THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION
AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE FIELDS
Charity Number 1040560
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION AT ST.MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
CHARITY INFORMATION
CHARITY NO: 1040560
TRUSTEES (EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE) DURING THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Charles Woodd (Chair until 18 September 2024) Richard Cooper (Chair from 19 September 2024) Margaret Beels (Deputy Chair) (retired 4 April 2025) Mary Keane (Secretary) Chris Riley (Treasurer) ; Sheila Batchelor Emily Cecil-Dennett , Alex Gandini Matthew Whalley (ex-officio) Rosemarie Lomanno (resigned 11 July 2025)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Ashley N. Fox FCA, ACII PRB Accountants LLP Chartered Accountants Kingfisher House Hurstwood Grange Hurstwood Lane . . Haywards Heath RH17 7QX
BANKERS HSBC 16 King Street London WC2E 8JF
PRINCIPAL OFFICE 12, Adelaide Street, London, WC2N 4HW
DATE OF FORMATION
Under a constitution dated 14" June 1994, most recently amended on 29 June 2019
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The Trustees present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025.
The Executive Committee, who are the Board of Trustees and are listed on page 2, have reviewed the performance of the charity during the year and the position at 31 March 2025 and consider that the charity is in a good position to continue its activities during the coming year, and that the charity's assets are adequate to fulfil its obligations. ;
Financial Performance and End of Year Position
The Trustees consider the financial performance of the charity during the year to have been satisfactory.
The Friends were able to make grants totalling £125,569 to The Connection during the year. This is significantly down on the previous year’s figure, which was boosted by a large legacy donation. The level of donations to the charity is also down, with both average donations and the number of donors down. The Spring Appeal was not very successful, but the 2025 Appeal has been much more successful, showing that Friends do respond in numbers to a well-targeted appeal. The 2024 Queen Eleanor Cycle Ride raised around £22,000 net of expenditure including gift aid and is on target to surpass this in 2025.
Our costs are down slightly at around £24,000, but around 19% of our non-legacy income, the bulk of which is accounted for by staff costs.
As indicated in the Statement of Financial Activities, the accounts show an overall accounting deficit of around £6,000, as we were able to pay over to the Connection Gift Aid income received but accounted for in the previous year’s accounts. Our net assets at the end of the year stood at around £36,000, more than enough for our needs.
Policies on reserves
The policy of the charity is to carry a cash reserve sufficient to cover 8 months of support costs, taking into account the fact that in earlier years income from donations has been relatively low over an 8-month period from the beginning of the year. That has been interpreted as maintaining a minimum cash reserve of around £20,000, erring in practice somewhat on the side of caution, and this was achieved.
Principal funding sources and plans for future development The charity is dependent for its income on donations from its members, including subscriptions, donations, legacies and the income from fundraising events. During the year, the Committee continued to implement the agreed programme of operational integration with The Connection’s Fundraising Team, with a view to increasing the support we provide.
The aims of this programme are: to increase membership of the Friends, to involve the Friends more closely in the work of The Connection, to co-ordinate fully the two charities’ communications, to use resources, staff and Trustee time more efficiently, and to avoid unnecessary duplication.
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This closer working has been very beneficial in terms of shared resources and expertise, particularly thanks to the excellent support the Friends have received from Nicola Hollingworth, Head of Supporter Involvement, and other members of the Fundraising Team. It is taking time to : move ahead with the plans we hope will allow us to increase the ways we support The Connection but will include new events, volunteering opportunities and on the back of this, an improved better social media presence. The funding context during the year was difficult, however, as with many charities, and this was reflected in the fall in income experienced.
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Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and together form the Executive Committee of the Friends. Candidates must be members of the Friends and be proposed and seconded by members of the Friends. At the 2024 AGM, Richard Cooper was elected as Chair for a three year term. During the year, Rosemarie Lamanno was appointed (and subsequently stepped down) as Trustee. Margaret Beels retired from the committee in April after serving as $ Trustee, in various Officer capacities, for many years. Margaret continues to be a valued Friend.
The Trustees have continued to seek to recruit trustees with skills in fundraising policy and practice. The Trustees will also continue to seek to increase diversity in the membership of the Committee.
