**Northamptonshire ACRE Trustees Report and Annual Accounts 2024 – 2025** Northamptonshire ACRE is a registered charity (no. 1080038) And a Company limited by guarantee (no. 03937576) **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **Mission Statement Strategic Aims** Northamptonshire ACRE, an independent charitable organisation, works with rural communities to improve their quality of life, especially for the disadvantaged. We help rural communities to help themselves, to value diversity and to work to create a vibrant, sustainable future. - To deliver the charity’s purpose for the public benefit of people who live, work and visit rural Northamptonshire. - Support the identification of rural needs and assist communities to develop sustainable solutions. - Champion green solutions and provide a connection to their wider understanding. - Encourage and develop a sense of place through community-led engagement. - Be a valued member of the ACRE network supporting at a national and local level the advocacy of rural matters ensuring rural proofing is embedded in all policies. - Renovate and develop the historic site of the Hunsbury Hill Farm for the future benefit of all - To encourage the development of staff and those working on behalf of the organisation Board of Trustees Northamptonshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) Northamptonshire ACRE is a Rural Community Council, one of 39 members of the ACRE Network **Page 2** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **Contents** |THE OFFICIALS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ACRE|4| |---|---| |THE STAFF OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ACRE|5| |VOLUNTEERS WITH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ACRE|6| |BACKGROUND|7| |REVIEW OF TRANSACTIONS AND FINANCIAL
POSITION|7| |INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE
TRUSTEES OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ACRE|10| |STATEMENT OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RESPONSIBILITIES|11| |STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES|12| |BALANCE SHEET|13| |NOTE 1: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES|15| |NOTE 2: ACTIVITIES|17| |NOTE 3: INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES|17| |NOTE 4: TOTAL EXPENDITURE|19| |NOTE 5: RESOURCES EXPENDED|19| |NOTE 6: FIXED ASSETS|20| |NOTE 7: DEBTORS|21| |NOTE 8: CREDITORS|21| |NOTE 9: FUND ANALYSIS|22| |NOTE 10: CONTROL RELATIONSHIPS|22| **Page 3** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **THE OFFICIALS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ACRE** Northamptonshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) is an independent voluntary organisation, registered charity ( **no. 1080038** ) and company limited by guarantee ( **no. 3937576** ) working to support rural communities and community groups throughout the County. ## **President** James Saunders Watson, Lord Lieutenant for Northamptonshire ## **Vice-Presidents** Lord Boswell of Aynho Mr Jeffrey Greenwell Mrs Catherine Lomax ## **Independent Examiners** Messrs Jervis & Partners **Board of Directors** ## **Members** **Chair** Mr David Scudamore Mr Gareth Lugar-Mawson Mr Richard Hollingum Mr Cameron Waldron _(resigned 5[th]_ **Vice-Chair** _March 2025)_ Mr Ken Christy Mrs Miranda Prentice Mr Jon Courtney-Thompson _(appointed July 2024)_ ## **Observers** From West and North Northamptonshire Local Authorities and Voluntary Sector Agencies **Bankers** Virgin Bank (was known as Yorkshire Bank plc) **Principal Address** The Hunsbury Hill Centre Harksome Hill Northampton NN4 9QX Telephone (01604) 765888 Email: acre@northantsacre.org.uk Website: www.northantsacre.org.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northantsacre/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/NorthantsACRE **Page 4** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **THE STAFF OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ACRE** **Chief Executive** Nicola Toms **Village Halls Adviser** Frances Harris **Rural Housing Enabler/ Officer** Jennifer Hedges **Good Neighbour Fieldworkers** Joanna Browning _(left 28/06/2024)_ Claire Yow _(left 31/12/2024)_ **Rural Support Officer** Alex Wildman _(left 31/03/2025)_ ## **Office Manager** Kerri Marshall-Duckett _(left 20/12/2024)_ **The Hunsbury Hill Centre Ltd. Events Team Manager** Nicola Toms ## **Events Co-Ordinator** Sarah Clarke ## **Communications Administrator** Charlene Browne _(left 31/03/2025)_ ## **Maintenance Person / Caretaker** Blaze King _(stated 25/06/2024)_ **Page 5** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **VOLUNTEERS WITH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ACRE** **Project Volunteers** Friendship Visits Warm Homes **Hunsbury Hill Centre Volunteers** Moulton College Students **Page 6** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **BACKGROUND** Northamptonshire ACRE has been delivering services and working with rural communities in Northamptonshire for over 79 years. We were originally known as Northamptonshire Rural Community Council and changed our name to Northamptonshire ACRE in 2000. Rural Community Councils were