Charity registration number: 1121954
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
Wenn Townsend Abingdon Chartered Accountants
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST CONTENTS
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 |
|---|---|
| Chair'sReport | 2 |
| Trustees'Report | 3 to 6 |
| Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities | 7 |
| Independent Auditors' Report | 8 to 10 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 11 |
| BalanceSheet | 12 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 13 to 21 |
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
| Trustees | Mr TG Christopherson |
|---|---|
| Mr RH Aydon | |
| Mr JL Barber DL | |
| Ms HA Bauer OBE | |
| Mr PSL Viney | |
| Mrs CMT Munday | |
| Mrs GE Gough | |
| Mr AG Willenbruch | |
| Honorary Secretary | Mrs T Draper-Stumm |
| Charity number | 1121954 |
| Administrative Address | Secretary to the Trustees |
| The Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust | |
| 8 Lime Tree Walk | |
| Sevenoaks | |
| Kent | |
| TN13 1YH | |
| Principal Office | Furniture Makers' Hall |
| 12 Austin Friars | |
| London | |
| EC2N 2HE | |
| Auditor | Wenn Townsend |
| Victoria House | |
| 10 Broad Street | |
| Abingdon | |
| Oxon | |
| OX14 3LH |
1
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST CHAIR’S REPORT
The year 2023/24 was once more a busy year for the Board of Trustees and the two committees of the Charitable Trust, being the Investment Advisory Committee with oversight of the Charitable Trust's investment portfolio and the Charity Committee, which provides recommendations to the Trustees concerning the Charitable Trust's programme for one-off grants.
The Charitable Trust was pleased to continue with its significant bursaries at York and Sussex Universities, and the series of smaller bursaries for History of Art and Archaeology students at the Universities of Exeter, Reading, St Andrews and Warwick. The Arts Scholars Company Education Committee has been extremely helpful to the Trustees in the assessment and day-to-day administration of these grants. The Charitable Trust continued its Accommodation Bursary to meet the on-site accommodation costs in full for one student on a one-year course at West Dean College of Conservation; also its support for the Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer at the Museum of London, as well as for a conservation internship at the Guildhall Art Gallery.
The Trustees’ “Post Covid Support” fund continued into its final year (of three), from available reserves put aside for the purpose. This provided funding for “The Arts Scholars Senior Objects Conservator (Ceramics, Glass, Metals)” position at the British Museum (Dr Duygu Camurcuoglu ACR, FIIC holding this post). This initiative also funded the “ Arts Scholars Brighter Day Grants ” with the Association of Independent Museums (AIM), for the support of a wide range of smaller regional museums around the UK to relaunch various initiatives post pandemic.
Additionally, a significant number of single grants were made to institutions and charities through the year, details of which are provided in note 5 to the Financial Statements. The Arts Scholars’ Cultural Scholarship Scheme, renamed the Cultural Placement Scheme, was relaunched during the year on a small scale.
The Charitable Trust was delighted to receive £91,845 from The Company of Arts Scholars Charity Auction, to benefit the Portable Antiquities Scheme run by the British Museum and the Arts Scholars Student Initiatives.
The Charitable Trust’s investment income from funds managed on our behalf by CCLA was maintained over the year; the Trustees have therefore been able to maintain their grant programme and to meet their obligations arising from longer-term grant arrangements.
I take this opportunity to thank my fellow Trustees for their work for the Trust, most ably supported by our secretary, Tara Draper-Stumm and in particular to thank Tom Christopherson for his most able chairing of the Committee in recent years.
I should also like to express our gratitude to the members of the Investment Advisory Committee, chaired by William Hiscocks, for the advice that the Trustees have received from the committee regarding the investment of the Trust's funds under the management of CCLA. Our thanks are no less due to both the Charity Committee, chaired during the year by Victoria Wolcough, and the Education Committee of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars, which provides invaluable advice and guidance to the Charitable Trust concerning its education programme. Our thanks are also due to Sarah Cameron who manages our bookkeeping and prepares our draft accounts, and to our independent auditors, Wenn Townsend.
