THE INNER TEMPLE BENEFACTORS’ SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Financial Statements
31 December 2025
Registered Charity No 1056609
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Index to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
| Pages | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 2 – 6 |
| Report of the independent auditors | 7 – 9 |
| Statement of financial activities | 10 |
| Balance sheet | 11 |
| Cash flow statement | 12 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 13 – 22 |
1
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025
Objectives and activities
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund is a registered charity comprising four individual funds: The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund (“The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund”), The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund, The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund and The Peter Taylor Scholarship Fund. Each of the four funds was established by gifts or legacies for the purpose of paying scholarships or purchasing Library books. The specific objectives of each fund are as follows:
The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund:
The advancement of education in the law, and in particular the provision of scholarships, prizes, grants and awards to persons who are studying the law, being students or young barrister members of the Society.
The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund:
The advancement of legal education among students and young barristers whether or not being members of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and among any other persons by such means as are charitable and particularly by the means of the award of scholarships and grants.
The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund:
The purchase of library books.
The Peter Taylor Scholarship Fund:
The provision of a scholarship for an outstanding student member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple who either has entered or undertakes to enter for the Bar Professional Training Course which commences during the year in which the scholarship is awarded or, at the discretion of the Scholarships Committee of the Society, during the next following year.
The funds are all invested with Navera Investment Management (formerly Veritas / Meridiem). Investment policy is supervised on behalf of the Trustees by the Investment Sub-Committee of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. Decisions about the award of scholarships are made by the Scholarships Committee of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and, in the case of the Pegasus Scholarship Trust, by a committee of all four Inns.
The Trustees have given due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on Public Benefit.
Achievements and performance
There were no significant changes to the eligibility criteria or the application process for scholarships, prizes and awards for any of the charities in the year. Awards made during the year were as follows:
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The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund awarded 27 scholarships and prizes to individuals during the year. One award (Sir Joseph Priestley, £4,000) was declined after payment and repaid in full to the Inn. Therefore 26 scholarships and prizes were accepted in 2025, totalling £17,750 (2024: £21,248).
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The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund awarded 15 outgoing scholarships and prizes in the year, as well funding 4 outgoing placements which had been awarded in previous years and deferred to 2024. In addition, the Trust funded 10 incoming scholars in 2025 and also provided funding for 9 scholars to undertake Judicial Assistant placements. Total amounts paid in 2025 were £99,708 (2024: £86,371), including expenses incurred by the Trust to allow scholars to undertake court visits.
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The Peter Taylor Scholarship Fund awarded one scholarship of £22,000 in 2025 (2024: £22,000).
Financial review
All revenues are used for charitable activities.
Investments generated an overall return in 2025, net of fees, of -2.7% (2024: +8.9%).
2
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
In 2025 the Benefactors’ Fund received the following generous donations: £4,998 from the Monica Rabagliati Charitable Trust in support of the Sir Joseph Priestley scholarship and £1,000 from Mrs J. Jarman to fund the Inner Temple Advocacy Prize. The Charity also received £13,561 from the Inner Temple Scholarship Fund (2024: £21,823).
Principal risks and uncertainties
The Trustees have identified the major risks to which the fund is exposed and have satisfied themselves that adequate systems are in place to mitigate those risks.
The major risks are set out as follows:
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Currency risk: this is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial asset will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates;
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Interest rate risk: this is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial asset will fluctuate because of changes in the market interest rate;
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Other price risk: this is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial asset will fluctuate because of changes in market prices (other than those arising from interest rate risk or currency risks), whether those changes are caused by factors specific to the individual financial instrument or its issuer, or factors affecting all similar financial instruments traded in the market.
Reserves policy
The Trustees aim to apply income as fully as possible in the year in which it arises, maintaining only a modest surplus each year to deal with adverse fluctuations in the returns from investments. The level of funds at the year-end was £5,758,521 (2024: £6,036,375) including restricted income reserves of £159,700 (2024 (restated, see note 16): £108,187).
There are no free unrestricted reserves at the year-end for the Charity due to the nature of how the Charity operates. All income is generated and recognised within restricted funds from endowed investments during the year and subsequently this is spent on underlying activities of the Charity. The Charity’s expenditure is adjusted to the income level generated in the year.
