The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead (charity no – 1074485)
Annual trustees’ report and accounts
31 December 2025
Trustees Timothy Wright (Chair) (at time of reporting) Rev Joanna Burke Jonathan Mark Jenkin Carol Gibson Gregory Parsons Sarah Parsons Jack Reyland Janet Bowie Samantha Davis (appointed 05 March 2025)
Registered address Wilton Cottage, River Hill Flamstead St. Albans Hertfordshire AL3 8BY
Charity registration number 1074485
Website www.friendsofstleonards.org
The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead
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Trustees’ Report
The trustees of the Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead (FoSL) present their report with the accounts of FoSL for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Objectives and activities
FoSL is an unincorporated body, registered with the Charity Commission. It was established by a trust deed dated 5 February 1999.
The trust deed decrees that the trustees make available the funds, whether capital or income, including contributions and subscriptions from time to time in their absolute discretion for the preservation, restoration, improvement and ornamentation of the parish church of St Leonard's, Flamstead, Hertfordshire. St Leonard’s is an ancient Grade I listed church that has stood at the heart of the village of Flamstead in Hertfordshire for over 900 years.
Applications for funds from the Flamstead Parochial Church Council (the PCC), which has ultimate responsibility for the maintenance of the structure and the fabric of St Leonard’s, Flamstead, are considered and decided in accordance with the provisions of the trust deed.
In order to raise funds and awareness, FoSL seeks to arrange and participate in a number of fundraising activities, including the Flamstead Scarecrow Festival, fundraising dinners and evening events in conjunction with the PCC to raise awareness of the historical church and funding required to ensure the future of the church and grounds. FoSL also raises funds from supporters’ subscriptions, donations and legacies.
The trustees are of the view that, through these activities, a public benefit is provided with due regard to guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission.
Achievements and performance
In 2025 FoSL continued with its fundraising activities. Events included a village supper and the Flamstead Scarecrow Festival, the latter raising a surplus of just under £14,000 which was divided between FoSL and other charitable organisations in Flamstead in recognition of the assistance provided by villagers and those organisations in making the festival a success.
£36,116 was paid to the PCC in 2025 which included £10,071 contribution to heating and gas safety, £6,190 on the extension and tree safety at God’s Acre (village cemetery), £3,660 Remembrance Garden amenity, £3,606 on churchyard tree safety and maintenance, £5,923 maintenance and security of the church building and £6,665 final payment of the major works conducted during 2020 and 2021.
The contribution to heating was agreed by the Trustees at 2/3 of the total gas usage.
These payments have enabled St Leonard’s to remain fully open for both religious and secular events and to meet the obligations to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead
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Financial review
Results for the year
The accounts for YE 2024 were prepared on an accruals basis and, although the revenue was less than the threshold for YE 2025, the decision was made to continue preparing the accounts on an accruals basis.
FoSL’s incoming resources in the year totalled £67,144 slightly up from 2024 (2024: £64,313) due mainly to interest received on Bank deposit accounts. Resources expended for the charity’s purposes totalled £47,428 (2024: £20,438). This has resulted in a net surplus of incoming resources of £19,716 (2024: surplus of £43,876).
Amounts paid out in the year included grants approved to the PCC of £36,116 (2024: £53,646). Liabilities for grants approved but not yet paid were £3,828 (2024: £11,984). The loans totalling £79,802 advanced to the PCC prior to 2022 to fund works on the church prior to the receipt of were repaid during the year.
Reserves policy and financial position
It is the policy of the trustees to ensure that FoSL maintains maximum reserves to be able to support the needs of St Leonard’s when requested. These needs continue to be very significant both in the short term and the longer term. Although the financial outlook is positive at present, the Trustees are aware of several items of significant expenditure in coming years and consequently, a 25-year strategic review of income and expenditure was undertaken in 2023 resulting in the resolution passed by the Trustees on 29 Nov 2023. The Trustees are comfortable that FoSL’s finances are in a sustainable position, but will continue to monitor income and outgoing regularly and act as appropriate.
