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2024-03-31-accounts

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1096342

Cobalt Trust Unaudited Financial Statements

31 March 2024

CHARLTON BAKER LIMITED

Chartered accountants 7-7c Snuff Street

Devizes Wiltshire England SN10 1DU

Cobalt Trust

Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2024

Pages Pages
Trustees' annual report 1 to 3
Independent examiner's report to the trustees 4
Statement of financial activities 5
Statement of financial position 6
Statement of cash flows 7
Notes to the financial statements 8 to 12
The following pages do not form part of the financial statements
Detailed statement of financial activities 14
Notes to the detailed statement of financial activities 15

Cobalt Trust

Trustees' Annual Report

Year ended 31 March 2024

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Achievements and performance

Financial review

The Trustees have continued their policy of supporting other charities through grants totalling £715,269 (2023: £473,666). There were donations received in the year of £536,000 (2023: £300,000). Gift aid received totalled £134,000 (2023: £75,000) The Charity received investment income of £5,092 (2023: £2,852). The charity received other income of £1,430.

After taking into account expenses of £1,378 (2023: £1,470) and an unrealised gain on fixed asset investments of £13,595 (2023: £3,458 loss), the funds of the Charity decreased during the year by £26,535 (2023: £100,742).

The Trustees consider the financial position of the funds of the Charity to be satisfactory and they anticipate no difficulty in meeting the obligations of the Charity.

Financial review

Investment powers

The Trustees may invest the property of the Charity in such investments as are authorised by the Trustee Act 2000. subject to the restrictions and conditions contained in that Act.

During the year, the Trustees continued to principally use Tilney Asset Management to manage their investment The equity investment was revalued to market value at the year end.

Reserves policy

It is the policy of the Trustees to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the Charity at a level at least sufficient to:

Unrestricted funds were maintained at this level throughout the year.

Objectives and activities

Objects

The Trustees shall hold the Trust Fund and the income thereof upon Trust to pay or apply the income and all or such part or parts of the capital of the Trust Fund as the Trustees shall think fit for;

- 1 -

Cobalt Trust

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Objectives and activities (continued)

Significant Activities

The Trustee Board continued to make grants available to organisations well known to the Trustees or where the Trustees had undertaken a thorough review before deciding to donate.

The grant criteria have recently been reviewed and no further changes were made this year. The grantees will continue to fit into the criteria outlined under the Grant making policy below.

Public benefit

The Trustees have taken account of the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit in making their decisions about grants. Grants are generally only given to registered charities. The Charity's aims are broad, and we are confident therefore that all grants are consistent with those aims. Any private benefit arising would be incidental and insignificant.

Grant making policy

The Trustees do not respond to unsolicited applications. Criteria for grants are reviewed on a regular basis. The latest review has led to focusing a substantial proportion of the amounts donated on a small number of larger and regular donations. These are generally to organisations well known to the Trustees or where the Trustees have undertaken a thorough review before deciding to donate.

The trustees are increasing their donations in the area of conservation, locally, nationally and internationally. Another increased element is supporting organisations locally and in the wider southwest region. Both these policies show through in the grants made in the last few years. The trustees are also supporting several fairly new charities with longer-term commitments, subject to satisfactory performance.

These changes in strategy have led to donations continuing at a high level. The increase has been funded by the sale of investments and contributions from the Trust's founders.

The Trustees have a preference in their strategic donations for smaller organisations where they feel their contribution will have a greater impact.

Structure, governance and management

Constitution and History

The charity is governed by a Trust Deed dated 3 December 2002.

Organisation of the Charity

The Trustees named on page 2 have served throughout the year. Trustees are selected and appointed by the Trustee board. Trustees are inducted and trained by the Trustee Board. All decisions are made by the Trustees.

Risk management

The Trustees have identified and reviewed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed and have established processes and controls to mitigate those risks.

