Friends of Thornton Annual Report 2024 – 2025
It has been a successful year for Friends of Thornton raising over £16,000 for items to benefit students at Thornton College.
The FOTS group worked voluntarily across the year to run family events at Thornton College for not only Thornton families but also the local and wider community. Over 2,000 people attended the Traditional Summer Fete in June where students performed in the choir and maypole dancing. The fun dog show was a huge attraction as were the pony rides, afternoon teas and traditional stalls such as coconut shy and welly wanging!
A very successful event this year was the Thornton Christmas Market where children could visit Father Christmas and families could purchase Christmas gifts and enjoy mulled wine and Thornton’s famous Sausage rolls!
Perhaps the highlight of the year was the Easter Trail with its new feature of hooking ducks from the traditional medieval fountain in Thornton’s grounds.
In addition to these wonderful events the Nearly New team of volunteers have kept the shop running exceptionally well throughout the year raising nearly £10,000. As a charity the shop remains valued by families giving them the option of purchasing second hand uniform. This is especially important in the current cost of living crisis, for students joining near to a transition year, students on bursaries or perhaps for a short term placement such as an international student or child of a forces family.
It has been a more challenging year to raise funds. The fundraising events were enjoyed by all but the Board has recognised that increased costs of items such as catering and fireworks costs as well as safety requirements such as First Aid Cover have made the profit margins reduce in this financial year. In addition, it has been noted how difficult it is to recruit volunteers to both the Board and to help with fundraising events and the Nearly New Shop. This is despite communications with current parents of the school. It is perhaps a reflection of how busy parents are often with both parents working full time and, of course, in a year where independent school fees were increased significantly with the introduction by Government of 20% VAT on fees. As parents are having to pay increased fees it may be a continuing difficult task to ask for them to volunteer and donate in addition.
Friends of Thornton made small donations this year. Please note that the Board made the decision to continue to raise funds this year and save these funds towards a large project for students which requires a significant one-off donation which will be made in our 2025-2026 annual year.
I would like to end my report by sincerely thanking all the Friends of Thornton Board Members and Group Members for working so hard this year, often giving up days,
weekends and evenings to help set up for events. These voluntarily efforts are very much appreciated and remain critical to ensure we can continue to raise funds to meet our charitable objective. Thank you.
Helen Hircock
Chair of Trustees
Friends of Thornton
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Charity Name Friends of Thornton 31[st] August 2025 1064059
Report to the trustees/ members of On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) Set out on pages
1-2
Responsibilities and basis of report
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 08 / 2025 .
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. * Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Date: 15.3.26 Name: Dominic Green Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any):
Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA)
1
October 2018
IER
Address:
14 Chatton Close
Houlton, Rugby
CV23 1FW
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
None
2
October 2018
IER