Charity No. 1083594
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements
for the Year ended 30 April 2025
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Contents
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Legal and Administrative Information | 1 |
| Annual Report of the Trustees | 2 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 7 |
| Statement of Cash flows | 8 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 |
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Legal and Administrative Information
Trustees
J Bowley N A Choudry M V Drunen M E Fletcher L A Habash W H L Pang (appointed 01/05/2024) K Roberts P W Scurlock M Thompson (resigned 30/08/2024)
Registered Address 1 Callaghan Square Cardiff United Kingdom CF10 5BT
Independent Examiners
RSM UK Tax and Accounting Limited 25 Farringdon Street London United Kingdom EC4A 4AB
Bankers
National Westminster Bank Plc Norwich City Office 45 London Street Norwich United Kingdom NR2 1HX
Page 1
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Annual Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 April 2025
The Trustees present their annual report covering the Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust’s (the “Trust”) activities for the year ended 30 April 2025. The Trustees’ Annual Report has been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102.
History, Objectives and Activities of the Trust
The Trust was created by a Declaration of Trust Deed dated 9 June 2000 which directs that the trust funds should be used for such charitable purposes as the Trustees, in their absolute discretion, consider fit. The registered number of the Charity is 1083594 and its registered address is 1 Callaghan Square, Cardiff, CF10 5BT.
The objectives of the Trust are to support, at the Trustees’ discretion, charitable institutions and objectives. Each year the Trustees review the Charity’s objectives and activities to ensure they continue to reflect these aims. In considering the operational and financial review, and performance of the Trust, the Trustees are satisfied that public benefit has been provided in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the guidance provided by the Charity Commission. The Trustees are confident that the Trust meets the Charity Commission’s public benefit requirement by providing grants to deserving public organisations.
The policy of the Trustees is to allocate a good proportion of the Trust’s annual income by way of annual donations to a variety of organisations.
Management and Governance Arrangements
The names of the Trustees who have acted during the year are set out on page 1.
The Trust takes its governance responsibilities seriously and operates to have a governance framework that complies as far as possible with the Charity Code of Governance, issued in 2019.
The Trustees communicate on a quarterly basis with the purpose of formulating, planning and reviewing their grant making policies and activities during the year.
M E Fletcher is the Chair of the Trust and chairs the meetings held between the Trustees. The Trust is administered by administrators, who are not Trustees but who act on behalf of the Trustees. During the year to 30 April 2025, Emma Sharkey was the main administrator of the scheme.
The Trustees review on a regular basis the major risks which the Trust faces. Maintaining reserves at the levels indicated will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The major risks to which the Trust is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, have been reviewed and procedures have been established to manage those risks.
It is the view of the Trustees that the major risks to which the Trust may be exposed are largely financial in nature, relating to whether there are sufficient funds available to meet its objectives. The Trust does not pay for any professional fundraising support nor carry out any fundraising activities.
Trustees are sought through recommendation, based on their corporate responsibility and charitable trust work. This is evaluated and approved by the existing Trustees. New Trustees sign a declaration of willingness to act as a Trustee of the Trust before being eligible to vote at a Trustee meeting as per the Trust Deed.
Related Party Transactions
All of the donations made to the Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust are from current UK equity members of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and dormant client balances from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP following approval from the Solicitors Regulatory Authority to donate these funds to charity.
Page 2
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Annual Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 April 2025 (continued)
Achievement and Performance of the Trust
The Trust is successfully meeting its objectives whilst working in accordance with the required policies and procedures.
During the year charitable donations were made to a number of organisations which included donations of £10,000 or more to the following organisations:
| Charity | Donations |
|---|---|
| International Rescue Committee UK | £177,135 |
| Magic Breakfast | £92,000 |
Eversheds Unlocked Bursary |
£51,000 |
Aspiring Lawyers Limited |
£30,000 |
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust |
£27,285 |
| The Sutton Trust | £20,000 |
| Ahead Partnership | £19,200 |
Chapter One |
£17,000 |
LandAid Charitable Trust |
£13,472 |
| Movember | £12,500 |
| Total (10 Charities above £10,000) | £459,592 |
| 7 Charities between £5,001 and £10,000 | £55,534 |
| 14 Charities between £1,500 and £5,000 | £39,769 |
| 71 Charities less than £1,500 | £29,688 |
| Total | £584,583 |
Financial Review, Investment Policy and Reserves
There have not been any significant changes in the Trust’s activities or the manner in which these activities have been carried out. The policy in relation to reserves is reviewed on a quarterly basis.
Income for the year was £518,566 (2024: £498,847). During the year the Trust made donations of £584,583 (2024: £388,771) which after admin costs gives an overall deficit of £66,018 (2024: surplus of £110,075) for the year which decreases the funds brought forward from the previous year. Total reserves at 30 April 2025 were £1,457,914 (30 April 2024: £1,523,932).
