**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1128774**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE AND**
**UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **FOR**
## **WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
Gibson Whitter Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers Larch House Parklands Business Park Denmead Hampshire PO7 6XP
**WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustee**|1 to 2|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**|3|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|4|
|**Balance Sheet**|5|
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|6 to 13|
## **WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
The trustee presents their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustee has adopted the provisions of 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) (effective 1 January 2019).
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objectives and aims**
Promotion of the Military Efficiency and Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces by the provision of mess facilities to Commissioned Officers serving in His Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth.
## **Public benefit**
This fund provides public benefit by assisting Service personnel to more effectively perform their roles within the Armed Forces of the Crown. It does this by providing and supporting mess facilities and social activities. This assistance enables Service personnel to face the challenges and danger associated with military service by developing and maintaining teamwork, spirit and attitude, and morale. As a result, the fund promotes the efficiency of the Armed Forces of the Crown by enhancing the Royal Navy's and Royal Marines' capability to undertake the roles demanded of it including the defence of the United Kingdom and its interests.
I confirm that I have paid due regard to the Charity Commission of England and Wales's guidance on public benefit when deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
## **Grant Policy**
Grants may be made to mess members to assist with the personal contributions to sporting, adventurous training or other activities where this is not available from the Leisure and Amenities Fund.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Charitable activities**
To have resources available for expenditure on improvements to the quality of life, and the engenderment of espirit de corps. The mess puts on a full social programme for its members. Generous subsidies have been provided to selected functions from the profits made from the bar and other taxable activities.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Financial position**
The worth of the mess fell by £17,489 to £502,030. This is a significant improvement on last year's deficit of £57,101.
The fund had £59,715 in readily accessible bank and deposit accounts with creditors of £52,410. It had £213,043 in investments which could be liquidated if the need arose. Despite a loss of £17,489 the fund has significant reserves and was worth £502,030.
## **Investment policy and objectives**
The investment funds are managed by Quilter Cheviot. The objective is to grow the capital value of the portfolio as well as generating some degree of income from the portfolio. Medium risk, can accept moderate variation or disruption to capital value or current income in order to meet the longer term objectives.
## **Reserves policy**
The Trustee has considered the level of reserves required appropriate to the charity's needs. The Trustee aims to ensure that the charity will be able to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income and unexpected expenditure. The reserves are held in the investment portfolio, which had a market value of £213,043. The Trustee will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily but significant funds may be required when the Wardroom moves to a new site.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustee**
Appointed as such by the Naval Secretary.
Page 1
## **WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEE**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Risk management**
The Trustee reviews the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and systems have been established to manage those risks and believes that by maintaining the free reserves stated it would provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. Quarterly independent examination of the accounts will mitigate the risk of any mismanagement by the committee.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number**
1128774
## **Principal address**
HMS Nelson Queen Street Portsmouth Hampshire PO1 3HH
## **Trustee**
Captain L McLocklan Royal Navy
## **Independent Examiner**
Gibson Whitter Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers Larch House Parklands Business Park Denmead Hampshire PO7 6XP
## **Bankers**
RBS Holts Lawrie House Victoria Road Farnborough GU14 7NR
Approved by order of the sole trustee on 12 March 2026.
Captain L M McLocklan - Trustee
Page 2
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEE OF WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **Independent examiner's report to the trustee of Wardroom Mess HMS Nelson**
I report to the charity trustee on my examination of the accounts of Wardroom Mess HMS Nelson (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustee of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can 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 material 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 Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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.