set up by the Government, one in each county, with the aim of ensuring the needs of rural communities were known about and supported. There are 38 RCCs across England and with our national body, ACRE, we make up the ACRE Network. Northamptonshire ACRE is a company limited by guarantee (company number 3937576) and registered charity (charity number 1080038). Northamptonshire ACRE has a strategic business and implementation plan, which is reviewed and revised regularly. The reviews look at the success of each key activity carried out by the charity and the public benefits they have brought to the groups of people with whom we work. These reviews also help us ensure that our aims, objectives and activities remain focused on our stated purposes. We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commissions General Guidance on Public Benefit when carrying out our review and in planning our future activities. ## **REVIEW OF TRANSACTIONS AND FINANCIAL POSITION** Northamptonshire ACRE purchased The Hunsbury Hill Centre from Northampton Development Corporation in 1977 and has owned the 13-acre property since then. The main activities and achievements of the charity from April 2024 to March 2025 are detailed in the 2024 – 2025 Trustees Annual Report, which is available to download from our website: http://northantsacre.org.uk/ and via the Charity Commission. ## **Application and source of Funds** The charity’s income is generated from a mixture of funding streams. The core rural work undertaken by Northamptonshire ACRE is funded by consultancy and membership work, from project income (management/ overheads/support fees) and rent, staff-cost contributions, and any donations from The Hunsbury Hill Centre Ltd, the charity’s trading arm, also known as The Barns at Hunsbury Hill. These funds are used to raise awareness of issues affecting people living in rural communities throughout the county and supporting community groups, including village hall committees and parish councils, on issues relating to sustainable development, transport, fundraising and rural service provision. Under restricted funds are the income and expenditure relating to a number of specific projects; Through the development of an excellent working **Page 7** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** relationship with DEFRA, our national body, ACRE, has been able to secure funding for all the ACRE Network members. We use this funding to deliver services against many of DEFRA’s 8 national priorities. We also receive DEFRA funding for our Rural Housing Enabler project as part of an ACRE Network grant. North Northants Council through our collaborative partnership within Aspire NN and UKSPF funds for our Greener Works project. As well as our grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for our Hunsbury Hill Farm regeneration project. The breakdown of unrestricted expenditure between cost of generating funds, charitable activities and governance costs is based initially on the nature of the expense and whether it falls directly into one of these categories. Should it fall across several categories it is allocated based on either an individual staff member’s percentage allocation or the overall staff percentage allocation. ## **Assets** Northamptonshire ACRE’s key asset is the Hunsbury Hill Centre. The Centre provides office accommodation for Northamptonshire ACRE’s staff. It provides the community and us with an affordable and unique setting in which to host events. The Centre is professionally revalued every 5 years or so. It was revalued in 2018 at £1,262,000. A new valuation will be carried out in 2025/2026. ## **Reserves Policy** The Board established a policy where the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets (‘the free reserves’) held by the charity should ideally be equivalent to approximately three months of the resources expended. In addition, the Board established a Dilapidation (Reserves) Fund in the 2017-18 financial year, which would be used to build up reserves to cover future major repair and maintenance costs of the Hunsbury Hill Centre buildings. The charity agreed that funds would be added to the Dilapidation Fund as applicable, depending upon the current economic situation. The Dilapidation Fund stood at £25,000 as at 31[st] March 2025. The charity’s aim is to continue building up the Dilapidation Fund each year as the economic situation permits until the Fund reaches a limit of £50,000. ## **Risk Management** Northamptonshire ACRE has conducted its own review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed and has put in place a Risk Management Policy and systems devised to mitigate those risks. External risks to funding have been mitigated by diversification of funding and activities including a robust approach to discussions with funders with the aim of covering infrastructure costs i.e. full cost recovery. Internal risks are minimised by the devising and implementing of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects. These procedures ensure consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the charitable company as well as the refinement and improvement **Page 8** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** of Human Resources and Health and Safety policies. The procedures and policies are periodically reviewed to ensure that they still meet the needs of the charity. ## **Financial Dependence** The charity’s income is generated from a mixture of funding streams and means it is not financially dependent on one source only. ## **Independent Examination** A resolution proposing that Jervis & Partners be re-appointed to conduct an independent examination of the Charity was passed at the 2025 Annual General Meeting. ## **Approval** The accounts were approved by the Board of Directors at the 2025 AGM on Wednesday 8[th] October 2025 and signed on their behalf: Gareth Lugar-Mawson, Chair **Page 9** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ACRE** We report on the accounts of Northamptonshire ACRE for the year ended 31[st] March 2025, which are set out on pages 12 to 24. ## **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 ourselves 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, we report in respect of our examination of your company’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out our examination we have followed the Directions given by the Charities Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. ## **Independent examiner's statement** We have completed our examination. We confirm that no matters have come to our attention in connection with the examination giving us cause to believe that in any material respect: - accounting records were not kept as required by section 486 of the 2006 Act: or - the accounts do not accord with those records; or - 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 - 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 (FRS102). We 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. Jervis & Partners Chartered Accountants 30 Harborough Road Kingsthorpe Northamptonshire NN2 7AZ Date: Monday 15[th] September 2025 **Page 10** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **STATEMENT OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESPONSIBILITIES** Company Law and Charity Law requires the trustees/directors 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 the year. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - 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. The trustees/directors 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. By order of the Board of Directors Gareth Lugar-Mawson Chair **Page 11** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 2024 - 2025 (Incorporating an Income & Expenditure Account)** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Income and Expenditure Account
2024/25 2023/24
Unrestricted Restricted
Note Total Total
Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
Income
From Generated Sources
Hunsbury Hill Centre 41,500 0 41,500 48,045
Generated income 103,053 0 103,053 74,672
Office Accommodation 2,450 0 2,450 2,000
Donations 259 0 259 80
147,262 0 147,262 124,797
From Charitable Activities 3 0 215,398 215,398 80,403
Total Income 147,262 215,398 362,660 205,200
Expenditure
Cost of Raising Funds
Hunsbury Hill Centre 38,383 38,383 £47,149
Fundraising & Publicity 76,767 76,767 £94,297
115,150 0 115,150 £141,446
Charitable Activities (764) 115,914 115,150 £141,446
Other Costs 76,767 76,767 £94,297
Total Expenditure 4 191,152 115,914 307,066 £377,188
Net Income (43,890) 99,484 55,594 (171,988)
Transfers between Funds 40,280 (40,280) 0 0
Net Income after transfers (3,610) 59,204 55,594 (171,988)
Other Recognised Gains / (Losses)
Unrealised gain on property valuation 0 0 0
Net Movement in Funds (3,610) 59,204 55,594 (171,988)
Revaluation in year 9 0 0 0
Total Funds Brought forward prior year 9 1,229,604 2,338 1,231,942 1,403,930
Total Funds carried forward at year-end 1,225,994 61,542 1,287,536 1,231,942
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Continuing Operations** All income and expenditure has arisen from continuing activities. The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. **As at 31st March 2025** **Page 12** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Balance Sheet
As at As at
Note
31/3/25 31/3/24
£ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible Fixed Assets 6 1,262,000 1,262,000
Investment in Subsidiary 6 1 1
1,262,001 1,262,001
Current Assets
Debtors 7 20,193 1,204
Short Term Deposits 2,608 21,810
Cash at Bank & in Hand 79,794 9,672
102,595 32,686
Liabilities: amounts falling due within one year 8 77,060 62,745
Net Current Assets / (Liabilities) 25,535 (30,059)
Assets Less Current liabilities 1,287,536 1,231,942
Liabilities: amounts falling due after one year 8 0 0
Total Net Assets 1,287,536 1,231,942
Funds
Unrestricted - General/dilapidation 9 34,174 37,784
Unrestricted - Capital 9 1,191,820 1,191,820
Total Unrestricted 1,225,994 1,229,604
Restricted 9 61,542 2,338
Total Funds 1,287,536 1,231,942