- 2 -

Cobalt Trust

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name Cobalt Trust Charity registration number 1096342 Principal office Hillside Farm Church Lane Freshford Bath BA2 7WD

The trustees

Mrs B Dawson Mr S J R Dawson Independent examiner Stacey Squire ACCA 7-7c Snuff Street Devizes Wiltshire England SN10 1DU

The trustees' annual report was approved on .............................. and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

Mr S J R Dawson Trustee

- 3 -

Cobalt Trust

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Cobalt Trust

Year ended 31 March 2024

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Cobalt Trust ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024.

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 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 Act.

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 (ICAEW), 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 cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

  3. the financial statements do 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.

Stacey Squire ACCA Independent Examiner

7-7c Snuff Street Devizes Wiltshire England SN10 1DU

- 4 -

Cobalt Trust

Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 March 2024

2024 2024 2023
Unrestricted
funds Total funds Total funds
Note £ £ £
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies 4 670,000 670,000 375,000
Investment income 5 5,092 5,092 2,852
Other income 6 1,425 1,425
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Total income 676,517 676,517 377,852
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
Expenditure
Expenditure on raising funds:
Investment management costs 7 (383) (383) (547)
Expenditure on charitable activities 8 (716,264) (716,264) (474,589)
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Total expenditure (716,647) (716,647) (475,136)
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
Net gains/(losses) on investments 9 13,595 13,595 (3,458)
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Net expenditure and net movement in funds (26,535) (26,535) (100,742)
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 314,409 314,409 415,151
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Total funds carried forward 287,874 287,874 314,409
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

- 5 -

Cobalt Trust

Statement of Financial Position

31 March 2024

2024 2023
Note £ £ £
Fixed assets
Fixed Asset Investments 11 79,650 66,054
Current assets
Current Asset Investments 12 1,814 916
Cash at bank and in hand 207,406 248,363
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
209,220 249,279
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 13 996 924
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Net current assets 208,224 248,355
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Total assets less current liabilities 287,874 314,409
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Net assets 287,874 314,409
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
Funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds 287,874 314,409
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Total charity funds 14 287,874
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
314,409
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on ........................, and are signed on behalf of the board by:

Mrs B Dawson Trustee

Mr S J R Dawson Trustee

The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

- 6 -

Cobalt Trust

Statement of Cash Flows

Year ended 31 March 2024

2024 2023
£ £
Cash flows from operating activities
Net expenditure (26,535) (100,742)
Adjustments for:
Net gains/(losses) on investments (13,595) 3,458
Dividends, interest and rents from investments (878) (836)
Other interest receivable and similar income (4,214) (2,016)
Accrued expenses 71
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Cash generated from operations (45,151) (100,136)
Interest received 4,214 2,016
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Net cash used in operating activities (40,937) (98,120)
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
Cash flows from investing activities
Dividends, interest and rents from investments 878 836
Purchases of other investments (898) (555)
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Net cash (used in)/from investing activities (20) 281
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (40,957) (97,839)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 248,363 346,202
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 207,406 248,363
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶

The notes on pages 8 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

- 7 -

Cobalt Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2024

1. General information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is Hillside Farm, Church Lane, Fresford, Bath, BA2 7WD.

2. Statement of compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.

3. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Going concern

There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.

Income tax

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

Incoming resources

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

- 8 -

Cobalt Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Resources expended

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

Investments

Investments are recognised initially at fair value which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs. subsequently, they are measured at fair value with changes recognised in 'net gains (losses) on investments' in the SOFA if the shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably. Other investments are measured at cost less impairment.

Current asset investments are short term highly liquid investment and are held at fair value. These include cash on deposit and cash equivalents with a maturity of less than one year. Shodterm cash is held at CafBank and this year longer term deposits have been made with a number of banks managed by Flagstone Investment Management.

4. Donations and legacies

Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2024 Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
Donations
Donations 536,000 536,000 300,000 300,000
Gift aid 134,000 134,000 75,000 75,000
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
670,000 670,000 375,000 375,000
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶

5. Investment income

Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2024 Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
Income from listed investments 878 878 836 836
Bank interest receivable 4,214 4,214 2,016 2,016
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
5,092 5,092 2,852 2,852
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
6. Other income
Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2024 Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
Other income 1,425 1,425
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶

- 9 -

Cobalt Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

7. Investment management costs

Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2024 Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
Portfolio management 323 323 475 475
Bank charges 60 60 72 72
ৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄ
383 383 547 547
৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶
8. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2024 Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
Grants payable 715,269 715,269 473,666 473,666
Support costs 995 995 923 923
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
716,264 716,264 474,589 474,589
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
9. Net gains/(losses) on investments
Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2024 Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
Gains/(losses) on listed investments 13,595
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
13,595
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
(3,458)
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
(3,458)
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶

10. Trustee remuneration and expenses

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023.

