for a period of at least one year from the date of approval of the financial statements. In view of the level of assets held, the trustees have concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The charity therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.
FRS 102 was adopted for the first time when preparing financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2016.
9
## **THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
## **Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2024**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)**
## **(c) Income**
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities on the following basis:
**.** Legacies are included when they become receivable. A legacy is regarded as receivable when it has been received or if it becomes probable that the legacy will be received and that the value of the incoming resources can be measured reliably.
**.** Donations, gift aid and covenants are included when they become receivable.
**.** Bank interest and investment income are included when they become due.
## **(d) Expenditure**
Expenditure is included in the Statement of Financial Activities as soon as it is incurred.
Governance costs comprise the annual accountancy charges as well as the costs of running the charity.
## **(e) Taxation**
The Bergne-Coupland Charity is a registered charity and the accounts are prepared on the basis that its activities are not liable to Income Tax or Corporation Tax.
## **(f) Investments**
These are investments held in the UK and are included in the balance sheet at market value, with realised and unrealised gains and losses included in the Statement of Financial Activities.
10
## **THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
## **Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2024**
|**2.**
**INCOMING RESOURCES:**
**Unrestricted Funds**
Voluntary Income
**Investment Income**
Bank Interest
Dividend Income
**Total Income Resources**
**3.**
**COSTS OF GENERATING FUNDS**:
**Investment Management Costs:**
**Endowment Funds**
Investec Wealth & Investment
|**2024**
**£**
0
0
37,124
37,124
**2024**
**£**
11,615|**2023**
**£**
0
0
41,603
41,603
**2023**
**£**
12,075|
|---|---|---|
||
||
## **Charitable Activities:**
|**Charitable Activities:**|**Charitable Activities:**|**Charitable Activities:**|
|---|---|---|
|Charitable grants awarded during the year ending 31stMarch 2024 amounted to £31,000.Grants are only|||
|awarded to institutions.|||
||**2024**|**2023**|
||
**£**|**£**|
|Afghanistan & Central Asia Ass’n|0|1,000|
|Barnardo's|1,000|1,000|
|Blind Veterans UK|0|1,000|
|Camphill Family
|1,000|1,000|
|Caudwell Children|1,000|1,000|
|Disasters Emergency Committee|0|2,000|
|Great Ormond Street Hospital|0|1,000|
Continued / ……
11
|Hearing Dogs|1,000|1,000|
|---|---|---|
|Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire|2,000|2,000|
|Independent Age
|2,000|1,000|
|James’ Place
|2,000|2,000|
|Lincoln Cathedral Fabric Fund|2,000|2,000|
|Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance|1,000|1,000|
|Marie Curie Cancer Care
|3,000|3,000|
|Medecins Sans Frontieres|1,000
|1,000|
|NARA|0|1,000|
|Nomad Trust (YWCY)|1,000|0|
|Open University|0|1,000|
|Police Community Clubs
|2,000|1,000|
|Post Adoption Society|1,000|1,000|
|Practical Action
|2,000|1,000|
|Prostate Cancer UK
|1,000|1,000|
|RABI
|0|1,000|
|Respite Care Association|1,000|1,000|
|Richmond Fellowship|1,000|1,000|
|Saint John Ambulance|1,000|1,000|
|The Salvation Army|1,000|1,000|
|School Readers|1,000|1,000|
|Shawmind|0|1,000|
|Strongbones|1,000|0|
|Versus Arthritis
|1,000|1,000|
||_________|_________|
||£ 31,000|£ 35,000|
|Support Costs – Accounting|2,300
|2,300|
|Independent Examination|0|0|
||__________|_________|
||£ 33,300|£ 37,300|
||___________|_________|
All the above are charged to the unrestricted funds of the charity in both the current and prior year.
Investment management charges are incurred by the endowment fund totalling £11615 (2023: £12,075.)
12
**THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
## **Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2024**
## **4. ENDOWMENT FUNDS – Gains / Losses on Revaluation and on**
## **Investment Asset Disposals**
The investment portfolio was valued by Investec Wealth & Investment Limited on 31[st] March 2024.
