CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1081933
The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Unaudited Financial Statements
For the year ended 5 April 2025
The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Financial Statements
Year ended 5 April 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' annual report | 1 |
| Independent examiner's report to the trustees | 3 |
| Statement of financial activities | 4 |
| Statement of financial position | 5 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 6 |
The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Trustees' Annual Report
Year ended 5 April 2025
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2025.
Reference and administrative details
| Registered charity name | The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust |
|---|---|
| Charity registration number | 1081933 |
| Principal office | Byways |
| Shophouse Lane | |
| Albury | |
| Guildford | |
| GU5 9EQ | |
| The trustees | Mr R A Dowson |
| Mr T E Weston | |
| Mr P E M Davison | |
| Independent examiner | Alistair Russell (on behalf of Gibson Booth, Chartered Accountants) |
| Gibson Booth, Chartered Accountants | |
| New Court | |
| Abbey Road North | |
| Shepley | |
| Huddersfield | |
| HD8 8BJ |
Structure, governance and management
Governing document
The Charitable trust was established by deed dated 20 June 2000 and was registered with the Charity Commission on 9 August 2000.
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees
The power of appointing new trustees of the charity shall be vested in the founder, Mr R A Dowson, and new trustees can be appointed at any time, subject to a maximum of eight trustees.
Trustee Induction and Training
New trustees are briefed on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the charitable deed, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of the role.
Risk Management
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the charity and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate our exposure to the major risks.
Organisation structure
The Trustees meet twice a year and decisions are determined by simple majority.
Objectives and activities
The principal objective of the charity is to apply the income and capital of the fund at any time for any exclusively charitable objects and purposes in any part of the world as the Trustees see fit. The main activities of the charity are undertaken to further the charity's purposes for the public benefit. The Trustees have considered and have regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit.
Investment powers and restrictions
Trust monies may be invested at the Trustees' discretion and without limitation. The Trustees are also empowered to appoint investment advisors. Investment policies and advisors are reviewed at least once a year.
1
The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
Achievements and performance
Donations
The Trust made approximately £275k of donations during the year.
That total was higher than ususal, largely because of a one-off donation of £90K to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. They have been a long-standing recipient but usually of much smaller grants than this. Their income has recently been hit badly by cuts to Government development aid, especially from USAID and by the tough philanthropic environment. We felt that, with equity market valuations being particularly high at the moment, we were able to make a one-off larger donation to help them to fill some of the income gap.
The second highest grant was £60K for War Child, whose work in the DRC and across Africa continues to impress us. Otherwise,we continued with most of our beneficiaries from the previous year: our three fistula focused charities (Freedom from Fistula, Operation Fistula and the Fistula Foundation), MSF, The Mango Tree, Climate Outreach, Carolina for Kibera, Peace Direct and FARM Africa. On our usual annual review calls, they all delivered strong updates amidst a very challenging context for fundraising, rising costs and development delivery on the ground.
Financial review
Investment management
The Trust's invested funds finished the year to April 5th, 2025, at £2.05m.
Although our investments have continued to perform well in the strong equity markets, Sarasin missed their agreed benchmark again. That under performance is now a consistent theme, missing by 1.4% in 2022, 2.5% in 2023, 0.4% in 2024 and a similar figure so far in 2025. We will need to spend more time exploring the reasons behind this with Sarasin in the coming months.
