## _**WARRANT OFFICERS’ and SENIOR RATES’ MESS**_ ## _**HMS DRAKE**_ **ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** ## **For Period** **1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025** **Registered Charity No. 1129026** ## **Trustees’ Annual Report and Comments** Warrant Officers’ and Senior Rates’ Mess HMS DRAKE Charity Registered No: 1129026 Covering the Accounting Year: 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025 Address: HMS DRAKE Devonport Plymouth PL2 2BG Governing Document: Constitution (Mess Rules) Object: Promotion of the Military Efficiency and Operational Effectiveness of the Armed Forces by the provision of mess facilities to Warrant Officers, Senior Ratings and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers serving in His Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport. Trustee: Brigadier M J Tanner OBE ADC Royal Marines Trustee selection method: Appointed as such by the Naval Secretary. Bankers: Lloyds Banking Group Royal Parade Plymouth Independent Examiner: Peter Nicholls MBE MAAT 5 Nursery Road Havant Hants PO9 3BG Activities and achievements: To have resources available for expenditure on improvements to the quality of life, and the engenderment of espirit de corps. The mess put on a full social programme for its members. Profits from the bar and other activities provided subsidies for social functions. Financial Review: The fund had increased by £10.5K. The main reasons were: • Subscription income exceeded the running costs by £7.2K. • Other income totalled £7.6K. (ESS windfall/interest and dividends/market growth. Offset by: • Function expenditure exceeding income by £1.5K. • Additional VAT on function subsidies of £2.2K. The fund was worth £181.8K, including £38K of property and stock. Bank and cash assets of £81.1K covered the £39.2K liabilities. Investment Selection Policy: Investments were initially split 30% income funds and 70% capital growth funds, although it is now a 23/77% split. Financial Reserves Policy: The Trustee has considered the level of reserves required, appropriate to the charity’s needs. These are held in investments currently worth £76.9K. 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 Trustee will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily. Grant Policy: None are paid to individuals, but grants are occasionally paid to the Associate Members’ Fund. Risk Assessment: 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 will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. Public Benefit Statement: This fund provides public benefit by assisting Service personnel to perform their roles more effectively 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. Declaration: I declare, in my capacity of Charity Trustee, that I have approved the above report. Signature Signed On Original Name Brigadier M J Tanner OBE ADC Royal Marines. Appointment Naval Base Commander and Sole Managing Trustee Date 31 October 2025 ## **HMS DRAKE WARRANT OFFICERS' AND SENIOR RATES' MESS** ## **Charity Registration No 1129026** ## **BALANCE SHEET** ## **31-Jul-25** |Notes
Fixed Assets
Mess Property
7
Investments
2
Deposit Account
2
Current Assets
Stocks
7A
Mess Bills Owed
Misc Debtors & Prepayments
8, 8A
VAT Reclaimed
Bank Accounts
Cash
Current Liabilities
Creditors
9, 9A
47 Cdo Fund
Veteran Members' Fund
VAT Paid
Charity Chest
Net Current Assets
Net Assets|15,854.42
£
76,948.09
£
