FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee) REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Company registration number: 5994599
Registered charity number: 1120308
FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
| CONTENTS | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ report | 1 – 5 |
| Statement of fnancial activities | 6 |
| Balance sheet | 7 - 8 |
| Notes to the fnancial statements | 9 – 14 |
| Independent examiner’s report | 15 |
FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2024
statements of the charity for the year ending 31 August 2024 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.
Memorandum and Articles of Association, and 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) (e�ective 1 January 2019).
Our Purposes and Activities
The Charity’s objects are to advance the education of school children in the subjects of farming, food production, biodiversity, the rural economy and the study of the environment and ecology generally.
In the year the charity aimed to further its objectives by undertaking a programme of school visits through the FarmLink educational programme. The visits are delivered by our partner farms.
This enables schools to deliver the areas of the national curriculum relating to farming, food production, biodiversity, the rural economy and the study of the environment and ecology through a series of visits.
Achievements and performance
During this period, we engaged with 28,404 children with 8,567 getting on to the farms. This shows a good increase from the previous year. The number of host farms continues to go up which has increased our area of coverage throughout our catchment. Whilst the number has increased it has been di�icult to fill all the tours for our new farms, but this should be a snowball e�ect and we are hopeful this will improve in future periods.
As well as the delivery of the programme we have completed the renovation of the kitchen to make it more like a classroom set up which will be more suitable for our needs. The work was completed in February ready for the Summer and Spring term.
We employed a Devon County representative whilst, she has engaged well with the schools and having somebody on the ground in Devon has made a huge di�erence to the engagement with schools.
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2024 cont.
Public Beneft
deciding what activities the Charity should undertake and confirm all the Charity’s activities are undertaken to further charitable purposes for public benefit.
Financial Review
At 31 August 2024 the Charity had net assets of £51,042, of which £nil were restricted funds.
The Charity’s main sources of funding in the period were:
-
donations, totalling £50,000, from partner farms;
-
fees charged to schools for visits of £10,717;
-
donation in kind from Packington Farm of a seconded member of sta�;
-
restricted donation of £10,000 from Bridgewater Agricultural Society; and
-
unrestricted donations of, £5,000 from The Spielman Trust, £5,000 from the CLA, £5,000 from New Quadrant Partners, £5,000 from The Bristol Port Company, and £1,500 from The Pixella Trust.
for 2025/26.
Investment policy
As reserves are currently at a relatively low level, all funds are currently held in a bank current account. The Trustees are investigating investing any surplus funds in an instant access deposit account in a UK bank that provides a reasonable rate of interest.
Reserves policy & Going Concern
The Charity’s reserves policy is to hold £100,000 in liquid unrestricted funds (free reserves) which represents approximately 8 months total expenditure at 2023/24 annual levels. This would enable the Charity time to seek alternative funding if its current sources of funding ceased. At 31 August 2024, the liquid unrestricted reserves were £40,813, which represents 3.5 months of expenditure.
The Trustees have a reasonable expectation the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2024 cont.
Plans for Future Periods
During the course of this period, it became clear that charging for the schools for each visit was very labour intensive and due to the subsidies, some from the government some of the farms were taking their own bookings. As a result, we decided to not to charge per visit but have a membership fee. This would be set at a £1 per pupil attending the school with a minimum fee of £100 and a maximum fee of £250.
We also hope to continue o engage further with pupils in Devon and Cornwall.
Reference and Administrative Information
Name & Charity Number:
Farmlink Education Limited:
Registered Charity No: 1120308 Company No: 5994599
Registered O�ice:
Our O�ices 4 Yeowood Farm Iwood, Wrington BS40 5NU
Trustees:
Mr John Alvis MBE Sir David Wills Bt Mrs Mary James MBE Mr Brian Kirkup Mr Mark Pooley Mrs Jeanette Read Mr Nick Green Mr Tom Coles Mr Richard Cooksley
Bankers:
Nat West Bank Wells Branch Wells BA5 2AD
Solicitors:
Burges Salmon One Glass Wharf Bristol BS2 0ZX
Independent Examiner:
Mr M J Maneely FCCA
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2024 cont.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee. The company was established under a Memorandum and Articles of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. The company was incorporated on 10 November 2006 and commenced its activities on 1 April 2007. The company was registered as a charity on 27 July 2007.
Recruitment and Appointment of the Trustees
The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law.
the organisation. Induction is seen as a key element in retaining and supporting Trustees.
Trustee Induction and Training
New Trustees are given clear advice and support in relation to their obligations. All relevant documentation is made available including details of its resourcing, the current financial position as set out in the latest set of accounts and information about future plans and the strategic development of the Charity.
Day to day management
The trustees have delegated the day-to-day management of the Charity to the Chief Executive, Tim Ledbury. The Chief Executive reports formally to the Trustees at the quarterly Trustees’ meetings and as required between Trustees meetings.
Key Personnel
Tim Ledbury Chief Executive
Risk Management
that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31st August 2024 cont.