Reserves policy
It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the charity, at a level which equates to approximately the funds required to wind down the charity, plus its general running costs for twelve calendar months. 25 Jan 2026
The trustees' annual report was approved on .............................. and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
Bob Dowson (Jan 25, 2026, 6:53pm)
Mr R A Dowson Trustee
2
The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Year ended 5 April 2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust ('the charity') for the year ended 5 April 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
-
the financial statements 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 this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
PRD
Alistair Russell (Jan 26, 2026, 7:35am) Alistair Russell Independent Examiner
Gibson Booth, Chartered Accountants New Court Abbey Road North Shepley Huddersfield HD8 8BJ
26 Jan 2026
3
The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Statement of Financial Activities
Year ended 5 April 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | ||||
| funds | Total funds | Total funds | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments | ||||
| Investment income | 4 | 30,974 | 30,974 | 33,831 |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------- | ||
| Total income | 30,974 | 30,974 | 33,831 | |
| ====================== | ====================== | ====================== | ||
| Expenditure | ||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 5,6 | 282,097 | 282,097 | 181,029 |
| Other expenditure | 8 | (4,167) | (4,167) | (3,644) |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | ||
| Total expenditure | 277,930 | 277,930 | 177,385 | |
| ========================== | ========================== | ========================== | ||
| Net (losses)/gains on investments | 9 | (28,745) | (28,745) | 240,700 |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | ||
| Net (expenditure)/income and net movement in funds | (275,701) | (275,701) | 97,146 | |
| ========================== | ========================== | ========================== | ||
| Reconciliation of funds | ||||
| Total funds brought forward | 2,323,748 | 2,323,748 | 2,226,602 | |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 2,048,047 ================================== |
2,048,047 ================================== |
2,323,748 ================================== |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 6 to 9 form part of these financial statements.
4
The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Statement of Financial Position
5 April 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | |
| Fixed assets | |||
| Investments | 12 | 2,010,657 | 2,309,173 |
| Current assets | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 39,358 | 16,495 | |
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 13 | 1,968 | 1,920 |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------- | ||
| Net current assets | 37,390 | 14,575 | |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 2,048,047 | 2,323,748 | |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ||
| Net assets | 2,048,047 | 2,323,748 | |
| ================================== | ================================== | ||
| Funds of the charity | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 2,048,047 | 2,323,748 | |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ||
| Total charity funds | 14 | 2,048,047 | 2,323,748 |
| ================================== | ================================== | ||
| 25 Jan 2026 |
These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on ........................, and are signed on behalf of the board by:
Bob Dowson (Jan 25, 2026, 6:53pm)
Mr R A Dowson Trustee
The notes on pages 6 to 9 form part of these financial statements.
5
The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements
Year ended 5 April 2025
1. General information
The charity is a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is Byways, Shophouse Lane, Albury, Guildford, GU5 9EQ.
2. Statement of compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', 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 (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.
3. Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value through income or expenditure. The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
Going concern
There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The preparation of the financial statements did not require management to make any significant judgements, estimates or assumptions.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.
Incoming resources
All income is included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
- income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.
Resources expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that category.
Investments
Listed investments are measured at fair value with changes in fair value being recognised in profit or loss.
4. Investment income
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Bank interest receivable | 946 | 946 | 907 | 907 |
| Dividends received | 30,028 | 30,028 | 32,924 | 32,924 |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------- | |
| 30,974 | 30,974 | 33,831 | 33,831 | |
| ====================== | ====================== | ====================== | ====================== |
6
The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
5. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Charitable donations | 275,169 | 275,169 | 176,114 | 176,114 | |
| Support costs | 6,928 | 6,928 | 4,915 | 4,915 | |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | ||
| 282,097 | 282,097 | 181,029 | 181,029 | ||
| ========================== | ========================== | ========================== | ========================== | ||
| 6. | Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type | ||||
| Activities | |||||
| undertaken | |||||
| directly | Support costs | Total funds 2025 | Total fund 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Charitable donations | 275,169 | – | 275,169 | 176,114 | |
