Independent Examiner’s Report to the Wardroom Mess HMS Heron. Registered Charity No 1133200.
I report to the trustee on my examination of the accounts of the Wardroom HMS Heron for the year ended 30 April 25
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:
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The accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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The accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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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.
Signed On Original
P A Nicholls MBE MAAT 5 Nursery Road Havant Hants PO9 3BG
20 June 2025
HMS HERON WARDROOM MESS FUND
REGISTERED CHARITY No 1133200
BALANCE SHEET
30-Apr-25
| Note ASSETS Fixed Assets Mess Property 7 Current Assets Stocks at Cost: 7A Messbills & Function Payments Due Misc Debts & Prepayments 8 Bank Accounts Cash & Floats Total Current Assets LIABILITIES Trade & Misc Creditors 9, 9A Squadron Funds 9B VAT Current Liabilities Net Current Assets Net Assets |
11,764.82 £ 15,989.19 £ 4,288.00 £ 174,669.77 £ 1,130.81 £ 207,842.59 £ 16,479.01 £ 3,998.37 £ 1,600.67 £ 22,078.05 £ |
275,319.00 £ 283,694.00 £ 10,574.17 £ 15,165.05 £ 4,529.00 £ 163,350.48 £ 4,059.92 £ 197,678.62 £ 14,443.88 £ 3,203.97 £ 914.17 £ 18,562.02 £ 185,764.54 £ 179,116.60 £ 461,083.54 £ 462,810.60 £ 30-Apr-24 |
275,319.00 £ 283,694.00 £ 10,574.17 £ 15,165.05 £ 4,529.00 £ 163,350.48 £ 4,059.92 £ 197,678.62 £ 14,443.88 £ 3,203.97 £ 914.17 £ 18,562.02 £ 185,764.54 £ 179,116.60 £ 461,083.54 £ 462,810.60 £ 30-Apr-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 462,810.60 £ |
Approved on 20 June 2025 Signed On Original
Captain D Thomas Royal Navy Sole Managing Trustee
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YEO-WRApr25BSZ.xlsBALANCE SHEET
HMS HERON WARDROOM MESS FUND
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
For Year to 30 Apr 25
| Note Income Voluntary Income Charitable Activities Total Income 3 Expenditure Charitable Activities Total Expenditure 4 Net Income or (Expenditure) Total Funds Brought Forward Previous Year Correction Total Funds Carried Forward |
- £ 261,057.06 £ 261,057.06 £ 262,417.12 £ 262,417.12 £ (1,360.06) £ 462,810.60 £ (367.00) £ 461,083.54 £ |
Previous Year 46,591.34 £ 236,011.47 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 282,602.81 £ |
|||
| 228,626.96 £ |
|||
| 228,626.96 £ |
|||
| 53,975.85 £ 408,834.75 £ - £ |
|||
| 462,810.60 £ |
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YEO-WRApr25BSZ.xlsSOFAsum
HMS HERON WARDROOM MESS FUND
Notes to the Accounts dated 30 April 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
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a. Donations are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the fund becomes entitled to the donation or grant and it is reasonably certain that it will be received.
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b. Income resources from fund raising is reported gross in the SOFA
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c. Intangible income is not included in the accounts.
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d. The fund receives no unpaid volunteer help.
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e. Interest 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 fund to the expenditure.
Assets
a. Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year and cost at least £250. They are valued at cost or a reasonable value on receipt. The Mess does not have a policy of revaluation.
b. Depreciation is six monthly, straight line and over the estimated life of the item. It is not practical to apportion depreciation to any particular activity and therefore depreciation is shown as a single item under support costs.
- c. Stocks are valued at the lower of cost or market value.