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the fnancial statements
The charity trustees (who are also the directors of Farmlink Education Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
give a true and fair view of the state of a�airs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
a) select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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b) observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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c) make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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d) state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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e) presume that the charity will continue in operational existence.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may di�er from legislation in other jurisdictions.
In accordance with company law, as the charity’s Trustees, we certify that:
-
So far as we are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity’s Independent Examiner is unaware; and
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As the Trustees of the charity we have taken all steps that ought to have been taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity’s Independent Examiner is aware of that information.
MARK POOLEY
Signed on behalf of the Trustees: (Mark Pooley)
Date: 11 MARCH 2025
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
| Total | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Year | Year | ||
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND EXPENDITURE | |||||
| Income from: | |||||
| Donations and legacies | 2 | 108,244 | 15,000 | 123,244 | 133,763 |
| Fees from Schools | 10,717 | - | 10,717 | - | |
| Other income | - | - | - | 100 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| TOTAL INCOME | 118,961 | 15,000 | 133,961 | 133,863 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| Expenditure on: | |||||
| Costs of raising funds | 1,750 | - | 1,750 | 3,500 | |
| Charitable activities: | |||||
| Farm and school visits | 3 | 131,072 | 10,000 | 141,072 | 136,133 |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| 132,822 | 10,000 | 142,822 | 139,633 | ||
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| Net income/(expenditure) | |||||
| for the year | (13,861) | 5,000 | (8,861) | (5,770) | |
| Transfers | 5,000 | (5,000) | - | - | |
| ____ | ____ | ____ | ____ | ||
| Net movement in funds for the year | (8,861) | - |
(8,861) | (5,770) | |
| Reconciliation of funds for the year | |||||
| Total funds brought forward | 59,903 | - | 59,903 | 65,673 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 51,042 | - | 51,042 | 59,903 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
The notes on pages 9 to 14 form part of these accounts.
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024
| Company number: 5994599 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||
| Intangible fxed assets | 7 | 1,227 | - |
| Tangible fxed assets | 8 | 9,002 | 220 |
| ______ | ______ | ||
| 10,229 | 220 | ||
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Debtors | 9 | 7,466 | - |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 36,016 | 61,952 | |
| ______ | ______ | ||
| 43,482 | 61,952 | ||
| CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year | 10 | (2,669) | (2,269) |
| ______ | ______ | ||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 40,813 | 59,683 | |
| ______ | ______ | ||
| NET ASSETS | 51,042 | 59,903 | |
| ______ | ______ | ||
| THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY: | |||
| Restricted funds | 11 | - | - |
| Unrestricted funds | 12 | 51,042 | 59,903 |
| ______ | ______ | ||
| TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS | 13 | 51,042 | 59,903 |
| ______ | ______ |
Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the year by virtue of section 477, and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act.
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:
-
i. ensuring that the company keeps adequate accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act, and
-
ii. company as at the end of the financial year and of its profit or loss for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of section 393, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Act relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
BALANCE SHEET (continued) AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024
Company number: 5994599
small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
06/03/2024, and are signed on their behalf by:
MARK POOLEY
MARK POOLEY TRUSTEE
Date: 11MARCH 2025
The notes on pages 9 to 14 form part of these accounts.
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
- ACCOUNTING POLICIES
a) Basis of preparation
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) (e�ective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
b) Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis
The trustees are of the opinion that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
c) Income
Donations and grants are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which they are receivable and are allocated to the appropriate fund.
Donations in kind of services, including the secondment of sta�, are accounted for as income at an estimate of the value to the charity of the services received. An equal amount is accounted for the services in expenditure.
Investment income is included when receivable.
- d) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT
Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred. They include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. They are allocated to the activity to which they relate.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. As the charity has only one activity, all costs are allocated against the charitable activity.
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 (continued)
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
- e)
economic lives on a straight line basis as follows.
Equipment – 4 years Classroom – 7 years
- f) Fund accounting
Funds held by the charity are:
Unrestricted general funds – these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds – these are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Designated funds – these are unrestricted general funds that have been earmarked by the trustees to be used for specific purposes in accordance within the charitable objects
2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
| DONATIONS AND LEGACIES | Year | Year |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted | ||
| Donations from Partner Farms | 50,000 | 47,000 |
| Spielman Charitable Trust | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Dartington Cattle Breeders Trust | 7,000 | 2,000 |
| Nisbet Trust | - | 8,100 |
| The Country Land and Business Association | 5,000 | - |
| North Somerset Agricultural Society | 1,000 | - |
| Ninevh Charitable Trust | - | 5,000 |
| The Bristol Port Company | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Yeovil Agricultural Society | - | 10,000 |
| New Quadrant Partners | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| The Pixella Trust | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Other donations less than £1,000 | 1,352 | 7,771 |
| Gifts in kind | ||
| Packington Farm – Seconded sta� | 26,612 | 26,612 |
| Independent examiner’s fees | 780 | 780 |
| ______ | ______ | |
| 108,244 | 123,763 | |
| ______ | ______ |
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 (continued)
| 2. 3. |
DONATIONS AND LEGACIES (continued) Year Year 2024 2023 £ £ Restricted Bridgwater Agricultural Society (delivery in Somerset) 10,000 10,000 Pople Charitable Trust – Kitchen Classroom 5,000 - _ _ 15,000 10,000 __ __ 123,244 133,763 EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Year Year 2024 2023 £ £ Charitable Activities–Farm and School visits Staf costs 112,866 100,020 Delivery of farm visits 15,137 14,008 Subsidising bus costs of schools 2,000 2,100 O�ice and administration costs 6,018 12,890 Kitchen classroom expenses 720 2,205 Depreciation 1,720 673 Amortisation 613 - Accountancy fees 1,218 3,457 Independent examiner’s fees 780 780 141,072 136,133 ___ |
|---|---|
Expenditure includes restricted sta� costs of £10,000 (2023 - £10,000). All other expenditure was unrestricted expenditure.