It is the policy of the Trustees to maintain the unrestricted funds at a level which equates to at least five per cent of the total funds of the Charity. This policy is reviewed on a quarterly basis to ensure it remains appropriate. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment in furtherance of the objectives of the Charity. Total funds of the Charity at 30 April 2025 were £1,457,914 (2024: £1,523,932), all of which were unrestricted, thereby meeting the Trustees’ policy.
Restricted funds are amounts which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Trust for particular purposes. The Trust had no restricted funds in the current or prior year.
Details of movements in the funds are set out in note 6 on page 11 of the financial statements. The assets reflected in the balance sheet are available and adequate for the Trustees to fulfil the obligations of the Charity.
Plans for Future Periods
In the future, the Trust plans to continue its activities in the same manner so as to continue to achieve the aims and objectives of the Trust. The Trustees continue to assess different factors, including the current economic environment, to identify issues that may have a material adverse effect on its operations, financial condition and the Trustees consider that this can be appropriately managed.
Page 3
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Annual Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 April 2025 (continued)
Going concern
The Trustees have reviewed the Trust’s financial position and the system of financial control and risk management and are satisfied these are sufficiently robust to ensure the continued successful operation of the Trust.
The Trust pays grants to charitable institutions around the UK, funded primarily by donations into the Trust from current equity members of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP. Charitable grants paid out to charitable institutions are wholly at the Trust’s discretion and the Trust has no long term commitment to pay out grants in any way. As such, the Trust has full control over the level of grants paid out, based on the level of donations received from the sponsoring employer, and thus has full control over the Trust’s cash reserves. In addition to this, the Trust has no staff, no fixed costs to meet and no internal or external debt to service. For these reasons, the Trustees are satisfied that the Trust has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for a period of at least 12 months from the date of signing these financial statements, which have thus been prepared on a going concern basis.
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under Charity law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the Charity for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees 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; and
-
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity’s transactions and 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. 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.
Trustees’ confirmations
In the case of each Trustee in office at the date the Trustees’ Report is approved:
-
So far as the Trustee is aware, there is no relevant information of which the Trust’s independent examiner is unaware; and
-
They have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a Trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the Trust’s independent examiner is aware of that information.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 8 January 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Mark Fletcher
………………. M E Fletcher Chair and Trustee
Page 4
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust (‘the Charity’) for the year ended 30 April 2025, which are set out on pages 6 to 12.
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 2011 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 2011 Act.
An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently, does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the financial statements. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently, I express no opinion as to whether the financial statements present a ‘true and fair view’ and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner’s statement.
Independent examiner’s statement
Since the Charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me reasonable 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 2011 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 financial statements 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 financial statements to be reached.
Signed Nicholas Sladden, FCA DChA BFP The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
ON BEHALF OF RSM UK TAX AND ACCOUNTING LIMITED Chartered Accountants 25 Farringdon Street, London, EC4A 4AB Date: 12 January 2026
Page 5
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 April 2025
| Total Unrestricted Funds Total Unrestricted Funds |
|
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| Note | £ £ |
| Incoming resources from charitable activities | |
| Donations, legacies and similar incoming resources 2 |
518,566 498,847 |
| Total incoming resources | 518,566 498,847 |
| Resources expended from charitable activities | |
| Donations of Grants 3 |
(584,583) (388,771) |
| Administration costs 4 |
(1) (1) |
| Total resources expended | (584,584) (388,772) |
| Net movement in funds | (66,018) 110,075 |
| Fund balances brought forward at 1 May | 1,523,932 1,413,857 |
| Fund balances carried forward at 30 April 6 |
1,457,914 1,523,932 |
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
Page 6
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Statement of Financial Position as at 30 April 2025
| 2025 2024 |
|
|---|---|
| Note | £ £ |
| Current Assets | |
| Debtors 5 |
38,413 33,519 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 1,419,501 1,490,413 |
| 1,457,914 1,523,932 |
|
| Net Current Assets | 1,457,914 1,523,932 |
| Net Assets | 1,457,914 1,523,932 |
| The funds of the Charity | |
| Unrestricted Funds 7 |
1,457,914 1,523,932 |
| Total Charity Funds | 1,457,914 1,523,932 |
The financial statements on pages 6 to 12 were approved authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 8 January 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:
Mark Fletcher
………………… M E Fletcher Chair and Trustee
Charity No. 1083594
Page 7
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 30 April 2025
| Total Unrestricted Funds Total Unrestricted Funds |
|
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| Note | £ £ |
| Cash flow from operating activities: | |
| Net Cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities 10 |
(70,912) 76,556 |
| Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year | (70,912) 76,556 |
| Cash and cash equivalents brought forward at beginning of year |
1,490,413 1,413,857 |
| Cash and cash equivalents carried forward at end of year |
1,419,501 1,490,413 |
Page 8
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 30 April 2025
1 Accounting policies
General Information
The Trust was created by a Declaration of Trust Deed dated 9 June 2000 which directs that the Trust funds should be used for such charitable purposes as the Trustees, in their absolute discretion, consider fit. The registered address of the Trust can be found on page 1 of these financial statements. The Trust is a registered charity (registered charity number 1083594).
