Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From September 2021 Period start date To August 2022 Period end date
Charity name: A S Neill Summerhill Trust
Charity registration number: 1089804
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To advance the education of the public in the educational philosophy, ideas, life and writings of Alexander Sutherland Neill (1883-1973), especially in the aims of educating children to be happy, sincere, balanced and sociable. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
To offer bursaries to poorer families of children already attending Summerhill School. To promote all aspects of the school and A S Neill through the websites, books articles and the media. To regularly facilitate the translation and publication of any of the books of A S Neill’s and of Zoë Neill Readhead into other languages; to raise funds for the Trust through these translations. To specifically promote and work towards the school’s Centenary year in 2021 (delayed to 2022). To fund students’ occasional extra-curricular activities in the school (metalwork/music etc) |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | During the year under review (2021- 2022), all the Trustees have been informed of, and had regard to, the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | N/A |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Other | N/A |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | During the year 2021-2022 Summerhill School - like most of education across the UK - sawthe beginning of a less acute phase of the pandemic. Although some restrictions remained in place, particularly with regard to international travel, many of the restrictions on daily life which coloured the 2020/21 academic year had been lifted by autumn 2021. Groups could gather indoors, shops and hospitality venues were open, and fully vaccinated contacts of positive COVID cases were no longer required by law to self-isolate. There were some setbacks with Covid in school but the school community fully respected any students or staff who chose to continue wearing masks. The loosening of restrictions in society as a whole corresponded with a gradual return to most of the pre-pandemic norms at Summerhill. For both the school and the Trust, the year was dominated by preparations for Summerhill’s Centenary celebrations such as the highly successful Reunion (July 2022) and the Festival of the Child (August 2022) all of which had been delayed from 2021 to 2022 due to the pandemic. The Trust contributed small funds to help with promotion of the five-day Festival of the Child, which had 1,000 people from 40 countries benefitting. The Trustees spent much time and money during the year on the awarding of bursaries of children already attending the school; a number of families had been hard hit by the economic effects of the pandemic. |
As part of the Centenary celebrations, November 2021 saw the Trust bank-roll and publish a new book about Summerhill titled ‘Barefoot in November. Parenting the Summerhill way’ written by the Principal, Zoë Neill Readhead. The Trust paid all production costs on the understanding these would be recouped from significant sales and overseas royalties (five countries to date) and this happened by August 2022 by a generous, positive margin. Further contracts covering five new overseas translations of some of Neill’s books were also secured by the Trust during the year under review, bringing in significant funds. All these books help parents, schools, education authorities and the world of academia with a wider understanding of what is possible from the educational experience in Summerhill. Throughout the year under review the Trust continued extensive preparations for the special art exhibition at the Institute of Education/University College London due to be held in September 2022. Again, the Trust agreed to pay the (non-recoverable) costs. Ten former Summerhillians from the 1930s1990s, who went on to have successful careers in the arts agreed to loan various artworks for the proposed exhibition and to donate one item each for a later art auction to raise funds for bursaries from the Trust. The Trustees worked extensively with the Institute of Education/UCL on this project during the year under review. A number of Trustees continued to help with the emerging A S Neill Archive and Research Centre based at the school, which is committed to professionally collecting and archiving thousands of items that tell the story of Summerhill from 1921 onwards. There were various public displays of archives during the year. The Trustees agreed a new Trust logo for the first time.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
N/A Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set N/A Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives Para 1.41 set N/A Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives N/A Other
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | This was undertaken at all three of the Trust’s meetings during the year under review – Nov 3, 2021, Mar 9, 2022 and Aug 2, 2022. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | We do not have a policy. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | 0 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | We make spending decisions to ensure a healthy bank balance at all times. |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