20 November 2024
Ms HA Bauer OBE Chair and Trustee
2
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST TRUSTEES REPORT
The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The names of the persons who were Trustees at any time during the year ended 31 March 2024 and up until the date of signing these accounts were as follows:
Mr TG Christopherson (retired 14 May 2024)
Mr RH Aydon Mr JL Barber DL Ms HA Bauer OBE Mr PSL Viney Mrs CMT Munday Mrs GE Gough (appointed 25 May 2023) Mr AG Willenbruch (appointed 25 May 2023) Mr MCP Bridge (retired 25 May 2023) Mr JH Spanner TD (retired 25 May 2023)
Objectives and activities
Significant activities
The governing document of the Charitable Trust provides that the Trustees shall hold the capital and income of the Trust fund upon trust to apply the income, and all or such parts of the capital, at such time or times and in such manner for:
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the relief of poverty or need arising by reason of youth, age, ill-health or disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
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the advancement of education for the benefit of the public in relation to:
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a) all aspects of decorative and historic arts and the development of public appreciation of such art; and b) the history of the City of London; and
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such other exclusively charitable objects and purposes;
in any part of the world as the Trustees may in their absolute discretion think fit.
During the year the Charitable Trust has made a series of grants in accordance with these Charitable Objects.
Public benefit
The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. The principal public benefit the Charitable Trust brings arises from the support it gives, both directly in terms of finance and resource, and indirectly in terms of raising awareness, to the various areas of the art world and City of London covered by its Objects.
3
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST TRUSTEES REPORT (CONT.)
Charity Policy
In accordance with the Charitable Objects and other provisions of the governing document, the Trustees operate a Charity Policy which is kept under annual review. This provides that grants and awards shall be considered in the following categories:
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(i) For education and research within the fields of the decorative and historic arts, including restoration and conservation projects, travel bursaries, internships and training schemes;
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(ii) For charitable causes promoted by the incumbent Lord Mayor of the City of London;
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(iii) To support adopted units in His Majesty's Armed services and equivalent bodies undertaking work in fields related to those listed in paragraphs (i) and (ii) above;
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(iv) In response to recommendations by the Almoner of The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars ("the Company") for the support of necessitous Liverymen or Freemen of the Company and their widows, widowers, orphans or other dependents;
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(v) To support institutional, exhibition and publishing initiatives within the fields of the decorative and historic arts;
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(vi) To support any other charitable purposes which the Trustees deem worthy of consideration.
In addition, the Policy provides that special consideration be given by the Trustees to charitable projects which:
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(i) Are likely to make a material difference and have a significant impact, offering clear value beyond the amount of the funding;
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(ii) Provide and extend educational opportunities for students in the fields of the decorative and historic arts, at all levels from school through to post graduate studies;
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(iii) Increase the Trust's profile and ambition by enabling Liverymen and Freemen of the Company to become involved in the projects under consideration, beyond the award of funding by the Trust;
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(iv) Assist the Trust's development by receiving some public acknowledgement for either the Company or the Trust; and/or
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(v) Support the City of London's pre-eminence in all aspects of the decorative and historic arts.
The Charity Policy contains additional provisions limiting the amount of grants and awards to be made in any year and the amounts to individual beneficiaries. The Charity Committee was appointed by the Trustees to assist in making recommendations on certain grants and awards.
Achievements and performance
Charitable activities
The Charitable Trust has been able to maintain the making of grants in the year ended 31 March 2024.
The grants and awards made by the Charitable Trust are set out in Note 5 on page 16 of these financial statements.
Financial review
Principal funding sources
The principal funding source for new funds is from the charitable giving from the Liverymen and Freemen of the Company together with investment returns on the investments held by the Charitable Trust.
The Charity does not engage in any direct public fundraising.
4
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST TRUSTEES REPORT (CONT.)
The Charitable Trust established a fund available to meet its Charitable Objects, and investment income and returns are being generated from this fund. An Investment Advisory Committee was established by the Trustees in 2017 to provide advice and guidance concerning the Charitable Trust’s investments. The Trustees adopted revised Terms of Reference for the Investment Advisory Committee in February 2022.
