**WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
**Company No. 03688770 (England and Wales) Registered Charity No. 1075248**
## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **COMPANY INFORMATION**
**Directors and Trustees** Mr Edward Hamilton-Hill (Chairman) Mrs Andrea Hamilton-Hill Lady Susan Newborough Mr Richard Morris (Appointed 22 July 2025) Mr Stewart Tan (Appointed 28 November 2024) **Secretary** Mrs Sarah Thursfield **Company Number** 03688770 (England and Wales) **Charity Number** 1075248 **Registered Office** Whittington Castle Castle Street Whittington Oswestry Shropshire SY11 4DF
**Independent Examiner** Mr R J Humphreys FCA James, Holyoak & Parker Limited 1 Knight’s Court Archers Way Battlefield Enterprise Park Shrewsbury Shropshire SY1 3GA
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Report|4 - 5|
|Independent Examiner's Report|6|
|Statement of Financial Activities|7|
|Balance Sheet|8|
|Notes to the Accounts|9 - 14|
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
The trustees, who are also directors of the charity, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the Year Ended 31 December 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Charities SORP 2015 (FRS102).
## **Charity information**
Whittington Castle Preservation Trust is a registered charity and private company limited by guarantee with no issued share capital, incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Whittington Castle Castle Street, Whittington, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 4DF. The registered company number is 03688770 (England & Wales), and the registered charity number is 1075248.
## **Trustees/Directors**
The directors/trustees, who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements was as follows:
|Mr Jonjo Evans|(Chairman - Resigned 28 November 2024)|
|---|---|
|Mr Edward Hamilton-Hill|(Chairman)|
|Mr Lee Crow|(Appointed 2 July 2024, Resigned 28 November 2024)|
|Mr Mark Derham|(Resigned 08 October 2024)|
|Mrs Joy Duddell|(Resigned 12 January 2025)|
|Mr John Flaherty|(Resigned 12 December 2024)|
|Miss Elizabeth Franks|(Resigned 29 January 2025)|
|Mrs Andrea Hamilton-Hill||
|Lady Susan Newborough||
|Mr Peter Robinson|(Resigned 28 November 2024)|
|Mr David Thomasson|(Resigned 28 November 2024)|
|Mrs Sarah Thursfield|(Resigned 02 February 2025)|
|Mr Laurence Wilson|(Appointed 19 October 2023, Resigned 12 March 2024)|
|Mr Richard Morris|(Appointed 22 July 2025)|
|Mr Stewart Tan|(Appointed 28 November 2024)|
|Mr James Bagley|(Appointed 28 November 2024, Resigned 17 March 2025)|
## **Governing document and charity objective**
The charity is bound by its governing document, a deed of trust. The purpose of the charity is to preserve and promote the use of Whittington Castle to the wider community.
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees (who are also directors of Whittington Castle Preservation Trust for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law 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 charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2015 (FRS 102);
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
- there is no relevant accounting information of which the charitable company’s independent examiner is unaware; and
- the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant accounting information and to establish that the independent examiner is aware of that information.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 29 September 2025, and signed on its behalf by:
Mr Stewart Tan Trustee and Director
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS/TRUSTEES OF WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 7 to 14.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your company’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’) as amended by the Charities Act 2022. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **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 company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
4. the accounts 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 accounts 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 accounts to be reached.
Robert Humphreys BEng FCA
James, Holyoak and Parker Limited 1 Knights Court Archers Way Battlefield Enterprise Park Shrewsbury Shropshire SY1 3GA
Dated: 29 September 2025
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **Summary Income and Expenditure Account**
|**Notes**
**Income from:**
Donations, legacies and grants
2
Charitable activities
3
Investment income
4
**Total incoming resources**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
5
Charitable activities
6
Other expenditure
7
Transfers between funds
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
16
Total funds carried forward
16
**Net**
**income/(expenditure)**
**and**
**net**
**movement in funds**|**Restricted**
**£**
500
-
-|**Unrestricted**
**£**
6,003
216,019
8|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
6,503
216,019
8|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
14,426
219,756
21|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||500
-
6,072
-
(5,572)|222,030
66,395
193,501
14,328
5,572|222,530
66,395
199,573
14,328
-|234,203
68,889
187,859
6,975
-|
||**-**
-|**(57,766)**
74,973|**(57,766)**
74,973|**(29,520)**
104,493|
||-|17,207|17,207|74,973|
The Statement of Financial Activities includes details of all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024**
||||**2024**||**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Notes**||**£**||**£**|
|**Fixed assets**||||||
|Tangible assets|11||89,218||98,785|
|**Current assets**||||||
|Debtors|12|-||3,040||
|Stocks||-||4,300||
|Cash at bank and in hand||1,569||515||
|||1,569||7,855||
|**Creditors: amounts falling due within one**||||||
|**year**|13|(63,580)||(31,667)||
|**Net current assets**|||(62,011)||(23,812)|
|**Creditors: amounts falling due after more**||||||
|**than one year**|14||(10,000)||-|
|**Net assets**|||17,207||74,973|
|**Charity funds**||||||
|Unrestricted funds|16||17,207||74,973|
|Restricted funds|16||-||-|
||||17,207||74,973|
These accounts are prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small company regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
For the year ending 31 December 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors’ responsibilities:
- The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476;
- The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 29 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
………………………………………… ………………………………………… **Mr Edward Hamilton-Hill Mr Stewart Tan Chairman and Trustee Director and Trustee**
The notes on pages 9 to 14 form part of these financial statements. Company Registration Number: 03688770 (England & Wales)
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **1. Summary of significant accounting policies**
## **1.1 General information and basis of preparation**
Whittington Castle Preservation Trust is a private company limited by guarantee, and a registered charity in England and Wales . The company number is 3688770 (England & Wales), and the registered charity number is 1075248. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £5 per member of the charity. The address of the registered office is Whittington Castle Castle Street, Whittington, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 4DF. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are to preserve and promote the use of Whittington Castle to the wider community.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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) issued on 16 July 2014 (as updated through Update Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016) , the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 (as amended by the Charities Act 2022), the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015.