Transfers between funds
Transfers between funds represent any disposal of expendable endowment to fund charitable activity and any other movements between restricted income and endowment funds.
Investments policy and performance
The Trustees aim to maximise real return on a rolling five-year view with emphasis on capital growth with income. Investment performance during the year equated to a loss of 2.7% net of fees. Investment income on the Charity’s funds is paid out by the manager to generate funds for the payment of scholarships.
Structure governance and management
The Charity’s Trustees are the four Governing Benchers elected by the Treasurer and Masters of the Bench of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple to act as Trustees of the Honourable Society. Legal title to the Charity’s investments is vested in the four Trustees. They act in accordance with decisions made by the appropriate committees of the Bench, provided they are satisfied that those decisions have been properly reached and are within the power of the committee. The committees which make decisions affecting the Charity are the Investment Sub-Committee, the Scholarships and Outreach Committee and the Council of Management for the Pegasus Scholarship Trust.
3
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
New Trustees are advised of their role, duties and responsibilities on appointment, by reference to the Bench Table Orders of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.
Day-to-day management of the Charity is undertaken by the staff of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, acting in accordance with policies and procedures laid down by the Honourable Society.
The Charity’s Trustees recognise the legal obligation to oversee and report on the Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund’s fundraising activities.
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund does not use Direct Marketing for its fundraising activities and is not therefore registered with the Fundraising Regulator. It does not have any direct contact with vulnerable people hence no Vulnerable People Protection Policy is currently in place.
Any donations or bequests are welcome and given voluntarily, usually by members of the Inner Temple. Any Gift Aid forms are securely stored in order to protect donors’ personal data. The personal data is used only for Gift Aid tax claims and is not used for mailing, distribution or other fundraising purposes. No Personal Data is sold to third parties.
Currently no third parties are used for fundraising purposes but if they are used in future the third parties would be expected to maintain a high standard of fundraising practice.
There were no fundraising complaints from donors or the general public in 2025 or any prior years. Any complaint would be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.
Investment Sub-Committee
This sub-committee comprises Benchers and other members of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. Among the Bencher members are Honorary Benchers chosen for their particular expertise in investment matters. The Sub-Committee meets quarterly to review investment performance and to consider changes to policy. It is advised by an independent investment manager.
Scholarships and Outreach Committee
This Committee comprises Benchers and other members of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. It meets throughout the year to set policy for the awarding of scholarships and to assess applications. Awards are made to students and junior barristers by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. The Charity makes grants to the Inn in accordance with the terms of the bequests of which it is comprised.
4
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
References and administration
Charity Name & No: The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund includes the following charities registered under the charity number 1056609: The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund (comprising the funds listed in Note 1(g) to the accounts) The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund The Peter Taylor Fund
Governing Instruments: The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund: scheme made by the Charity Commissioners dated 14 August 1995
The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund is governed by the terms of the will of Woolfe Summerfield The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund: trust deed dated 13 March 1988 The Peter Taylor Scholarship Fund is governed by regulations dated 23 July 1997 Trustees: The Trustees of the Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund are: The Rt Hon Sir Stephen Tomlinson The Rt Hon Lord Justice Nugee David Pittaway KC Penelope Reed KC as nominees of the Treasurer and Masters of the Bench of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, who act in accordance with their usual procedure. The Trustees of the Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund, set up by the trust deed, are: The Rt Hon Sir Stephen Tomlinson The Rt Hon Lord Justice Nugee David Pittaway KC Penelope Reed KC Principal Address: Inner Temple London EC4Y 7HL Bankers: Royal Bank of Scotland 9-13 Paternoster Row London EC4M 7EJ Solicitors: Forsters LLP Lewis Silkin LLP 31 Hill Street 5 Chancery Lane, Clifford’s Inn London W1J 5LS London EC4A 1BL Auditors: Crowe U.K. LLP 55 Ludgate Hill London EC4M 7JW Investment Managers: Navera Investment Management LLP Riverside House 2A Southwark Bridge Road London SE1 9HA Investment Powers: The Trustees have wide powers of investment.