## Gavin Whitter
Gibson Whitter Chartered Accountants and Chartered Tax Advisers Larch House Parklands Business Park Denmead Hampshire PO7 6XP
Date: 12 March 2026
Page 3
## **WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|31.3.25
Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
**Charitable activities**
4
Mess facilities and activities
236,925
Other trading activities
2
10,451
Investment income
3
7,584
**Total**
254,960
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
5
1,667
**Charitable activities**
6
Mess facilities and activities
270,031
**Total**
271,698
Net gains/(losses) on investments
(751)
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
(17,489)
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
519,519
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
502,030|31.3.24
Total
funds
£
199,902
19,026
7,061
225,989
1,403
301,772
303,175
20,085
(57,101)
576,620
519,519|
|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 4
## **WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **BALANCE SHEET 31 MARCH 2025**
|31.3.25
Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
11
194,587
Investments
12
213,043
407,630
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Stocks
13
49,066
Debtors
14
38,029
Cash at bank
59,715
146,810
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
15
(52,410)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
94,400
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
502,030
**NET ASSETS**
502,030
**FUNDS**
16
Unrestricted funds
502,030
**TOTAL FUNDS**
502,030|31.3.24
Total
funds
£
204,098
213,794
417,892
33,945
39,274
103,772
176,991
(75,364)
101,627
519,519
519,519
519,519
519,519|
|---|---|
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Sole Trustee and authorised for issue on 12 March 2026 and were signed by:
Captain L M McLocklan - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
**WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.
## **Income**
Voluntary income including donations, gifts and legacies and grants that provide funding of a general nature are recognised where there is entitlement, the receipt is probable and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Such income is only deferred when:
- the donor specifies that the grant or donation must only be used in future accounting periods; or
- the donor has imposed conditions which must be met before the charity has unconditional entitlement.
Income from activities for generating funds, such as vending income, are recognised on a receivable basis.
Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis.
Income from charitable activities relates to mess subscriptions and events. Such income is recognised on a receivable basis.
## **Volunteers and donated services**
The value of services provided by volunteers is not incorporated into these financial statements.
Where goods or services are provided to the charity as a donation that would normally be purchased from suppliers, this contributions is included in the financial statements at an estimate based on the value of the contribution to the charity.
## **Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised when a liability is incurred. Contractual arrangements are recognised as goods or services are supplied.
- Costs of generating funds are those costs incurred in attracting voluntary income.
- Charitable activities include expenditure associated with mess facilities and events and include both the direct costs and support costs relating to those activities.
- Support and governance costs include central functions and have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year and cost at least £100. They are valued at cost or a reasonable value on receipt. Non depreciating items such as artefacts, silver and pictures and revalued periodically. Depreciation is straight line over the estimated life of the item but is not allocated to any of the activity costs.
## **Stocks**
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
## **Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Page 6
continued...
**WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued**
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds 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 explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
|Functions (non mess)
Function levy and surplus
Memento sales
**3.**
**INVESTMENT INCOME**
Interest income
Investment dividends
**4.**
**INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
Activity
Bar sales
Mess facilities and activities
Mess subscriptions
Mess facilities and activities
Associate member
subscriptions
Mess facilities and activities
Mess functions
Mess facilities and activities||
|---|---|
Page 7
continued...
**WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **5. RAISING FUNDS**
## **Raising donations and legacies**
|Functions (non mess)
**6.**
**CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS**
Mess facilities and activities
**7.**
**DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
Bar purchases
Ticket function costs
Subsidy function costs
Mementos
Shop costs
Repairs and renewals
Tea / coffee
Newspapers
TV and amenities
LAF sports
Christmas decorations
Insurance costs
Trophy hire
Laundry and cleaning
Printing, postage and stationery
Performance rights society
Fish tank
Mess guests
Presentation costs
Bad debt written off|Direct
Costs (see
note 7)
£
252,868|31.3.25
£
1,667
Support
costs (see
note 8)
£
17,163
31.3.25
£
22,218
77,873
89,188
400
248
3,351
14,248
14,429
3,760
3,300
13,228
1,267
689
2,910
115
1,045
246
91
355
3,907
252,868|31.3.24
£
1,403
Totals
£
270,031
31.3.24
£
29,178
79,094
98,671
552
400
1,388
13,664
13,390
4,053
3,300
12,564
937
674
4,214
43
1,699
333
111
641
12,571
277,477|
|---|---|---|---|
Page 8
continued...
**WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **8. SUPPORT COSTS**
|Governance
Management
costs
£
£
Mess facilities and activities
14,663
2,500
Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:
**Management**
31.3.25
Mess
facilities
and
activities
£
Bank and card charges
2,819
Committee meeting costs
30
Depreciation of tangible and heritage
assets
11,814
14,663
**Governance costs**
31.3.25
Mess
facilities
and
activities
£
Accountancy and legal fees
2,500|Totals
£
17,163
31.3.24
Total
activities
£
4,742
115
15,198
20,055
31.3.24
Total
activities
£
4,240|
|---|---|
## **9. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **10. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
||Unrestricted|
|---|---|
||funds|
||£|
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**||
|**Charitable activities**||
|Mess facilities and activities|199,902|
|Other trading activities|19,026|
|Investment income|7,061|
|**Total**|225,989|
|**EXPENDITURE ON**||
|Raising funds|1,403|
Page 9
continued...
**WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**10.**|**COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued**||
|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted|
|||funds|
|||£|
||**Charitable activities**||
||Mess facilities and activities|301,772|
||**Total**|303,175|
||Net gains on investments|20,085|
||**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**|(57,101)|
||**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**||
||Total funds brought forward|576,620|
||**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|519,519|
|**11.**|**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**||
|||Fixtures|
|||and|
|||fittings|
|||£|
||**COST**||
||At 1 April 2024|298,844|
||Additions|2,303|
||At 31 March 2025|301,147|
||**DEPRECIATION**||
||At 1 April 2024|94,746|
||Charge for year|11,814|
||At 31 March 2025|106,560|
||**NET BOOK VALUE**||
||At 31 March 2025|194,587|
||At 31 March 2024|204,098|
Included in tangible fixed assets are assets totalling £130,230 (2023: £130,230) which are not depreciated.
Page 10
continued...
**WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **12. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS**
|**FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS**||
|---|---|
||Listed|
||investments|
||£|
|**MARKET VALUE**||
|At 1 April 2024|213,794|
|Revaluations|(751)|
|At 31 March 2025|213,043|
|**NET BOOK VALUE**||
|At 31 March 2025|213,043|
|At 31 March 2024|213,794|
|There were no investment assets outside the UK.||
|Cost or valuation at 31 March 2025 is represented by:||
||Listed|
||investments|
||£|
|Valuation in 2024|13,808|
|Valuation in 2025|(751)|
|Cost|199,986|
||213,043|
The Mess's investments are all held in Quilter Investors Limited's QC Global Income & Growth Fund.
## **13. STOCKS**
|Stocks
**14.**
**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Trade debtors
VAT
Prepayments|31.3.25
£
49,066
31.3.25
£
31,135
598
6,296
38,029|31.3.24
£
33,945
31.3.24
£
21,130
2,905
15,239
39,274|
|---|---|---|
Page 11
continued...
## **WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **15. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
|Trade creditors
Other creditors|31.3.25
£
35,083
17,327
52,410|31.3.24
£
51,914
23,450
75,364|
|---|---|---|
## **16. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
|At 1.4.24
£
**Unrestricted funds**
Insurance provision (designated fund)
24,000
General fund
495,519
519,519
**TOTAL FUNDS**
519,519
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
Resources
resources
expended
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
254,960
(271,698)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
254,960
(271,698)|Net
movement
At
in funds
31.3.25
£
£
-
24,000
(17,489)
478,030
(17,489)
502,030
(17,489)
502,030
Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
(751)
(17,489)
(751)
(17,489)|
|---|---|
## **Comparatives for movement in funds**
|**Unrestricted funds**
Insurance provision (designated fund)
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.4.23
£
24,000
552,620
576,620
576,620|Net
movement
in funds
£
-
(57,101)
(57,101)
(57,101)|At
31.3.24
£
24,000
495,519
519,519
519,519|
|---|---|---|---|
Page 12
continued...
## **WARDROOM MESS HMS NELSON**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **16. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
225,989
225,989|Resources
expended
£
(303,175)
(303,175)|Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
20,085
(57,101)
20,085
(57,101)|
|---|---|---|---|
## **17. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
The Managing Trustee holds the same position in the Leisure and Amenities Fund (LAF).
The Wardroom pays monthly sports contributions to the LAF which in 2024/25 totalled £3,300 (2023/24: £3,300).
Page 13