Charity registration number: 1103965
## Friends of the University of Sydney
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
KM Chartered Accountants 1st Floor, Block C The Wharf Manchester Road Burnley Lancashire BB11 1JG
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Contents (continued)**
|Reference and Administrative Details|1|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Report|2 to 3|
|Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities|4|
|Independent Examiner's Report|5|
|Statement of Financial Activities|6|
|Balance Sheet|7|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|8 to 13|
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
**Trustees** Prof A Coats Mr J C Dauth Mr A Eisdell Mrs M Hardee Ms P M Lyle-Smith Mr N Street **Charity Registration Number** 1103965 **Principal Office** 12 Lady Cross Business Park Hollow Lane Dormsland Lingfield Surrey RH7 6PB **Independent Examiner** KM Chartered Accountants 1st Floor, Block C The Wharf Manchester Road Burnley Lancashire BB11 1JG
Page 1
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Trustees' Report**
The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Trustees**
Prof A Coats Mr J C Dauth Mr A Eisdell Mrs M Hardee Ms P M Lyle-Smith Mr N Street
## **Objectives and activities**
The principal objects of the charity are the advancement and promotion of education and, in particular, any educational and charitable purposes connected with the University of Sydney, Australia, and its past and present students.
The charity was established under a Declaration of Trust dated 12 May 2004 to collect and disperse gifts and bequests from United Kingdom residents for the benefit of the University of Sydney. It was registered as a charity with the Charity Commission on the 26th May 2004.
## _**Public benefit**_
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales and in accordance with its objectives which are the advancement and promotion of education for the past and present members of the University of Sydney Australia.
## **Achievements and performance**
There has been an increase in net income in the year to 31st March 2025 compared to the year to 31st March 2025 due to the significant donation received from the Estate of Kathleen Joy Melhuish. The University of Sydney has not undertaken any fundraising activities in the UK in this period. The charity's overhead costs remain minimal.
## **Financial review**
During the year ended 31 March 2025, total income which comprised completely of donations and legacies including gift aid, amounted to £192,242 (2024: £3,397). Total expenditure amounted to £6,667 (2024: £70,306). This resulted in total funds carried forward of £194,070 (2024: £8,495).
## _**Policy on reserves**_
The policy of the Trustees for the time being is to maintain only minimal reserves. This is because commitments will not be made beyond donations received and operating costs are expected to be minimal. Reserves are currently £194,070 (2024: £8,495) and it is intended that the reserves will be cleared by further gifts being made to the University of Sydney.
Page 2
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## **Structure, governance and management**
## _**Nature of governing document**_
The charity is governed by a Trust Deed dated 12 May 2004
## _**Recruitment and appointment of trustees**_
Trustees are appointed by resolution of the University of Sydney.
## _**Organisational structure**_
The Trustees generally meet once a year and oversee the management of the Charity. Day-to-day operations are undertaken by Chapel & York Limited. Administration, fundraising and governance costs are met by the University of Sydney.
The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 13 January 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
......................................... Mrs M Hardee Trustee
Page 3
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved by the trustees of the charity on 13 January 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
......................................... Mrs M Hardee Trustee
Page 4
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Friends of the University of Sydney**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Friends of the University of Sydney for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of Friends of the University of Sydney 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 Friends of the University of Sydney'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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Friends of the University of Sydney as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting 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.
...................................... Mark Heaton FCCA FCIE DChA KM 1st Floor, Block C The Wharf Manchester Road Burnley Lancashire BB11 1JG
13 January 2026
Page 5
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
|**Note**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
2
Investment income
3
Total income
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
4
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
11|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
192,242
-
192,242
(6,667)
(6,667)
185,575
185,575
8,495
194,070|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
192,242
-
192,242
(6,667)
(6,667)
185,575
185,575
8,495
194,070|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
3,292
105
3,397
(70,306)
(70,306)
(66,909)
(66,909)
75,404
8,495|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
3,292
105|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||3,397|
|||||(70,306)|
|||||(70,306)|
|||||(66,909)|
|||||(66,909)
75,404|
|||||8,495|
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2024 is shown in note 11.
The notes on pages 8 to 13 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 6
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **(Registration number: 1103965) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025**
|**Note**
**Current assets**
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
10
**Net assets**
**Funds of the charity:**
**Unrestricted income funds**
Unrestricted funds
**Total funds**
11|**2025**
**£**
69,202
131,068
200,270
(6,200)
194,070
194,070
194,070|**2024**
**£**
1,764
8,481|
|---|---|---|
|||10,245
(1,750)|
|||8,495|
|||8,495|
|||8,495|
The financial statements on pages 6 to 13 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 13 January 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
......................................... Mrs M Hardee Trustee
The notes on pages 8 to 13 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 7
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Statement of compliance**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis of preparation**
Friends of the University of Sydney meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
## **Going concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
## **Income and endowments**
Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## _**Donations and legacies**_
Donations and legacies are recognised on a receivable basis when receipt is probable and the amount can be reliably measured.