Induction and on-going training of Trustees
New trustees are given a copy of The Essential Trustee (published by the Charity Commission — document CC3) as well as the Friends’ constitution, and serve a probationary period as required by the constitution. The Chair informs them of their duties and responsibilities. Trustees are asked regularly to review their understanding of their obligations. All Trustees are notified of any new legislation pertinent to the running of a charity when this has been issued from the Charity . Commission or other relevant regulator,
The organisational structure of the charity and how decisions are made
The charity is managed by the Executive Committee (Trustees) as laid down in the constitution. As noted above, the Executive Committee is elected by the members at the AGM and is responsible for strategic decisions. Committee meetings are routinely attended by the Connection CEO and the Head of Supporter Involvement, to ensure that the Committee is well briefed about the strategy and activities of the Connection. Committee members have specific responsibilities so as to share the workload. The Committee is supported by the part-time Charity Administrator, Rupert Dean, employed by the Friends and seconded to the Connection, who handles everyday office and financial administration, leaving Committee members free to give priority to the crucial tasks of strategic direction, recruiting new members and expanding our fundraising activities.
Risk Management
The Executive Committee continues to review the risk register and the means by which risks can be minimised. The main risks during the year have been: (i) the continuing need to arrest the decline in membership, and therefore income from donations; and (ii) adjusting to the fundraising situation arising from the cost of living and pressures on personal incomes. Another potential risk is that the Friends’ Offer might not attract new Friends. A risk around dependency on the Charity’s administrator has been addressed by his closer working with The Connection’s fundraising team.
_ We are very grateful to the Charity Administrator for continuing. to work flexibly and to support the charity from a home base where appropriate.
The Committee has continued to seek ways of reversing the decline in membership (risk (i)), through the new collaborative arrangements instituted formally from 1 April 2021.
Objectives and Activities
Our objectives are laid down in our Constitution: “The object of the Friends shall be to support the charitable work of The Connection at St Martin’s in such manner as the Committee, in consultation with the Trustees of The Connection at St Martin's, shall from time to time determine, provided that such support does not relieve expenditure which a body or authority is under a statutory duty to provide.” .
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The Friends’ main activities are supporting the work of The Connection by promoting greater awareness about homelessness and the work of The Connection, raising funds through donations and subscriptions, including the receipt of legacies, recruiting new members, organising fundraising and awareness-raising events and encouraging members and others to support the work of The Connection.
The results of these efforts have been positive and can be seen from the following highlights of the year:
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e Donations, subscriptions and other non-legacy income totalled around £125,000. Income from legacies totalled £19,000, enabling grants to be made to The Connection totalling nearly £126,000.
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e The16" Queen Eleanor Cycle Ride attracted 21 cyclists for the full 4 days, and another 3 who cycled for shorter periods, again raising a total around £22,000. We acknowledge that the continuing success of the QECR depends on the dedicated efforts of the QECR Committee and support team, many of whom have served for many years, and on the ongoing generous support received from hosts along the route
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e Our Speakers Panel has remained largely dormant during the year, but is part of the plans of the Friends to reach out in 2026.
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- e Friends raised over £800 for The Connection in their slot at the Carol singing at Charing Cross Station.
Ultimately, the responsibility for running the charity lies with the members of the Committee, and the charity owes an enormous debt to our dedicated Committee members, who give greatly both of their time and expertise. The Connection’s CEO, Pam Orchard, has continued to be generous with her time and wise counsel, speaking at events and supporting our strategic thinking. She has been ably supported by Nicola Hollingworth, the Head of Supporter Involvement and other members of the Fundraising team. We continue to value our connection with St Martin-in-the-Fields.
At the 2024 AGM, a richly deserved tribute was paid to our Chair, Charles Wood, with his receipt of the Guy Mason Award, to recognise his outstanding service to the Friends Committee, especially during the challenge of the pandemic.
Public Benefit Statement
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance as published by the Charity Commission on public benefit. All charitable activities highlighted in this report are undertaken in furtherance of our charitable objects and for the public benefit.