Note 2 - Investments
No Investments are held
Note 3 - Income
| Voluntary Income RNRMC Grant - Garden Project Charitable Activities Mess Subs Associate Subscriptions Entertainment Levy Official Function Income Private Functions Income Livers In Function Bar Income Shop Income Cabin Cleaning - Pets Lost Key Charges Stamps Misc Income Total Income |
- £ 46,591.34 £ 68,016.35 £ 66,826.67 £ 5,390.86 £ 5,494.82 £ 26,098.40 £ 25,320.02 £ 60,914.34 £ 51,990.21 £ 8,035.70 £ 11,295.80 £ 1,245.77 £ 2,056.13 £ 90,516.56 £ 72,694.49 £ 137.69 £ 115.06 £ - £ 100.00 £ 59.99 £ - £ 56.85 £ 22.44 £ 584.55 £ 95.83 £ 261,057.06 £ 236,011.47 £ 261,057.06 £ 282,602.81 £ Previous Year Year to 30 Apr 25 |
|---|---|
3
Note 4 - Expenditure
| Charitable Activities Trading Costs Function expenses from Tickets Functions expenses from Subsidy Private Functions Livers In Function Performing Rights Licence & TV Bar Expenses Shop Purchases Mess Running Costs Grant - CAF Grant - Volunteer Band Grant - 825 Wings Parade Mess Guests/Hosting Insurances Trophy Hire Dining Hall Extras & Cheese Repairs & Renewals Newspapers & Periodicals Internet/Telephone TV Licence Leavers Gifts Tea & Coffee Cleaning Christmas Decorations Garden Project Governance Costs Examination of Accounts Support Costs Write Off/Bad Debt Office Costs Bank/Card Charges IT Support Depreciation Total Expenditure |
60,914.34 £ 51,208.53 £ 36,924.28 £ 38,575.30 £ 8,035.67 £ 11,295.80 £ 1,245.77 £ 2,056.13 £ 7,110.51 £ 6,751.22 £ 71,417.49 £ 59,836.33 £ 114.74 £ 95.88 £ 4,500.00 £ 2,500.00 £ 2,000.00 £ 2,000.00 £ 1,478.00 £ - £ 276.93 £ 228.84 £ 3,246.84 £ 3,247.84 £ 396.64 £ 335.64 £ 8,455.91 £ 7,086.78 £ 3,166.74 £ 1,516.72 £ 6,454.61 £ 6,701.19 £ 1,350.26 £ 960.49 £ 65.50 £ - £ 2,364.91 £ 1,829.12 £ 10,476.93 £ 9,411.88 £ 226.25 £ - £ 2,038.68 £ - £ 2,653.50 £ 4,407.48 £ 1,755.00 £ 1,775.00 £ 2,078.21 £ 259.44 £ 767.61 £ 299.01 £ 3,797.75 £ 2,961.15 £ 7,279.67 £ 4,554.45 £ 11,824.38 £ 8,732.74 £ 262,417.12 £ 228,626.96 £ 262,417.12 £ 228,626.96 £ Year to 30 Apr 25 Previous Year |
|---|---|
Total Expenditure
Note 5 - Paid Employees
- a. There were no paid employees.
Note 6 - Trustees and Other Related Parties
- a. No expenses or emoluments have been paid to the Sole Managing Trustee b. There are no amounts due to or from the Sole Managing Trustee
Note 7 - Tangible Fixed Assets - Property Account
| As at 1 May 24 Additions Less Depreciation and Disposals As at 30 Apr 25 |
Non Depreciating Depreciating 193,900.00 £ 89,794.00 £ 126.00 £ 3,323.38 £ - £ (11,824.38) £ 194,026.00 £ 81,293.00 £ |
|---|---|
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YEO-WRApr25BSZ.xlsSOFAE
Note 7A - Stocks
| Wine Shop/Sundries Postage Coffee Tankards Note 8 - Prepayments, Misc Debtors Insurance Prepaid Performing Rights Licence Prepaid IT Support - Sage Prepaid TV Licence Prepaid Note 9 - Trade Creditors BOC Ltd EPOS Now UK Ltd Sky TV BT Broadband CJ's News - Newspapers & Magazines Matthew Clark CETSAT Internet Support Lloyds Bank Bottomline |
9,598.25 £ 138.22 £ 88.30 £ 1,027.75 £ 912.30 £ |
|---|---|
| 11,764.82 £ |
|
| 1,623.00 £ 1,034.00 £ 1,574.00 £ 57.00 £ |
|
| 4,288.00 £ |
|
| 139.62 £ 96.00 £ 440.40 £ 75.47 £ 556.56 £ 5,085.50 £ 50.00 £ 12.50 £ 159.12 £ |
|
| 6,615.17 £ |
Note 9A - Other Creditors
| Bed Linen Charges Key Deposits Crown Food & Accom DIO Room Hire Christmas Draw Unknown Income Trophy Hire - Apr 25 PNIE Note 9B - Held for Other Funds ATCO Fund 1AAC Officers' Fund 815 Fund 825 Fund 845 Fund 846 Fund 847 Fund |
119.25 £ 575.00 £ 774.10 £ 7,442.09 £ 8.40 £ 30.00 £ 30.00 £ 885.00 £ |
|---|---|
| 9,863.84 £ |
|
| 636.97 £ 507.50 £ 846.90 £ 638.50 £ 580.00 £ 533.50 £ 255.00 £ |
|
| 3,998.37 £ |
Note 10 - Endowment or Restricted Income Funds
There are none
Note 11 - Other Information
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a. The fund does not have any material commitments not provided for in the accounts
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b. The fund has not given any guarantees to any third party that could be called on at the year end.