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED)** The directors’ statements required by Section 475(2) and (3) are shown below, which form part of this balance sheet. In approving these financial statements as directors of the charitable company we hereby confirm: - (a) That for the year stated above the charitable company was entitled to the exemption conferred by Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006; **Page 13** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** - (b) That no notice has been deposited at the registered office of the charitable company pursuant to Section 476 requesting that an audit be conducted for the year ended 31[st] March 2025; and - (c) That we acknowledge our responsibilities for: - a. Ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records which comply with Section 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006; and - b. Preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of the financial year and of its result for the year then ended in accordance with the requirements of Section 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 8[th] October 2025 and signed on its behalf by: Gareth Lugar-Mawson Chair **Page 14** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] March 2025** ## **NOTE 1: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## _**a) General information and basis of preparation**_ Northamptonshire ACRE is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee registered in England. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per trustee of the Charity. The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 5 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are given in the report of the Directors/Trustees on pages 7 – 8. 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 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, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The charity has applied Update Bulletin 1 as published on 2 February 2016 and does not include a cash flow statement on the grounds that it is applying FRS 102 Section 1A. 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. ## _**b) Fund accounting**_ General funds are unrestricted funds that 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 that 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. **Page 15** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## _**c) Income**_ All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial affairs (SOFA) when the Charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the Charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received. Gifts in kind donated for distribution are included at valuation and recognised as income when they are distributed to the projects. Gifts donated for resale are included as income when they are sold. Donated facilities are included at the value to the Charity where this can be quantified and a third party is bearing the cost. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers. ## _d)_ _**Expenditure**_ All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources. Fundraising costs includes the expenditure costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities. Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the Charity and include project management carried out at Headquarters. Management and administration costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the Charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. ## _**e) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**_ Tangible fixed assets are capitalised at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight line basis over their expected useful economic lives as follows: - |Description|Depreciation Period| |---|---| |Hunsbury Hill Centre (freehold)|Nil| |Office equipment|Over 2 to 10 years| |Trophies|Nil| |IT equipment|100% in year of purchase| |Fixtures & fittings|Over 5 to 10 years| As detailed in note 6, certain fixed assets have been re-valued in previous years. These valuations have been adopted as the historical costs. Depreciation is not charged on the buildings at the Hunsbury Hill Centre, as the residual value is considered to be not less than the carrying value. **Page 16** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## _**f) Investment**_ The Charity owns The Hunsbury Hill Centre Limited, which was incorporated on 26th March 2013. The investment represents the entire share capital of that company. ## **g)** _**Going Concern**_ The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that the Charity will have sufficient resources to continue its charitable activities for the foreseeable future. ## **NOTE 2: ACTIVITIES** The activities of this organisation, which is a registered Charity (registered no. 1080038), continue to be the support of the rural communities of Northamptonshire through the provision of advice and support on issues affecting them. ## **NOTE 3: INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Incoming resources from
Charitable Activities
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds 2024/25 2023/24
£ £
DEFRA - ACRE 0 40,280 40,280 40,280
Rural Housing Enabler 0 55,241 55,241 16,662
Rural Friendship Van 0 0 0 10,000
Warm Home Packs (Nat
Grid) 0 4,905 4,905 9,461
Household Support Fund 0 0 0 4,000
NNH Sustainable Food
Income 0 17,602 17,602 0
Aspire NN - Infrastructure
NN Income 0 3,250 3,250 0
UKSPF Greener Works NN
Income 0 16,000 16,000 0
