THE COLN TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Charity Number 1064619
THE COLN TRUST REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FROM 1 OCTOBER 2024 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
The Coln Trust (the Trust") was established by a Declaration of Trust dated 3 September 1997 ("the Governing Document") and was registered by the Charity Commission on 29 September 1997 in the Central Register of Charities under number 1064619.
The Trust's registered address is 14 Aubrey Walk, London, W8 7JG.
The Trustees during the period were C J Rowe, Mrs G M Rowe and Ms A F R White, who was appointed by way of a Deed of Appointment dated 30 March 2024. New Trustees can be appointed by CJ Rowe in his lifetime and thereafter if she survives him by Mrs GM Rowe and subject thereto by such person as the survivor of them shall appoint.
The bankers are C.Hoare & Co of 37 Fleet Street, London, EC4P 4DQ.
The solicitors are Hunters of 9 New Square, Lincoln's Inn, London, WC2A 3QN. The
investment advisers appointed in accordance with the Governing Document are Rathbone Investment Management Limited of 10 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PF.
The independent examiner of the charity is David Ashby FCCA ACA of Gibbons Mannington Phipps LLP, Landgate Chamber, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7LJ.
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THE COLN TRUST THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FROM 1 OCTOBER 2024 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Structure, Governance and Management
The Trust is a grant making trust established for the public benefit whose income is to be "applied in making such subscriptions to charitable organisations and bodies and such other charitable purposes in any part of the world as the trustees may in their absolute and uncontrolled discretion think fit." The Governing Document also provides that it is lawful for the Trustees "to pay or transfer all or any part or parts of the capital of the Trust Fund to such charitable organisation or body or charitable organisations or bodies for the charitable purposes or objects thereof as the Trustees select."
Objects and Activities
The Trustees have agreed guidelines which set out in more detail the Trustees' aims for the public benefit. These state "Our main aim is to give to charities that help young people and the arts. We may also support medical services, treatment or research, disaster relief or the Church of England." The guidelines which are available on request, also set out the procedure for making applications, the grants they hope to make and when they meet to review applications. In support of their stated aims the Trustees both accept and consider applications and also actively seek projects for support which includes making appropriate enquiries and talking to and making grants in conjunction with the trustees of charitable trusts with similar objectives. It is envisaged that this strategy will continue for the foreseeable future.
The Trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in relation to the Trust's grant making activities. Since all grants during the period have been made to charities registered in the United Kingdom and therefore subject to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and the Trustees have received no indication that the grant recipients have misapplied their funds the Trustees believe that all payments have been made for the public benefit.
The Trust is a full member of the Association of Charitable Foundations.
Achievements and performance
The attached accounts for the period have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis.
Financial Review
The income received during the period was £27,477 (2024: £28,086). In accordance with the Trust's aims for the public benefit the Trustees reviewed over 70 applications and appeals (2024: over 70) and paid 13 grants during the period (2024: 10). These are each described in the attached accounts and in total amounted to £33,000 (2024: £25,600).
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THE COLN TRUST THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FROM 1 OCTOBER 2024 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Details of grant recipients in 2025:
Alexander Whitley Dance Company – Reg Ch 1171464 – towards core funding Big Give – Reg Ch 1136547 – for the Arts for Impact matched fund Coln River Group – Reg Ch 1093522 – for youth worker programme
Ex Cathedra – Reg Ch 1004086 to support ‘Singing Medicine’ in hospital programme for children
Guildhall School Trust – Reg Charity 1082472 – to support bursaries Lake District Summer Music – Reg Ch 1887957 – for core costs Multi Story Music – Reg Ch 1155847 – for work in Gloucester New Paths Music – Reg Ch 1176545 – for additional administrative support NMC Recordings – Reg Ch 328052 – towards support for young composers. Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra – Reg Ch 1084256 - for costs relating to an early years’ music programme RIAC UK – Reg Ch 1201090 – towards core costs Strike a Light Gloucester – Reg Ch 1178449 – for music project with MultiStory Orchestra
World Heart Beat – Reg Ch1139579 – to provide match funding support
The Trust has no staff. Other than some financial charges such as accountancy, bank charges, charges on transfers and the cost of obtaining and maintaining a Legal Entity Identifier, the expenses of administering the Trust during the period (including stationery, postage, telephones, faxes, emails, fares, attendances at conferences, and subscriptions) were borne by the Trustees personally.
