SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
(a Company Limited by Guarantee)
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET & UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2026
Registered Company Number: 4191740 Registered Charity Number: 1087748
Suffolk Family History Society (a Company Limited by Guarantee)
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 March 2026
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Founded at Lowestoft in 1975 by keen amateur genealogists, the principal activity of the company is that of a family history society: to encourage the study of family history, genealogy and local history, with particular reference to Suffolk, and to promote the preservation, security and accessibility of archive material. The Society is a registered charitable company, run by its elected Trustees and Elected Officers with the support of Honorary Members and other volunteers and is a member of the Federation of Family History Societies.
In pursuance of its Charitable Aims for public benefit, as set out in its Memorandum of Association, Suffolk Family History Society and its sub-Groups hold regular meetings with guest speakers and provide assistance and guidance to help and educate members of the public in all aspects of Family History research.
The Society's volunteer member transcribers, transcribe, curate and produce indexes of Parish Registers and record Monumental Inscriptions for the use of the public and all interested parties, accessible at low cost via its online shop. The Society also publishes a quarterly magazine, dealing with various aspects of family history at home and abroad, as well as providing opportunities for members to share their own family research. This magazine, as well as being distributed to all Society members, is also available at Suffolk Archives and at a number of libraries worldwide. The Society also engages in several other ongoing family history transcription projects with educational partners, such as Suffolk Archives, the University of Suffolk and the University of Cambridge, supported in part by funding from Ipswich County Council.
The Society maintains a library at Suffolk Archives in Ipswich, available at no charge to all visitors and contains books and publications surrounding the subject of family history. This library also holds numerous family histories that members have contributed.
Members of the Society hold, often in conjunction with local history groups, help desk/ clinics in local libraries etc. At fairs that the Society attends the volunteer fairs staff are able to give advice to the visiting public on all areas of family and local research in relation to the county of Suffolk.
In addition, the Company receives Royalties via the Federation of Family History Societies for its volunteer- transcribed indexes available on Findmypast.
Financial Review
The charity's financial position at the end of the reporting period was robust and well above the Reserves policy to maintain two year's running costs in reserve. The Society is a going concern.
Suffolk Family History Society (a Company Limited by Guarantee)
Structure, Governance and Management
Our Articles of Association reflect the Governing document of the Society, which is constituted as a charitable company limited by Guarantee, which supports a wholly-owned sub-company, SFHS Publications Limited, which acts as the sole trading agent for the sale of transcriptions of Suffolk parish registers in the form of indexes on CD ROM or as downloadable datasets. The agency agreement is open ended and can be terminated at any time. All profits of the trading company are gifted to the parent Society.
Reference and administrative details
The charity is called Suffolk Family History Society with Charity registration number 1087748 and Company number 4191749. Its sub-company is called SFHS Publications Limited with Company number 5112004. The charity's registered address is 2 Stone Street, Crowfield, Ipswich IP6 9TA.
The Trustees during the year were:
C. A. Alderson A. L. Kerridge K. J. Finch. J. Licence D. A. Horton K. Pulford J. A. Horton G. Pyett (appointed in the year) J. J. Johnson B. Thompson
In accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association, all members are liable for a maximum sum of £1 in the event of the Company being wound up by reason of insolvency.
This report has been prepared in accordance with FRS 102, "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice".