## _**Deferred income**_
Deferred income represents amounts received for future periods and is released to incoming resources in the period for which, it has been received. Such income is only deferred when:
- The donor specifies that the grant or donation must only be used in future accounting periods; or - The donor has imposed conditions which must be met before the charity has unconditional entitlement.
## _**Donated services and facilities**_
Where services or facilities are provided to the charity as a donation that would normally be purchased from our suppliers, this benefit is included in the financial statements at it's fair value unless it's fair value cannot be realiably measured, then at the cost to the donor or the resale value of goods that are to be sold.
## _**Investment income**_
Investment income comprises interest earned from bank accounts. Interest is recognised when receipt is probable and the amount receivable can be measured reliably.
Page 8
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (continued)**
## **Expenditure**
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
## _**Charitable activities**_
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
## _**Grant provisions**_
Provisions for grants are made when the intention to make a grant has been communicated to the recipient but there is uncertainty about either the timing of the grant or the amount of grant payable.
## **Support costs**
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
## **Governance costs**
These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including independent examination, strategic management and trustees meetings and reimbursed expenses.
## **Taxation**
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
## **Trade debtors**
Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.
Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.
## **Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
Page 9
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (continued)**
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
## **2 Income from donations and legacies**
|Donations from individuals
Legacies
Gift aid reclaimed
Donated services and facilities|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
60
185,500
15
6,667
192,242|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
60
185,500
15
6,667
192,242|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
60
-
15
3,217|
|---|---|---|---|
||||3,292|
|**3**
**Investment income**
Interest receivable
**4**
**Expenditure on charitable activities**
**Note**
Grant funding of activities
Allocated support costs
5
Governance costs
5|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
-
5,467
1,200
6,667|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
-
**Total**
**2025**
**£**
-
5,467
1,200
6,667|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
105|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**Total**
**2024**
**£**
67,064
1,492
1,750|
||||70,306|
Page 10
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (continued)**
## **5 Analysis of governance and support costs**
## **Support costs**
|Insurance
Legal and professional fees
Bank charges
**Governance costs**
Examination of the financial statements|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
467
5,000
-
5,467
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
1,200
1,200|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
467
5,000
-
5,467
**Total**
**2025**
**£**
1,200
1,200|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
467
1,000
25|
|---|---|---|---|
||||1,492|
||||**Total**
**2024**
**£**
1,750|
||||1,750|
## **6 Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.
## **7 Independent examiner's remuneration**
|**7**
**Independent examiner's remuneration**|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Examination of the financial statements|1,200|1,750|
Page 11
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (continued)**
## **8 Taxation**
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
## **9 Debtors**
|**9**
**Debtors**|||
|---|---|---|
|Prepayments
Accrued income
Other debtors
**10 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Accruals
Deferred income|**2025**
**£**
5,000
63,000
1,202
69,202
**2025**
**£**
1,200
5,000
6,200|**2024**
**£**
1,750
-
14|
|||1,764|
|||**2024**
**£**
1,750
-|
|||1,750|
Page 12
## **Friends of the University of Sydney**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (continued)**
## **11 Funds**
|**Balance at 1**
**April 2024**
**£**
**Unrestricted funds**
General
8,495
**Balance at 1**
**April 2023**
**£**
**Unrestricted funds**
General
75,404
**12 Analysis of net assets between funds**
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
192,242
**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
3,397|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(6,667)
**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(70,306)
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
200,270
(6,200)
194,070
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
10,245
(1,750)
8,495|**Balance at 31**
**March 2025**
**£**
194,070|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**Balance at 31**
**March 2024**
**£**
8,495|
||||**Total funds at**
**31 March**
**2025**
**£**
200,270
(6,200)|
||||194,070|
||||**Total funds at**
**31 March**
**2024**
**£**
10,245
(1,750)|
||||8,495|
## **13 Related party transactions**
The University of Sydney has agreed that it will meet the costs and disbursements of an administrative service and governance fee paid by Chapel & York Limited including accounts preparation, independent examination and trustees insurance. During the year ended 31 March 2025, the university paid £5,467 (2024: £1,467) in respect of these costs and subsequently cleared £1,200 for indpendent examination as shown in note 7. These amounts, paid on the charity's behalf, have been included within income as donated services and the related costs under support costs. This ensured that all donations received in the UK can be utilised for the objectives of the charity.
Page 13