Policy on reserves
The Trustees have reviewed the level of free reserves (i.e., those funds not represented by fixed assets, plus designated and restricted funds) the Charitable Trust will require to sustain its operations. Excluding the revaluation of the CCLA investments shown through the Statement of Financial Activities and the COVID Relief Project referenced below, the Trustees aim to retain each year, a sum equivalent to 20% of the annual income to invest into the Charitable Trust Fund. The remaining 80% of the income is intended to be used to issue grants and cover operational expenses.
In 2022, the Trustees had resolved to allocate a portion of available cash reserves over a three-year term to support certain arts institutions in their efforts to relaunch after the COVID lockdowns (“COVID Relief Project”). In the year ended 31 March 2024, COVID Relief Project grants from available cash reserves amounted to £50,000.
The Trustees are satisfied that the disposition of funds at the year-end is such that the Charitable Trust can continue to generate sufficient income and has sufficient cash resources to enable it to continue to pursue its Charitable Objects and so the accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis.
Financial Review
The Charitable Trust received total donations and legacies in the year ended 31 March 2024 of £139,104 (2023 - £43,532). Other income amounted to £2,090 (2023 - £2,340).
Expenditure on audit and accountancy fees, investment management and management and administration charge amounted to £68,876 (2023 - £59,302) and grants and awards amounted to £208,274 (2023 - £175,650). Investment income and revaluation gains were in total a net gain of £606,040 (2023 – a net gain of £1,271). There was a net increase in funds for the year of £470,084 (2023 - net decrease £187,809).
At the year end, the Charitable Trust retained £5,278,458 (2023 - £4,854,296) in unrestricted funds and £45,922 (2023 - £nil) in restricted funds.
Plans for future periods
The Trustees will continue to support education, diversity and opportunity in the arts at secondary and tertiary levels and to support early career development in the historic and decorative arts, while maintaining the Charitable Trust’s Post-Covid institutional support for the British Museum and for regional museums through the Association of Independent Museums. The Trustees will keep the levels of individual grant giving under close review in light of global financial developments
Structure, governance and management
Nature of governing document
The Charitable Trust is a registered charity whose governing document is a Trust Deed dated 16 July 2007, as amended by subsequent Deeds of Variation. The Charitable Trust is registered with the Charity Commission in the Central Register of Charities as No. 1121954.
5
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST TRUSTEES REPORT (CONT.)
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
The governing document of the Charitable Trust provides that the power of appointing new Trustees is vested with the Court of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars (the "Company"). A new Trustee may be appointed at any time (either by way of replacement or addition), but the total number of Trustees shall at no time exceed ten.
Organisational structure
Trustee meetings are held on a regular basis and the Trustees met formally four times during the year. The Trustees agree on the broad strategy and areas of activity including the consideration of grant making, the performance of investments, the adequacy of the Charitable Trust's reserves and risk management procedures. All decisions are made directly by the Trustees, supported in day-to-day management by the Honorary Secretary to the Trustees and in financial management by the Honorary Treasurer and the Charitable Trust’s accountant.
The Trustees have appointed two committees to advise them: the Charity Committee considers certain applications for grants and makes recommendations to the Trustees, and the Investment Advisory Committee advises the Trustees in matters concerning the Charitable Trust’s investments.
Governance Code
The Trustees are aware of the Charity Governance Code and have applied certain of its provisions. They continue to consider what further provisions could be applied given the nature and size of the charity.
Related parties
The Trustees of the Charitable Trust are members of the Company (as are members of the two committees advising the Trustees) and the two entities have similar objectives. The Company was incorporated by grant of a Royal Charter on 1st July 2019 and is the 110th Livery Company of the City of London.
Risk management
The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the Charitable Trust is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
The Trustees have reviewed the risk position and profile of the Charitable Trust at their regular meetings and are satisfied that the financial risks are not significant. Internal control systems and procedures have been established to monitor and manage such risks.
Statement of Disclosure of information to Auditors
To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Trustees, there is no relevant information that the Auditors to the Charitable Trust are not aware of, and the Trustees have taken all the steps necessary to ensure that they are aware of any relevant information, and to establish that the Auditors are aware of that information.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 20 November 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
…………………………………………… Ms HA Bauer OBE Chair and Trustee
6
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST 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:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
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 applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the trust deed. 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.