TNLHF Heritage Lottery
Income 0 78,120 78,120 0
0 215,398 215,398 80,403
**----- End of picture text -----**
The charity’s charitable activities are either ringfenced or the funding goes into the core (General) fund. The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) funding covers core activities. Defra funds each Rural Community Council through the ACRE network to deliver projects and outcomes against 8 priority areas. Each RCC, such as Northamptonshire ACRE, uses the DEFRA funding to provide support to rural communities in as many of the priority areas as possible. Information on our work against the **Page 17** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** priorities is provided to DEFRA by each RCC in quarterly reports, collated by national ACRE. DEFRA (and other departments) is able to use this rural evidence in developing future government policies. Please contact Northamptonshire ACRE for more details. Our Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) project is funded by DEFRA through National ACRE. The funding is used to employ a Rural Housing Enabler worker and offers independent support and advice to help rural communities deliver small scale affordable housing schemes in Northamptonshire. This was a two grant which has rolled over to 2025/26. The project funded support from Midlands Rural Housing. The National Grid funded a project that allowed us to distribute needed “Warm Homes” packs across North Northants. The National Lottery funded our partnership project with Made in Northamptonshire, which funded a project worker (one day/week) from each partnership to build and strengthen the North Northants Sustainable Food Network. North Northamptonshire Council provided 3 years funding for the new VCSE Infrastructure Collaborative, Aspire NN, of which NACRE is one of six partners. Quarterly reports are given to the council. Our aim is to build the capacity of the sector for stronger delivery, financial stability and strength and higher quality services to support diverse communities with good profile, recognition and social value. NNC gave funds through UKSPF for a small project Greener Works to help people for where not in employment find work or seek further education which would increase their chances of work in the future. Our project was aimed at people leaving in rural areas gain skills and confidence by creating their own group community projects. This project gave staff time of one day a week. The National Lottery Heritage Fund have given NACRE £156,000.00 of funds over the 12 months November 2024 – November 2025. Our project endeavours to connect the people of Northamptonshire with the rich stories embedded within this heritage site. **Page 18** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **NOTE 4: TOTAL EXPENDITURE** **----- Start of picture text -----**
-
Expenditure includes all costs for restricted projects
Fund Charitable Governan. Total Total
HHC
raising Activities other costs 2024/25 2023/24
£ £ £ £
Staff Costs 57,647 86,470 57,647 28,823 230,587 219,849
Premises 5,037 7,555 5,037 2,518 20,147 24,297
Insurance 3,926 5,889 3,926 1,963 15,704 14,476
Professional Services 3,559 5,339 3,559 1,780 14,237 36,128
Telephones 644 966 644 322 2,576 2,083
Postage, Printing &
402 603 402 201 1,607 119
Stationery
Equipment & Materials 968 1,452 968 484 3,871 3,682
Advertising 947 1,420 947 473 3,787 4,420
Other Expenses 1,884 2,826 1,884 942 7,537 64,960
Subscriptions inc. ACRE 1,625 2,438 1,625 813 6,500 6,408
Loan interest 128 192 128 64 513 766
76,767 115,150 76,767 38,383 307,066 377,188
**----- End of picture text -----**
Total expenditure on Charitable Activities includes expenditure from restricted funds. Refer to Note 9 for breakdown of expenditure from restricted funds. Staff costs include the costs spent on core NACRE staff as well as the expenditure on salaries for restricted projects (i.e. LAG DEFRA grant, RHE project, North Northants Sustainable Food Network, UKSPF Greener Works, NNC AspireNN, TNLHF Hunsbury Hill Centre Regeneration project). ## **NOTE 5: RESOURCES EXPENDED INCLUDES:-** No employee had emoluments in excess of £60,000 in the year or preceding year. |||**2023/24**||**2024/25**| |---|---|---|---|---| |The average number of employees calculated on a full
time equivalent basis was:-||5||4| |**NACRE Staff Costs**|**2024/2025**|**2023/2024**| |---|---|---| |||| |Salaries|£ 139,728.00|
£ 118,701.00| |Employers National Insurance|£ 6,077.00|
£ 4,048.00| |Payrollprovision costs|£ 480.00|
£ 504.00| |Pension Contribution|£ 2,550.00|
£ 2,351.00| |Training|£ 223.00|
£ 80.00| |Travel mileage allowance|£ 3,008.00|
£ 238.00| |Travel - other costs(train,parking)||£ -| |Recruitment costs|£ 90.00|
£ 3,875.00| ||**£ 152,156.00**|
**£ 129,797.00**| **Page 19** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** |**Other Expenses**||**2023/24**||**2023/2024**| |---|---|---|---|---| |||**£**||**£**| |The director/trustees receive no emoluments but were paid
expenses||1,047||1,421| |||||| |Independent Examiners Fee||1,307||1,307| ## **NOTE 6: FIXED ASSETS** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Fixed Assets