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.
## **1.2 Funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## **1.3 Income recognition**
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.
Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts, and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Affairs when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the value of services provided by volunteers has not been included.
On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.
Investment income is included as it becomes receivable.
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **1.4 Expenditure recognition**
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Rentals applicable to operating leases, where substantially all of the benefits and risks remain with the lessor, are charged to income and expenditure as incurred.
Expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries.
- **1.5 Allocation and apportionment of costs**
Allocation of wages and salaries is based on the cost for each staff member and the fund for which they work.
Allocation of support costs is based on the share of the income for each fund as the trustees believe this best represents the consumption of resources.
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost (or deemed cost) or valuation less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Cost includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended.
Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a systematic basis over its expected useful life as follows:
Land and buildings straight line over 99 years Plant and machinery straight line over 5 years Fixtures and fittings straight line over 5 years
## **1.7 Stock**
Stock is included at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Donated items of stock are recognised at fair value which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay for the items on the open market.
## **1.8 Leases**
Assets acquired under finance leases are capitalised and depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and the expected useful life of the asset. Minimum lease payments are apportioned between the finance charge and the reduction of the outstanding lease liability using the effective interest method. The related obligations, net of future finance charges, are included in creditors.
Rentals payable and receivable under operating leases are charged to the SoFA on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.
## **1.9 Pensions**
The charity operates a defined contribution plan for the benefit of its employees. Contributions are expensed as they become payable.
## **1.10 Tax**
The charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.
## **1.11 Going Concern**
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**2.**
**Donations, legacies and grants**
**Restricted**
**£**
Donations
-
Grant income
500
Gift Aid
-
Membership
-
Miscellaneous
-
500
**3.**
**Income from charitable activities**
**Restricted**
**£**
Shop income
-
Car park
-
Functions
-
Tea room
-
-
**4.**
**Investment income**
**Restricted**
**£**
Deposit account interest
-
-
**5.**
**Analysis of expenditure on fundraising activities**
**Restricted**
**£**
**Costs directly allocated to activities**
Fundraising trading
-
-
**6.**
**Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities**
**Restricted**
**£**
**Costs directly allocated to activities**
Wages and social security
-
Rates and water
-
Insurance
-
Light and heat
-
Telephone
-
Advertising
-
Depreciation
5,572
Miscellaneous
-
Premises costs
500
6,072|**Restricted**
**£**
-
500
-
-
-|**Unrestricted**
**£**
3,320
2,530
-
153
-|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
3,320
3,030
-
153
-|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
5,123
528
8,762
13
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||500|6,003|6,503|14,426|
||**Restricted**
**£**
-
-
-
-|**Unrestricted**
**£**
18,398
6,311
10,893
180,417|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
18,398
6,311
10,893
180,417|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
19,365
1,094
8,882
190,415|
||-|216,019|216,019|219,756|
||**Restricted**
**£**
-|**Unrestricted**
**£**
8|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
8|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
21|
||-|8|8|21|
|||**Unrestricted**
**£**
66,395|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
66,395|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
68,889|
||-|66,395|66,395|68,889|
|||**Unrestricted**
**£**
136,301
2,930
16,977
20,192
1,582
2,252
3,993
1,504
7,770|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
136,301
2,930
16,977
20,192
1,582
2,252
9,565
1,504
8,270|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
125,635
755
13,234
21,928
1,439
1,921
9,125
5,245
8,577|
||6,072|193,501|199,573|187,859|
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
|**7.**
**Analysis of other expenditure**
**Restricted**
**Unrestricted**
**£**
**£**
**Support costs**
Equipment leasing and other maintenance
-
4,210
Accountancy
-
2,260
Bank charges
-
703
Late interest and penalties
-
7,155
-
14,328
**8.**
**Net deficit for the year**
Net deficit is stated after charging:
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets owned by the charity
Independent examiner's fee
Amounts paid to Independent examiner in respect of other services|**Restricted**
**£**
-
-
-
-|**Unrestricted**
**£**
4,210
2,260
703
7,155|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
4,210
2,260
703
7,155|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
2,864
1,350
606
2,155|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||-|14,328|14,328|6,975|
||||**2024**
**£**
9,565
2,260
-|**2023**
**£**
9,125
1,350
-|
## **9. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
No trustee of the company, nor any person connected with them, has received or is due to receive any remuneration for the period, directly or indirectly from the Charity's funds.
