Trustees’ annual report (including Directors’ report) for the period From: Period start date 01/10/24 To: Period end date 30/09/25
Charity name: Great Torrington Buildings Preservation Trust
Charity registration number: 1100255
Company number: 04934863
Objectives and activities
| tives and activities | ||
|---|---|---|
| SORP reference | ||
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The objects of the Charity a) to preserve for the benefit of the people of Great Torrington and of the Nation the historical, architectural and constructional heritage that exist in and around Great Torrington in buildings (including any building defined in Section 336 of The Town and Country Planning Act 1990) of particular beauty or historical architectural or constructional interest b) To preserve and maintain the restored Grade listed Town Hall in the interests of social welfare with recreational or other leisure activities for individuals or or- ganisations who need such facil- ities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability |
| Summary of the main activ- ities in relation to those pur- |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The Great Torrington Town Hall operates as a flexible town & community hall, of- |
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| poses for the public benefit, | fering a range of rooms, facilities & ser- | |||
| in particular, the activities, | vices for local residents, community | |||
| projects or services identi- | groups, charities & businesses.A wide | |||
| fied in the accounts. | variety of events takes placeincluding: | |||
| a) Community groups and charities | ||||
| booking space to raise funds/support | ||||
| their organisations | ||||
| b) Health & wellbeing events - including | ||||
| our Knit & Natter group | ||||
| c) Family occasions - weddings, wakes, | ||||
| celebrations, baby showers and | ||||
| parties | ||||
| d) Civic events for the Town Council | ||||
| including Mayfair, Mayor making and | ||||
| Parish meetings | ||||
| e) Music based events - with practice | ||||
| facilities for new music and dance | ||||
| groups. | ||||
| f) Craft, food events annual Christmas | ||||
| fair | ||||
| g) Fostering, farming & wildlife sem- | ||||
| inars monthly police surgery and | ||||
| training workshops for local authorit- | ||||
| ies | ||||
| h) Matt Fiddes Martial Arts classes for | ||||
| children from 3 -16 years old and | ||||
| adult classes too. | ||||
| i) Amateur Theatre workshops & stage | ||||
| shows | ||||
| Statement confirming | Para 1.18 | The Trustees have full regard to Charity | ||
| whether the trustees have | Commissions public benefit guidance | |||
| had regard to the guidance | when exercising any powers or duties | |||
| issued by the Charity Com- | to which guidance is relevant. | |||
| mission on public benefit | ||||
Achievements and performance
Summary of the main Para 1.20 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.
The main role of the Trust is to provide a welcoming and vibrant venue for the Community offering a wide range of events and activities
We encourage community interaction and sharing of experiences to enhance wellbeing
Our weekly Knit & Natter group is going strong with 25 + ladies attending every week. They are not only very creative - but also offer valuable social interaction. Their wonderful themed displays are a constantly changing feature in our front window raising many smiles!
The highlight in Great Torrington is the Mayfair week. We were delighted to host our annual Mayfair celebrations again - including the official proclamation in the Town Hall with the Mayor, Town Council & invited guests in attendance
It is a long standing traditional event over a 4 day day period - supported and enjoyed by the whole community - with music by our Town silver band, Maypole dancing and crowning of the May Queen.
We continue to receive support from Torrington Town Council, the Townlands Trust and Rotary - which we much appreciate
Financial review
| Review of the charity’s fin- ancial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | We had a small increase at the end of the financial year - and did receive some small grant funding - but we are always seeking ways to secure larger grants which are essential to maintain our Grade II listed building. In addition to general ongoing maintenance, further remedial work is necessary, principally window and roof renovations |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | This is part of our fnancial management control programme which is carefully monitored and annually reviewed. We have 3 bank accounts - with one now being exclusively retained as a Re- serves Account |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | 39,000 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncer- tainties about the charity continuing as a going con- cern |
Para 1.23 | Post COVID , peoples spending habits have changed & they have less money to spend. This impacts on hiring venues such as ours - so the Trustees try to operate in house events to help sustain revenue |
Structure, governance and management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing docu- ment: for example,trust deed, memorandum and articles of association etc |
Para 1.25 | Memorandum and Articles of Associ- ation. |
| How is the charity consti- tuted? for example limited com- pany, unincorporated asso- ciation, CIO |
Para 1.25 | Limited Company by Guarantee |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any con- stitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Posts elected at the AGM Trustees appointed for 3-year term and elected at AGM |
|---|---|---|
| nal information (optional) ychoose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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| SORP reference | ||
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | The trustees do not issue grants |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | The Trust retains a Reserves Account |
| Contribution made by volun- teers |
Para 1.38 | They are at the heart of all we do - from meeting and greeting at fundraisers helping with organisation of weddings, celebrations, meetings, and general events plus support for a range of essential housekeeping |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Other
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against ob- jectives set |