5
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
Council of Management for the Pegasus Scholarship Trust
The Council of Management comprises Benchers and other members of all four Inns of Court; the Honourable Societies of Gray’s Inn, the Inner Temple, Lincoln’s Inn and Middle Temple.
The Council makes awards from the Pegasus Scholarship Fund to finance UK and overseas barristers in gaining international work experience.
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the Charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity’s transactions, disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Charity’s constitution. They 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.
Approved for the Trustees on 1 July 2026 and signed on their behalf:
The Rt Hon Lord Justice Nugee Trustee
6
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Trustees of the Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of the Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund (‘the charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 December 2025 and of its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustee's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
7
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Trustees of the Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund (continued)
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees’ report; or
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sufficient and proper accounting records have not been kept by the charity; or
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the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under section of the Charities Act 2011, and report in accordance with the Acts and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Details of the extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations are set out below.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We identified and assessed the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements from irregularities, whether due to fraud or error, and discussed these between our audit team members. We then designed and performed audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the charity operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Charities Act 2011 together with the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
8
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Trustees of the Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund (continued)
We assessed the required compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audit procedures on the related financial statement items.
In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which might be fundamental to the charity’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. We also considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the charity for fraud. We noted no additional laws and regulations in this context for the UK operations.
Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities, including fraud, to be within the override of controls by management. Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included enquiries of management, and the Board about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals, reviewing accounting estimates for biases, reviewing regulatory correspondence with the Charity Commission, and reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Crowe U.K. LLP Statutory Auditor London
Date: 7 July 2026
Crowe U.K. LLP is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
9
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2025
| Restated (see note 16) | Restated (see note 16) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted | Endowment funds | Total | Restricted | Endowment funds | Total | |||||
| Notes | income | Expendable Permanent | 2025 | Income | Expendable | Permanent | 2024 |
|||
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
£ | £ | £ | £ |
|||
| Income and endowments from: | ||||||||||
| Donations and legacies | 19,559 | - | - | 19,559 | 26,323 | - | - | 26,323 | ||
| Other trading activities | 2(a) | 78,000 | - | - | 78,000 | 78,000 | - | - | 78,000 | |
| Investments | 2(b) | 69,070 | - | - | 69,070 | 77,399 | - | - | 77,399 | |
| Other | 177 | - | - | 177 | 203 | - | - | 203 | ||
| Total | 166,806 | - | - | 166,806 | 181,925 | - | - | 181,925 | ||
| Expenditure on raising funds | ||||||||||
| Investment managers’ charges | - | (33,649) | (3,078) | (36,727) | - | (33,398) | (3,451) | (36,849) | ||
| Bank charges and office costs | (3) | - | - | (3) | (3) | - | - | (3) | ||
| (3) | - | - | (36,730) | (3) | (33,398) | (3,451) | (36,852) | |||
| Expenditure on charitable | ||||||||||
| activities | ||||||||||
| Scholarships payable | 3 | (139,458) | - | - | (139,458) | (129,619) | - | - | (129,619) | |
| Contribution to purchase of | (5,117) | - | - | (5,117) | (4,763) | - | - | (4,763) | ||
| library books | ||||||||||
| (144,575) | - | - | (144,575) | (134,382) | - | - | (134,382) | |||
| Support cost | 4 | (71,723) | - | - | (71,723) | (59,577) | - | - | (59,577) | |
| Total expenditure | (216,301) | (33,649) | (3,078) | (253,028) | (193,962) | (33,398) | (3,451) | (230,811) | ||
| Net (losses) / gains on | 5d, 10 | - | (120,288) | (71,344) | (191,632) | - | 313,757 | 132,518 | 446,275 | |
| investments | ||||||||||
| Net (expenditure)/ income | (49,495) | (153,937) | (74,422) | (277,854) | (12,037) | 280,359 | 129,067 | 397,389 | ||
| Transfer between funds | 101,008 | (101,008) | - | - |
629 | (629) | - | - | ||
| Net movement in funds | 51,513 | (254,945) | (74,422) | (277,854) | (11,408) | 279,730 | 129,067 | 397,389 | ||
| Restated fund balances | 16 | 108,187 | 4,069,891 | 1,858,297 | 6,036,375 | 119,595 | 3,790,161 | 1,729,230 | 5,638,986 | |
| brought forward at 1 | ||||||||||
| January | ||||||||||
| Fund balances carried forward | 159,700 | 3,814,946 | 1,783,875 | 5,758,521 | 108,187 | 4,069,891 | 1,858,297 | 6,036,375 | ||
| at 31 December |
All the above amounts relate to continuing activities. The notes on pages 13 to 22 form part of these financial statements.