At 31 December 2025, the reserves represented by bank balances, debtors and creditors were £892,532 (2024: £872,816). Of these reserves, following the resolution passed by the Trustees on 29 November 2023 and documented in the report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023, £100,000 is reserved for unexpected emergencies, £478,389 designated for an annual drawdown into the unrestricted funds which stands at £314,143. The Reserved Fund and the annual drawdown from the Designated Fund into the Unrestricted Fund will be increased in 2026 in line with the Consumer Price Index following agreement reached by the Trustees in November 2025.
In order to reduce the risk of banks in financial difficulty and to secure better rates of interest, £812,345 is placed into a deposit platform operated by Flagstone on behalf of CAF Bank, the monies then being distributed amongst several banks within the £120,000 limit of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (£85,000 to 30 November 2025).
The Trustees have considered the erosion of the capital value of monies held on deposit due to inflation exceeding the rate of interest receivable on bank deposits. A long-term view has been taken of the capital held and the Trustees are considering in detail investing a proportion of funds currently held on deposit. Any investments would be with a fund manager specialising in charities connected to the churches in the UK with a view to investing in an ethical way. It is considered that over a period of not less than five years this would provide better protection of capital. Reserves will be held at a level such that unexpected costs and eventualities can be met.
The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead
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Post 31 December 2025 and future plans
In 2026, FoSL is continuing with its grant-giving to assist the PCC with capital works. This includes works to improve and enlarge the cemetery in Flamstead known as God’s Acre, payment of 2/3rds of the gas usage bill reflecting the requirement to maintain a constant temperature and humidity in St Leonard’s for the preservation and stabilisation of the medieval wall paintings, as well as ongoing maintenance. The Trustees have agreed to meet 50% of the church buildings insurance.
A Quinquennial Report (QR), produced following a major inspection of St Leonard’s in March 2024 the requirement for significant repairs to buttresses, the vestry roof and tower masonry. Costs associated with these repairs as well as general maintenance is likely to be significant.
Plans are in hand to run another Flamstead Scarecrow Festival in August 2026, the net proceeds to be shared with other Flamstead-based non-commercial local groups and charities. A Village Supper is proposed to be held in October 2026.
Trustees
The following trustees served during the year ending 31 December 2025.
Jonathan Mark Jenkin
Timothy Wright (Chair)
Reverend Joanna Burke
Carol Gibson
Gregory Parsons
Sarah Parsons
Jack Reyland
Janet Bowie
Samantha Davis (appointed as Trustee 5 March 2025)
As ever, we are hugely grateful for the financial support and support by way of time and ideas that are given so generously by our supporters. We very much look forward to drawing on that again in the rest of 2026.
“Thank you.”
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Tim Wright Chair
Date: 12 March 2026
The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the trustees of The Friends of St Leonard’s Flamstead (FoSL)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of FoSL for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are attached on pages 7 - 9.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of FoSL, 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 FoSL’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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 in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe in any material respect:
• accounting records were not kept in respect of FoSL 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 order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Date:
Vladimira Cosier ACCA 13 Dammersey Close Markyate AL3 8JS
The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead
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The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
Year Ended 31 December 2025 TOTAL Year Ended 31st December 2024 TOTAL
Unrestricted Designated Reserved Unrestricted Designated Restricted
2025 2024
Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Incoming resources
Subscriptions 3,229 - - 3,229 4,243 - - 4,243
Donations 13,516 - - 13,516 12,717 - - 12,717
Legacies - - - - - - - -
Fundraising events 11,763 - - 11,763 9,146 - - 9,146
Income from investment 38,636 - - 38,636 31,944 - - 31,944
Gift Aid recovery due -
