## **The Lady Anne Windsor Charity Annual Report on 2024** Registered Charity Number: 1031819 The purpose of the charity is, as it has been since its foundation in 1606 by Lady Anne Windsor, to provide almshouse accommodation for “poor persons who are inhabitants of the area of the Civil Parishes of Leavenheath, Nayland-with-Wissington and Stoke-By-Nayland with a preference for women” in the words of our Governing Document. We do this by means of the historic almshouses at 1 to 4 The Downs and No. 3 Rowley Cottages, Church Lane, Stoke by Nayland. Our money comes almost entirely from the payments made by residents: In 2024 we received £23,572 from charges to residents, and £1,836 from other sources. Our expenditure is essentially for work on the buildings, from routine repairs and maintenance to paying for past investment and work for improvements: In 2024 we spent £4,289 on “business as usual” costs eg maintenance, £9,440 servicing loans and £6,305 on Downs remodelling project fees. **Stewardship** : We commissioned Quinquennial Reports on our two buildings, and have acted on them. We are satisfied they are in sound condition. We upgraded the electrical system at 3 Rowley Cottages to current standards during the vacancy described below. With the permission of the Tendring Hall estate, we cut down conifer trees close to the boundary with the Downs almshouses to improve their light, and are grateful to Peter Orrock for covering the cost. The Trustees continue to be of the opinion that the assets of the Charity are sufficient to cover the requirements of our current operations. We need to build up our balances so as to contribute to the important projects envisaged below, but these will require major funding from other sources. Weekly maintenance contributions for residents – for almshouses, corresponding to rent – were increased by an average of 19%, to the level of Housing Benefit applicable to the properties, on 1 April 2024. Our reserves increased from £99,468 to £109,821. ## **Development** : The Downs almshouses need up-to-date facilities. We have developed a scheme to do much more than bring their facilities up-to-date. If we can ## **The Lady Anne Windsor Charity** achieve it, they will be transformed, within the constraints of the 400-year old historic main building, and of the site, at the top of a grassy slope. We submitted a full planning and listed building application on 23 May 2024 and obtained permission on 29 November. The scheme may be seen on the Babergh website at DC/24/02367 & DC/24/02368. We are now engaged in detailed design to enable us to go out to tender. But we must emphasise that success is not guaranteed, and we have been advised that it will not be possible for us to seek the necessary financial support from Homes England until 2026. The Charity’s Plough Lane field in Leavenheath presents a unique opportunity to develop new accommodation to meet local needs by working in close conjunction with Leavenheath Parish Council. We have undertaken pre-app discussions with the Babergh planners on the basis of a small scheme of six almshouses and three open market houses. The response was negative, not recognising any public benefit from the almshouses. We take encouragement from the fact that the objections put forward by the planners have been rejected by Inspectors on appeals in respect of developments close by. We continue to work to take this project forward. **Trustees** : There was no change among the Trustees during 2024. I was re-elected as Chairman. Rosie Emeny, Peter Orrock, Martin Owen and Graham Walker continued as Trustees, with Martin also being Treasurer. Rowena Engleheart continued as our Clerk. **Residents:** Yvette Long had lived at 3 Rowley Cottages since the charity acquired it in 2016, but sadly had to move elsewhere and vacated the property on 2 October. We advertised the vacancy, in the LSPN and Nayland Community Times, and via the Council’s Choice-based letting scheme. There was much interest in the vacancy, recognising the attractions of the property. In the event we appointed our existing resident, Maureen Frost, from No 2 The Downs. No 