The John Jacob Astor Charitable Trust (RCN: 1108789)
Trustees’ Annual Report from 6 April 2024 to 5 April 2025
Charity Name: John Jacob Astor Charitable Trust (otherwise known as the JJ Astor Charitable Trust)
Registered Charity number: 1108789
Charity’s principal address: Clarke Willmott LLP Blackbrook Gate, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton Somerset TA1 2PG
Name of Charity Trustees: Dr Nicola Louise de Savary of Park Farmhouse, Ledwell Road, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 7AH
Mrs Lisa Marie Doyne of Copyhold Farmhouse, Crabtree Lane, Curridge, Berkshire RG18 9DR
Mr Adrian MacMahon Humphreys of Newtons, Churchstanton, Taunton, Somerset TA3 7QF
Solicitors for Trustees: Clarke Willmott LLP Blackbrook Gate, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton Somerset TA1 2PG
Bankers for the Trustees: Barclays Bank Plc East Street Bridport Dorset DT6 3LQ Stockbrokers for the Trustees: J M Finn and Co 4 Coleman Street London EC2R 5TA
113138726-1
Structure, governance and management
The Trust was constituted by a Declaration of Trust dated 25 November 2004.
Objectives and activities
The promotion of medical research on terms that the results of such research are published, including (but not restricted to):
-
Research in the field of biophysics; 2. Research into the causes and treatment of neurological diseases; and
-
The study of electro-magnetic fields in living things and the use of such fields in the treatment of disease.
Achievements and performance
It is noted that the Trustees continued to support projects via the University of Surrey.
The most recent donation to a project was used by the University for a PhD studentship dedicated to investigating the electromagnetic sensitivity of neurons and neuronal ion channels within the Quantum Doctoral Training Centre.
Two further sums for the amount of £35,586 and £35,886 were made in favour of further research projects via the University of Surrey in November 2024 and March 2025 respectively.
The total donations therefore made to various research projects throughout the period was £71,472.
At the time of preparing these accounts and report the Trustees are looking into options as to who to support moving forward. The Trustees are considering the options of supporting the research of Margaret Ahmad who is based at a university in Paris. In the first instance the Trustees would be looking to donate £11,500 to this project but may look to make further donations if requested.
Reserves
The charity has been endowed and obtains all of its income from the investment of that endowment. The Trustees have so far made no long term commitments that are likely to exceed their investment income. Even if they choose to do so in the future, that is likely to be conscious decision to commit capital resources to a particular project even if that meant that over time the charity’s resources were entirely spent. Accordingly, the Trustees do not consider it currently necessary to maintain any particular cash sum as reserves.
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees
113138726-1
Signature: Mp Full Name: Adrian MacMahon Humphreys
Capacity: Trustee Date: e/iL fers.
113138726-1
THE JOHN JACOB ASTOR CHARITABLE TRUST
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
P3856/418038.1 Clarke Willmott LLP Blackbrook Gate Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton TA1 2PG
THE JOHN JACOB ASTOR CHARITABLE TRUST
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
BALANCE SHEET