N/A The charity’s principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising) N/A Investment policy and objectives including any Para 1.46 social investment policy adopted N/A A description of the principal Para 1.46 risks facing the charity N/A Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | It is a “Declaration of Trust constituting the A S Neill Summerhill Trust”, dated April 2001. |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | As a registered Charitable Trust, governed by the Trustees. It is not a registered Company. |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | When a Trustee leaves (as happened in August 2022), the remaining Trustees discuss potential candidates and discuss whether to replace them, and vote on the appointment of the new Trustee. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | N/A |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | N/A |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | N/A |
| Other | N/A |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | The A S Neill Summerhill Trust |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | N/A |
| Registered charity number | 1089804 |
| Charity’s principal address | c/o Zoë Neill Readhead, Trustee, Hill Farm, Leiston, Suffolk IP16 4TD. |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Vaughan OBE |
Secretary | |||
| Steve Fawdry | Treasurer | |||
| HenryReadhead | Chair | |||
| Zoë Readhead | ||||
| TonyReadhead | ||||
| Stephen Southgate | ||||
| Nathalie Gensac | ||||
| Martha Neighbours | ||||
| Mark Griffiths | Resigned Aug2022 | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
The Trustees are not directors, corporate or otherwise. N/A
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| N/A | ||
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | ||
| N/A |
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
N/A
Other optional information
N/A
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
Steve Fawdry | |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Vaughan | Steve Fawdry | |
Secretary |
Treasurer | |
| June 13, 2023 June 14, 2023 |
||
| June 13, 2023 |
The A S Neill Summerhill Trust
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 AUGUST 2022
INCOME £’s EXPENDITURE £’s Donations 14,217.54 Expenses UCL/IoE 3,425.42 Royalties/contract 8,222.91 Paypal for Festival 74.03 Paypal for Festival 74.03 Art/Craft Budget 310.24 Zoë Barefoot Sales 6,052.50 Bursaries Paid 23,889.34 Gift Aid Claim 30.15 Extras/Lessons 1,424.60 Postage 94.20 Zoe’s Barefoot 7,722.00 Indept Exam. Accts 216.00 Postage repaid 94.12 TOTAL INCOME: £28,691.33 TOTAL EXPENSES: £37,155.75
BALANCES
Opening balance 01.09.2021 £58,835.69 Income £28,691.33 Expenditure £37,155.75 Closing Balance 31.08.2022 £50,371.27
Accounts prepared from bank records
Lynn Kersey Date: 09.09.2022
Notes to accounts:
- Paypal monies to Trust are for Festival & been transferred
**Trust owes £0.08 postage to Summerhill account
Accounting Serrfices The A S Neill Summerhlll Trust I planned and performed my ex6rnination so as to satisfy myself that the objertives of the independent examination are achieved and before finalising the report l obtained written assurances from the TrusteÈ5 of all material matter5. Independent Examinerfs Ststement. Report and Opinion Subject to the limitations upon the scope of rny work as detailed above. I have completed my examination: and can confirm that: Thi5 is a report in respert of an examination c3riied out under 145 of the Act and in accordance with the directions given by the Charity Commission under sertion 14515llbl of the Act which may be applicable- and that no material matters have tome to my attention in connertion with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: atcounting records were not kept in respect of the charity a5 required by with Section 130 of The Charities Act 2011,. the financial statements do not accord wtth 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 IAtcounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than anv reqvirement that the accounts give and'true and fairf view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examinats0n- have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principals set out in the FRS 102 SORP Istatement of Recommended Prartice for Accounting and Reporting by Charities) 2015, las amended by the Bulletin i55ued in February 20161, (The SORPI. 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 tn order to enablè a proper understanding of the financial statement5 to be reached. For the year ending 31. August 2022 1 agree lo the trust ended with a deficit of £8.464.42, leaving the serveS balance at £50.371.27 a5 of 31" August 2022. Reglstored Olfko.. Cha1 Road Arwurrfng SorvIc Uffdt•d Carlton Park Hou80 Carlton Park Indtrial estat• saxmundham Suffolk IP17 2NL Contsct Deta1.. Emall: InfO1.Cuk . p1yroll@craslA)k Ttl: 01728 687000 Pax.. 01728 888209 2915 Company No. 4717829 VAT No. 922072050
Accounting Services Signed:_ Miss Rebecca Brock- Independent Examiner CRASL Carlton Park House Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 2NL This report was signed on 12 June 2023 Regl8tsrod Offi¢e'. Chap•l Road Aecourfng S•1vl Llmll•d Carlton Park Hou Carfton Park Indu8trfal E8tat• Saxmundhom Suffolk IP17 2NL C(Attact Dtrtslkn.. Emall.. 1nftyècr481..yk - p•ymlWrnBI.co.uk T4.. 01728 687000 Fax.. 01728 888209 W8bslt6'. www.crasl.co.uk Company No. 4717829 VAT No. 922072050
The A S Nelll mMerh•ll Tnt ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDING 31 AIJGUST 2022 INCOME Donations Royaltie5 1 Contracts Paypal for Festival Zoe Barefoot Sales Gidt Aid Claim Postage TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Expenses UCL/ LOE Paypal for Festtval Art I Craft 8udget Bursaries Paid Extras l lessons Zoe Barefoot Expenese5 Indep Exam Report Postsge Repaid TOTAL EXPENOITURE 14.217.54 8.222.91 74.03 6,052.$0 30.15 94.20 28.691.33 3,425.42 74.03 310.24 23.889.34 1,424.60 7.722.00 216.00 94.12 37,155.75 Surplus l -Deficlt for year 8A64AZ ASSETS 8ank Account 50.371.27 NEf ASSErs 50371.27 RESERVES Opening 8alarKe Deficit for Year Closin8 Balance 0110912021 £58.835.69 8,464.42 3110812022 £50,371.27 NOTES 11 Paypal monies to Trustr are for Festival and have been transfeed in same period 21 Trust owes £0.08 posts8e to Summerhill account