2 The Downs remains empty but in view of the delay in the remodelling scheme we are seeking an occupant willing to take the property knowing it is likely they will need to vacate it in 2026. Page **2** of **7** ## **The Lady Anne Windsor Charity** The occupancy details, with the year of commencement, are: No 1 The Downs, Nicholas Beavan (2016) No 2 The Downs, Maureen Frost (2002) until 9 November No 3 The Downs, Karl Cansdale (2003) No 4 The Downs, Jackson Reader (2022) 3 Rowley Cottages, Yvette Long (2016) until 2 October Maureen Frost from 9 November **Other** : Our farm tenants, Mr Neil Pulford, for Campen Close behind the Guildhall in Stoke by Nayland, and E T Smith & Son, for our Plough Lane field, remain unchanged from last year. **Adam Sedgwick Chairman 2 April 2025** Page **3** of **7** The Lady Anne Windsor Charity I CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGiANO AND WALES 14u Ill any) LAOY ANNE WINDSOR CHARtrY 1031819 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the penod from To Ol.J￿24 31-D¥c-24 Section A Receipts and payments Unresiricted lunds Restricted funds Endov•Yne lunds Total fund5 Last ye*r Ai Recei c t)(rwns 17 17*72 5,817 2.520 .NAACIF C*s -Irrterex 233 Plo h Ir•wJ Sub total(Gross I￿Orne for AR 247eO 2 Asset •nd investh￿rn s￿•5. UDn Loan NA4CIF S Sub to Toral rewp A3Pa meni$ 200 4,184 1,46J 167 43 Ift￿8￿ tKr¥) rnair¢ IA4J 153 3331 SUrVtyo￿ & aichrtects lees PW Lane projeu lees 6.779 llg Sub to 4 Asset and investment urchases. see lablv OIF De l Fund OIF Fixed IFKome FLnJ Mort tal re loan re ni 4,000 Sub toia Total paymen Net of receip￿paYMents A5 Transfer5 tsel￿￿n funds A6 Cash funds lasi year end Cash fvnds thls year e 611 874 Page4of7 The Lady Anne Windsor Charity Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unresrricied funds Restricted lunds to Iitr¥esT £ EndowiT)enl fund5 10 west £ C&ieyuiw¥ l)¢l•i$ Bl Cash lunds U74 Total cash fvnds &874 *)) Awmeni Err Unrestricted lunds reernent ETriy Restricted Endo￿1￿￿¢ funds funds Details FuThJ to Detw'ls Com Iokth 4L979 Futhl lo *thich Details 84 Assels retained for the charity's use FEkl Wh•n dLhl ONI Delails BS Llabilities 10 yew¥ 10 year¥ ned ty one or t*hail ol am the Dale ot 29K&25 2￿25 Page5of7 The Lady Anne Windsor Charity CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of The Lady Anne VAndsor Chanty On accounts for the year ended 31° December 2024 Charity no 1031819 Set out on pages i.èTh*4Tr￿ iu Iiie IiA4e li JipI)eiS lil Iii)i%dl .l*él'_ I report to the trustees on my examinati(Yt of the accounts of a￿ve tharity (Ihe Trusn for the year ended 31°1)ecember 2024. Responsibilities and As the chanty trustees of the TfUSL you afe fespon&ble for the prepar￿lon basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the TequireffEnts ol the chartts.es Act 2011 (Ihe A¢r). I report in respect of my examIn￿10n of the Trust's accounts &arried oul under seaion 145 of ￿ 2011 Act and in carrying oul my examinalion. I have followed the ap￿ICable DirecDons gtven ty the Charty Commission under seaion 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examinats'on. I confirm that no materi￿ matters have come to my attention ") in conneth'on wth the examination bvhich gNes me cause io believe in. any M￿ell Tespect.. accounting records weTe not kept in accordan￿ Viryth section 130 of the Act or Ihe accounts do not accord wth the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no c￿CernS arKJ have CO￿ across rK) Other matters in connection wrth the examinab'on to which attenD'on should be drawn in order lo enable a oper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the bM)rds in Ihe brackets il Ihey do not apply. Signed: Date: 31Y June 2025 Name". Robert Lighttooi Relevant prolessionaj qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Vknl House. Church street. sioke by Nayland, Colchester C06 4QP Page6of7 The Lady Anne Windsor Charity Section B Disclosure Onty complete if Ihe examiner reeds io highlight matters of con￿rn (see CC32, Independent examinaDon of chaffy acc￿nts.. directsons and guidance for examineTS). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. Page7of7