No expenses have been reimbursed to any of the trustees in their role as trustees.
## **10. Staff costs and employee benefits**
The average monthly number of employees and full time equivalent (FTE) during the year was as follows:
|General manager
Tea room supervisor
Catering assistants
Chef
The total staff costs and employees benefits was
Wages and salaries
Expenses
Social security costs *|**2024**
**Number**
1
1
7
2|**2024**
**FTE**
1
1
3
1|**2023**
**Number**
1
1
7
1|**2023**
**FTE**
1
1
3
1|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||11|6|10|6|
||as follows:||**2024**
**£**
133,834
-
2,467|**2023**
**£**
124,280
-
1,355|
||||136,301|125,635|
* expense incurred as total employers national insurance is more than the Employment Allowance rebate
No employee received total remuneration and employee benefits of more than £60,000.
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **11. Tangible fixed assets**
|**Land & buildings**
**£**
**Cost or valuation:**
At 31 December 2022
89,055
Additions
-
At 31 December 2023
89,055
**Depreciation:**
At 31 December 2022
7,523
Charge for year
900
At 31 December 2023
8,423
**Net book value:**
At 31 December 2022
81,532
At 31 December 2023
80,632
**12.**
**Debtors**
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments
**13.**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Accrued expenses
Trade creditors
Social security and other taxes
Hire purchase
Other creditors
**14.**
**Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year**
Loans from trustees
**15.**
**Analysis of net assets between the funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
Fixed assets
89,218
Net current assets
(72,011)
17,207|**Land & buildings**
**£**
89,055
-|**Fixtures and**
**fittings**
**£**
36,929
-|**Plant &**
**machinery**
**£**
58,153
-|**Total**
**£**
184,137
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||89,055|36,929|58,153|184,137|
||7,523
900|22,157
7,386|55,672
1,281|85,352
9,567|
||8,423|29,543|56,953|94,919|
||81,532|14,772|2,481|98,785|
||80,632|7,386|1,200|89,218|
|||**Designated**
**funds**
**£**
-
-|**2024**
**£**
-
-
-|**2023**
**£**
3,040
-
-|
||||-|3,040|
||||**2024**
**£**
2,935
13,007
42,170
-
5,468|**2023**
**£**
1,520
10,252
14,104
-
5,791|
||||63,580|31,667|
||||**2024**
**£**
10,000|**2023**
**£**
-|
||||10,000|-|
||||**Restricted**
**fund**
**£**
-
-|**Total**
**£**
89,218
(72,011)|
||17,207|-|-|17,207|
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## **WHITTINGTON CASTLE PRESERVATION TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024**
## **16. Fund reconciliation**
|**Unrestricted:**
General reserve
Total unrestricted funds
**Restricted:**
Whittington Parish
Other grant income
Total restricted funds
**Total funds**|**As at**
**1 Jan 2024**
**£**
74,973|**Income**
**£**
222,030|**Expenditure &**
**gains/(losses)**
**£**
(274,224)|**Transfers**
**£**
(5,572)|**As at**
**31 Dec 2024**
**£**
17,207|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||74,973|222,030|(274,224)|(5,572)|17,207|
||-|500|(6,072)|5,572
-|-
-|
||-|500|(6,072)|5,572|-|
||**74,973**|**222,530**|**(280,296)**|**-**|**17,207**|
## **Purposes of Restricted Funds**
The resticted funds relate to grants from the the Parish Council and National Heritage. This grant from the Prish Council is intended to fund the maintenance of the castle grounds and from the National Heritage to support the building of the toilet blocks. The Board have no leeway to amend the use of the funds. As the toilet blocks were completed during the year, and given that the actual costs of the build exceeded restricted grant income, the balance of restricted reserves has been transferred to unrestricted. This is because the restricted funds have effectively been fully spent on the capital items for which they were intended.
## **17. Related party transactions**
Mr A Hamiliton-Hill and Lady Susan Newborough have provided financial support to Whittington Castle Preservation Trust during the year. This has been provided in the form of a loan to the charity free of interest. The amount loaned in total and remaining due to Mr A Hamiliton-Hill and Lady Susan Newborough as at 31 December 2024 is £10,000 (2023: £nil). The loans are considered to be long-term and there is no payback date scheduled at present.
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