7,307.96
£
22,186.29
£
3,220.00
£
12,454.02
£
1,937.06
£
74,894.03
£
6,178.58
£
120,869.98
£
27,219.98
£
6,935.64
£
1,672.94
£
-
£
3,373.46
£
39,202.02
£|_18,790.66_
_£_
_76,525.02_
_£_
_6,815.26_
_£_
100,110.47
£
_102,130.94_
_£_
_24,049.40_
_£_
_5,640.00_
_£_
_12,366.97_
_£_
_-_
_£_
_55,072.03_
_£_
_5,204.45_
_£_
_102,332.85_
_£_
_15,558.77_
_£_
_11,130.63_
_£_
_2,302.74_
_£_
_449.10_
_£_
_3,764.04_
_£_
_33,205.28_
_£_
81,667.96
£
_69,127.57_
_£_
**181,778.43**
**£**
**_171,258.51_**
**_£_**
_31-Jul-24_| |---|---|---| Approved on 31 October 2025 ## Signed On Original Brigadier M J Tanner OBE ADC Royal Marines Sole Managing Trustee 1 DR-SR25BSZ.xlsBALANCE SHEET ## **HMS DRAKE WARRANT OFFICERS' AND SENIOR RATES' MESS** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** ## **For Year Ended 31 July 2025** |Notes
**Income**
Charitable Activities
Other Trading Activities
Investment Income
Total Income
3
**Expenditure**
Raising Funds
Charitable Activities
Other Costs
Total Expenditure
4
Net Income
Plus Gains on Revalued Investments
Previous Year Corrections
Total Funds Brought Forward
Total Funds Carried Forward|300,321.92
£
39,740.71
£
811.74
£
340,874.37
£
34,439.88
£
296,337.64
£
-
£
330,777.52
£
10,096.85
£
423.07
£
-
£
171,258.51
£
**181,778.43**
**£**||_Year to Jul 24_
_277,250.89_
_£_
_52,780.61_
_£_
_817.10_
_£_| |---|---|---|---| ||||_330,848.60_
_£_| ||||_52,205.48_
_£_
_249,766.60_
_£_
_6,772.11_
_£_| ||||_308,744.19_
_£_| ||||_22,104.41_
_£_
_6,847.92_
_£_
_(1,212.63)_
_£_
_143,518.81_
_£_| ||||_171,258.51_
_£_| 2 **Notes to the Accounts dated 31 July 2025** ## **Note 1 - Accounting policies** a. The financial statements are prepared under the historic cost convention (as modified by the revaluation of fixed asset investments) and in accordance with applicable accounting standards: Charities Statement of Recommended Practice, UK Accounting Standards and the Charities Acts. ## Income a. Donations are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the CAF becomes entitled to the donation or grant and it is reasonably certain that it will be received. - b. Total Income from fund raising are reported gross in the SOFA. - c. Intangible Income is not included in the accounts. - d. The CAF receives no unpaid volunteer help. - e. Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable. ## Expenditure and Liabilities a. Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Mess to the expenditure. ## Assets a. Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year and cost at least £50. They are valued at cost or a reasonable value on receipt. Depreciation is straight line over the estimated life. In view of the diverse nature and multi use, non bar depreciation is not allocated to any of the other activity costs. b. Stocks are valued at the lower of cost or market value. |**Note 2 - Investments**
Market Valuation at 1 Aug 24
Dividends
Revaluation to Market Value
Market Valuation at 31 Jul 25
Cost of Investments
**Note 3 - Income**
_Charitable Activities_
Mess Subscriptions
Veterans Mess Subs
Mess Functions
Bar Sales
Family Rooms
ESS - Taxi Settlement
Misc Income
_Other Trading Activities_
Presentation Port
Private Functions
Private Function Profit
Mess Memorabilia
_Investment Income_
Dividends & Interest
Total Income|CCLA Income
17,961.31
£
-
£
(286.46)
£
17,674.85
£
10,500.00
£
63,562.67
£
10,183.22
£
69,150.46
£
151,026.56
£
-
£
6,377.25
£
21.76
£
2,118.26
£