Approved by the trustees of the charity on 20 November 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
………………………………………………..
Ms HA Bauer OBE Chair and Trustee
7
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of The Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust (the ‘charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditors responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
8
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulation 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees’ report; or
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the charity has not kept adequate accounting records; or
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the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement (set out on page 7), the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under section 154 of that Act.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
We considered:
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the nature of the industry, sector and business performance;
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results of our enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities;
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the matters discussed among the audit engagement team regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud.
As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in relation to completeness of revenue. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.
9
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
Our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:
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enquiring of management concerning actual and potential litigation and claims;
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performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud;
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in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.This description forms part of our auditor's report.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
……………………………………………… Wenn Townsend Statutory Auditor Victoria House 10 Broad Street Abingdon Oxon OX4 3LH
2 December 2024
10
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies Investment income 2 Other income Total income Expenditure on: Raisingfunds 3 Charitable activities 4 Total expenditure Net gains/ (losses) on investments Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 12 |
Unrestricted Funds £ 47,259 139,467 2,090 188,816 60,923 170,304 (231,227) 466,573 424,162 4,854,296 5,278,458 |
Restricted Funds £ 91,845 - - 91,845 - 45,923 (45,923) - 45,922 45,922 |
Total 2024 £ 139,104 139,467 2,090 280,661 60,923 216,227 (277,150) 466,573 470,084 4,854,296 5,324,380 |
Total 2023 £ 43,532 135,589 2,340 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 181,461 | ||||
| 52,761 182,191 |
||||
| (234,952) | ||||
| (134,318) | ||||
| (187,809) 5,042,105 4,854,296 |
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2023 is shown in note 12.
11
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024
| Note Fixed assets Tangibleassets 8 Investments 9 Current assets Debtors 10 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 11 Net current assets Net assets Funds of the charity: Unrestricted Income funds Unrestricted 12 Restricted 13 Total funds |
Unrestricted Funds £ - 5,011,276 5,011,276 11,904 323,577 335,481 (68,299) 267,182 5,278,458 5,278,458 - 5,278,458 |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - 45,922 45,922 - 45,922 45,922 - 45,922 45,922 |
2024 £ - 5,011,276 5,011,276 11,904 369,499 381,403 (68,299) 313,104 5,324,380 5,278,458 45,922 5,324,380 |
2023 £ - 4,595,317 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,595,317 | ||||
| 8,691 318,846 |
||||
| 327,537 (68,558) |
||||
| 258,979 4,854,296 |
||||
| 4,854,296 - 4,854,296 |
The financial statements on pages 11 to 20 were approved by the Board of trustees on 20 November 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
…………………………… Ms HA Bauer OBE Chair and Trustee
12
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
1 Accounting policies
Statement of compliance
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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) (published in October 2019) - Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
Basis of preparation
The Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
Summary of disclosure exemptions
The charitable trust has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland':
- the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows.
Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. Gift-aided donations are accounted for gross when received.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, 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 accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Fundraising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and include the costs associated with the receipt and realisation of legacies. Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the Charitable Trust. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the Charitable Trust and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.
13
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
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.
Depreciation and amortisation
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Asset class Depreciation method and rate Computer equipment 20% on cost
Investments
Investments are categorised as current assets where the intention is to realise the investment without reinvestment of the sale proceeds. All other investments are classified as fixed assets. All investment assets are stated in the balance sheet at fair value and both realised and unrealised gains or losses are recognised in the statement of financial activities. The fair value of listed investments is taken at the market price of the asset as at the year end date.
Fund accounting
Funds held by the charity consist of:
Unrestricted funds, which can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted Funds, which 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. Further explanations of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements
Financial instruments
Apart from certain investments, the Charitable Trust only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
Currency
The Charitable Trust's functional and presentational currency is pounds sterling (GBP).
2 Investment income
| Fixed asset investments Deposit account interest |
Unrestricted Funds £ 133,617 5,850 139,467 |
Restricted Funds £ - - - |
Total 2024 £ 133,617 5,850 139,467 |
Total 2023 £ 133,617 1,972 135,589 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
In 2023 investment income was all unrestricted.
