Registered Charity Number: 1107149
The Friends of the RWA
Trustees Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2025
Royal West of England Academy Queen’s Road, BRISTOL BS8 1PX
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THE FRIENDS OF THE RWA Registered Charity N° 1107149 | Royal West of England Academy, Queen’s Road, BRISTOL BS8 1PX TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2025
The Friends of the Royal West of England Academy is a charity which exists to support the Royal West of England Academy. Our primary support is financial. Regular monthly reports on the state of our finances are the basis on which the amounts of our continuing donations are decided by the Trustees, elected annually by the membership.
The Trustees acting during 2025 were:
Jane Boot Andrew Nixon Sue Quirk (appointed April 2015) (appointed July 2018) (appointed February 2021) Catherine Frances Davey Stephen Noreiko Laurel Smart (appointed October 2023) (appointed October 2021) (appointed April 2019) Gordon Lewis Monica Cuellar Parrefio. Patricia Triggs (appointed June 2021) (appointed October 2023) (appointed December 2020)
No Trustee has received any remuneration or other benefits, nor any Trustee’s expenses.
The Charity’s bankers are: HSBC-UK 62 George White Street BRISTOL BS1 3BA
The Accounts show total net receipts of £47,365, and payments of £46,071, which include donations to the Royal West of England Academy of £42,000.
In previous years we have undertaken targeted fund-raising for specific ends, but this year all donations were given as unrestricted funds for the RWA to use as it sees fit. During 2025 we donated £42,000, slightly less than the £46,000 donated in 2024, due to a small decline in memberships in the challenging economic climate, and the lack of a Friends’ exhibition this year, but significantly more than the £33,600 we donated in 2023.
The Friends, as a community of established or aspiring artists and artlovers, support the presence and further the purposes of the RWA with a range of activities.
Regular monthly talks are given by RWA Academicians and artists who are experts in their field, in the galleries when the speaker is talking about a current exhibition, or as illustrated talks in a meeting room. Through these popular talks, Friends have valuable opportunities to meet with and talk to a wide range of artists, and gain an understanding of their practices.
A highly successful programme of Trips and Visits takes groups of Friends further afield, to a variety of destinations of cultural or artistic
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interest. This year we have organised day trips to venues including profitableGloucester, Mottisfont, Compton Verney and Oxford. These trips are and makea significant contribution to our funds. The Friends’ Annual Exhibition gives artist Friends an opportunity to show their work in the prestigious surroundings of the RWA. Bringing joy and purpose to artists and the public alike, it was more than just an exhibition, creating an opportunity for artists to get involved, to build networks and to make friends, and of course contribute to fund raising. Scheduling pressures at the RWA meant there was no exhibition in 2025, but it will return in spring 2026.
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We publicise our work, keep Friends updated, and help promote the Royal West of England Academy generally through our communication channels: a monthly email newsletter, a quarterly printed newsletter sent to all Friends, an Instagram account, and the Floating Circle blog.
Formal dissolution of the charity
The purpose of the FRWA has been to support the RWA, financially and practically. In early days, the FRWA collected its own subscriptions, but with membership now more than 1000 this is beyond a group of volunteer trustees, and while the RWA recruits and administers Friends memberships, the membership subscriptions go into the FRWA bank account and the FRWA Treasurer and the Committee then vote to hand the money over to the RWA as a donation from the FRWA. The Trustees debated the future of the FRWA for well over a year, consulting with the RWA management and trustees, and, supported by the RWA, concluded that it will make far more sense if the RWA directly manages a new Friends scheme, as many other national and regional galleries and museums already do. It puts the RWA ina simpler and stronger position if subscriptions go direct to the RWA. A Special General Meeting of the FRWA was held on 25 September 2025 and the requisite majority of those present and voting at the meeting (and on line) resolved to dissolve the charity in accordance with the provisions set out in our constitution and agreed to the dissolution of the charity, no later than 31 December 2026.
The formal resolution was as follows:
The members of THE FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL WEST OF ENGLAND ACADEMY (Charity No. 1107149) agree to the dissolution of the charity, and confirm that: Any debts and other liabilities of the Charity have been settled or otherwise provided for in full. The assets of the Charity have been or are to be applied in accordance with the directions in the constitution upon dissolution and shall be paid to the Royal West of England Academy. The Trustees are directed to close the charity as soon as possible after all financial affairs have been wound up and no later than 31 December 2026.
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The Treasurer is mandated to collect monies owing, pay debts, and pay any balance to the RWA and then close the FRWA bank account. As soon as this has been concluded the Trustees will notify the Charity commission of the closure. The current Trustees remain in place to oversee the winding down process.
Although this will mark the formal dissolution of the FRWA charity, the Friends will continue to exist as amembership organisation operated by the RWA, and the Friends’ Committee will continue its work in organising talks, trips and the Friends’ Exhibition, supporting the RWA, and coming up with new fundraising ideas. Members of the FRWA will see no change in practical terms: membership, benefits and subscription arrangements will all continue exactly as before, all administered primarily, as now, by the RWA in-house team.
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alone of the Trustees, Mr Andrew Nixon, Chair
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FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL WEST OF ENGLAND ACADEMY
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
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|Unrestricted|Funds|Unrestricted|Funds|
|2025|2024|
|Receipts|£|
|Subscriptions|& Donations|42,141|39,450|
|Gift|Aid|return|2,808|3,329|
|Net|Contribution|from|Trips &|Visits|2,416|3,801|
|Net|Contribution|from Exhibitions|0)|4,727|
|TOTAL NET RECEIPTS|47,365|31,307|
|Payments|£|
|Administrative|Support|(451)|(547)|
|Printing,|postage,|publicity|(2,624)|(2,768)|
|Insurance|including BAfM Membership|(996)|(925)|
|RUNNING COST OF FRWA|(4,071)|(4,240)|
|Net Running|Surplus|43,294|47,067|
|Donations|to RWA|(42,000)|(46,000)|
|TOTAL PAYMENTS|(46,071)|(50,240)|
|NET RECEIPTS (PAYMENTS)|1,294|—_|1,067|
|Total Funds|at|start|of year|9,851|4,784|
|Total Funds|at end|of year|7,145|5,851|
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FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL WEST OF ENGLAND ACADEMY
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Unrestricted Funds | Unrestricted Funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | |||
| FIXEDASSETS | 0 | 0 | |
| CURRENTASSETSAND LIABILITIES | |||
| CASHATBANK | 7,145 | 5,851 | |
| Unpresented Cheques | @) | 6) | |
| TotalNet Assets | 7,145 | 5,851 | |
| Funds Balance | _ | 7,145 | 5,851 |
These accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis for presentation and approval at the last General Meeting of the Friends before integration with the RWA.
Mr Andrew Nixon Chair
| Stephen F. Noreiko Treasurer
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THE FRIENDS OF THE RWA
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FRIENDS OF THE RWA
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 set out on pages 5 and 6.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
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The Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under charity law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
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e examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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e to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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e to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the Independent Examiner’s report
_ My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
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In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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e to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act 2011; and
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e to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of Section 132 of the charities Act 2011 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met; or
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(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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J.D. Wells FCA Ldeus V4 b 34 Canynge Square ee A Clifton Bristol, BS8 3LB
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