Para 1.41 | The Trust continually reviews its wide range of events to encourage social interaction & also looks for opportunit- ies to enhance and expand its offering to the community. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The Trustees actively pursue as many Grant opportunities as possible - but it is getting increasingly difficult to find & secure such opportunities. Securing grants is essential to ensure we can cover ongoing costs of maintaining a Grade II listed building and replenish necessary equipment |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | We are constantly reviewing operation- al costs so that we can continue to offer affordable hire charges to local groups as part of our community commitment |
| Other |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | The hall is hired out for a wide range of events including weddings, celebratory parties, wakes, workshops & seminars. The revenue helps to support the up- keep of the Grade II listed building The Trustees run their own events with music & entertainment evenings - and provide a fully equipped bar. Also an “in - house” catering service is available from refreshments for training meetings to buffets for social events. All monies raised are used for the upkeep of the Building |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and ob- jectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | The Trust has a designated Reserves Account. We are not in a position to explore Financial Investment policies. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | The whole social & community structure has changed since COVID including - spending habits - and we have noticed this particularly with the drop in our wedding income. We were ofering full wedding packages - everything from the ceremony to the reception and then large evening parties - but everything now is on a re- duced scale - with much smaller wed- ding ceremonies, celebratory parties & receptions - which has diluted our in- come potential. The Trustees are placing more emphas- is on “in house events “to contain costs and overheads as much as possible - and working with other organisations on shared events. |
| Other |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures ad- opted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | Potential Trustees are initially bring their skills on board as Supporters- they can then get a feel for the Trust and learn its background by working with our existing Trustees. Attendance at a whole range of meetings for at least 6 months is a pre-requisite before Trust- ees will consider an invitation to join the Board |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the char- ity works |
Para 1.51 | There are regular committee meetings to cover all aspects of running the Trust including finance, marketing, building maintenance, health and safety etc. |
| Relationship with any re- lated parties |
Para 1.51 | Some of our Trustees sit on other local Committees e.g. Town Council, League of Friends, Torrington Together, Mayfair Group and Torrington 100 which does enhance our understanding of the community needs and aspirations. |
| Other |
Reference and administrative details
| Charity name | Great Torrington Buildings Preservation Trust |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses |
Great Torrington Town and Community Hall |
| Registered charity number | 1100255 |
| Charity’s principal address | The Town Hall Office, High Street, Torrington EX38 8HN |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandra Crawley | Chair | ||
| 2 | Helen Rumbold | Secretary | ||
| 3 | Nigel Lewis-Carpenter | Treasurer | ||
| 4 | Sue Mills | Trustee | ||
| 5 | Rose Purcell | Trustee | ||
| 6 | Paula Langer | Trustee | ||
| 7 | David Parish | Trustee |
Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Sandra Crawley Helen Rumbold Nigel Lewis-Carpenter
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year |
|---|---|
| N/A | N/A |
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
We have a large collection of paintings on display - which are of great local, historical and national interest - from the Rolle family estate who were significant benefactors in the community We are custodians only as the collection is owned by The Town and Lands Trust, a local charity that has land, property and investment interests, with the income generated from those being used to support people & organisations in Torrington. |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
Great Torrington Buildings Preservation Trust |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and se- gregation of such assets from the charity’s own as- sets |
The building has fire and intruder alarms with CCTV installed internally and externally on the Building . |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (optional information)
| Type of adviser Name Address |
Type of adviser Name Address |
Type of adviser Name Address |
Type of adviser Name Address |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Supporter | Jayne Wafforne | |||
| General Supporter | Andy Griffiths | |||
| General Supporter | Grant Langer | |||
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (optional in- formation) |
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Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
N/A
Other optional information
Declarations
The company has taken advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the report above.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report (including directors’ report) above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees/directors
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Sandra Margaret Crawley Nigel Lewis-Carpenter
Position (for example Chair Treasurer Secretary, Chair, etc)
Date 8/7/26
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Great Torrington Buildings Preservation Trust
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Great Torrington Buildings Preservation Trust (GTBPT). For the year ended 30 September 2025 Company Limited by Guarantee I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Great Torrington Buildings Preservation Trust (“the Charity”) for the year ended 30 September 2025. As provided from the “Business Finance Assistant” accounting system.
Responsibilities and the basis of the report.
As the trustees of the company (and also as directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements as presented in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.
I report in respect of my examination of the GTBPT charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5b) of the 2011 Act.
I have come across no matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts.
Tim Sanders BA (Hons), BSc (Hons), MAAT Independent Examiner 05 June 2026