14
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
3 Expenditure on raising funds
Investment management costs
| Fundraising event costs Portfolio management costs Miscellaneous direct costs In 2023 investment management costs were all unrestricted. |
Unrestricted Funds £ 5,309 50,614 5,000 60,923 |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - |
Total 2024 £ 5,309 50,614 5,000 60,923 |
Total 2023 £ 5,176 46,413 1,172 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52,761 | ||||
4 Expenditure on charitable activities
| Management and administration Grants paid Management and administration Grants paid |
Direct costs £ 4,113 - 4,113 Direct costs £ 3,301 - 3,301 |
Grant funding of activities Support costs (see note 5) (see note 6) £ £ - 3,840 208,274 - 208,274 3,840 Grant funding of activities Support costs (see note 5) (see note 6) £ £ - 3,240 175,650 - 175,650 3,240 |
Total 2024 £ 7,953 208,274 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 216,227 | |||
| Total 2023 £ 6,541 175,650 182,191 |
£45,923 (2023 - £nil) of the above costs were attributable to restricted funds and £170,804 (2023 - £182,191) of the above costs were attributable to unrestricted funds.
15
THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| 5 Charitable activities – grants paid The total grants paid to institutions during the year were as follows: British Museum (Portable Antiquities Scheme) Association of Independent Museums British Museum (Conservation) Museum of London V & A Wedgwood Collection Guildhall Art Gallery University of York University of Sussex Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) Art History Link-Up Charleston Trust Royal Pavilion De Morgan Foundation Heritage Crafts Royal National Theatre West Dean College Koestler Trust Veterans Outdoors Thames Valley Air Training Corps Barbican Centre Curwen Print Centre Royal Society for Blind Children The Wallace Collection Association of Art History University of Exeter University of St Andrews University of Warwick ICAN Charity Lord Mayor’s Appeal University of Reading London Air Ambulance Thames Wing Air Training Corps ABF The Soldier’s Charity University of London Officer Training Corps City Harvest Pollinating London Together UGS Garden of Remembrance North Devon Museum Shannon Trust Carried forward |
2024 £ 45,923 30,000 20,000 12,500 10,000 8,500 7,500 6,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 4,606 4,000 4,000 4,000 3,900 3,741 2,946 2,669 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 1,214 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 500 500 500 500 400 200 175 (3,000) 208,274 |
2023 £ - 30,000 20,000 12,500 10,000 8,500 7,500 6,000 5,000 4,000 - - - - - 9,000 - - 500 - - - - 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 - 2,000 1,000 - - 500 500 - 1,000 - - - 3,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 129,500 |
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THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
| 5 Grant funding of activities – grants paid (cont.) Brought forward Royal Collection Trust Sir John Soane’s Museum St Paul’s Cathedral Foundation College of Heralds Turner’s House Magic Lantern Fry Art Gallery 2121 (Abingdon) Squadron Air Training Corps Sheriffs and Recorders Fund HAC/Light Cavalry 6 Support costs Audit of the financial statements 7 Trustees remuneration and expenses |
2024 £ 208,274 - - - - - - - - - - 208,274 Total 2024 £ 3,840 3,840 |
2023 £ 129,500 15,000 6,000 6,000 5,000 4,200 4,000 3,000 1,950 1,000 500 175,650 Total 2023 £ 3,240 3,240 |
|---|---|---|
The charity's trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year ended 31 March 2024 (2023: £nil) neither were they reimbursed expenses during the year (2023: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023: £nil).
8 Tangible fixed assets
| Cost At 1 April 2023 At 31 March 2024 Depreciation At 1 April 2023 Charge for the year At 31 March 2024 Net book value At 31 March 2024 At 31 March 2023 |
Computer equipment £ 707 |
|---|---|
| 707 | |
| 707 - |
|
| 707 | |
| - - |
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THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
9 Fixed asset investments
| Fixed asset investments | |
|---|---|
| Market value At 1 April 2023 Revaluation At 31 March 2024 Net book value At 31 March 2024 At 31 March 2023 |
Listed Investments £ 4,595,317 415,959 |
| 5,011,276 | |
| 5,011,276 4,595,317 |
The investment manager managing the investments is based in the UK. The investment are held in a portfolio of UK and overseas equities, unit trusts and property funds.