10
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2025
| Notes Fixed assets Investments 5 Current assets Debtors 6 Cash at bank and in hand 7 Creditors:amounts falling due Within one year 8 Net current assets/ (liabilities) Total assets less current liabilities 10 Represented by: The Benefactors’ Fund The Peter Taylor Fund The Woolfe Summerfield Fund The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund: The Pegasus Fund ‘A’ The Pegasus Fund ‘B’ 10 & 11 |
Restricted Expendable Permanent Total Income Endowment Endowment 2025 £ £ £ £ 10,701 3,824,447 1,785,196 5,620,344 40,282 - - 40,282 175,846 - - 175,846 216,128 - - 216,128 (67,129) (9,501) (1,321) (77,951) 148,999 (9,501) (1,321) 138,177 - - 159,700 3,814,946 1,783,875 5,758,521 60,305 - 896,057 956,362 - - 556,722 556,722 - - 331,096 331,096 74,156 3,433,451 - 3,507,607 25,239 381,495 - 406,734 159,700 3,814,946 1,783,875 5,758,521 |
Total 2024 £ 5,949,782 49,391 111,360 |
|---|---|---|
| 160,751 (74,158) |
||
| 86,593 | ||
| 6,036,375 | ||
| 992,477 581,461 345,615 3,689,841 426,981 |
||
| 6,036,375 |
The financial statements on pages 10 to 22 were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees on 1 July 2026 and signed on their behalf:
The Rt Hon Lord Justice Nugee Trustee
The notes on pages 13 to 22 form part of these financial statements
11
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 2025
| Note Net cash outflow provided by operating activities 14 Cash flow from investment activities Dividends and interest from investments Proceeds of sale of investments Purchase of investments Net cash provided by investing activities Change in cash and equivalents in the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period 14 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 14 |
2025 (143,414) 70,094 1,036,278 (898,472) 207,900 64,486 111,360 175,846 |
2024 (135,962) 75,912 645,613 (606,936) |
|---|---|---|
| 114,589 | ||
| (21,373) | ||
| 132,733 | ||
| 111,360 |
The notes on pages 13 to 22 form part of these financial statements.
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The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
1.Accounting policies
a) Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2019.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
After making enquires, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue its activities for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements as outlined in the Statement of Trustees Responsibilities on page 6.
Having regard to the above, the current cash position, and expected cashflow over the following twelve months the Trustees believe it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
b) Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
Sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements are described in the accounting policies. No specific accounting judgements and uncertainties have been identified for the current year.
c) Investments
Investments are included in the accounts at fair value. Net realised and unrealised gains and losses are reflected in the Statement of Financial Activities as net gains/losses on investments.
d) Financial instruments
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Financial assets held at amortised cost comprise cash at bank and in hand, together with trade and other debtors. Financial liabilities held at amortised cost comprise bank loans and overdrafts, trade and other creditors.
Investments, including bonds held as part of an investment portfolio are held at market value at the Balance Sheet date, with gains and losses being recognised within income and expenditure.
13
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
e) Income
Donations, interest and investment income are accounted for when receivable. Legacies are accounted for when received or otherwise if amounts are known as probable and measurable.
f) Expenditure
Direct charitable expenditure comprises services supplied and activities undertaken, which are identifiable as wholly or mainly in support of the Charity’s objectives. Grants, prizes and scholarships are accounted for when awarded. The costs of generating funds relate to the management of the Charity’s assets.
Fees incurred in managing the investment of the permanent and expendable endowments are charged to those endowments, see note 16.
g) The Inner Temple Benefactors' Scholarship Fund
The Inner Temple Benefactors' Scholarship Fund is an approved scheme whereby the charities listed below are administered and managed together as one charity. The Charity Commissioners approved the scheme in 1995.
