**Charity registration number 1115904 (England and Wales) Company registration number 05668916**
# **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025**
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
**Trustees** Mr Anthony Dart Mr Roger Date Mr Romer Hoseason Mr Henry Thomas **Secretary** Mr Anthony Dart **Charity number (England and Wales)** 1115904 **Company number** 05668916 **Registered office** Platform 1 Gobowen Station Gobowen Oswestry Shropshire SY11 3JS **Independent examiner** Border Accountants Limited 5 Lower Brook Street Oswestry Shropshire SY11 2HG
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|1 - 2|
|Independent examiner's report|3|
|Statement of financial activities|4|
|Balance sheet|5|
|Notes to the financial statements|6 - 12|
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025**_
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 January 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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)".
## **Objectives and activities**
The objectives and aims of the charity are as follows:
To preserve and protect the Oswestry Station Building.
To safeguard the local and railway heritage for the benefit of the people who live in, work in, and visit Oswestry Borough.
To develop and promote education activities surrounding the cultural and heritage aspects of Oswestry Borough.
To promote such other charitable purposes as may from time to time be determined.
## _Public benefit_
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
## **Achievements and performance**
## _Significant activities and achievements against objectives_
The Trust has continued to focus its activities on the Gobowen Station, supporting the local community and charitable organisations.
Having secured funding from various bodies, it has undertaken a program of works at Gobowen with the intention of improving and restoring the existing railway properties which had been in need of urgent repair.
## **Financial review**
## _Reserves policy_
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and was formed by a memorandum of association, incorporated on 9th January 2006.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Mr Anthony Dart
Mr Roger Date Mr Romer Hoseason
Mr Henry Thomas
- 1 -
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025**_
## _Recruitment and appointment of trustees_
New trustees are recruited by word of mouth, through other trustees, or as a response to newspaper articles. Applicants complete a form and their interest in being a trustee is discussed by them with the existing trustees. A vote on appointment is then taken.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £10 in the event of a winding up.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Mr Roger Date
## **Trustee**
12 September 2025
- 2 -
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Oswestry Station Building Trust Limited (the charity) for the year ended 31 January 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements 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(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. 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, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no 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 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
- 2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
- 3 the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
- 4 the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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 financial statements to be reached.
J M Ollier FCA **Border Accountants Limited** 5 Lower Brook Street Oswestry Shropshire SY11 2HG 12 September 2025
- 3 -
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025**_
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
**3**
315
331,146
Charitable activities
**4**
5,352
-
Investments
**5**
283
-
**Total income**
5,950
331,146
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
**6**
7,622
-
**Total expenditure**
7,622
-
**Net income/(expenditure) and**
**movement in funds**
(1,672)
331,146
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Fund balances at 1 February
2024
197,797
27,006
**Fund balances at 31 January**
**2025**
196,125
358,152|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
331,461
1,155
-
5,352
19,650
-
283
185
-
337,096
20,990
-
7,622
6,191
-
7,622
6,191
-
329,474
14,799
-
224,803
182,998
27,006
554,277
197,797
27,006|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
1,155
19,650
185|
|---|---|---|
|||20,990
6,191|
|||6,191|
|||14,799
210,004|
|||224,803|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
- 4 -
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## _**AS AT 31 JANUARY 2025**_
|**2025**
**Notes**
**£**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
**11**
**Current assets**
Debtors
**12**
69,152
Cash at bank and in hand
70,919
140,071
**Creditors: amounts falling due within**
**one year**
**13**
(106,419)
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**The funds of the charity**
Restricted income funds
**14**
Unrestricted funds
**15**|**£**
520,625
33,652
554,277
358,152
196,125
554,277|**2024**
**£**
2,608
95,485
98,093
(3,874)|**£**
130,584
94,219|
|---|---|---|---|
||||224,803|
||||27,006
197,797|
||||224,803|
The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 January 2025.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 12 September 2025
Mr Roger Date
## **Trustee**
Company registration number 05668916 (England and Wales)
- 5 -
**OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
Oswestry Station Building Trust Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Platform 1, Gobowen Station, Gobowen, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 3JS.
## **1.1 Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
## **1.2 Going concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## **1.3 Charitable funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.