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
Charity law requires Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the charity. In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to:
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e select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; e make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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' e prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business;
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- e state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
The Trustees are also responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. Trustees are required to show and explain the charity's transactions and the financial statements must comply with regulations made under the Charities Act. Trustees are 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.
The Trustees are also responsible for the contents of the Trustees’ Report, and the responsibility of the independent examiner in relation to the Trustees' Report is limited to examining the report and ensuring that, on the face of the report, there are no inconsistencies with the figures disclosed in the financial statements.
The Trustees are satisfied that they have fully discharged these responsibilities.
Rich ooper , Chaj
30 September 2025
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
| report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 318 March 2025, which are set out on ‘pages 10 to 14.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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e examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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e to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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- e to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
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Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
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Independent examiner’s statement
| have completed my examination.
| confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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. : . ;
| 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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Ashley N. Fox FCA, ACII
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PRB Accountants LLP Chartered Accountants
Kingfisher House, Hurstwood Grange, Hurstwood Lane Haywards Heath, RH17 7QX
30 September 2025
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THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 2024-25 | 2023-24 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||||
| Income and endowments from: | |||||||||||
| Donations and legacies | 2 | 141,619 | 0 | 141,619 | 397,137 | ||||||
| Other trading activities | 2,045 | 0 | 2,045 | 2,102 | |||||||
| Interest | : | 548 | 0 | 548 | -548 | ||||||
| Total income and endowments | 144,211 | 0 | 144,211 | . | 399,239 | ||||||
| Expenditure on: | |||||||||||
| Raising funds | 3,4 | 24,074 | 0 | 24,074 | 24,944 | ||||||
| Charitable activities | 5,6 | 126,319 | 0 | 126,319 | 388,176 | ||||||
| Total expenditure | : | 150,393 | 0 | 150,393 | 413,121 | ||||||
| Net income/expenditure | -6,182 | 0 | ~6,182 | -13,882 | . | ||||||
| Transfers between funds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| Net movement in funds | -6,182 | 0 | -6,182 | ~13,882 | |||||||
| Total funds brought forward | ot | 42,353 | . | 0 | 42,353 | 56,235 | |||||
| Totalfundscarriedforward | 7 | 36,171 | - | 0 | . | 36,171 | 42,353 |
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THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025
| Notes | 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||||
| Tangible fixed assets: | |||||
| Office equipment | 1 | 1 | |||
| Total fixed assets | 8 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Current assets: | |||||
| Debtors | 9 | 18,415 | 24,160 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 20,172 | 20,386 | |||
| Total current assets | 38,587 | 44,546 | |||
| Current liabilities: | |||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due | within one year | —10 | ~2,417 | -2,194 | |
| Total current liabilities(-) | ~2,417 | ~2,194 | |||
| . | |||||
| Net current assets | 36,170 | 42,352 | |||
| Total net assets ' |
36,171 | 42,353 | |||
| Funds | . | 11 | |||
| Unrestricted | 36,171 | 42,353 | |||
| Restricted | 12 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 36,171 | 42,353 |
The notes on pages 12 to 14 form an integral part of these financial statements.
TreasurerC J Riley (on behalf of the Trustees) CZ ix 7 30 September 2025
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THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION
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AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
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1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparation of the accounts
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).
Accounting convention
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, and the assets and liabilities valued accordingly.
Donations and the Friends grant to the Connection
These have been measured excluding the matched amounts provided under the Big Give scheme in respect of donations by Friends. This is a change since the 2022-23 accounts made necessary to ensure consistency with a similar change in the convention adopted by the Connection.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are accounted for when the charity has entitlement to the funds, certainty of receipt and the amount is measurable. Where income is received in advance of a performance or service, it is deferred until the charity is entitled to that income. Legacy income is recognised when it can be measured or estimated with sufficient reliability, and is not discounted by the time value of money if it is receivable within one year.
Resources expended
All resources expended are recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party.
Costs of generating funds
Comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income.
Charitable activities
Comprise donations made to The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Governance costs
Comprise those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity.
Allocation of support costs
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Administrative support costs have been allocated to “Costs of raising funds”. Accountancy, audit fee and AGM costs are allocated to “Governance Costs’.
