BLANDINA MARSHE CHARITY Charity Reg. No. 1089412
Trustees Annual Report for the period 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024
Charity Address:
Association of Dunstable Charities Grove House, 76 High Street North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire. LU6 1NF
Trustees for the period 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024
Ex Officio:
Rector of Dunstable - Rev.d Rachel Phillips
Representative Governors Dunstable Town
Council:
Cllr Mr Kenson Gurney Cllr Mrs Elizabeth Jones
Co-optative Governors:
Mrs Carole Owens Mr John Bradley Mrs Pat Larkman Mr Trevor Owens
Chairman:
Mrs Carole Owens
Clerk to the Governors:
Mrs Julie Tipler
Charity Structure, Governance and Management:
Governing document: Charity known as Blandina Marshe’s Charity founded by will be dated 5.11.17.30 and comprised in a Scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 25.01.1876 and in the matter of the Charities Act 1960.
Trustee Selection Methods:
One ex officio – Incumbent of the benefice of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Dunstable
Two Nominative Trustees – Appointed by Dunstable Town Council
Four Co-optative Trustees – Appointed by resolution of the Trustees.
Objectives and Activities
Maintenance and upkeep of the Ladies Lodge Almshouses and the gardens and help towards energy and other costs for residents. Concern for the welfare of the six residents.
Achievements and Performance in the past year
Trustees inspect all the lodges in the Almshouse and grounds annually.
Residents are contacted regularly, and the Chairman/Clerk make regular visits throughout the year. The gardens continue to be well maintained, and all residents are happy and enjoying socialising together in the garden.
Maintenance of the gardens and building is in progress. One lodge became empty, and this was updated and renovated and a new resident moved in. The whole lodge was completely decorated externally.
Finances
Buildings and grounds are the main asset. Money is invested although there is little interest currently. Other income is obtained from the maintenance charges received from residents .
Mrs Julie Tipler Clerk to the Charity 4[th] December 2024
BLANDINA MARSHE CHARITY Accounts for the period ending 31/03/2024
| RECEIPTS Maintenance Charges Grant JCT Grant Mary Lockington Donation Income from Investments: C.O.I.F Higher Interest a/c Principality interest Total receipts EXPENDITURE Administration of Ladies Lodge: Water Trustee Insurance Insurance Electricity Gas Council Tax 103 T.V. Licence Fire Protection - Annual Inspection Garden Maintenance Carelines Other Maintenance of Ladies Lodge General external Internal decoration White goods Building Survey Plumbing/Drainage Electrics Pest control Reinstall Gas Heating Carpets Locks & Keys Aerials Other |
Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 £ £ |
Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 £ £ |
Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 £ £ |
Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 £ £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,132.03 10.90 |
19,659.55 0.00 20,000.00 0.00 1,142.93 |
1,201.21 2.43 |
13,463.77 9,320.00 1,203.64 |
|
| 731.92 369.60 2,672.20 1,639.07 22.50 277.42 2,631.00 334.40 20.70 |
643.00 369.60 2,554.74 1,125.79 526.44 1,274.73 45.03 157.38 3,206.00 393.60 |
|||
| 40,802.48 | 23,987.41 | |||
8,698.81 |
10,296.31 |
|||
| 46,146.13 0.00 0.00 0.00 194.40 269.88 0.00 0.00 6,357.60 0.00 0.00 165.00 |
0.00 9,512.40 603.00 4,320.00 9,648.00 7,103.75 80.00 1,020.00 0.00 1,100.00 527.88 348.00 |
|||
| 30.00 | 96.00 |
| Administration of Charity: ADC - Rent, Admin & Payroll Almshouse Assoc Computer Equipment/IT Total Expenditure NET RECEIPTS / (EXPENDITURE) Total assets brought forward Add Net Receipts/(Expenditure) Add movement in investments Total assets carried forward Check |
3,120.00 0.00 83.33 |
53,163.01 3,203.33 |
3,689.62 0.00 |
34,359.03 3,689.62 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65,065.15 | 48,344.96 | |||
| (24,262.67) | (24,357.55) | |||
| 112,593.00 (24,262.67) 9,184.47 |
||||
| 134,122.30 (24,357.55) |
||||
| 2,828.25 | ||||
| 97,514.80 | 112,593.00 | |||
| 0.00 | 0.00 |
43 Summer Street Slip End Luton LU1 4BL
15[th] January, 2025
To Whom It May Concern
BLANDINA MARSHE CHARITY – Charity Reg. No: 1089412
I have been asked by the Clerk to The Trustees of the above charity, Mrs Julie Tipler, to carry out an independent inspection of the accounts for the period from 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024.
I have been given full access to all relevant documents including:
-
The list of current Trustees & their appointment dates
-
The Trustees Annual Report for the period 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024
-
Minutes of the Trustees Meeting for this charity & the associated Mary Lockington Charity (No: 204766) dated 31/5/2023
-
Minutes of the Trustees Meeting (as above) dated 22/11/2023
-
Minutes of the Trustees Budget Meeting dated 13/3/2024 & budget documentation.
-
Financial Summary & Assets and Liabilities for 2023-4 and 2022-3 & Cashbook spreadsheet
-
BACS confirmations for all transactions, supported by suppliers invoices.
-
Bank Statements for both bank accounts.
I have fully cross-checked all the Bank Statements, BACS payment confirmations, and the relevant invoices for the period, against the cash book spreadsheet and have found no inconsistencies or errors. There are no cash transactions. VAT is paid where it is due and is correctly managed. The Clerk has confirmed that all tax and NI due on her salary and that of her assistant, is paid and in order – this is managed via the Association of Dunstable Charities to which the Blandina Marshe Charity pays a monthly contribution. The very limited number of queries I raised with the Clerk were answered swiftly and satisfactorily. Day to day financial accounting and record-keeping is accurate, efficient and timely. Suppliers are paid promptly. Paperwork is very well managed and there is clear evidence that income and outgoings are regularly scrutinised.
It is clear from both the minutes and the financial transactions that the objectives of this charity are being met, despite the considerable amount of time that has elapsed since the charity was formed. Managing the upkeep of these historic properties and their gardens is challenging but there is clear evidence that the trustees, and the Clerk and her assistant, are doing all they can to respond proactively to meet those challenges. The assessment and ongoing maintenance of each lodge appears thorough and prompt. All capital and ongoing expenditure is prudent and in line with the spirit of the charity. Budgeting is well thought through and realistic. Property repairs and improvements are carried out in a timely and cost-effective manner, by tradespeople with a proven track record known to the Association of Dunstable Charities. Whilst the majority of residents are paying a rather modest maintenance charge (due to their very long tenancy) there is clear evidence of efforts to raise this by applying a sensible annual increase, and new residents are charged a more realistic monthly rate.
“Concern for the welfare of the residents” is also demonstrated in the minutes with awareness of both physical and mental health concerns being noted and addressed sensitively.
The situation, raised in the May 2023 minutes, regarding the Jane Cart Trust withholding grant money due to their view on the suitability of the lodges for habitation is a cause for concern. However, the willingness of the Trustees to solicit professional help and guidance and the setting up
of a working committee to manage this problem is a good move. From an outsider’s viewpoint, it was heartening to see that a range of views on the way forward for the Ladies Lodge (partial sale of land, sale of whole property, renovation, relocation) were all being considered.
Thank you for asking me to carry out this inspection. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours faithfully,
Nicola E West