33,078.23
£
3,276.31
£
1,267.91
£
Year to|CCLA Accum
CCLA COIF
58,563.71
£
6,815.26
£
-
£
492.70
£
709.53
£
-
£
59,273.24
£
7,307.96
£
24,500.00
£
_74,712.95_
_£_
_5,522.76_
_£_
_61,673.55_
_£_
_135,317.92_
_£_
_16.67_
_£_
_-_
_£_
_7.04_
_£_
300,321.92
£
_277,250.89_
_£_
_1,969.92_
_£_
_49,622.76_
_£_
_660.58_
_£_
_527.35_
_£_
39,740.71
£
_52,780.61_
_£_
811.74
£
_817.10_
_£_
340,874.37
£
_330,848.60_
_£_
Jul 25
_Year to Jul 24_| |---|---|---| 3 ## **Note 4 - Expenditure** |**Note 4 - Expenditure**||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |_Raising Funds_
Mess Memorabilia
Presentation Port
Private Functions
_Charitable Activities_
Operating Costs
Cost of Bar Sales
Mess Function Expenses
Mess Function Subsidies
Additional VAT
Running Costs
Mess Socials
Mess Guests
Family Rooms
Linen and Laundry
Internet/Telephone
Newspapers
Coffee & Tea
TV, Video & Audio
Performing Rights
Repairs,Renewals & Improvements
Insurance
Trophy Hire
Trophy Hire - Missing Sword
Presentations /Leavers Gifts
Central Amenities Fund
Grants & Donations
Flowers & Plants
Governance Costs
Examination
Support Costs
Bank Charges
Sage Support
Print, Post, Stationery
Travel Expenses
Depreciation (Non Bar)
_Other Costs_
Mess Bill Write Off
Write Off - Valiant
Total Expenditure|977.62
£
384.03
£
33,078.23
£
107,508.11
£
69,150.46
£
61,163.90
£
2,194.79
£
7,561.02
£
441.10
£
108.54
£
3,420.21
£
131.84
£
2,376.70
£
5,811.10
£
11,813.33
£
2,021.63
£
8,496.69
£
459.18
£
183.06
£
-
£
1,515.64
£
3,000.00
£
792.66
£
-
£
960.00
£
2,716.64
£
777.93
£
1,281.03
£
36.54
£
2,415.54
£
-
£
-
£
Year to|Year to|_522.28_
_£_
_2,060.44_
_£_
_49,622.76_
_£_
34,439.88
£
_94,132.11_
_£_
_61,673.55_
_£_
_37,977.66_
_£_
_-_
_£_
_7,779.28_
_£_
_1,126.40_
_£_
_94.41_
_£_
_1,737.43_
_£_
_1,149.47_
_£_
_2,903.95_
_£_
_6,273.15_
_£_
_11,942.88_
_£_
_1,897.94_
_£_
_4,807.18_
_£_
_412.51_
_£_
_164.51_
_£_
_195.36_
_£_
_1,726.68_
_£_
_3,000.00_
_£_
_1,473.20_
_£_
_92.98_
_£_
_930.00_
_£_
_2,558.59_
_£_
_-_
_£_
_1,449.51_
_£_
_-_
_£_
_4,267.85_
_£_
296,337.64
£
_3,420.00_
_£_
_3,352.11_
_£_
-
£
330,777.52
£
_Year to_
Jul 25|_52,205.48_
_£_
_249,766.60_
_£_
_6,772.11_
_£_
_Jul 24_| |||||_308,744.19_
_£_| 4 DR-SR25BSZ.xlsSOFAE ## **Note 5 - Paid Employees** a. Other than the occasional casual wage, there are no employees who are paid by the mess. Additional bar wages are billed by the contractor. ## **Note 6 - Trustees and Other Related Parties** - a. No expenses or emoluments have been paid to the Sole Managing Trustee. - b. The Mess makes a contribution to HMS Drake Central Amenities Fund (CAF) to secure benefits for its members.This charity and the CAF Charity have the same Sole Managing Trustee. - c. There are no amounts due to or from the Sole Managing Trustee. ## **Note 7 - Tangible Fixed Assets** |Property Valuation as at 1 Aug 24
Depreciation/Disposals
Property Valuation at 31 Jul 25
**Note 7A - Stocks**
Bar
Private Functions Catering Stock
Tea & Coffee
Mess Memorabilia
Presentation Port
**Note 8 - Miscellaneous Debtors**
CCLA Interest - Jul 25
Mess Bills Owed
Old Time Sailors - Sept 25
Oktoberfest - Oct 25
Private Functions Owed
**Note 8A - Prepayments**
Insurance
Trophy Hire
Performing Rights Licence
Napkins/Table Runners - Mess Functions Stock|Furniture and
Bar
Fittings
Equipment
18,043.46
£
747.20
£
(2,415.54)
£
(520.70)
£
15,627.92
£
226.50
£
10,666.71
£
5,873.27
£
518.31
£
1,827.37
£
3,300.63
£
22,186.29
£
25.39
£
3,220.00