10 Debtors
| Gift Aid recoverable Prepayments 11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars Arts Scholars Events Ltd Accruals and deferred income Accruals for grants payable Creditors Control Account |
2024 £ 10,120 1,783 11,904 2024 £ 159 - 13,840 54,300 - 68,299 |
2023 £ 7,476 1,215 |
|---|---|---|
| 8,691 | ||
| 2023 £ 6,282 759 3,240 57,000 1,277 |
||
| 68,558 |
| 12. Unrestricted Funds General fund |
Balance at 1 April 2023 £ 4,854,296 4,854,296 |
Incoming resources £ 655,389 655,389 |
Resources expended £ (231,227) (231,227) |
Balance at 31 March 2024 £ 5,278,458 5,278,458 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
13. Restricted Funds
| Auction proceeds | Balance at 1 April 2023 £ - - |
Incoming resources £ 91,845 91,845 |
Resources expended £ (45,923) (45,923) |
Balance at 31 March 2024 £ 45,922 45,922 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
During the year, the Charitable Trust received £91,845 from a Charity Auction held by the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars.
When the auction was held it was stated to the participants that the money raised would be specifically used to fund the Arts Scholars Student Initiatives and the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme and would be split 50%50%, hence the funds are treated as Restricted Funds. £45,923 was paid to the British Museum to fund the Portable Antiquities Scheme. The remaining £45,922 is held for the Arts Scholars Student Initiatives which are aimed at enabling school children to experience at first hand works of fine and decorative arts; helping students to participate in the work of cultural and heritage organisations and businesses; and assisting students who need help in making a career in these sectors.
14 Analysis of net assets between funds
| Investments Current assets Current liabilities Total net assets Investments Current assets Current liabilities Total net assets |
Unrestricted Funds £ 5,011,276 335,481 (68,799) 5,277,958 Unrestricted Funds £ 4,595,317 327,537 (68,558) 4,854,296 |
Restricted Funds £ - 45,922 - 45,922 Restricted Funds £ - - - - |
Total 2024 £ 5,011,276 369,499 (68,799) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,323,880 | |||
| Total 2023 £ 4,595,317 327,537 (68,558) 4,854,296 |
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THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
15 Analysis of net funds
| Cash at bank and in hand General fund Cash at bank and in hand General fund |
Balance at 1 April 2023 £ 318,846 318,846 Balance at 1 April 2022 £ 346,995 346,995 |
Net movement of funds £ 50,653 50,653 Net movement of funds £ (28,149) (28,149) |
Balance at 31 March 2024 £ 369,499 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 369,499 | |||
| Balance at 31 March 2023 £ 318,846 |
|||
| 318,846 |
16 Financial Commitments
Total financial commitments which are not included in the balance sheet amount to £117,500 (2023 - £65,000) which is made up as follows:
-
Total grants payable of £7,500 are due to the University of York payable in April 2024.
-
Total grants payable of £80,000 are due to the Royal Collection Trust payable as £20,000 in each of 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028.
-
Total grants payable of £30,000 are due to V & A Wedgewood Collection to support an Archives Assistant payable as £10,000 in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
17 Related party transactions
Donations from Trustees
The total amount of net donations without conditions received by the Charitable Trust from the Trustees during the year was £1,775 (2023 - £1,670).
The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars
Trustees of The Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust (the "Charitable Trust'') are members of The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars (the "Company'') and the two entities have similar objectives.
At 31 March 2024 the Charitable Trust owed the Company £159 (2023 - £6,282). During the year the Charitable Trust was charged £1,200 (2023 - £1,200) by the Company as a management charge for expenses incurred on its behalf in respect of secretarial and administrative services.
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THE COMPANY OF ARTS SCHOLARS CHARITABLE TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
17 Related party transactions (continued)
Arts Scholars Events Limited
Arts Scholars Events Limited is a limited company which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars and arranges events to which recipients of certain Charitable Trust awards are invited at the Charitable Trust’s expense.
At 31 March 2024 the Charitable Trust owed Arts Scholars Events Limited £nil (2023 - £759), primarily in respect of tickets to events purchased by the Charitable Trust on behalf of its award winners.
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