Charities included in scheme:
Jardine Studentship Cecile Yahuda Scholarship Poland Prize Elfreda Edwards Scholarship Struben Bequest Peta Fordham Scholarship Ashworth Charity Sweet & Maxwell Prize Horace Avory Scholarship The Joseph Priestley Scholarship Wilfred Clothier Scholarship Solk Scholarship Frank and Burris Gahan Scholarship Yarborough-Anderson Scholarship Michael Hodge Scholarship Trust Fund Profumo Scholarship Neville Laski Scholarship Charity Allan Levy Awards The Inner Temple Law Scholarships Philip Teichman Award David Hughes Parry Prize Paul Methven Scholarship Basil Nield Scholarship Charity The Rachel Lawrence Scholarship Otto Rix Scholarship Leonard Woodley Scholarship Geoffrey Veale Scholarship Fund
h) Taxation
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
2(a) Contributions from the Inns
The four Inns of Court (The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple and The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn) each made an annual donation of £19,500 (2024: £19,500) towards The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund.
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple also pays the Charity’s audit fees.
14
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
| 2(b) Investment income The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund UK equities Foreign equities Fixed interest The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund UK equities Foreign equities Fixed interest The Peter Taylor Fund UK equities Foreign equities Fixed interest The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund UK equities Foreign equities Fixed interest 3. Scholarships payable,awarded to individuals The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund: 26 (2024: 27) The Peter Taylor Scholarship Fund: 1 (2024: 1) The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund: 15 (2024: 15) 4. Support cost Administration costs allocated by the Inner Temple Other costs 5. Investments (a) Reconciliation of movement in investment assets Market value at 1 January Additions to investments at cost Less: Disposals at carrying value Net (loss) / gain on revaluation Market value at 31 December |
2025 £ 10,213 - 2,013 3,722 - 837 6,371 - 1,027 6,599 16,054 22,234 69,070 2025 £ 17,750 22,000 99,708 139,458 2025 £ 59,810 11,913 71,723 2025 £ 5,949,782 511,833 (786,548) (54,723) 5,620,344 |
2024 £ 9,370 - 3,447 3,485 - 1,179 5,857 - 1,977 6,484 20,551 25,049 77,399 2024 £ 21,248 22,000 86,371 129,619 2024 £ 56,535 3,042 59,577 2024 £ 5,542,184 427,553 (477,628) 457,673 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,949,782 |
15
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
| (b) Analysis of Investments: 2025 £ The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund UK equities 840,734 Foreign equities - Fixed interest - Cash 56,781 The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund UK equities 306,649 Foreign equities - Fixed interest - Cash 25,040 The Peter Taylor Fund UK equities 528,851 Foreign equities - Fixed interest - Cash 28,669 The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund UK equities 374,048 Foreign equities 2,157,348 Fixed interest 1,144,017 Cash 158,207 5,620,344 Historical cost at 31 December 4,350,199 (c) Reconciliation of movements in unrealised gains on investment assets 2025 £ Unrealised gain at 1 January 1,711,505 Write back gain on disposal of investments (386,637) Unrealised (loss) / gain for the year (54,723) 1,270,145 (d)Net gains / (losses) on investment 2025 £ Unrealised (loss) / gain (54,723) Realised loss (136,909) Net (loss) / gain on investment at 31 December (191,632) |
2024 £ 878,079 - 22,260 33,838 327,702 - 9,275 8,638 552,965 - 11,130 17,366 605,853 2,252,955 1,027,961 201,760 5,949,782 4,238,278 2024 £ 1,433,215 (179,383) 457,673 |
|---|---|
| 1,711,505 2024 £ 457,673 (11,398) |
|
| 446,275 |
16
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
| 6. Debtors Dividend income Amounts due from the Inns of Court Amount due from the Scholarship Fund 7. Cash at bank and in hand Current account Deposit account 8. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Accrued expenditure Other creditors Amount due to Inner Temple 9. Financial instruments Financial assets and liabilities Financial assets measured at fair value |
2025 £ 7,221 19,500 13,561 40,282 2025 £ 156,363 19,483 175,846 2025 £ 10,820 14,989 52,142 77,951 2025 £ 5,620,344 |
2024 £ 8,068 19,500 21,823 |
|---|---|---|
| 49,391 2024 £ 99,385 11,975 |
||
| 111,360 2024 £ 11,269 14,559 48,330 |
||
| 74,158 2024 £ 5,949,782 |
The Charity’s income, expense, gains and losses in respect of these financial instruments are summarised below:
| ummarised below: | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Total income for financial assets held at fair value | 7,221 | 8,068 |
| Total gains for financial assets held at fair value | 1,367,079 | 1,772,487 |
| Total losses for financial assets held at fair value | 96,934 | 60,981 |
17
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
10. Funds
Opening balances have been restated, see note 16.