The schedule on Pages 18 and 19 is an analysis of the investment transactions for the year ending 31[st] March 2024.
|**5.**|**DEBTORS:**|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|**£**|
|||0|0|
|**6.**|**CASH AT BANK:**|**2024**|**2023**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Nat West Current Account|14,930
|11,026|
||Investec Wealth & Investment:|||
||Cash and Dealing Account
|10,144|37,784|
||Income Deposit Account|3,161|4,179|
|||_________|_________|
|||£28,235|£ 52,989|
|||_________|_________|
13
**THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
**Notes to the Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2024**
## **7. CREDITORS, ACCRUALS AND DEFERRED INCOME: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
|**Unrestricted Funds**
Governance Costs:
Accounting and Administration Costs
Independent Examiners Fees
|**2024**
**£**
2,300
500
£ 2,800|**2023**
£
2,300
500|
|---|---|---|
|||£ 2,800|
## **8. TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS AND FUNDS STRUCTURE:**
The Charity maintains an Unrestricted Fund and an Endowment Fund. The Unrestricted Fund is used for the charitable activities of the Charity. All the income of the Charity is credited to the Unrestricted Fund, with the exception of Gift Aid income, which together with the associated repayable income tax is credited to the Endowment Fund. The capital of the Endowment Fund may, at the Trustees’ discretion, be used in furtherance of the objects of the Charity. Periodically the Trustees make transfers between the Funds.
## **9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:**
None of the Trustees were paid any remuneration or expenses by the Charity in the year (2023 – Nil).
Trustees may hold more than one Trusteeship which may result in donations being made to charities with mutual Trustees. Such donations are not given on preferential terms.
14
## **THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2024**
|**Notes**|**Unrestricted**|**Endowment**|**Total**|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Funds**|**Funds**|**2024**|2023|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|£|
|**Income from: **|||||
|Legacies|**0**|**0**|**0**|0|
|Donations|**0**|**0**|**0**|0|
|Fixed Assets|||||
|Investment Income|37**,124**|**0**|**37,124**|41,603|
|Interest Receivable|**0**|**0**|**0**|0|
||__________________________________________________________||||
|**Total Incoming**|||||
|**Resources 2**|37**,124**|**0**|**37,124**|41,603|
||__________________________________________________________||||
|**Expenditure on:**|||||
|Investment Management:|||||
|Costs|**0**|**11,615**|**11,615**|12,075|
|Charitable Activities|**33,300**|**0**|**33,300**|37,300|
||_________________________________________________________||||
|**Total Resources**|||||
|**Expended 3**|**33,300**|**11,615**|**44,915**|49,375|
||_________________________________________________________||||
|Net gains /(losses) on|||||
|Investments|**0**|**51,741**|**51,741**|**-**106**,**527|
||________________________________________________________||||
|Net Income /(Expenditure)|3**,824**|**40,126**|**43,950**|-114,299|
|Transfer between Funds|**0**|**0**|0|0|
||________________________________________________________||||
|Net Movement in Funds|**3,824**|**40,126**|**43,950**|**-**114,299|
|Funds Brought Forward at|||||
|1stApril|**27,927**|**1,205,196**|**1,233,123**|1,347,422|
||_________________________________________________________||||
|**Funds Carried Forward at**|||||
|**31st March**|**31,751**|**1,245,322**|**1277,073**|1,233,123|
||_________________________________________________________||||
15
THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY
st
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024
Notes
2024
2023
XED ASSETS
Investments
1251,638
1,181934
Sun(hy Debtors
Ca5kn al
35
235
Sundry Creditors and
Ap.r.niAIq
ET CURRENf ASSETS
1233 123
Unrestricted Funds
31,751
27.927
Endowments
1245J22
1.205,196
77.073
1233.123
As approved by the Board of Trusteej on:
And signed on their behalf by:
Sarah Petit Chairnian
Date:
16
## **THE BERGNE-COUPLAND CHARITY**
## **Analysis of Fund Assets and Liabilities 31[st] March 2024**
|**Fixed Asset Investments**
**Current Assets**
**Current Liabilities**
|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**0**
**34,551**
**-2, 800**
**31,751**|**Endowment**
**Funds**
**£**
**1,251,638**
**0**
**-6316**
**1,245,322**|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
**1,251,638**
**28,235**
**-2,800**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**1,277,073**|
|**Fixed Asset Investments**
**Current Assets**
**Current Liabilities**
|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**0**
**30,727**
**-2,800**
**27,927**|**Endowment**
**Funds**
**£**
**1,182,934**
**22,262**
**0**
**1,205,196**|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
**1,182,934**
**52,989**
**-2,800**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**1,233,123**|
17