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c. The fund has not granted any loans.
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d. The fund did not make any ex gratia payments during the year.
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Declarations
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a. The Trustee has not changed the year end date nor the length of the fund's financial year.
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b. All the fund's operations are continuing operations and there were no discontinued operations.
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c. No funds are in deficit.
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d. The fund has no marketable intangible assets.
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e. There were no interfund loans outstanding at the balance sheet date.
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f. 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.
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g. The fund has no material fixed assets which have not been capitalised and included in the Balance Sheet.
Bar Trading for Year ended 30 Apr 25
| Sales 89,597.61 £ Sales at Cost 918.95 £ 90,516.56 £ Cost of Sales 67,323.28 £ Gross Profit 23,193.28 £ Gross Profit/Sales =% 25.9% Gross Profit/Cost of Sales = % 34.5% (i.e average mark up) Less: Pipecleaning 461.51 £ 0.5% Ullage/Spillage 1,324.02 £ Bar Sundries 2,308.68 £ 4,094.21 £ Net Profit 19,099.07 £ 21.1% Sales 137.69 £ Cost of Sales 114.74 £ Gross Profit 22.95 £ Gross Profit/Sales =% 16.7% Gross Profit/Cost of Sales = % 20.0% (i.e average mark up) Shop Trading for Year ended 30 Apr 25 |
72,060.32 £ 634.17 £ 72,694.49 £ 57,905.90 £ 14,788.59 £ 20.5% 25.5% 698.88 £ 1.0% 470.98 £ 856.45 £ 2,026.31 £ 12,762.28 £ 17.7% 115.06 £ 95.88 £ 19.18 £ 16.7% 20.0% Previous Year Previous Year |
|---|---|
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THE WARDROOM
HMS HERON
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For Period
1 May 2024 to 30 April 2025
Registered Charity No. 1133200
Trustees’ Annual Report and Comments
| The Wardroom HMS HERON | |
|---|---|
| Charity Registered No: |
1133200 |
| Covering the Accounting Year: 1 May 2024 to 30 April 2025 | |
| Address: | RNAS Yeovilton |
| Ilchester | |
| Somerset BA22 8HT | |
| Governing Document: |
Constitution (and Mess Rules) |
| Objects: | Promotion of the Military Efficiency and Operational Effectiveness |
| of the Armed Forces by the provision of mess facilities to | |
| Commissioned Officers serving in the | |
| Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton. | |
| Trustee: | Captain D Thomas Royal Navy. |
| Trustee selection method: | Appointed as such by the Naval Secretary. |
| Bankers: | Lloyds TSB |
| 9 High St | |
| Yeovil | |
| Independent Examiner: | P A NichollsMBE MAAT |
| 5 Nursery Road | |
| Havant | |
| 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 past year has seen the mess put on a full social programme | |
| for its members and generous subsidies were provided to mess | |
| functions. | |
| Financial Review: | The total value of the fund fallen by £1.6K to £461.2K. Bank |
| assets of £174.7K easily covered liabilities of £22.1K. The main | |
| factors in the fall in assets were: | |
| • Running Costs exceeding mess subscriptions income costs by | |
| £8.6K. | |
| offset by | |
| • £6.6K, of the trading profits including the entertainment levy | |
| was not used for function subsidy. |
| Financial Reserves Policy: | The Trustee has considered the level of reserves appropriate to |
|---|---|
| the charity’s needs. This is set at £140K. 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. |
Investment Selection Policy: No investments are held.
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.
Signed Signed On Original Name Captain D Thomas Royal Navy Appointment Commanding Officer and Sole Managing Trustee Date 20 June 2025