(a) Permanent Endowment Funds
| The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund The Peter Taylor Fund The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund The Peter Taylor Fund The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund |
Balance at 1 Jan 2025 Expenditure Losses Transfers Balance at 31 Dec 2025 £ £ £ £ £ 932,644 (1,556) (35,031) - 896,057 580,596 (918) (22,956) - 556,722 345,057 (604) (13,357) - 331,096 |
|---|---|
| 1,858,297 (3,078) (71,344) - 1,783,875 Balance at 1 Jan 2024 Expenditure Gains Transfers Balance at 31 Dec 2024 £ £ £ £ £ 867,896 (1,728) 66,476 - 932,644 539,420 (1,044) 42,220 - 580,596 321,914 (679) 23,822 - 345,057 |
|
| 1,729,230 (3,451) 132,518 - 1,858,297 |
(b) Expendable Endowment Funds
| Balance at | Expenditure | Losses | Transfers | Balance at | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2025 | 31 Dec 2025 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund | 4,069,891 | (33,649) | (120,288) | (101,008) | 3,814,946 |
During the year, £100,000 was withdrawn from the expendable endowment and transferred to restricted income to fund charitable expenditure.
| Restated | Restated | Gains | Restated | Restated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| balance at | expenditure | transfers | balance at | ||
| 1 Jan 2024 | 31 Dec 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund | 3,790,161 | (33,398) | 313,757 | (629) | 4,069,891 |
18
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
(c) Restricted Income Funds
| The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund The Peter Taylor Fund The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund The Peter Taylor Fund The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund 11. Analysis of net assets Fixed assets: Investments Current assets: Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year |
The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund The Peter Taylor Fund The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund The Peter Taylor Fund The Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund The Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund 11. Analysis of net assets Fixed assets: Investments Current assets: Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year |
Balance at 1 Jan 2025 Incoming resources Expenditure Transfers Balance at 31 Dec 2025 £ £ £ £ £ 59,833 18,224 (17,752) - 60,305 865 21,135 (22,000) - - 558 4,559 (5,117) - - 46,931 122,888 (171,432) 101,008 99,395 108,187 166,806 (216,301) 101,008 159,700 Restated balance at 1 Jan 2024 Incoming resources Restated expenditure Restated transfers Restated balance at 31 Dec 2024 £ £ £ £ £ 55,731 25,352 (21,250) - 59,833 1,043 21,822 (22,000) - 865 657 4,664 (4,763) - 558 62,164 130,087 (145,949) 629 46,931 119,595 181,925 (193,962) 629 108,187 Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund Peter Taylor Fund Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund Total 2025 £ £ £ £ £ 897,515 557,520 331,689 3,833,620 5,620,344 - 13,561 - 26,721 40,282 72,265 8,042 4,777 90,762 175,846 (13,418) (22,401) (5,370) (36,762) (77,951) |
|---|---|---|
| 956,362 556,722 331,096 3,914,341 5,758,521 |
19
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
| Fixed assets: Investments Current assets: Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year |
Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund Peter Taylor Fund Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund Pegasus Scholarship Trust Fund Total 2024 £ £ £ £ £ 934,177 581,461 345,615 4,088,529 5,949,782 125 21,885 52 27,329 49,391 79,113 534 2,475 29,238 111,360 (20,938) (22,419) (2,527) (28,274) (74,158) |
|---|---|
| 992,477 581,461 345,615 4,116,822 6,036,375 |
12. Trustees
None of the Trustees received any reimbursement of expenses or remuneration for their services during the year.
