Company registration number 03472165 (England and Wales) Charity registration number 1072335 (England and Wales)
CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2025
CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
| Trustees | Mr T L Phillips | (Appointed 20 January 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Ms M Gandy | ||
| Secretary | Ms M Gandy | |
| Country of incorporation | United Kingdom | 03472165 |
| (England and Wales) | ||
| Charity registrations | England and Wales | 1072335 |
| Northern Ireland | ||
| Principal address | Mooring 75 | |
| 305 Kingsland Road | ||
| London | ||
| E8 4EG | ||
| Registered office | 4th Floor | |
| 4 Tabernacle Street | ||
| London | ||
| EC2A 4LU | ||
| Independent examiner | Seamus Ferguson FCA | |
| Goldblatts | ||
| 4th Floor | ||
| 4 Tabernacle Street | ||
| London | ||
| EC2A 4LU |
CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 1 - 3 |
| Independent examiner's report | 4 |
| Statement of financial activities | 5 |
| Balance sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 7 - 11 |
CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2025
The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 30 November 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)".
Objectives and activities
To educate the public about inland waterways and in particular to encourage and promote the use of the canal for the benefit of the people of Hackney and the surrounding communities.
To provide in the interests of social welfare facilities for recreation and other leisure time opportunities for the people of Hackney and surrounding communities; being facilities of which those persons have need by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances; to improve the conditions of life for such persons by promoting their physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Public benefit
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and the supplemental public benefit guidance for charities whose aims include advancing religion when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
Achievements and performance
Significant activities and achievements against objectives
Activities carried out in this financial period include the following:
Laburnum Boat Club
We supported Laburnum Boat Club in 2025 with our members completing the Hackney Half to raise funding for the Club. Repairs were made to the slalom course to extend the life of the much utilised course by local children overseen by Laburnum Boat Club.
Circus Boat community outreach
We have engaged a circus boat to put on a public show in the basin, this has engaged with the adjacent blocks of flats with several hundred visitors attending.
Open House outreach
During Open House, a London wide event, CHUG opens to and shows off our floating allotment barge and allows members of the public into some of the boats to promote a better understanding of the boating community.
Carol singers outreach
We organised Carol singers for a public show for the surrounding flats in the basin and the donations from the public were then given to Laburnum Boat Club.
Clear Up Days
To remove rubbish from the Basin and the surrounding towpath.
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CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2025
Financial review Significant Events Plans for Future Periods
We will continue with our ongoing projects and will also provide funding for Laburnum Boat Club’s narrowboat “Lady Mildmay”, which needs to go into dry dock for a full survey and works on her hull and requires a new floor and furnishings, so that the boat club can keep providing trips.
Going concern
The trustees are satisfied that the charity will continue to be a going concern for the foreseeable future.
Reserves policy
The reserves policy is that at least 6 months expenditure be retained as reserves at all times. In this financial period the reserves were comfortably above this level.
Major risks
The trustees have looked at the risks and are satisfied that steps have been taken to mitigate them.
Structure, governance and management
The Charity’s governing documents are its Memorandum and Articles of Association. There are two trustees as listed below.
Collective Decision Making
There is no leader, all decisions affecting the basin are made collectively at meetings. We aim for consensus in our decision making but rely on majority democratic votes if there is no consensus. This form of decision making can be slow and cumbersome but it upholds the values of the community that everyone has an equal say.
This system requires that all members are to respect the decision making process and the decisions that are made whether they are in agreement or not.
Tasks, roles and responsibilities are shared out in order to sustain the community. All members of the community are required to contribute their time and energy free of charge to sustain the community.
Governance and Management
Decisions are made collectively and by majority at meetings.
Diary dates for meetings are made collectively at each AGM in January for the ensuing year. Members are required to attend at least 4 meetings per year. In addition to the scheduled meetings any member can call an extraordinary meeting at any time. If a member wishes to call an extraordinary meeting, at least two weeks notice is required. All members can put forward any agenda item they wish for a meeting. The agenda is circulated two weeks before the meeting. Any member can add an agenda item at the start of a meeting, although some items require at least two weeks notice e.g. new pet, grievance, sub-let request. Quorum level is 9 people. If no consensus is reached majority voting is used to reach a decision. Votes are only counted from those present at the meeting. There are no proxy votes either by mail or email. Minutes of the meeting are circulated to members within two weeks of the date of the meeting.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Mr T L Phillips (Appointed 20 January 2025) Ms M Gandy
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CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2025
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Mr T L Phillips Trustee
30 June 2026
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CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Canals in Hackney Users Group (the charity) for the year ended 30 November 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. You are satisfied that the financial statements of the charity are not required by charity or company law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 65 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
-
2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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3 the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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4 the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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 financial statements to be reached.