Expenses paid to Trustees or connected persons
None
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THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (cont.)
| . | 2024-25 | 2023-24 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | ©Restricted | Total | Total | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| . | 2. Donations and legacies | ||||||||
| Subscriptions | 6,345 | 0 | 6,345 | 6,856 | |||||
| Donations | 96,088 | oO | 96,088 | 144,627 | |||||
| Legacies | 18,865 | 0 | 18,865 | 222,570 | |||||
| Giftaid | 20,320 | 0 | 20,320 | 23,083 | |||||
| Total | ; | 141,619 | 0 | 141,619. | 397,137 | ||||
| 3. Expenditure on raising | funds | ||||||||
| Staff costs | 20,131 | 0 | 20,131 | 20,732 | |||||
| Events and activities* | 1,045 | 0 | 1,045 | 1,373 | |||||
| Other current spending* | 2,898 | 0 | 2,898 | 2,839 | |||||
| Total | 24,074 | 0 | 24,074 | 24,944 | |||||
| 4. Expenditure on goods | and services* | ||||||||
| (events, activities and other current) | |||||||||
| Postage Stationary and printing |
216 1,516 |
0 0 |
216 1,516 |
A414 1,444 |
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| Insurance | 483 | 0 | 483 | 409 | |||||
| _ | Legal and professional fees | 35 | 0 | 35 | 35 | ||||
| Design | 150, | 0 | 150 | 100 | |||||
| Bank charges | 162 | 0 | * 162 | 191 | |||||
| Other goods and services | 1,381 | 0 | 1,381 | 1,619 | |||||
| . | |||||||||
| Total | 3,043 | 0 | 3,943 | 4,213 | |||||
| 5. Expenditure on charitable activities | |||||||||
| Grants fo the Connection at | St Martin's | 125,569 | 0 | 125,569 | 387,424 | ||||
| Governance costs | ; | 750 | 0 | 750 | 752 | ||||
| Total | 417,851 | 0 | 126,319 | 388,176 | |||||
| 6. Governance costs | |||||||||
| Independent examiner fee | , | 750 | 0 | 750 | 752 | ||||
| AGM | . | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 750 | 0 | 750 | 752 |
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THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (cont.)
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| 2024-25 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7. Movement in Unrestricted Funds | ||||
| Opening fund 1 April 2024 | 42,353 | |||
| Incoming resources | 144,217 | |||
| Outgoing resources | 150,393 | |||
| Closing fund 31 March 2025 | 36,171 | |||
| 8. Fixed assets for use by the charity | ||||
| Cost at 1 April 2024 | 979 | |||
| Depreciation at 1 April 2024 | 978 | |||
| Depreciation charged in year | 0 | |||
| Depreciation at 31 March 2025 | 978 | |||
| Net book value at 31 March 2024 | { | |||
| Net book value at 31 March 2025 | 1 | |||
| 31-Mar-25 | 31-Mar-24 | |||
| . | ||||
| 9, Current assets: debtors | ||||
| Legacies | , | 5,840 | 7,000 | |
| Gift Aid due | 12,401 | 16,986 | ||
| Tax rebate due | 174 | 174 | ||
| Total | 18,415 | 24,160 | ||
| 10. Current liabilities: amounts due within one | ||||
| year | ||||
| Independent examiner fee Employee payroll admin, taxand pension payments” |
750 1,662 |
750 1,436 |
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| Bank charges due | are) | 8 | ||
| Total | 2,417 | 2,194 | ||
| 11. Analysis ofnet assets between funds | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | |
| Fund balances at 31 March 2025: | ||||
| Tangible fixed assets | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Current assets | 38,587 | 0 | 38,587 | |
| Current liabilities | ~2,417 | 0 | -2,417 | |
| Total | 36,174 | 0 | 36,171 |
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THE FRIENDS OF THE CONNECTION AT ST MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (cont.)
12. Restricted funds
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Donations in 2024-25
No donations during 2024-25 were received with a requirement that they should be used for specific purposes.
13. Related Party
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The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields (CSTM) is a related party. As stated in the constitution, all funds are collected on behalf of this entity.
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