13. Audit fees
The Charity’s audit fees are paid by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple. The Society paid £4,777 ex VAT on account of the audit fees in 2025 (2024: £4,500 ex VAT).
14. Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities
| Net (expenditure) / income for the reporting period Losses / (gains) on investments Dividends Other income Operating deficit Decrease / (increase) in debtors Increase / (decrease) in creditors Net cash used in operating activities |
2025 £ (277,854) 191,632 (69,070) (177) (155,469) 8,262 3,793 (143,414) |
2024 £ 397,389 (446,275) (77,399) (203) |
|---|---|---|
(126,488) (6,331) (3,143) |
||
(135,962) |
20
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
14. (a) Analysis of short-term deposits and cash at bank as shown in the balance sheet
| Short-term deposits Cash at bank Cash and bank balances |
At 1 Jan 2025 £ 11,975 99,385 111,360 |
Cashflow £ 7,508 56,978 64,486 |
At 31 Dec 2025 £ 19,483 156,363 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 175,846 |
(b) Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net cash
| Increase in cash and short-term deposits Net cash at 1 January 2025 Net cash at 31 December 2025 |
£ 64,486 |
|---|---|
| 111,360 | |
| 175,846 |
15. Related party transactions
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple paid £19,500 towards the Pegasus Trust scholarships awarded in 2025 (2024: £19,500). The Inner Temple also paid the Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund’s audit fees of £4,650 ex VAT (2024: £4,500 ex VAT).
The Pegasus Scholarship Trust paid £59,810 with regards to staff costs administered by the Inner Temple in 2025 (2024: £56,535).
The Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund contributed the following amounts to the cost of the Inn’s scholarship awards and the library:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund | 16,750 | 20,248 |
| Woolfe Summerfield Bequest Fund | 5,117 | 4,763 |
| Peter Taylor Fund | 22,000 | 22,000 |
The amount of £52,142 in creditors (Note 8) represents the contributions due to the Inner Temple as at 31 December 2025 (2024: £48,330). This balance is unsecured, interest-free and payable on demand.
In the reporting period the Inner Temple Benefactor’s Scholarship Fund transferred £48,330 (2024: £46,612) to the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple to clear the brought forward inter-company balance.
The Inner Temple Scholarship Fund contributed £13,561 to the Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund to meet the balance of the cost of the Peter Taylor Scholarship in 2025 (2024: £21,823). The amount of £13,561 in debtors (Note 6) represents the contribution due to the Peter Taylor Fund (2024: £21,823).
21
The Inner Temple Benefactors’ Scholarship Fund
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
16. Prior period adjustments
Fees incurred in managing the investment of the permanent and expendable endowments are now charged to those endowments rather than to income. This more accurately reflects reality: such fees are paid for from the capital cash account within investments, funded through disposals, rather than through income.
This constitutes a change in accounting policy and has been applied retrospectively. It has, however, no impact on opening balances because in each preceding year an equivalent transfer from endowments to income had been made to ensure that closing capital fund balances equalled capital investment balances.
The following table shows impact on fund balances brought forward of the adjustments:
| Fund balances at 31 December 2023 Move accrued investment management fees to endowment Move income cash account to income Restated fund balances at 31 December 2023 Net 2024 movement in funds as previously stated Move investment management fees to endowment Reverse transfer from endowment to income Move accrued investment management fees to endowment Move income cash account to income Restated 2024 net movement in funds Restated fund balances at 31 December 2024 |
Restricted income Expendable Permanent Total £ £ £ £ 96,802 3,809,465 1,732,719 5,638,986 10,246 (8,880) (1,366) - 12,547 (10,424) (2,123) - |
|---|---|
| 119,595 3,790,161 1,729,230 5,638,986 (10,209) 279,064 128,534 397,389 36,849 (33,399) (3,450) - (36,849) 33,399 3,450 - 1,024 (1,017) (7) - (2,223) 1,683 540 - |
|
| (11,408) 279,730 129,067 397,389 108,187 4,069,891 1,858,297 6,036,375 |
22