VAT reclaimed by PCC offset - - - - 6,263 6,263
Total incoming resources 67,144 67,144 64,313 - - 64,313
Resources expended
Grants made for church repairs and improvements 27,210 - - 27,210 3,474 - - 3,474
Costs of fundraising events 18,868 - - 18,868 14,925 - - 14,925
Other 939 - - 939 1,705 - - 1,705
Accountancy expenses 250 - - 250 250 - - 250
Events 161 - - 161 83 83
Total resources expended 47,428 - - 47,428 20,438 - - 20,438
- -
-
Net incoming resoures before transfers 19,716 - - 19,716 43,876 - - 43,876
-
Tranfers between funds 21,560 (21,560) - - 20,831 (20,831) - -
-
Net increase (decrease) in funds 41,277 (21,560) - 19,716 64,707 (20,831) 43,876
-
Fund balances at 1 January 272,867 499,949 100,000 872,816 208,160 520,780 100,000 828,940
-
Fund balances at 31 December 314,143 478,389 100,000 892,532 272,867 499,949 100,000 872,816
----- End of picture text -----
The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead
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The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead Balance Sheet at 31 December 2025
| Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds Reserved Funds £ £ £ 5,413 - - 445 - - As at 31st December 2025 |
Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds Reserved Funds £ £ £ 5,413 - - 445 - - As at 31st December 2025 |
Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds Reserved Funds £ £ £ 5,413 - - 445 - - As at 31st December 2025 |
TOTAL 2025 £ 5,413 445 |
As at 31st December 2024 | As at 31st December 2024 | As at 31st December 2024 | TOTAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds |
Designated Funds |
Restricted Funds |
2024 | |||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | ||||||||||
| NatWest Current account | 20,610 | - | - | 20,610 | ||||||
| NatWest Reserve account | 440 | - | - | 440 | ||||||
| Cash | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| CAF Bank Cash | 17,233 | - | - | 17,233 | 6,476 | - | - | 6,476 | ||
| CAF Bank Gold | 44,629 | - | - | 44,629 | 93,391 | - | - | 93,391 | ||
| Flagstone HoldingAccount | 234,141 | 478,389 | 100,000 | 812,530 | 78,988 199,907 |
499,949 499,949 |
100,000 100,000 |
678,937 799,856 |
||
| 301,861 | 478,389 | 100,000 | 880,250 | |||||||
| Debtors due within oneyear | ||||||||||
| Loan to the PCC | - | - | - | - | 79,802 | - | - | 79,802 | ||
| Accrued interest | 13,725 | - | - | 13,725 | ||||||
| HMRC Gift Aid repayment | 2,635 | - | - | 2,635 | 5,392 | - | - | 5,392 | ||
| 318,221 | 478,389 | 100,000 | 896,610 | 285,101 | 499,949 | 100,000 | 885,050 | |||
| Liabilities: amounts falling due within oneyear | - | |||||||||
| Grants approved but notyetpaid | (3,828) | - | - | (3,828) | (11,984) | - | - | (11,984) | ||
| Accountancyaccruals | (250) | - | - | (250) | (250) | - - |
- - |
(500) - |
||
| SCF 2024 accruals | 314,143 | - 478,389 |
- 100,000 |
- 892,532 |
||||||
| Net current assets | 272,867 | 499,949 | 100,000 | 872,816 | ||||||
| Net assets | 314,143 | 478,389 | 100,000 | 892,532 | 272,867 | 499,949 | 100,000 | 872,816 | ||
| Funds at 31 December | 314,143 | 478,389 | 100,000 | 892,532 | 272,867 | 499,949 | 100,000 | 872,816 |
Approved by the trustees on 04 March 2026 and signed on their behalf
Trustee
Trustee
Tim Wright
Jack Reyland
The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead
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The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead Notes to the financial statements
Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these accounts were as follows:
a) Basis of preparation
The accounts have been prepared on an accruals basis, under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the 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 (the Charities SORP).
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The accounts are presented in sterling and are rounded to the nearest pound.
b) Fund accounting
Restricted funds comprise monies raised for, or their use restricted to, a specific purpose, or contributions subject to donor imposed conditions.
Unrestricted funds represent those monies which are freely available for application towards achieving any charitable purpose that falls within the charity's charitable objects.
Designated funds represent those monies set aside from unrestricted funds by the trustees for a specific purpose.
c) Income recognition
Income is recognised in the period in which the charity has entitlement to the income, the amount of income can be measured reliably, and it is probable that the income will be received.
d) Expenditure recognition
Expenditure is recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to make a payment 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.
The Friends of St Leonard’s, Flamstead
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