£
1,000.00
£
92.95
£
3,130.68
£
7,469.02
£
264.00
£
141.00
£
1,927.00
£
5,873.00
£
8,205.00
£| |---|---| 5 ## **Note 9 - Supplier Creditors** |Bookers
Johnsons Stalbridge Linen
Coors
Graddon & Sons Ltd
LWC|295.36
£
588.75
£
2,621.28
£
27.18
£
5,625.78
£| |---|---| ||9,158.35
£| ## **Note 9A - Other Creditors (all due within one year)** |Souls On Board Grants
Additonal VAT on Function Subsidies
CAF
PF Functions - ESS
MF Function - Cabaret Ticket Income
Christmas Draw 25 - Prepaid
Mess Fees in Advance
Coffee Cards
Meat Raffle
Crown Accommodation Charges
Bank Charges
Accounts Examination|422.63
£
2,194.79
£
3,000.00
£
278.88
£
100.01
£
1,806.91
£
4,213.50
£
3,020.00
£
972.00
£
870.03
£
222.88
£
960.00
£| |---|---| ||18,061.63
£| 6 ## **Note 10 - Endowment or Restricted Income Funds** There are only unrestricted funds. ## **Note 11 - Other Information** - a. The fund does not have any material commitments not provided for in the accounts. - b. The fund has not given any guarantees to any third party that could be called on at the year end. c. The fund has not granted any loans. - d. The fund did not make any ex gratia payments during the year. ## **Declarations** - a. The Trustee has not changed the year end date nor the length of the fund's financial year . - b. The fund has one designated fund - Family Cabins. - c. All the fund's operations are continuing operations and there were no discontinued operations. - d. No funds are in deficit. - e. The fund has no marketable intangible assets. - f. There were no interfund loans outstanding at the balance sheet date. - g. None of the funds functional assets have been revalued during the year and the fund does not have a policy of revaluation of these assets. - h. The fund has no material fixed assets which have not been capitalised and included in the Balance Sheet. ## **Bar Trading for year ended 31 Jul 25** |Sales
Cost of Sales
Gross Profit
Gross Profit/Sales =%
Gross Profit/Cost of Sales = %
(i.e average mark up)
Less Expenses:
Till Repairs and Servicing
Bar, Gas, Cleaning and Sundries
Bar Wages
Staff Taxis
Depreciation
Net Profit|33.2%
49.7%
1,040.00
£
4,940.71
£
100.00
£
-
£
520.70
£
28.8%|151,026.56
£
_135,317.92_
_£_
100,906.70
£
_88,980.03_
_£_
50,119.86
£
_46,337.89_
_£_
_34.2%_
_52.1%_
_975.00_
_£_
_3,551.05_
_£_
_75.60_
_£_
_8.08_
_£_
_542.35_
_£_
6,601.41
£
_5,152.08_
_£_
43,518.45
£
_30.4%_
_41,185.81_
_£_
_Previous Year_| |---|---|---| 7 DR-SR25BSZ.xlsBAR TRADING **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustee of the Warrant Officers’ and Senior Ratings’ Mess HMS Drake. Registered Charity No. 1129026** I report to the trustee on my examination of the accounts of the Warrant Officers’ and Senior Ratings’ Mess HMS Drake for the year ended 31 July 2025. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** As the charity’s trustee is 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 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a licenced member of the Association of Accounting Technicians. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** I have completed my examination; I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect: - The accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - The accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than in 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. P A Nicholls MBE MAAT 5 Nursery Road Havant Hants PO9 3BG 31 October 2025