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← The Sherling Charitable Trust

2025-03-31-accounts

(Charity Number: 1079651)

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

INDEX

Page
Legal and administrative information 1
Trustees' report 2 - 3
Auditor's report 4 - 6
Statement of financial activities 7
Balance sheet 8
Cash flow statement 9
Notes to cash flow statement 10
Notes to the financial statements 11 - 16

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees C R Sherling (Chairman)
S A Sherling
A M Sherling
W D Sherling
Governing document Trust Deed dated 15 December 1999
Registered charity number 1079651
Principal address 26 Burkes Road
Beaconsfield
Buckinghamshire
HP9 1PF
Auditors Nunn Hayward LLP
2-4 Packhorse Road
Gerrards Cross
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7QE
Bankers HSBC Private Bank
8 Cork Street
London
W1S 3LJ
Investment managers Rathbone Investment Management
30 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7QN

1

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 2 to the accounts and comply with the charity's trust deed, Charities Act 2011 and the Charities SORP (FRS102) - Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (2019).

CONSTITUTION AND OBJECTS

The trust is constituted under a trust deed dated 15 December 1999 and is a registered charity, number 1079651.

The trust may pay or apply its income and capital to any legally charitable institution, body or fund or for such legally charitable purpose as the trustees shall, from time to time, in their absolute discretion, determine. The trustees have decided to support various health, arts and community charities, but will consider other areas of particular interest to them.

ORGANISATION

The trustees who served during the year and since then are set out on page 1. The trustees meet as needed but no less than four times a year.

The trust deed provides that there should be a minimum of three trustees and no more than seven. However, as there are no plans to introduce additional trustees, the charity has no formal policies regarding induction and training for new trustees.

GRANT MAKING POLICY

Applications for grants from other charitable entities, institutions or bodies are assessed and approved by the trustees against their areas of interest.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

The charity trustees have complied with the duty in Section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The charity does not carry out significant fundraising activities and is funded by donations from trustees and investment returns.

During the year, the charity received donations of £75,000 (2024: £525,000) and net investment income of £341,315 (2024: £293,687), making total income of £416,315 (2024: 818,687). The charity made grants totalling £239,000 (2024: £330,850).

The Rathbone's portfolio generated the expected income. The portfolio showed an unrealised gain of £32,338 for the year.

The investment in structured equity products with HSBC Private Bank has produced the expected income. The notes that matured during the year were all redeemed at par. The notes retained at the year end show an unrealised loss of £67,140 on a mark-to market basis, approximately 2.6% of their par value.

There is no need for a reserves policy as the trust has no contractual commitments and reserves carried forward are invested to provide future income. At the balance sheet date the charity had unrestricted reserves of £6,519,993. There are no restricted funds.

The trustees have invested the monies with a view to the trust moving to self sufficiency over the medium term.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The main risk affecting the charity is the loss of value of the investments. The trustees review the investment management strategy regularly to minimise this risk.

2

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (continued)

AUDITORS

Nunn Hayward LLP are re-appointed as auditors to the charity.

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable laws and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales 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 charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the year end. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions, 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 Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the charity's 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.

STATEMENT OF DISCLOSURE TO AUDITORS

So far as each person who was a trustee at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the auditors of the charity is unaware. Additionally, the trustees individually have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as trustees in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors of the charity is aware of that information.

GOING CONCERN

The trustees believe the charity has sufficient assets to enable it to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of these financial statements. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these financial statements.

Approved by the board of trustees on 15 July 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

C R Sherling Chairman

3

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

OPINION

We have audited the financial statements of The Sherling Charitable Trust for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, cash flow statement and related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting

In our opinion the financial statements:

BASIS FOR OPINION

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

CONCLUSION RELATING TO GOING CONCERN

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:

OTHER INFORMATION

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you, if in our opinion:

4

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

(continued)

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

AUDITOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

THE EXTENT THE AUDIT WAS CONSIDERED CAPABLE OF DETECTING IRREGULARITIES, INCLUDING FRAUD

The objectives of our audit in respect of fraud are to; identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses; and to respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rest with the trustees.