Basis of preparation
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with applicable accounting standards in the United Kingdom, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”. The financial statements have also been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (Charities SORP (FRS102)) and the Charities Act 2011.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with FRS 102 may require the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It may also require the Trustees to exercise judgement in the process of applying the Charity’s accounting policies. There were no such estimates or judgements required in the year.
Critical accounting judgements and estimation uncertainty
Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Going concern
The Trustees have reviewed the Trust’s financial position and the system of financial control and risk management and are satisfied these are sufficiently robust to ensure the continued successful operation of the Trust.
The Trust pays grants to charitable institutions in the UK, funded by donations into the Trust from the Trust’s sponsoring employer, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP. Charitable grants paid out to charitable institutions are wholly at the Trust’s discretion and the Trust has no long term commitment to pay out grants in any way. As such, the Trust has full control over the level of grants paid out, based on the level of donations received from the sponsoring employer, and thus has full control over the Trust’s cash reserves. In addition to this, the Trust has no staff, no fixed costs to meet and no internal or external debt to service. For these reasons, the Trustees are satisfied that the Trust has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for a period of at least 12 months from the date of signing these financial statements, which have thus been prepared on a going concern basis.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds represent unrestricted income, which is expendable at the discretion of the Trustees in the furtherance of the objectives of the Charity. Such funds may be held in order to finance working capital.
Incoming resources
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when the conditions for receipt have been met and there is reasonable assurance of receipt.
Grants
Donations and grants made by the Trust are charged against income in the year in which they are made.
Charitable expenditure
Charitable expenditure comprises expenditure relating to the objectives of the Charity.
Related party transactions
The Trust discloses transactions with related parties as required under FRS 102. There were no outstanding related party balances at the end of the financial year.
Page 9
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 30 April 2025 (continued)
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Financial assets
The Charity’s debtors that meet the definition of a financial asset are recognised at the transactional value and thereafter stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
2 Donations, legacies and similar incoming resources
| Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Total |
|
|---|---|
| 2025 2025 2025 2024 |
|
| £ £ £ £ |
|
| Donations from members of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP |
456,054 - 456,054 456,446 |
| Tax rebate | 33,913 - 33,913 33,519 |
| Dormant client balances | 8,775 - 8,775 8,882 |
| Bank Interest | 19,824 - 19,824 - |
| 518,566 - 518,566 498,847 |
The Charity anticipates a tax rebate of £33,913 in respect of Gift Aid relating to the year ended 30 April 2025 (2024: £33,519).
3 Donations of Grants
| Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Total |
|
|---|---|
| 2025 2025 2025 2024 |
|
| £ £ £ £ |
|
| Donations paid out | 584,583 - 584,583 388,771 |
| Total donations | 584,583 - 584,583 388,771 |
Details of all donations made in excess of £10,000 are included in the Annual Report of the Trustees on page 3.
4 Management and Administration Costs
The Charity incurred £1 of administrative expenses in the year (2024: £1). During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration (2024: £nil) in respect of their services provided to the Trust.
Fees incurred for the independent examination in 2025 and 2024 have been borne by a related undertaking, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP.
Page 10
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 30 April 2025 (continued)
5 Debtors
| 5 Debtors |
|
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| £ £ |
|
| Prepayments | 4,500 - |
| Tax rebate due | 33,913 33,519 |
| 38,413 33,519 |
6 Statement of movement on funds
| 1 May | 30 April | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Income Expenditure 2025 |
|
| £ | £ £ £ |
|
| Unrestricted funds | 1,523,932 | 518,566 (584,584) 1,457,914 |
| Total funds | 1,523,932 | 518,566 (584,584) 1,457,914 |
| 7 Reconciliation in movements of total funds |
||
| 2025 2024 |
||
| £ £ |
||
| Net (reduction)/addition to funds | (66,018) 110,075 |
|
| Opening total funds | 1,523,932 1,413,857 |
|
| Closing total funds | 1,457,914 1,523,932 |
8 Taxation
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust is a registered charity and, as such, is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 478 CTA 2010 or section 256 TCGA92 to the extent that they are applied to its charitable objectives.
9 Staff costs
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust has no employees (2024: nil). The Trustees are members of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP.
There were no payments or any other benefits made to the Trustees in the financial year.
Page 11
Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 30 April 2025 (continued)
10 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flows from operating activities
| Total Unrestricted Funds Total Unrestricted Funds |
|
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| £ £ |
|
| Net movement in funds (as per the statement of financial activities) |
(66,018) 110,075 |
| Increase in debtors | (4,894) (33,519) |
| Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities | (70,912) 76,556 |
11 Related party transactions
As disclosed in note 2, the Trust received donations of £456,054 (2024: £456,446) from the equity members of its sponsoring employer, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP.
Page 12