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
C. A. Alderson A. L. Kerridge Director Director Date: 24/07/2026 Date: 24/07/2026
Suffolk Family History Society (a Company Limited by Guarantee)
SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST March 2026
| Unrestricted 31/03/2026 |
Restricted 31/03/2026 |
31/03/2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Notes Charitable Income |
|||
| Membership Subscriptions and Donatio 2 Royalties 3 Events - Table income Groups consolidated income in year Sales of Volunteer-Transcribed Indexes |
21,183.65 11,168.03 315.00 2,723.96 10,576.62 24.00 3,101.49 3,239.90 52,332.65 |
1,957.00 1,957.00 |
18,964.70 12,301.83 440.00 1,774.49 21,488.57 31.60 3,322.51 |
| Other Publications Sales | |||
| Bank Interest & Investment Income Accrued Royalties TOTAL INCOME |
|||
| 58,323.70 | |||
| Expenditure | |||
| Direct charitable expenditure 4 Management & Administration 5 Accrued expenses due Depreciation of assets 6 TOTAL EXPENDITURE |
30,577.82 6,020.25 1,485.03 1,282.30 39,365.40 12,967.25 |
1,401.00 1,401.00 |
33,205.27 5,438.40 1,111.80 1,242.30 |
| 40,997.77 | |||
| SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR | 556.00 | 18,255.67 | |
| Restricted Income | |||
| SCC Restricted Funds c/fwd | 340.00 | ||
| Balance brought forward at 1 April | 194,762.27 207,729.52 |
340.00 | 176,846.60 |
| TOTAL FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR | 896.00 | 195,102.27 |
Suffolk Family History Society (a Company Limited by Guarantee)
SUFFOLK FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
| 31/03/2026 | 31/03/2026 | 31/03/2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes Fixed Assets |
£ Unrestricted |
£ Restricted |
£ |
| Tangible Fixed Assets 6 |
2,944.65 | 3,887.45 | |
| Current Assets Debtors (Royalties) 7 Investment 8 CD Stock Cash at banks and in hand 9 Total current Assets |
3,239.90 30,000.00 1,250.00 172,120.00 206,609.90 209,554.55 |
556.00 | 2,019.52 20,000.00 1,250.00 169,057.10 |
| 192,326.62 | |||
| TOTAL ASSETS | 196,214.07 | ||
| Liabilities | |||
| Amounts falling due within one year 10 |
1,485.03 1,485.03 |
1,111.80 | |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 1,111.80 | ||
| Net Current Assets TOTAL NET ASSETS |
205,124.87 208,069.52 - 208,069.52 |
191,214.82 | |
| 195,102.27 | |||
| 194,762.27 | |||
| Funds (Reserves) 11 Unrestricted |
|||
| Restricted | 556.00 | 340.00 | |
| MEMBERS' FUNDS | 208,069.52 | 556.00 | 195,102.27 |
Suffolk Family History Society (a Company Limited by Guarantee)
For the year ended 31 March 2026 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477(2) of the Companies Act 2006 relating to the small companies regime.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit, in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The Directors acknowledges their responsibilities for:
-
ensuring that the Company keeps accounting records which comply with Section 386; and
-
preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state affairs of the Company as at the end of the financial period and of its profit and loss for the financial period in accordance with the requirements of section 393, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act relating to accounts so far as applicable to the Company.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small company’s regime.
Signed on behalf of the Board
C. A. Alderson Director Date 24/07/2026
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C. A. Alderson A. L. Kerridge
Director Director
Date 24/07/2026 Date 24/07/2026
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Suffolk Family History Society (a Company Limited by Guarantee)
Suffolk Family History Society CONSOLIDATED accounts
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2026
1 Accounting Policies
The financial accounts have been prepared under the historic cost convention and in accordance with the "Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice".
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Library & Microfiche etc 25% on straight line method Computer Equipment 20% on straight line method
2 Chartiable Income
| 2 Chartiable Income Unrestricted Memberships & Donations |
Year ended 31.03.26 |
Year ended 31.03.25 |
| Donations | 115.00 1,352.00 9,645.00 7,145.00 2,242.00 592.00 92.65 21,183.65 |
113.48 1,440.00 7,998.22 6,262.00 2,403.00 620.00 128.00 |
| New Life Memberships | ||
| Membership Subs - Online shop Membership subs - SOs & DDs Membership Subs - Manual Membership Subs - Parish Chest Unallocated Income |
||
| 18,964.70 | ||
Restricted Income and Expenditure
Suffolk County Council has made several donations to the Society during the year. The funding has been used to fund venue costs for Suffolk Fair and for our 50th Celebration. Residual funding has been carried forward to support the Vaccinations project.
11,168.03 12,301.83
Previously reported in SFHS Publications Limited accounts. Now confirmed as primary purpose charitable income and reported in the Society's accounts.