OUR APPROACH WAS AS FOLLOWS:

5

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

(continued)

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of noncompliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

USE OF OUR REPORT

This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Nunn Hayward LLP

Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 2-4 Packhorse Road Gerrards Cross

15 July 2025

Nunn Hayward LLP is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

6

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
Notes £ £
INCOME AND DONATIONS
Donations 3 75,000 525,000
Investment income 3 341,315 293,687
TOTAL INCOME 416,315 818,687
EXPENDITURE
Costs of raising funds:
Charitable activities 4 243,380 334,630
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 243,380 334,630
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 172,935 484,057
Net (losses)/gains on investments (115,639) 259,385
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 57,296 743,442
Fund balances brought forward 6,462,697 5,719,255
Fund balances carried forward 6,519,993 6,462,697
----- End of picture text -----

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure is derived from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 11 - 16 form part of these financial statements.

7

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
Notes £ £ £ £
FIXED ASSETS
Investments 7 5,823,144 6,232,283
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors due within one year 8 - 3,860
Cash at bank 9 701,049 230,334
701,049 234,194
CREDITORS -
Amounts falling due within one year
Creditors and accruals 10 4,200 3,780
NET CURRENT ASSETS 696,849 230,414
NET ASSETS 6,519,993 6,462,697
Unrestricted funds: 6,519,993 6,462,697
TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS 6,519,993 6,462,697
----- End of picture text -----

Approved by the board of trustees on 15 July 2025 and signed on its behalf by

C R Sherling Trustee

Registered charity number: 1079651

The notes on pages 11 - 16 form part of these financial statements.

8

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
Notes £ £
CASHFLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net cash used in operating activities 1 (164,100) 190,370
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Dividends and interest received net of charges 341,315 302,622
Investments at cost (2,606,500) (2,907,250)
Sales proceeds 2,900,000 2,400,000
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities 634,815 (204,628)
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 470,715 (14,258)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 230,334 244,592
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END
OF THE YEAR 2 701,049 230,334
----- End of picture text -----

9

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
1 RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) TO
NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net movement in income/(expenditure) for the year 57,296 743,442
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Adjustments for:
Investment income (341,315) (293,687)
Losses/(gains) on investments 115,639 (259,385)
Movements in working capital
Decrease in debtors 3,860 -
Increase in creditors 420 -
Net cash provided by operating activities (164,100) 190,370
2 ANALYSIS OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 2025 2024
£ £
Current account 342 342
Deposit account 700,707 229,992
Total cash at bank 701,049 230,334
----- End of picture text -----

10

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1 STATUTORY INFORMATION

The Sherling Charitable Trust is a registered charity (number 1079651) constituted under deed of trust, domiciled in the UK and is a public benefit entity. The principal office is 29 Burkes Road, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 1PF.

The accounts are presented in £ Sterling and rounded to the nearest £1.

2 STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

2.1 Basis of preparation

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 (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), Charities Act 2011 and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2019.

The Sherling Charitable Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

These financial statements are prepared in accordance with applicable charity law.

2.2 Income All incoming resources are recognised once the charity has entitlement to the resources, it is certain that the resource will be received and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. Donations and any related gift aid are recognised when receivable. 2.3 Expenditure Liabilities are recognised as resources expended as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.

Portfolio management costs represents the charges made by the investment managers. These costs are netted-off against income as they are not considered to be material and one of the key performance indicators of the funds is considered to be the net return from the portfolios. Charitable activities are grants made to third parties in the furtherance of the charitable objectives of the trust.

Governance costs comprise expenditure incurred for constitutional and statutory requirements and are included within expenditure on charitable activities.

2.4 Fixed and current asset investments

Marketable investment assets are included in the financial statements at their values, either at closing market prices (listed investments) or from valuations provided by the investment manager.

2.5 Funds

The charity's funds are for the charity's general purpose without restriction.

11

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)

2.6 Taxation The trust is a registered charity and, therefore, is not liable for income tax or corporation tax on income derived from its charitable activities, as it falls within the various exemptions available to registered charities if applied for charitable purposes. 2.7 Financial instruments The charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualifies as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at amortised costs using the effective interest method. Financial assets held at amortised cost comprise cash at bank and other debtors. Financial liabilities held at amortised cost comprise other creditors. Investments, including equity linked notes held as part of an investment portfolio, are held at fair value at the balance sheet date, with gains and losses being recognised within income and expenditure. 2.8 Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand, current and deposit accounts held at the bank. Cash and cash equivalents held by investment managers are included within investments. 2.9 Judgements and estimation Preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an on-going basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects the current and future periods. There were no key sources of estimation uncertainty in the year. 2.10 Going concern The trustees believe the charity has sufficient assets to enable it to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of these financial statements.