## **1.4 Income**
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
- 6 -
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
**(Continued)**
## **1.5 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Freehold land and buildings 0%
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
## **1.7 Impairment of fixed assets**
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
## **1.8 Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
## **1.9 Financial instruments**
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
## _**Basic financial assets**_
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
- 7 -
**OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **(Continued)**
## _**Basic financial liabilities**_
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## _**Derecognition of financial liabilities**_
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
## **1.10 Employee benefits**
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
## **2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
## **3 Income from donations and legacies**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
Donations and gifts
315
-
Grants
-
331,146
315
331,146|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
315
1,155
-
331,146
-
-
331,461
1,155
-|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
1,155
-|
|---|---|---|
|||1,155|
- 8 -
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025**_
## **4 Income from charitable activities**
|||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**funds**|**funds**|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||**Charitable activities**|||
||Charitable rental income|5,352|19,650|
|**5**|**Income from investments**|||
|||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|||**funds**|**funds**|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Interest receivable|283|185|
|**6**|**Expenditure on charitable activities**|||
|||**Charitable**|**Charitable**|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||**Direct costs**|||
||Rates and water|-|(1,396)|
||Insurance|4,018|2,856|
||Light and heat|884|2,818|
||Telephone|-|(62)|
||Postage and staionery|120|169|
||Bank charges|70|69|
||Professional fees|660|-|
||Accountancy|1,495|1,257|
||Sundry expenses|295|400|
||Subscriptions and licenses|80|80|
|||7,622|6,191|
||**Analysis by fund**|||
||Unrestricted funds|7,622|6,191|
|**7**|**Net movement in funds**|**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):|||
||Fees payable for the independent examination of the charity's financial|||
||statements|1,100|-|
- 9 -
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025**_
## **8 Trustees**
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
## **9 Employees**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
|Total
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.|**2025**
**Number**
-|**2024**
**Number**
-|
|---|---|---|
||||
## **Remuneration of key management personnel**
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
## **10 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
## **11 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost**
At 1 February 2024
Additions
At 31 January 2025
**Carrying amount**
At 31 January 2025
At 31 January 2024
**Debtors**
**Amounts falling due within one year:**
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**Freehold land**
**and buildings**
**£**
130,584
390,041
520,625
520,625
130,584
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
67,193
695
1,959
1,913
69,152
2,608|**Freehold land**
**and buildings**
**£**
130,584
390,041
520,625
520,625
130,584
**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
67,193
695
1,959
1,913
69,152
2,608|
|---|---|---|
|||520,625|
|||520,625|
|||130,584|
|||**2024**
**£**
695
1,913|
|||2,608|
## **12 Debtors**
- 10 -
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025**_
## **13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|||
|---|---|---|
|Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2025**
**£**
95,415
9,634
1,370
106,419|**2024**
**£**
2,353
546
975|
|||3,874|
## **14 Restricted funds**
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
|**At 1 February**
**2024**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**At 31**
**£**
**£**
Purchase of station buildings at Gobowen
20,000
-
Provided to cover the costs of maintaining and improving
Gobowen Station
2,588
-
Grant for works at Gobowen
4,418
-
Community Ownership Funding
-
246,146
Railway Heritage Trust
-
85,000
27,006
331,146
**Previous year:**
**At 1 February**
**2023**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**At 31**
**£**
**£**
Purchase of station buildings at Gobowen
20,000
-
Provided to cover the costs of maintaining and improving
Gobowen Station
2,588
-
Grant for works at Gobowen
4,418
-
27,006
-|**January**
**2025**
**£**
20,000
2,588
4,418
246,146
85,000|
|---|---|
||358,152|
||**January**
**2024**
**£**
20,000
2,588
4,418|
||27,006|
The restricted funds of the charity are as follows:
Purchase of station buildings at Gobowen: this fund was used to aid with the original purchase of the station Provided to cover the costs of maintaining and improving Gobowen Station: this fund was used in improvements to the station buildings.
Grant for works at Gobowen: this fund was used in improvements to the station buildings.
Community Ownership Funding: this fund was used in the regeneration of the Gobowen Station buildings. Railway Heritage Trust: this fund was used in the regeneration of the Gobowen Station buildings.
- 11 -
## **OSWESTRY STATION BUILDING TRUST LIMITED**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2025**_
## **15 Unrestricted funds**
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
|**At 1 February**
**2024**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**At 31**
**£**
**£**
**£**
General funds
197,797
5,950
(7,622)
**Previous year:**
**At 1 February**
**2023**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**At 31**
**£**
**£**
**£**
General funds
182,998
20,990
(6,191)
**Analysis of net assets between funds**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**At 31 January 2025:**
Tangible assets
197,473
323,152
Current assets/(liabilities)
(1,348)
35,000
196,125
358,152
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**At 31 January 2024:**
Tangible assets
103,578
27,006
Current assets/(liabilities)
94,219
-
197,797
27,006|**January**
**2025**
**£**
196,125
**January**
**2024**
**£**
197,797
**Total**
**2025**
**£**
520,625
33,652
554,277
**Total**
**2024**
**£**
130,584
94,219
224,803|
|---|---|
## **16 Analysis of net assets between funds**
## **17 Related party transactions**
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).
- 12 -