| 4. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR This is stated after charging: Depreciation Amortisation Independent examiner |
Year 2024 £ 1,720 613 780 _____ |
Year 2023 £ 676 - 780 _____ |
|---|---|---|
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 (continued)
| 5. | EMPLOYEES AND STAFF COSTS | Year | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Sta� costs were as follows: | £ | £ | |
| Employed sta� | 61,469 | 48,145 | |
| Seconded sta� | 26,612 | 26,612 | |
| Self-employed consultants | 24,785 | 25,263 | |
| ______ | ______ | ||
| 112,866 | 100,020 | ||
| ______ | ______ | ||
| No employee earned £60,000 p.a. or more. | |||
| The average number of employees during the period: | Year | Year | |
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| No | No | ||
| Farm and School visits | 2 | 2 | |
| Administration | 2 | 2 | |
| ___ | ___ |
- TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
the charity in the year (2023: £nil), neither were they reimbursed expenses during the year (2022: £nil). No charity Trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023: £nil).
There were no related party transactions during the year.
| 7. | INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | Website |
|---|---|---|
| £ | ||
| COST | ||
| Additions | 1,840 | |
| _____ | ||
| At 31 August 2024 | 1,840 | |
| _____ | ||
| AMORTISATION | ||
| Charge for year | 613 | |
| _____ | ||
| At 31 August 2024 | 613 | |
| _____ | ||
| NET BOOK VALUE at 31 August 2024 | 1,227 | |
| _____ |
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 (continued)
| 8. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Classroom | Total | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| COST | ||||
| At 01 September 2023 | 39,085 | 24,164 | 63,249 | |
| Additions | - | 10,502 | 10,502 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| At 31 August 2024 | 39,085 | 34,666 | 73,751 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| DEPRECIATION | ||||
| At 01 September 2023 | 38,865 | 24,164 | 63,029 | |
| Charge for year | 220 | 1,500 | 1,720 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| At 31 August 2024 | 39,085 | 25,664 | 64,749 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| NET BOOK VALUE AT 31 AUGUST 2024 | - | 9,002 | 9,002 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| NET BOOK VALUE AT 31 AUGUST 2023 | 220 | - | 220 | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ||
| 9. | DEBTORS | Year | Year | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Trade debtors | 6,540 | - | ||
| Other debtors | 926 | - | ||
| _____ | _____ | |||
| 7,466 | - | |||
| _____ | _____ | |||
| 10. | CREDITORS | Year | Year | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Accruals | - | 1,968 | ||
| Other creditors | 2,669 | 301 | ||
| _____ | _____ | |||
| 2,669 | 2,269 | |||
| _____ | _____ |
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024 (continued)
11. RESTRICTED FUNDS
| Balance | Balance | Income | Expend. | Transfers | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B/F | C/F | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Delivery fund | |||||
| Somerset | - | 10,000 | (10,000) | - | - |
| Kitchen Classroom | - | 5,000 | - | (5,000) | - |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | |
| - | 15,000 | (10,000) | (5,000) | - | |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
Delivery Fund Somerset
The delivery fund was funded by a donation from Bridgwater Agricultural Society to fund Farm and School visits in the County of Somerset.
Kitchen Classroom
This fund was funded by a donation from the Pople Charitable Trust to be spent on the improvements to the Kitchen Classroom at Lower Stock Farm. As the capital
the fund balance has been transferred to unrestricted funds.
12. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
| Balance | Income | Expend. | Transfers | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B/F | C/F | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 59,903 | 118,961 | (132,822) | 5,000 | 51,042 |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
13. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSERS BETWEEN FUNDS
| Tangible | Cash at | Other net | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fxed | bank & | current | ||
| assets | in hand | assets | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| General funds | 10,229 | 36,016 | 4,797 | 51,042 |
| ______ | ______ | ______ | ______ |
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FARMLINK EDUCATION LIMITED
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Farmlink Education Limited (‘the Company’)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 August 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
-
the accounts 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 accounts 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 accounts to be reached.
Signed: M J MANEELY Name: Mr M J Maneely FCCA
Address: 11 Windsor Court, Victoria Terrace, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4LJ Date: 26 JUNE 2025
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