12

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)

----- Start of picture text -----
3 INCOME 2025 2024
£ £
Donations
Donations 60,000 420,000
Gift aid 15,000 105,000
75,000 525,000
2025 2024
£ £
Investment income
Dividends and interest on investments (net of charges) 330,300 275,759
Bank interest received 11,015 17,928
341,315 293,687
4 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES 2025 2024
Grants paid to institutions £ £
Chiltern Neuro Centre 80,000 95,000
Chesham Grammar School - 50,000
Chiltern Open Air Museum 30,000 40,000
Lia's Wings 20,000 25,000
DENS 20,000 20,000
Hammersmith & Fulham Food Bank 20,000 20,000
Heart of Bucks 20,000 10,000
-
Friends of Liberty Woodland School 16,000
London Hearts - 14,000
Thames Valley Air Ambulance 10,000 10,000
Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance 10,000 10,000
Marie Curie Foundation 10,000 10,000
-
Zoological Society of London 4,000
Health Bus 12,000 -
Deafblind - 2,000
Independent Age 2,000 2,000
Amersham and Chalfont Hockey club 5,000 2,000
Crackerjacks Children Trust - 850
Total grants 239,000 330,850
Support and governance costs 4,380 3,780
Total charitable activities 243,380 334,630
All of the above are grants to registered charities given in furtherance of the charity's objects.
5 SUPPORT AND GOVERNANCE COSTS 2025 2024
£ £
Auditor's remuneration 4,380 3,780
4,380 3,780
----- End of picture text -----

13

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)

6 ANALYSIS OF TOTAL STAFFING COSTS

There were no employees. The trustees manage all of the affairs of the charity.

No remuneration or expenses were paid to or provided for in respect of the trustees for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

7
INVESTMENTS - LISTED
As at 1 April 2024
Additions at cost
Revaluations
Disposals at market value
As at 31 March 2025
Fair value
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024
Material investments - over 5%
%
Overseas
SPDR Series Trust S&P 500 ETF
6.78
UK
Equity Linked Structured Notes
45.40		 Equity
Rathbone
Linked
Portfolio
Notes
Total
£
£
£
3,159,533
3,072,750
6,232,283
2,606,500
2,606,500
19,715
(135,354)
(115,639)
(2,900,000)
(2,900,000)
3,179,248
2,643,896
5,823,144
£
5,823,144
6,232,283

2025
%
2024
395,071
5.70
355,103
2,643,896
49.30
3,072,750

All investments held by the charity have been acquired in accordance with the powers available to the trustees. Material investments are considered to be any individual investment which represents 5% or more of the total portfolio valuation.

8
DEBTORS
Investment income receivable		 2025
£
-
-		 2024
£
3,860
3,860

14

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)

----- Start of picture text -----
9 CASH AT BANK 2025 2024
£ £
Bank deposit account 700,707 229,992
Bank current account 342 342
Cash at bank 701,049 230,334
10 CREDITORS - AMOUNTS FALLING 2025 2024
DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR £ £
Other creditors 4,200 3,780
4,200 3,780
11 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 2025 2024
£ £
Financial assets measured at amortised cost 701,049 234,195
Financial assets at fair value through the income and
expenditure account. 5,823,144 6,232,283
6,524,193 6,466,478
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost 4,200 3,780
----- End of picture text -----

12 EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING DATE

There have been no significant events since the balance sheet date.

13 RELATED PARTY

Donations received from trustees in the year amounted to £60,000 (2024: £420,000)

15

THE SHERLING CHARITABLE TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (continued)

----- Start of picture text -----
15 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF
FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 2024
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations 525,000
Investment income 293,687
TOTAL INCOME 818,687
EXPENDITURE
Costs of raising funds:
Charitable activities 334,630
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 334,630
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 484,057
Net (losses)/gains on investments 259,385
-
Loan debtor provision
-
Gains on foreign exchange
TOTAL INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 743,442
TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS -
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 743,442
Fund balances brought forward 5,719,255
Fund balances carried forward 6,462,697
----- End of picture text -----

16