**CHARITY NUMBER 1085603**
## **LONDON LEGACY**
**REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **LONDON LEGACY**
## **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
||**Page(s)**|
|---|---|
|Reference and Administration Details|1|
|Trustees' Annual Report|2 - 4|
|Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees|5|
|Receipts and payments accounts summary|6|
|Receipts and payments accounts|7 - 8|
|Statement of Assets and Liabilities|9|
## **LONDON LEGACY**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS**
London Legacy is a registered charity.
**Charity Registration No.:** 1085603. Registered on 16 May 2001 **Principal Address** c/o Defence Branch, Australia High Commission, Australia House Strand London WC2B 4LG www.londonlegacy.org **Trustees:** Yvonne Smith President (from 13/01/2022) Mark Daley Secretary (resigned 13/01/2022); Deputy President Marcus Anthony Ray Hon secretary (from 13/01/2022) Lindsay Birrell Trustee (from 13 /01/2022) Paul Wrighter Treasurer (from 31 July 2016) Big Grant Ernest Mason Trustee (from 09/08/2023) **Bankers:** Santander Business Banking Bridle Road Bootle L30 4GB **Independent Examiner:** Merchant & Co Chartered Certified Accountants 2 Craven Road Ealing London W5 2UA
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## **London Legacy**
## **Trustees' annual report for the year ended 31 December 2023**
The Trustees of the London Legacy present their report together with the Independently Examined financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The Trustees have elected to prepare a Receipts and Payments Account and a Statement of Assets and Liabilities in accordance with Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing Document**
The charity is established under its Constitution based on the guidance from the Charity Commission. The Constitution adopted on 13 July 2000 was amended on 9 January 2003 and on 16 January 2024.
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
Trustees are appointed in accordance with the policy, organisation and rules set out in its Constitution.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives**
To improve the conditions of life of widows of Australian and New Zealand Servicemen in Great Britain and elsewhere and their dependents, who may be encountering difficulties due to isolation or the effect of bereavement or old age.
## **Principal activity**
Supporting families through the UK who are suffering after the injury or death of a spouse or parent during or after their Australian defence force service.
## **Public Benefit**
We appoint Legatees to oversee the well being of our widows and families. Support comes in many forms, including practical assistance in such matters as accommodation, medical and general welfare.
Legatees make regular visits and phone calls to help those requiring aged care, community visits assistance with claiming entitlements and benefits and social activities.
## **Statement on Public Benefit**
The 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, including public benefit guidance as set out in its constitution.
## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Charitable activities**
During 2023 the Charity continued is level of support to Beneficiaries, participated in Remembrance ceremonies on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, and hosted the London leg of the international Legacy Centenary Torch Relay, including a Reception and a Ball. We also welcomed a new Trustee and Legatee.
Support to beneficiaries continued throughout the year. Apart from regular phone calls, support also included: Visits from the President and Legatees Financial assistance TV Licence subsidies, Christmas gift cheques and cards Birthday cards and flowers Attendance at the Junior Legacy Camp in Western Australia for 3 junior beneficiaries Independent living alterations Assistance and advice regarding Department of Veteran's Affairs pensions.
On Anzac Day the President laid a wreath during the Dawn Service, held at the Australian War Memorial at Hyde Park Corner and the Cenotaph in Whitehall. A small private service was held in Westminster Abbey (as the Abbey was preparing for the King's Coronation) attended by the President. The Chairman of Legacy Australia presented a Legacy Centenary plaque to the Australian High Commissioner, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Legacy in Melbourne, Australia. Legatees also represented the Charity at Anzac Day ceremony at Harefield Cemetery, Arbroath Memorial Dawn Services and also the 50th Anniversary of Australia's withdrawal from Vietnam service held at Birkhill Cemetery.
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## **LONDON LEGACY**
## **Trustees annual report for the year ended 31 December 2023 (continued)**
The President also laid a wreath on behalf of Legacy at the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Australian War Memorial at Hyde Park Corner.
On Friday 28 April, the London leg of the international Legacy Centenary Torch Relay was launched by King Charles III on the steps of Buckingham Palace. The Torch Relay began at Prozieres in France (attended by our Secretary Marcus Ray and LTCOL Anthony Birch) being the battlefield sight where World War I Australian solder and founder of Legacy promised his dying mate that he would look after his wife and children. The torch was then brought to Buckingham Palace, London, where the King lit the first of the Relay torches. It was then carried in relay pairs from The Embankment, down Whitehall, into Horse Guards Parade, down the Mall, past Buckingham Palace, and to the Australian war memorial at Hyde Park Corner. Following the Ceremony at the memorial, a Reception was held at the Cavalry and Guards Club, Mayfair for 100 guests and Legacy Beneficiaries, Trustees and Legatees. On the following evening a sold-out Ball was held at the Lansdown Club, Mayfair, for 142 guests including Beneficiaries, Trustees and Legatees. The torch then made it's way to Western Australia to travel all around the Continent before the finish of the Relay in Melbourne in November (attended by the President). Beneficiaries received special commemorative coins, stamps and hand-made thank you cards to mark the special occasion and celebratory year.
