FOVANT BADGES SOCIETY TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT
Year Ended March 31st 2021
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
The Fovant Badges Society is a Registered Charity – No. 1045087 and is governed by a constitution, which was adopted by the Society at a meeting held on August 15[th] 1994, and amended according to changes unanimously adopted at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Society on May 24th 2006. There have been further amendments on May 20th 2009, May 19th 2010 and May 25th 2011. These amendments were accepted by the Charity Commission.
The objects of the Society are to maintain and preserve the regimental crests on Fovant Downs, Wiltshire, thereby furthering the education of the public and promoting ‘esprit de corps’.
The full name of the Society is The Fovant Badges Society. The address for correspondence is Anam Cara, Dinton Road, Fovant, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 5JW.
Our President is General Sir Nick Parker KCB CBE.
The management of the Society rests with the voluntary Executive Committee, elected at the AGM. The following Committee members are Charitable Trustees:
Brigadier Mark Elcomb - Chairman
Mr David Gorse – Honorary Secretary and Membership Officer
Mr Terence Lister - Honorary Treasurer
Mr Leslie Brantingham – Conservation Officer Miss Helen Roberts – Publicity and Newsletter Officer
The Society’s bankers are National Westminster Bank at the Salisbury branch. The administration of the Society is carried out entirely by voluntary effort. Mr. Francis Taylor acted as the Society’s Independent Examiner of the accounts for the year ended March 31st 2021. The gross income of the Society exceeded £25,000 but was less than £500,000.
REPORT
It is usual in this report to reflect on the activities of the Society and its committee members over the previous 12 months and I thus returned to last year’s submission to see what we might have enjoyed in 2020 - a mistake of course because it merely highlighted the difference between the outlook on life in November 2019 compared with now in February 2021. The last year has, for the Chairman been one of monitoring and reflection rather than one of being and doing – indeed the only decision I have had to make was that relating to the cancellation of the Drumhead Service last July. Although there was a limited degree of freedom being enjoyed by many, it was not difficult to see that gathering our supporters in a barn when many/most were ‘shielding’ to save our NHS, would have been counter-intuitive and wrong. I am of course very sorry that we were thus unable to accommodate the plans of the Royal Signals to mark the 50[th] anniversary of the cutting of ‘Jimmy’ on the Downs but hope that the Corps will still be interested in doing so when the risk-free opportunity arises.
Normality has continued in some respects however: your Treasurer has been as assiduous as ever in managing the Society’s funds. All committee members have been kept fully in the picture with frequent updates on investment and necessary spending. I am therefore happy to report that all is well regarding financial health – attributable in part of course to the Conservation Officer’s revised maintenance programme for the badges and the associated absence of contractors (and their costs) from the downs.
The other area of normality has been the need to manage the impact of nature and gravity on the badges themselves. After buying the appropriate equipment, Leslie Brantingham has been well occupied doing much to tidy and secure those areas which are safely manageable; social distancing has apparently not been a problem on the badges and the cancellation of the Drumhead Service took the pressure off his selfimposed programme. There will of course be a need to do some heavier and more manpower intensive work in the coming months because it is not possible to just let the management programme slip without creating problems later on, but Leslie is very familiar with the issues, the priorities and the importance of the badges within the local context.
As usual, I use this opportunity to thank the full committee for all they do on behalf of the Society; although small in number, their experience, enthusiasm and commitment keeps this very local, but internationally linked charity up to the mark.
Our annual Newsletter was distributed in June and our thanks must go to Helen Roberts who edited the Newsletter and arranged for it to be printed and distributed.
My final thank you is to our members. Your donations help us to maintain the financial health of the Society and thus ensure that the badges remain legible and understood a century after their creation. The Society is deeply indebted to our donors great and small; your generosity allows us to achieve the aims of this unique Society. Finally, to our unsung supporters, who help us in so many ways, thank you one and all. Please continue to support us!
Our website (www.fovantbadges.com) now includes much information including photographs, videos and archives.
Mark Elcomb Chairman
Date: 23/04/2021 Time: 10:59:17
Page: 1
The Fovant Badges Society
Balance Sheet
| From: Month 1, April 2020 To: Month 12, March 2021 Chart of Accounts: Default Layout of Accounts Period Fixed Assets 0.00 Current Assets Deposits and Cash 13,307.88 Bank Account 13,337.68 26,645.56 Current Liabilities 0.00 Current Assets less Current Liabilities: 26,645.56 Total Assets less Current Liabilities: 26,645.56 Long Term Liabilities 0.00 Total Assets less Total Liabilities: 26,645.56 Capital & Reserves Investment Reserves 0.00 Funds 0.00 P & L Account 26,645.56 26,645.56 |
Year to Date 0.00 347,958.14 24,567.90 372,526.04 0.00 372,526.04 372,526.04 0.00 372,526.04 89,702.07 256,178.41 26,645.56 372,526.04 |
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Date: 21/04/2021 Time: 14:13:08
Page: 1
The Fovant Badges Society Profit and Loss
From: Month 1, April 2020 To: Month 12, March 2021
Chart of Accounts:
Default Layout of Accounts
| Income Period Grants 6,314.18 Donations & Subscriptions 5,189.00 Investment Income 16,341.51 Gift Aid Tax Reclaim 1,284.96 General Donations 448.76 Expenditure Misc. Maint. Expenses 300.10 Direct Expenses Advertising & Website 1,162.00 Printing & Publicity 391.83 Gross Profit/(Loss): Overheads Combined Insurance Policy 338.00 Postage & Carriage 57.94 CBA Affiliation Fee 87.00 Management & Admin - Professional Fees 595.98 Net Profit/(Loss): |
29,578.41 300.10 1,553.83 27,724.48 1,078.92 26,645.56 |
Year to Date 6,314.18 5,189.00 16,341.51 1,284.96 448.76 300.10 1,162.00 391.83 338.00 57.94 87.00 595.98 |
29,578.41 300.10 1,553.83 27,724.48 1,078.92 26,645.56 |
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Independent Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of the Fovant Badges Society Registered Charity No. 1045087 On the accounts for the year ended 31$1 March 2021 Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner :_ The chanty'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 43(21 of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility, as the Examiner, to . examine the accounts urKler sedion 43 of the 1993 Act. To follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7lb) ofthe 1993 Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of the Independent Examinerfs statement . My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the chanty and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disdosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees conmIng any such matters. The prOdureS undertaken do not provide all the eviden that would be required in an audit, and consequenlly 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. Independent Examinerfs statement In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention 1. Which gives me reasonable Cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements '. to keep accounting records in accordance wtth the 1993 Art" and to prepare accounts which accord wtih the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act have not been met . or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should have been drawn in order to enable a proper understanding or the accounts to be reached. Signed . Name . FRA f A A FranGis Taylor Relevant profession qualifications . FCMA Address . 14 The Croft Bishopstone Salisbury SP5 4DF