3 Royalties
Suffolk Family History Society (a Company Limited by Guarantee)
| 4 Direct charitable expenditure |
4 Direct charitable expenditure |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk Roots Groups Funding Events - speakers Membership fulfilment (post, printing) Events Marketing Website Design & Maintenance Equipment & maintenance Small local Projects Member Transaction Charges Cost of Publications Sales |
15,540.55 3,200.00 881.00 274.20 1,019.25 3,496.37 339.50 65.84 479.95 5,281.16 |
16,810.80 2,245.00 3,113.00 320.04 25.00 1,784.16 200.00 - 488.47 6,047.03 |
||
| 5 Management and administration of charity |
30,577.82 | 31,033.50 | ||
| Governance inc Trustee's expenses Online accounting software Insurance (Clubs, Groups, Socs) Stores Rent Bank Charges |
2,531.81 1.26 508.85 1,267.08 935.66 681.59 94.00 6,020.25 |
3,589.07 - 467.89 1,703.88 903.86 729.47 216.00 |
||
Insurance (Society) |
||||
| Professional Charges | ||||
| 7,610.17 | ||||
| *Items reported as Direct charitable expenditure in FY24-25 accounts | ||||
| 6 Tangible Fixed Assets Library and Microfiche Computer Equipment P&M Equipment £ £ £ |
Total £ |
|||
| Cost at 1 April 2025 Additions Disposal at 31 March 2026 |
13,437.00 40,658.00 4,205.06 - - 339.50 - - - |
58,300.06 339.50 - |
||
| 13,437.00 40,658.00 4,544.56 |
58,639.56 | |||
| Accumulated depreciation | ||||
| at 1 April 2025 Charge for year Disposal at 31 March 2026 |
11,115.25 38,249.00 4,005.86 600.25 602.25 79.80 - - - |
53,370.11 1,282.30 - |
||
| 11,715.50 38,851.25 4,085.66 |
54,652.41 | |||
| Net book values at 31 March 2026 at 1 April 2025 |
1,121.25 1,204.50 618.90 |
2,944.65 | ||
| 1,721.50 1,806.75 359.20 |
3,887.45 | |||
Suffolk Family History Society (a Company Limited by Guarantee)
| Year ended | Year ended | |
|---|---|---|
| 31.03.26 | 31.03.25 | |
| 7 Debtors |
||
| Other debtors | 3,239.90 3,239.90 |
2,019.52 |
| 2,019.52 | ||
| 8 Investments Cost/valuation b/fwd as at 01/04/2025 Additions during the year Carry amount as at 31/03/2026 9 Cash at bank and in hand |
20,000.00 10,000.00 30,000.00 |
|
| Lloyds Charity | 57,445.38 42,186.51 50,390.63 4,587.59 4,043.68 13,958.76 - 63.45 172,676.00 |
27,730.78 32,770.86 47,358.85 - 45,982.05 11,234.80 3,866.31 113.45 |
CAF Bank |
||
| CCLA In Stripe Lloyds Publications Limited Groups In PayPal Cash in hand Total |
||
| 169,057.10 | ||
| 10 Liabilities |
||
| Expenses due Subscriptions paid in advance |
1,485.03 1,485.03 |
1,111.80 |
| - | ||
| 11 Funds |
||
| Provision for future Funding General Reserve Provision for groups* Life Members Restricted |
40,000.00 13,958.76 12,722.00 896.00 140,492.76 208,069.52 |
40,000.00 11,234.80 11,520.00 340.00 132,007.47 |
| 195,102.27 | ||
| *includes Haverhill's main and project group figures | ||
| 12 Guarantee Company |
In accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association, all members are liable for a maximum sum of £1.00 in the event of the Company being wound up by reason of insolvency.
13 Commitments
The Society plans to continue its policy of releasing volunteer-transcribed indexes of parish registers and will support the associated costs and volunteer expenses.
- 14 Related Party Transactions
There were no related party transactions during the year ended 31.03.2026.
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Suffolk Family History Society
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Suffolk Family History Society for the year ended 31 March 2026.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees, 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 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did 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.
Tom Wilcox Counterculture Partnership LLP 23 St Leonards Road Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex TN40 1HH
29 July 2026