11. Fixed asset investments

Listed
investments
£
Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2023 66,054
Additions
Fair value movements 13,596
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
At 31 March 2024 79,650
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
Impairment
At 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2024 79,650
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
At 31 March 2023 66,054
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶

All investments shown above are held at valuation.

- 10 -

Cobalt Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

11. Fixed asset investments (continued)

Listed investments

The aggregate market value of listed investments is £79,650 (2023: £66,054).

Financial assets held at fair value

The total investment value of £79,650 (2023: £66,054) is made up of securities and is primarily held to provide an investment return for the Charity. The values are determined by reference to readily available market prices.

Tilney Asset Management has managed the balance of both the equity and cash investments. The balance held within equities was revalued to market value at the balance sheet date.

Of the equity investments above £79,650 (100%) is in overseas investments.

12. Current asset investments

2024 2023
£ £
Investment fund cash 1,814 916
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶
13. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024 2023
£ £
Accruals and deferred income 996 924
৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶
14. Analysis of charitable funds
Unrestricted funds
Unrestricted funds
At
At Gains and 31 March 202
1 April 2023 Income Expenditure losses 4
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 314,409 676,517 (716,647) 13,595 287,874
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
At
At Gains and 31 March 202
1 April 2022 Income Expenditure losses 3
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 415,151 377,852 (475,136) (3,458) 314,409
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶

- 11 -

Cobalt Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

15. Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2024
£ £
Investments 79,650 79,650
Current assets 209,220 209,220
Creditors less than 1 year (996) (996)
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Net assets 287,874 287,874
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2023
£ £
Investments 66,054 66,054
Current assets 249,279 249,279
Creditors less than 1 year (924) (924)
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Net assets 314,409 314,409
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶

16. Movement in funds

Unrestricted funds - This fund is free to be used in accordance with the charitable objects of the charity.

17. Analysis of changes in net debt

At
At 1 Apr 2023 Cash flows 31 Mar 2024
£ £ £
Cash at bank and in hand 248,363 (40,957) 207,406
Current asset investments 916 898 1,814
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
249,279
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
(40,059)
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
209,220
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶

18. Related parties

During the year the trustees made donations to the charity totalling £536,000 (2023: £300,000).

- 12 -

Cobalt Trust

Management Information

Year ended 31 March 2024

The following pages do not form part of the financial statements.

- 13 -

Cobalt Trust

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 March 2024

2024 2023
£ £
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies
Donations 536,000 300,000
Gift aid 134,000 75,000
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
670,000 375,000
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Investment income
Income from listed investments 878 836
Bank interest receivable 4,214 2,016
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
5,092 2,852
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Other income
Other income 1,425
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄ
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Total income 676,517 377,852
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
Expenditure
Investment management costs
Portfolio management (323) (475)
Bank charges (60) (72)
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
(383) (547)
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Expenditure on charitable activities
Legal and professional fees (995) (923)
Grants payable (715,269) (473,666)
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
(716,264) (474,589)
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Total expenditure (716,647) (475,136)
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶ ৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
Net gains/(losses) on investments
Gains/(losses) on listed investments 13,595 (3,458)
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Net expenditure (26,535)
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
(100,742)
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶

- 14 -

Cobalt Trust

Notes to the Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 March 2024

2024 2023
£ £
Expenditure on charitable activities
Grants payable
Activities undertaken directly
Direct charitable activity 1 - grants payable (715,269) (473,666)
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Governance costs
Governance costs - accountancy fees (995) (923)
ৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄ
ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ ৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄৄ
Expenditure on charitable activities (716,264)
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶
(474,589)
৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶৶

- 15 -