The Trustees administer the Trust and undertake such training or obtain such advice or information as may be required from time to time. There is no specific policy for the induction or training of new trustees as it is not currently envisaged that there is any need.
The Trust derives its income from its investments. The investments are professionally managed to produce as high an income as possible consistent with the maintenance of the capital without taking undue risk and taking into account present and future inflation.
The major risks to which the Trust is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks.
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THE COLN TRUST THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FROM 1 OCTOBER 2024 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
Reserves Policy
The charity aims to hold free reserves between three to six months of unrestricted expenditure which equates to £8,000 - £17,000. The trustees consider that this level will provide sufficient funds to cover payments and meet future requirements. At the end of the year, the Charity had unrestricted cash reserves of £40,967 (2024: £39,298).
At 30 September 2025 there was £2,000 held in restricted funds (2024: £nil). This amount was paid, post year end, to MusicWorks Gloucester.
Statement of Trustees Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that 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 Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed/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.
These financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 14 July 2026 and are signed on their behalf by:
C J Rowe
Trustee
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THE COLN TRUST INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FROM 1 OCTOBER 2024 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Coln Trust (the Charity) for the year ended 30[th] September 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Charity, 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 Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do 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.
I 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.
David Ashby FCCA ACA For and on behalf of Gibbons Mannington & Phipps LLP Landgate Chambers Rye, East Sussex TN31 7LJ
Date: 15 July 2026
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THE COLN TRUST
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FROM 1 OCTOBER 2024 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2025
| RECEIPTS Interest Otherincome Unit Trusts Deposit interest Overseas securities Dividends FacetTrust Subtotal Investments Sales TOTALReceipts PAYMENTS Grants paid RIAC UK Strike a Light Gloucester Coln River Group NMC Recordings World Heart Beat Alexander Whitley Dance Company Lake District Summer Music St Mungo Multi Story Music Guildhall School of Music and Drama Big Give New Movement Collective Ex Cathedra New Paths Music Music Works Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra TOTAL GRANTS Bank and Currency Charges Accountancy fees Sub Total Investments Purchases TOTAL PAYMENTS Net receipts / (payments) for the year |
Restricted Unrestricted TotalFunds Restricted Unrestricted TotalFunds Funds Funds 2025 Funds Funds 2024 £ £ £ £ £ £ 3,230 3,230 2,537 2,537 113 113 1,829 1,829 2,697 2,697 548 548 669 669 5,220 5,220 6,196 6,196 11,650 11,650 13,874 13,874 5,000 5,000 2,000 2,000 |
|---|---|
| 5,000 22,477 27,477 2,000 26,086 28,086 111,245 111,245 102,267 102,267 |
|
| 5,000 133,722 138,722 2,000 128,353 130,353 |
|
| 2,000 2,000 3,000 3,000 6,000 500 500 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 1,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 4,000 2,000 2,000 2,100 2,100 |
|
| 3,000 30,000 33,000 2,000 23,600 25,600 376 376 365 365 900 900 |
|
| 3,000 31,276 34,276 2,000 23,965 25,965 |
|
| 100,777 100,777 105,554 105,554 |
|
| 3,000 132,053 135,053 2,000 129,519 131,519 |
|
| 2,000 1,669 3,669 - (1,166) (1,166) |
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THE COLN TRUST
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FROM 1 OCTOBER 2023 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
| Cashfunds held Cash at Bank Cash at RathboneInvestmentManagement Limited TotalCash Investments valuation total by Rathbone Invest. Management Ltd Liabilities outstanding at year end Net Assets CashReserves Unrestrictedfunds Brought forward Net receipts/ (payments) for the year Carried forward Designated funds Restricted funds Brought forward Net receipts/ (payments) for the year Carried forward Totalreserves |
2025 2024 £ £ 23,788 30,137 19,179 9,161 |
|---|---|
| 42,967 39,298 |
|
| 731,067 690,645 - - |
|
| 774,034 729,943 |
|
| 2025 £ 2024 £ 39,298 40,464 1,669 (1,166) |
|
| 40,967 39,298 |
|
| 731,067 690,645 |
|
| - - 2,000 - |
|
| 2,000 - |
|
| 774,034 729,943 |
Cash reserves stated are the funds held in the bank current accounts, the investments capital account and the investments
income account. These financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 14 July 2026 and are signed on their behalf
by:
CJ Rowe Trustee
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