HHC F&F Office Equip Trophies Total 2024/25 Total 2023/24
£ £ £ £ £ £
Cost/Valuation As at 1 April 2024 1,262,000 3,072 11,639 4,531 1,281,242 1,281,242
Additions 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disposals 0 0 0 0 0 0
Revaluation in the year 0 0 0 0 0 0
As at 31 March 2025 1,262,000 3,072 11,639 4,531 1,281,242 1,281,242
Depreciation As at 1 April 2024 0 3,072 11,639 4,531 19,242 19,242
Provided in Year 0 0 0 0 0 0
Disposals 0 0
As at 31 March 2025 0 3,072 11,639 4,531 19,242 19,242
Net Book Value As at 1 April 2024 1,262,000 0 0 0 1,262,000 1,262,000
As at 31 March 2025 1,262,000 0 0 0 1,262,000 1,262,000
**----- End of picture text -----**
- 1) All the above assets are used for direct charitable purposes - 2) The historical cost of the fixed assets is £89,422. - 3) The Hunsbury Hill Centre and its surrounding site is professionally revalued every five years or so. The site and centre was valued in November 2018 by Godfrey Payton Chartered Surveyors, with the valuation as at the 1[st] April 2018. The Centre and site was valued at £1,262,000 at the 1[st] April 2018. The property was due to be revalued in 2023-24 but will be revalued in 2025-26. - 4) The trustees consider that the current values are not less than the value as stated in the accounts. ||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Investments**|||||| ||||**As at**
**31/03/25**||**As at**
**31/03/24**| ||||**£**||**£**| ||Investment in the wholly owned subsidiary
company||1||1| **Page 20** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** Northamptonshire ACRE owns the whole of the issued share capital of the Hunsbury Hill Centre Limited, a company incorporated in England. The company’s principal activity is the provision of event facilities. ## **NOTE 7: DEBTORS** |Control account
Prepayments
Amounts due from subsidiary|**2023/24**
**£**
106
1,098
0
1,204|**2022/23**
**£**
401
35,252| |---|---|---| |||35,653| ## **NOTE 8: CREDITORS** |**Creditors**|||| |---|---|---|---| |||**2024/25**|**2023/24**| |||**£**|**£**| |Creditors control account||3,575|2,100| |RIA - PC subs||1,820|700| |RIA - VH subs||1,800|2,913| |RIA - Donations||97|42| |RIA - NVA||0|0| |RIA - Other||0|0| |Accruals||1,500|2,350| |Other tax and social security||2,273|1,322| |Pension creditors||899|1,238| |Amounts due to Subsidiary||52,080|27,960| |Yorks. Bank Bounce Back Loan||13,016|24,120| |||77,060|62,745| ||||| **Page 21** **Charities Commission** **Trustees Report & Annual Accounts 2024-2025** ## **NOTE 9: FUND ANALYSIS** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Fund analysis
Balances
b/forward 1 Incoming Outgoing Revaluation Incoming Outgoing Net c/forward 31
April 2024 Resources Resources Transfers Transfers Transfers March 2025
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted Funds
General fund 12,784 147,262 191,152 40,280 0 40,280 9,174
Capital Fund 1,191,820 0 0 0 1,191,820
Dilapidation/Reserves Fund 25,000 0 0 25,000
Total Unrestricted 1,229,604 147,262 191,152 0 40,280 0 40,280 1,225,994
Restricted Funds
DEFRA - ACRE £0 40,280 0 0 40,280 (40,280) £0
Rural Housing Enabler £1,338 55,241 56,580 0 -£1
Rural Friendship Van £1,000 0 999 0 £1
Warm Home Packs (Nat Grid) £0 4,905 4,906 0 -£1
Household Support Fund £0 0 0 0 £0
NNH Sustainable Food £0 17,602 16,339 0 £1,263
Aspire NN - Infrastructure NN £0 3,250 3,250 0 £0
UKSPF Greener Works NN
£0 16,000 15,998 0 £2
Income
HHF £0 0 1,800 0 -£1,800
TNLHF Heritage Lottery £0 78,120 16,042 0 £62,078
Total Restricted £2,338 215,398 115,914 0 0 40,280 (40,280) £61,542
Total Funds 1,231,942 362,660 307,066 0 40,280 40,280 0 1,287,536
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Fund Analysis Explanation** ## _**Unrestricted Funds**_ The General Fund represents the free funds of the charity, which are not designated for particular purposes. The General Fund is used to cover the charity’s core costs. The General Fund is made up from several sources including membership fees from our Parish Council and Community Facility members, the donation from the trading arm, office rentals and the bulk oil membership scheme that Northamptonshire ACRE runs for off gas rural communities. The Hunsbury Hill Centre is an established event venue and was incorporated as a trading arm, The Hunsbury Hill Centre Limited, to take over the nonprimary activities of the charity. The trading arm is marketed as The Barns at Hunsbury Hill. The Capital Fund represents the fixed asset revaluation fund for tangible fixed assets that were re-valued as required by the Companies Act of 2006. The reserve reflects the amount by which the fixed assets exceed their historical cost. As at 31st March 2025 the Dilapidation (Reserves) Fund was in surplus by £25,000. The reserve will be capped at £50,000. As at 31st March 2025, the General Fund was in surplus by £25,000. ## _**Restricted Funds**_ These are funds received by the charity to deliver a specific project. Refer to Note 3 for details about the restricted funds the charity received and the projects delivered during 2024 and 2025. ## **NOTE 10: CONTROL RELATIONSHIPS** The charitable company is controlled by the Board of Directors/Trustees. **Page 22** **Charities Commission**