Seamus Ferguson FCA Goldblatts
4th Floor 4 Tabernacle Street London EC2A 4LU 30 June 2026
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CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2025
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments from: | |||
| Donations and legacies | 2 | 58,531 | 61,829 |
| Investments | 3 | 1,741 | 920 |
| Other income | 4 | - | 350 |
| Total income | 60,272 | 63,099 | |
| Expenditure on: | |||
| Raising funds | 5 | 595 | 624 |
| Charitable activities | 6 | 36,707 | 46,926 |
| Total expenditure | 37,302 | 47,550 | |
| Net income and movement in funds | 22,970 | 15,549 | |
| Reconciliation of funds: | |||
| Fund balances at 1 December 2024 | 121,022 | 105,473 | |
| Fund balances at 30 November 2025 | 143,992 | 121,022 |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 30 NOVEMBER 2025
| Notes Current assets Debtors 13 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 14 Net current assets The funds of the charity Unrestricted funds 15 |
2025 £ 9,550 140,022 149,572 (5,580) |
£ 143,992 143,992 143,992 |
2024 £ 8,223 117,992 126,215 (5,193) |
£ 121,022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 121,022 | ||||
| 121,022 |
The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 30 November 2025.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 30 June 2026
Mr T L Phillips Trustee
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CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2025
1 Accounting policies
Charity information
Canals in Hackney Users Group is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 4th Floor, 4 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4LU.
1.1 Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
1.2 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
1.3 Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.
1.4 Income
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
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CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2025
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
1.5 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
1.6 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
1.7 Financial instruments
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
1.8 Employee benefits
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
2 Income from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Donations and gifts | 58,531 | 61,829 |
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CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2025
3 Income from investments
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Interest receivable | 1,741 | 920 | |
| 4 | Other income | ||
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | ||
| funds | funds | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Other income | - | 350 | |
| 5 | Expenditure on raising funds | ||
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | ||
| funds | funds | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Fundraising and publicity | |||
| Staging fundraising events | 595 | 624 | |
| 6 | Expenditure on charitable activities | ||
| Encouragin | Encouragin | ||
| g use of | g use of | ||
| canal | canal | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Direct costs | |||
| Grant funding of activities (see note 7) | 881 | 12,500 | |
| Share of support and governance costs (see note 8) | |||
| Support | 34,308 | 27,574 | |
| Governance | 1,518 | 6,852 | |
| 36,707 | 46,926 | ||
| Analysis by fund | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 36,707 | 46,926 |
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CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2025
7 Grants payable
| 7 | Grants payable | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Encouragin | Encouragin | ||
| g use of | g use of | ||
| canal | canal | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Grants to institutions: | |||
| Other | 881 | 12,500 | |
| - | |||
| 8 | Support costs allocated to activities | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Rent and rates | 16,829 | 16,620 | |
| Light and heat | 7,084 | 6,455 | |
| Repairs and renewals | 8,849 | - | |
| Insurance | 680 | 701 | |
| Sundry costs | 866 | 3,798 | |
| Governance costs | 1,518 | 6,852 | |
| 35,826 | 34,426 | ||
| Analysed between: | |||
| Encouraging use of canal | 35,826 | 34,426 | |
| 9 | Net movement in funds | 2025 | 2024 |
| £ | £ | ||
| The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting): | |||
| Fees payable for the independent examination of the charity's financial | |||
| statements | 936 | 720 |
10 Trustees
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
11 Employees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number | Number | |
| Total | - | - |
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
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CANALS IN HACKNEY USERS GROUP
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2025
11 Employees
(Continued)
Remuneration of key management personnel
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
12 Taxation
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
13 Debtors
| Amounts falling due within one year: Trade debtors Prepayments and accrued income |
2025 £ 5,800 3,750 9,550 |
2024 £ 4,473 3,750 |
|---|---|---|
| 8,223 |
14 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Other creditors Accruals and deferred income |
2025 £ 4,680 900 5,580 |
2024 £ 4,473 720 |
|---|---|---|
| 5,193 |
15 Unrestricted funds
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
| At 1 | Incoming | Resources | At 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | resources | expended | November | |
| 2024 | 2025 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 121,022 | 60,272 | (37,302) | 143,992 |
| Previous year: | At 1 | Incoming | Resources | At 30 |
| December | resources | expended | November | |
| 2023 | 2024 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 105,473 | 63,099 | (47,550) | 121,022 |
16 Related party transactions
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).
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