| Governance costs | – | 6,928 | 6,928 | 4,915 | |
| -------------------------- | ------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | ||
| 275,169 | 6,928 | 282,097 | 181,029 | ||
| ========================== | =================== | ========================== | ========================== | ||
| 7. | Analysis of grants | ||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Grants to institutions | |||||
| FARM Africa | 15,000 | 15,000 | |||
| The Mango Tree | 10,000 | 10,000 | |||
| Stephen Lewis Foundation | 90,118 | 19,915 | |||
| War Child | 60,000 | 50,000 | |||
| St. Andrew's School, Nairobi, Kenya | – | 6,172 | |||
| MSF UK | 20,000 | 20,000 | |||
| Climate Outreach | 20,000 | 10,000 | |||
| Peace Direct | 15,000 | 15,000 | |||
| Carolina for Kibera, Kenya | 10,028 | 10,027 | |||
| Hamin Fistula UK (for Ethiopia) | 35,024 | 10,000 | |||
| Windle Trust | – | 10,000 | |||
| -------------------------- | -------------------------- | ||||
| 275,169 | 176,114 | ||||
| -------------------------- | -------------------------- | ||||
| Total grants | 275,169 | 176,114 | |||
| ========================== | ========================== | ||||
| 8. | Other expenditure | ||||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Foreign currency gain | (4,167) | (4,167) | (3,644) |
(3,644) | |
| =================== | =================== | =================== | =================== | ||
| 9. | Net (losses)/gains on investments | ||||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | ||
| Funds | 2025 | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrealised gains/(losses) on investments | (52,592) | (52,592) | (9,728) |
(9,728) | |
| Realised gains/(losses) on investments | 23,847 | 23,847 | 250,428 | 250,428 | |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | ||
| (28,745) | (28,745) | 240,700 |
240,700 | ||
| ====================== | ====================== | ========================== | ========================== |
7
The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
10. Independent examination fees
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Fees payable to the independent examiner for: | ||
| Independent examination of the financial statements | 1,968 =================== |
1,968 =================== |
11. Trustee remuneration and expenses
No remuneration or other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity were received by the trustees (2024: £nil).
12. Investments
| Cash or cash | Listed | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| equivalents | investments | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Cost or valuation | |||
| At 6 April 2024 | 17,891 | 2,291,282 | 2,309,173 |
| Additions | 426,880 | – | 426,880 |
| Disposals | (424,139) | (272,512) | (696,651) |
| Other movements | – | (28,745) | (28,745) |
| -------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | |
| At 5 April 2025 | 20,632 | 1,990,025 | 2,010,657 |
| ========================== | ================================== | ================================== | |
| Impairment | |||
| At 6 April 2024 and 5 April 2025 | – | ||
| ================================== | |||
| Carrying amount | |||
| At 5 April 2025 | 20,632 | 1,990,025 | 2,010,657 |
| ========================== | ================================== | ================================== | |
| At 5 April 2024 | 17,891 | 2,291,282 | 2,309,173 |
| ========================== | ================================== | ================================== |
All investments shown above are held at valuation.
Financial assets held at fair value
Listed investments are measured at fair value based on the bid price, supplied by Bloomberg or other sources at the close of business on 5 April 2025. The historical cost of investments at the year-end was £1,781,815 (2024 - £2,027,739).
13. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Accruals and deferred income | 1,968 | 1,920 |
| =================== | =================== |
8
The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 5 April 2025
14. Analysis of charitable funds
Unrestricted funds
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gains and | |||||
| At 6 April 2024 | Income | Expenditure | losses | At 5 April 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 65,621 | 30,974 | (277,930) | (28,745) | (210,080) |
| Expendable Endowment Fund | 2,258,127 | – | – | – | 2,258,127 |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------------------- | |
| 2,323,748 | 30,974 | (277,930) | (28,745) | 2,048,047 | |
| ================================== | ====================== | ========================== | ====================== | ================================== | |
| Gains and | |||||
| At 6 April 2023 | Income | Expenditure | losses | At 5 April 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | (31,525) | 33,831 | (177,385) | 240,700 | 65,621 |
| Expendable Endowment Fund | 2,258,127 | – | – | – | 2,258,127 |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | |
| 2,226,602 | 33,831 | (177,385) | 240,700 | 2,323,748 | |
| ================================== | ====================== | ========================== | ========================== | ================================== |
15. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Investments | 2,010,657 | 2,010,657 |
| Current assets | 39,358 | 39,358 |
| Creditors less than 1 year | (1,968) | (1,968) |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | |
| Net assets | 2,048,047 | 2,048,047 |
| ================================== | ================================== | |
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
| Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Investments | 2,309,173 | 2,309,173 |
| Current assets | 16,495 | 16,495 |
| Creditors less than 1 year | (1,920) | (1,920) |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | |
| Net assets | 2,323,748 | 2,323,748 |
| ================================== | ================================== |
9
Issuer
Gibson Booth
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