| Investments at cost Market Value 2025: 765,430.84 Market Value 2024: 833,012.72 Cash Held Barclays Trust Account JM Finn account Clarke Willmott Capital Account Income Account |
939.77 2,491.69 - |
2025 687,356.62 3,626.39 11,741.99 - 3,431.46 690,788.08 690,788.08 629,479.43 61,308.65 690,788.08 - |
2025 687,356.62 3,626.39 11,741.99 - 3,431.46 690,788.08 690,788.08 629,479.43 61,308.65 690,788.08 - |
2024 748,431.98 15,368.38 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 690,788.08 | 763,800.36 | |||
| 690,788.08 | 763,800.36 | |||
| 629,479.43 61,308.65 |
656,124.94 107,675.42 |
|||
| 690,788.08 | 763,800.36 | |||
| - | - |
THE JOHN JACOB ASTOR CHARITABLE TRUST
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
CAPITAL ACCOUNT
| Opening Balance Lapsed rights Gain/loss on sale of investments Expenses: JM Finn management fees Clarke Willmott Fees Closing Balance |
5,107.20 1,800.00 |
2025 656,124.94 - (19,738.31) 636,386.63 5,091.65 1,800.00 6,907.20 629,479.43 |
2025 656,124.94 - (19,738.31) 636,386.63 5,091.65 1,800.00 6,907.20 629,479.43 |
2024 651,097.54 (536.50) 12,455.55 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 636,386.63 6,907.20 |
663,016.59 6,891.65 |
|||
| 629,479.43 | 656,124.94 |
THE JOHN JACOB ASTOR CHARITABLE TRUST
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
INCOME ACCOUNT
| Opening Balance Investment income UK Interest received UK Dividends Overseas Income UK Property Income Distribution Total Divs and Interest on investments Expenditure Payment/donation Closing Balance |
8,972.45 12,898.73 3,234.67 |
2025 107,675.42 7,796.86 13,979.45 4,125.64 597.00 25,105.85 132,781.27 71,472.62 61,308.65 |
2024 208,171.27 26,498.95 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 234,670.22 126,994.80 |
|||
| 107,675.42 |
THE JOHN JACOB ASTOR CHARITABLE TRUST
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
INVESTMENT SCHEDULE
| As at 5 April 2024 No. 3i Group Ordinary 780.0000 Aberdeen Fund managers Gross Inc 25,743.9890 Aegon Management Invest Grade Bond 18,700.0000 Artemis US Sml COS I Acc - BB Healthcare Trust Plc 17,877.0000 Bankers I/T Ord 0.025 26,000.0000 CC Japan Inc & Growth 16,600.0000 Edgewood L Select US Growth I A Acc 53.0000 Ecofin Global Utilities 16,800.0000 Ecofin US Renewables Plc Ord USD0.01 26,000.0000 Fidelity Ord 0.05 12,100.0000 Fidelity European Trust 6,700.0000 First Global Lst B Inc 9,200.0000 GAM Star Fund Disruptive 290.0000 GCP Infrastructure Ord 0.01p 18,256.0000 Henderson Global Investors Strat 18,572.7700 Home REIT Plc Ord 20,000.0000 Impax Environment Market 3,400.0000 L&G ETFS ISE Cyber Sec 820.0000 Life Science REIT Plc 14,600.0000 Lionhurst Global Alpha C GBP - Loomis Sayles US Equity 5,300.0000 Marlborough Fund Managers P Inc 20,783.4150 Mercantile Investment Trust 15,900.0000 Ninety One Global Environment K 9,500.0000 Pacific North of South EM Cap I 1,570.0000 Pantheon Infrastructure Plc 14,000.0000 Polar Capital Technology Trust 0.25 925.0000 Polar Capital Technology Trust 0.025 - Polar Capital Global Financials 18,825.0000 Scottish Mortgage Investment 4,000.0000 Schroder Strategic Credit L Inc 25,000.0000 Schroder Oriential Income 9,000.0000 SDCL Eneregy Ord 0.01 15,000.0000 Smithson Investment Trust 1,650.0000 SVS Church House Inv Grade Fixed Int 21,600.0000 Twentyfour dynamic Gross I 175.0000 United Kingdom Treasury 4.125% 22/07/2029 - United Kingdom Treasury 4.25% 07/12/2027 24,500.0000 United Kingdom Treasury 4.25% 07/06/2032 - United Kingdom Treasury 5% 07/03/2025 29,300.0000 Vanguard Funds Plc S&P 500 ETF INC NAV 215.0000 Polar Capital Global Healthcare Trust Plc Ord GBP0.25 5,150.0000 Bal |