We are very grateful for the support received from the Australian High Commission in London and our Patron the Hon. Stephen Smith, Australian High Commissioner. We also thank Brigadier Grant Mason, Head of Australian Defence Staff and the significant contribution made by LTCOL Anthony Birch and CMDR Adam Sharp.
## **New Legatees**
The Charity was very pleased to welcome Brigadier Grant Mason, Head of Australian Defence Staff as a new Trustee and Legatee.
## **Beneficiaries**
As at 31 December 2023 the club actively supported 28 Beneficiaries (2022: 29 Beneficiaries), comprising 24 (2022: 23) widows, 1 veteran and 4 dependents.
## **FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS**
Due to the most welcome legacy from one of our Beneficiaries, we aim to continue the current level of support to widows and their dependents. The activities and events of 2023 resulted in the Charity welcoming more new Legatees during 2024.
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## **LONDON LEGACY**
## **Trustees annual report for the year ended 31 August 2023 (continued)**
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial results**
The results for the year are set out on pages 6 - 9. The net result for 2023 is a deficit of £17,218 (2022: surplus of £154,908).
The reserve at the end of the year of £187,542 (2022: £204,276) was substantially increased by the above advance payments.
## **Reserves policy**
As the charity has no regular ongoing obligations, no minimum reserve is required. At the start of each year the trustees make decision regarding activities and spending depending on the funds available.
## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed 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 and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity
The accounts have been drawn up on the 'receipts and payments' basis in accordance with charity regulations for small charities.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and which enable them to ensure that the accounts 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. The Charity has created and ratified key financial management policies to that effect.
## **Approved by the order of the board of Trustees and signed on its behalf:**
Paul Wrighter - Trustee
Date:
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## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT to the Trustees of London Legacy**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of London Legacy (‘the charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the summary of receipts and payments and the statement of assets and liabilities.
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for my work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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.
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 accounts. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently I express no audit opinion on the accounts and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner’s statement.
## **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 accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Mr Ketan Ramesh Patel FCCA
Merchant & Co Chartered Certified Accountants 2 Craven Road Ealing London W5 2UA
Date:
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## **London Legacy**
## **Receipts & payments accounts - Summary for year to 31 December 2023**
|Total receipts
Total payments
(Deficit)/Surplus of the year
Cash balance brought forward
**Cash balance carried forward**|**2023**
**£**
34,446
51,664
(17,218)
206,201
**188,983**|**2022**
**£**
173,488
18,580|
|---|---|---|
|||154,908
51,293|
|||**206,201**|
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## **London Legacy**
## **Receipts for the year to 31 December 2023**
|Anzax Day, Centenary Ball and Torch Relay receipts
Donations
Legacy
Interest
**Total receipts**|**2023**
**£**
32,411
-
2,029
6
**34,446**|**2022**
**£**
-
209
173,279
-|
|---|---|---|
|||**173,488**|
7
## **London Legacy**
## **Payments for the year to 31 December 2023**
|**2023**
**Notes**
**£**
Ball expenses
**1**
32,625
Charitable purposes
**2**
17,127
Travel expenses
512
Legacy Australia
-
Independent examination fee
922
Wreath laying
293
Administration expenses
185
Bank charges
-
Sundry expenses
-
**Total payments**
**51,664**|**2022**
**£**
555
16,264
-
286
982
-
405
67
21|
|---|---|
||**18,580**|
1 Ball expenses. No ball was held during covid years; 2023 restarted this tradition.
2 Charitable purposes: Grants to approved beneficiaries based on needs.
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## **London Legacy**
## **Statement of Assets & Liabilities at 31 December 2023**
||**31 December**|**31 December**|
|---|---|---|
||**2023**|**2022**|
||**£**|**£**|
|**ASSETS (all unrestricted)**|||
|**Bank**- Current Account & Saver Account|**188,983**|**206,201**|
|**LIABILITIES payable within one year**|||
|**Creditors and accruals**|||
|Independent examination|1,200|720|
|Expense payments|241|1,205|
||**1,441**|**1,925**|
These accounts were approved on ……............ and signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees by
Paul Wrighter - Trustee
1. Accounting Policies
- These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, on a 'receipts and payments' basis.
2. No amounts were paid to Trustees in the year, other than bona fide reimbursements.
3. VAT is not reclaimable on expenditure made from this Fund.
4. Related parties
This charity is registered in the UK. It is independent from Legacy Australia.
However the charity receives advice from Legacy Australia and help with coordination of events.
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