ACC Eq £ £ £ No. 7,441.02 24,482.41 24,569.04 - 4,400.0000 24,504.28 24,659.33 16,445.30 14,912.53 24,974.90 19,270.32 15,660.34 19,804.58 15,079.12 19,729.85 20,187.65 24,759.91 20,170.00 11,029.23 14,926.71 15,031.25 - 2,100.0000 25,196.49 23,668.24 20,236.70 15,104.39 142.03 16,660.76 14,850.96 13,929.61 - 9,250.0000 30,220.00 9,833.04 23,866.95 24,890.48 17,333.25 24,487.98 24,119.31 (93.16) 19,689.79 - (82.04) 15,000.0000 24,738.89 68.37 - (164.63) 15,000.0000 29,595.23 14,546.99 17,825.15 748,431.98 142.03 (271.46) ance Addi |
G/L £ No. £ £ No. 780.0000 25,743.9890 18,700.0000 19,358.85 4,400.0000 17,877.0000 26,000.0000 16,600.0000 53.0000 16,800.0000 26,000.0000 9,726.50 (9,543.82) 0.0000 12,100.0000 6,700.0000 9,200.0000 290.0000 16,913.03 (2,816.82) 0.0000 18,256.0000 18,572.7700 20,000.0000 2,000.00 (18,170.00) 0.0000 3,400.0000 12,032.00 1,002.77 0.0000 820.0000 14,600.0000 19,723.72 2,100.0000 1,400.0000 10,346.08 3,690.41 3,900.0000 20,783.4150 15,900.0000 9,500.0000 13,972.45 (1,273.97) 0.0000 1,570.0000 14,000.0000 925.0000 13,929.61 0.0000 13,929.61 9,250.0000 18,825.0000 1,100.0000 10,431.63 7,727.55 2,900.0000 25,000.0000 9,000.0000 15,000.0000 1,650.0000 21,600.0000 175.0000 15,239.70 15,000.0000 6,100.0000 6,100.27 (59.20) 18,400.0000 15,292.07 15,000.0000 29,300.0000 29,300.00 (295.23) 0.0000 215.0000 5,150.0000 83,543.95 124,751.57 (19,738.31) tions Disposals Bal |
MV £ £ 7,441.02 27,526.20 24,482.41 23,913.59 24,569.04 21,321.74 19,358.85 14,002.56 24,504.28 20,844.58 24,659.33 26,936.00 16,445.30 26,809.00 14,912.53 24,295.35 24,974.90 31,332.00 - 15,660.34 37,026.00 19,804.58 23,751.50 15,079.12 22,068.96 - 20,187.65 12,669.66 24,759.91 20,560.06 - - 14,926.71 15,780.90 15,031.25 6,015.20 19,723.72 19,257.15 18,540.82 22,799.79 23,668.24 23,950.81 20,236.70 33,390.00 0.00 16,660.76 18,720.68 14,850.96 12,796.00 (0.00) - 13,929.61 24,373.75 30,220.00 34,261.50 7,128.96 24,806.60 23,866.95 22,380.00 24,890.48 22,770.00 17,333.25 6,810.00 24,487.98 22,077.00 24,026.15 23,727.60 19,689.79 17,067.21 15,157.66 15,106.50 18,647.79 18,637.36 15,127.44 15,114.00 - 14,546.99 16,309.09 17,825.15 16,222.50 ance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 687,356.62 765,430.84 |
The John Jacob Astor Charitable Trust (RCN: 1108789)
Independent examiner’s report on the accounts for the year to 5 April 2025
The charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (‘the Act’)) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility:
-
e To examine the accounts (under section 43 of the Act);
-
e To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7)(b) of the Act); and
-
e To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Discretions given by the Charity Commissioners. An explanation 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 of the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently | do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
-
Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the Trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with section 41 of the Act) and accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act; or
-
To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
----- Start of picture text -----
Signed:Lr.
Full Name: axesVaSe tb KAIOMDBDNE.we CRA ¢ FWA
Qa Ar
Address: (OLA PER
LOEW NMTO HW Po BO
Date: hl C ( Awee Ss5 lteetereveteenteeeteeees
----- End of picture text -----
113138689-14